A SCHOOL which faced the threat of closure earlier this year hopes to secure its future by joining an academy trust.

Eskdale School in Whitby this week submitted an application to become a sponsored academy with Rodillian, an academy chain based in Wakefield.

North Yorkshire County Council had been proposing to merge the school with Caedmon College and close the Eskdale site. But in April this year the council said it would suspend any further decision-making after the Government announced its intention for all schools to become academies.

The council said it put forward the proposals to ensure secondary education in Whitby was adequately funded and create a financially secure future. But they proved controversial, with opposition from parents and many others in the Whitby community. A protest march was held in the town and a 5,000 signature petition handed in to education bosses at County Hall.

In a letter to parents this week, the school’s governing body said the Regional Schools Commissioner had put them in touch with the academy chain.

Governors and staff have already visited two Rodillian academies and a meeting has been planned when parents will have the opportunity to meet with key staff from the trust.

The letter stated: “They have a proven track record of school improvement and visits by governors and staff to two of their academies have assured us that their philosophy is in line with ours on key issues.”

A consultation on the latest proposal will now take place and parents have been invited to pass their views on to the school, who will forward them to the Schools Commissioner for the North, Jan Renou and the headteacher board who will help make the decision.

The governing body say they hope the decision will be made “quickly” so everyone can begin working towards the next steps.

The letter went on: “We appreciate that the last few months have been difficult for all parties and that some of you have been forced to make decisions for your children that you found hard.

“We hope that this will bring about the long-desired stability for Eskdale that so many people have fought for.”