Silverdale Multi-Academy Trust is aiming to strengthen and develop its links with primary and secondary schools in the area after the Board of Trustees reluctantly decided to withdraw provisional plans to lead a new second school planned for the Bannerdale site.

Silverdale Trust beat stiff competition to be chosen as the sponsor of a Local Authority commissioned new school – to be called Silverhill University School – in line with the council’s commitment to accommodate growing numbers of pupils in the south west of the city.

Having carried out due diligence on the financial model, Silverdale Trust felt that, given the latest changes to the financial capital build scheme, to proceed with the project would put the Trust at unacceptable financial risk.

Now the Board of Silverdale-Multi Academy Trust is focusing primarily on developing and expanding links with existing secondary and primary schools in the area.

Longstanding plans for a new wing at Silverdale which will allow the school to take extra secondary and sixth form students, and to upgrade the existing premises, will also be revisited.

Headteacher Roisin Paul said: “Following our rating as outstanding in our last Ofsted inspection, we are determined to give more students the opportunity to fulfil their potential within the Silverdale ethos.

 “We continue to look to develop Silverdale Trust through more collaboration with existing schools. We want to strengthen our formal relationships with other schools and widen the Trust with schools who are interested and share our inclusive and aspirational ethos.

 “The continued aim is to create a family of schools who will work in partnership to provide outstanding educational experiences to the young people of Sheffield, more high quality professional development for staff and a joined up and proactive teacher training, recruitment and retention strategy.

 

 “We are disappointed that we can’t continue with Silverhill, for which we had such a strong vision. But the latest financial developments mean that the risk to the Multi-Academy Trust has become too great.”

The vision for extending Silverdale in the longer term includes new facilities for the English and Modern Foreign Languages departments, a bigger dining room, a dedicated sixth form study and social space and conference facilities for Sheffield Teaching School Alliance.

At the same time, the current building would be remodelled to create four new science laboratories and extended PE facilities.