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The Department for Education today announced that a new secondary school, Trinity Academy Brighouse has been approved for Calderdale. The new school, which is being set up by Trinity Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), is planned to open in Brighouse in September 2023. The free school is part of the latest wave of primary, secondary and all-through schools to be approved to open, joining more than 550 already open and over 220 in the pipeline.

The new academy will support growing demand for secondary school places in Calderdale by offering 750 new places to students of all faiths and none, and will complement the trust’s current offer within Calderdale, at the outstanding Trinity Academy Halifax, Trinity Academy Sowerby Bridge, and at post-16 Trinity Sixth Form Academy. The new free school will be a ‘hub of excellence’ for maths and science, and will offer an extracurricular STEM activities programme, in addition to a strong focus on literacy and pastoral care for students.

Charlie Johnson, who has led the Trinity Academy Brighouse project team said, “I am delighted that the Department for Education has recognised the need for a school to meet the upcoming demand on school places across Calderdale, and selected Trinity MAT to deliver this exciting project. Whilst the school will have a broad and balanced curriculum, the focus on science and maths is of extra excitement. As a scientist, I look forward to instilling the same passion I have for the subject into the school and the community it will serve.”

Cllr Adam Wilkinson, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, said: “I’d like to congratulate the Trinity Multi-Academy Trust project team on their successful application. This is wonderful news and a real boost for Calderdale’s young people. At such a challenging time, this is a really positive step forward for their learning and their future opportunities. The investment in our borough is very welcome and supports our wider aspirations to help everyone achieve their potential and to support and strengthen our towns. It builds on our ongoing work on infrastructure and exciting plans for Brighouse’s development.”

Unity Howard, Director of New Schools Network added, “This is fantastic news for parents and the local community. Free schools have an incredible track record of driving up standards as the highest performing type of state school, and we have seen over the past decade just how popular free schools are with parents.

The team behind Trinity Academy Brighouse should be proud today; the free school application process is rightly demanding, and I pay tribute to them for their tireless work throughout the application phase. I wish them the very best of luck as they begin working towards welcoming children through the doors of their new school in the years to come, and look forward to supporting them as they prepare to open.”

Dated: 5th February 2021