An ‘Outstanding’ East London primary school is set to become an academy and will join a local trust that already runs several primaries across the borough. Virginia Primary School in Tower Hamlets has applied to join the LETTA (London East Teacher Training Alliance) Trust, a multi-academy trust which was founded on July 1, 2017.
The 236-space primary school in Bethnal Green has already had its application approved by the Secretary of State of Education and an Academy Order was issued in February of this year, which will start the process for it to become an academy. As the Academy Order has now been issued, Tower Hamlets Council has a statutory duty to facilitate the conversion of the school into an academy by July 1, 2025.
Tower Hamlets Council’s cabinet members are set to agree a report documenting the plans at a meeting next week (June 18) to allow for the next stage of the transfer process to begin. Once Virginia Primary becomes an academy under the Academies Act 2010, the school will no longer be maintained and funded through the council.
The council is also expected to transfer the land the school sits on, onto the trust and will grant a new, 125-year lease which will have a peppercorn rent. Virginia Primary has an Outstanding Ofsted rating following visits in March 2016 and October 2021.
During its most recent inspection, staff were praised for showing great care towards pupils and making sure they understand how to keep safe. Inspectors said parents and carers were appreciative of the “many” clubs, residential trips and sporting activities for their children.
The school will follow Columbia Primary School in Bethnal Green and Hermitage Primary School in Wapping after they recently joined the trust in September 2024. Other Tower Hamlets-based primaries which are also part of the LETTA Trust include Bygrove Primary School in Canary Wharf and Stebon Primary School in Poplar.
Looking for more from MyLondon? Subscribe to our daily newsletters here for the latest and greatest updates from across London.
