Unique Blackburn school faith switch plan called off

It was announced in April last year that Sacred Heart RC Primary School in Lynwood Road was to come under the direction of the Cidari Trust which is run by the Diocese of Blackburn.

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It was proposed that it would switch to a Church of England school in September last year but the move was postponed while further talks were conducted. If the deal had progressed it would have been the first of its kind in the country.

However, it has now been confirmed that the school will remain under the control of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford and that no further talks are being held over its future.

The announcement comes after the school posted an advert for a new headteacher, following Hamma Ahmed stepping down last year. The school has been run by acting headteacher Jane Smith since then. The new headteacher is expected to take up the role on September 1.

Nick Kennedy, chairman of governors, said: “It was most people’s preferred choice to stay as a Roman Catholic school. When we were in discussions to switch denominations it was because of a threat to us staying open.

“This decision has been taken because that pressure is no longer there. There are no other talks being held at the moment and the school will be remaining a Roman Catholic one.”

Last year it was mooted that the nearby Olive Islamic School, which has capacity for more than 600 pupils, would leave the Lynwood Road school with too many empty desks to continue. But since the opening of the school, enough pupils have stayed put — meaning the governors do not have to seek to change its denomination.

The Diocese of Salford and the Diocese of Blackburn were unavailable for comment.

Cllr Arshid Mahood (Corporation Park, Blackburn with Darwen Council) said: “I am happy we now have some closure on this after a lot of uncertainty.”

Closing date for applications to become new headteacher is May 11. A shortlist is due to be drawn up on May 14, with interviews on May 21.