AN ACADEMY takeover of a primary school has been delayed.

The Pioneer Academy Trust have written to parents and carers at Moulsecoomb Primary School to let them know that due to DfE administrative processes, Moulsecoomb Primary School will now be joining the trust in October or November this year.

The takeover of the school in The Highway, off Lewes Road, was originally planned for the start rather than from the start of the new academic year.

TPA said this meant it will not be able to provide the funding to start the capital investment plan they had outlined in the Autumn term until later in the year.

The trust said it is committing to providing a new uniform for each child for the start of the new school year, apart from shoes.

Order forms for the uniforms were distributed to parents yesterday, the trust said.

Lee Mason Ellis, CEO of The Pioneer Academy said: “I want to be clear that we remain absolutely committed to working through this process and to reassure everyone that the conversion will 100 per cent still happen; we look forward to working with the staff at Moulsecoomb, and the wider school community.

"We will be working hard to make sure that everything going forward goes as swiftly and smoothly as possible.”

Mr Adam Sutton, Head Teacher of Moulsecoomb Primary School said: “It’s reassuring that the trust is honouring their commitment to provide every child with a new school uniform at the start of the new school year, even though we will not formally have joined the trust.

"I am sure families will be pleased to hear this news.”