New Leaf School joins The Mercian Trust

We are delighted to welcome the newest member of our family of schools, New Leaf School in Willenhall, Walsall.

New Leaf is an Alternative Provision school for children and young people aged 5-16 who have been excluded from mainstream education.

The Mercian Trust has a long established relationship with New Leaf School and have provided strategic and operational support over the past few years to the school in partnership with Walsall Council.

In 2024 the Department for Education asked our Trust to support New Leaf further by sponsoring the school to become an academy and join our unique, diverse family of schools.

Our track record in Alternative Provision through our existing Alternative Provision school, The Ladder School, and our Trust's social mobility and social justice mission are are a fantastic fit for New Leaf School, and together we look forward to seeing the school flourish and its students thrive.

Pictured are Ed Lea, Deputy Headteacher, and Claire Fairburn, Headteacher, proudly displaying their 'Welcome to the family' plaque.

Our CEO, Dan Parkes, visited the school today to welcome all New Leaf staff to our family of schools, presenting them all a commemorative chocolate bar as an early Easter gift!