A NEW forum bringing headteachers from across the conurbation’s schools together is set to launch in the autumn.

Sarah Rempel, BCP Council’s director of education, said she hopes all schools, including multi-academy trusts, will join the project.

Speaking at a recent children’s services overview and scrutiny meeting, Ms Rempel said: “I think it is going to be something heads will want to take part in because we will be discussing important issues that affect all schools, for example their access policies, BCP Council’s approach to school attendance orders – that is just a few things that have been on my agenda the past couple of weeks.

“It will also be a really good place for people to take issues, for example like school uniform policies and things like that, in front of the headteachers forum.”

Ms Rempel was asked if she was concerned multi-academy trusts, which are largely out of the jurisdiction of the local authority, would take part in the forum.

She said: “I don’t think we are going to get people not wanting to join it.

“I think it is going to be a really good space for our BCP headteachers and multi-academy trust leaders to join together and discuss those really important issues.”