Key Points
- Cobden Primary School in Farnley will join Owlcotes Multi Academy Trust (MAT) on 1 September 2026.
- Leeds City Council has approved a Commercial Transfer Agreement (CTA) to enable the academy conversion.
- The agreement transfers the school’s staff, assets and contracts from the council and governing body to the academy trust.
- The conversion follows a direct academy order issued in October 2025.
- Ofsted’s July 2025 inspection rated the school “requires improvement” in most areas and “inadequate” for leadership and management.
- Owlcotes MAT already operates nine primary schools across Leeds.
- The council says the agreement supports its duty to promote high standards and educational excellence.
Leeds (The Leeds Times) August 3, 2026 – Cobden Primary School in Farnley will officially become part of Owlcotes Multi Academy Trust from 1 September 2026 after Leeds City Council approved the legal agreement required to complete the school’s academy conversion.
The decision marks the end of the school’s status as a local authority-maintained school, with responsibility transferring to the academy trust under a Commercial Transfer Agreement.
What is happening to Cobden Primary School?
From 1 September 2026, Cobden Primary School will operate as an academy within Owlcotes Multi Academy Trust.
Leeds City Council has approved a Commercial Transfer Agreement (CTA), which provides the legal framework for transferring responsibility for the school from the local authority and governing body to the academy trust.
The agreement covers:
- School staff
- Buildings and assets
- Existing contracts
- Operational responsibilities
This allows the school to continue operating without disruption while coming under new governance.
Why is the school becoming an academy?
The conversion follows a direct academy order issued to Leeds City Council in October 2025.
The order came after Ofsted found significant weaknesses during its inspection of the school in July 2025.
Inspectors judged:
- Quality of education: Requires Improvement
- Behaviour and attitudes: Requires Improvement
- Personal development: Requires Improvement
- Early years provision: Requires Improvement
- Leadership and management: Inadequate
These inspection findings triggered government intervention, leading to the academy conversion process.
What does the Commercial Transfer Agreement do?
The Commercial Transfer Agreement enables the legal transfer of the school from council control to Owlcotes Multi Academy Trust.
It includes the transfer of:
- Employment contracts for school staff
- School property and assets
- Existing service agreements
- Operational contracts
The agreement is designed to ensure continuity for pupils while allowing the trust to assume responsibility for governance and school improvement.
Leeds City Council said the arrangement supports its duty to “promote high standards and champion educational excellence.”
Which academy trust is taking over?
Cobden Primary will become the tenth school within Owlcotes Multi Academy Trust.
The trust already operates primary schools across Leeds, including schools in:
- Pudsey
- Morley
- Armley
- Calverley
Owlcotes describes its mission as providing excellent education and strong outcomes for every pupil through collaboration between its member schools.
How will pupils and staff be affected?
The academy conversion is intended to provide continuity rather than disruption.
Staff will transfer to the trust under existing employment arrangements, while pupils will continue attending the same school on the same site.
The school has already been working alongside Owlcotes MAT ahead of the formal transfer to strengthen leadership, teaching and governance.
What happens next?
The academy conversion will officially take effect on 1 September 2026.
Following the transfer, Owlcotes MAT will assume responsibility for:
- School leadership
- Governance
- Curriculum development
- Staff support
- Long-term school improvement
The trust is expected to continue implementing measures aimed at addressing the areas identified by Ofsted during its latest inspection.
Why is this significant?
The move represents an important stage in Cobden Primary School’s improvement journey following government intervention.
By joining an established multi-academy trust with experience supporting primary schools across Leeds, the school will gain access to shared leadership, expertise and resources designed to improve educational standards and pupil outcomes.
For Leeds City Council, the approval of the Commercial Transfer Agreement fulfils its legal responsibilities under the academy order while enabling the transition to proceed ahead of the September start date.
