West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin last week applauded the efforts of a Malvern primary school to become part of a ground-breaking academy scheme. Great Malvern Primary School has taken on academy status but at the same time has become part of a trust with four other local schools, gaining more control over their operations. The trust is believed to be the first of its kind in the country and Harriett congratulated the schools for their innovative thinking. She commented: "Many local schools are becoming academies and gaining more control over their future. “I applaud the efforts of Great Malvern Primary School taking this step and look forward to seeing the school go from strength to strength. “This is a very exciting initiative and each of the schools taking part is to be congratulated. I know that parents and staff are welcoming the chance for their schools to get a proper say in the way they are run.” Harriett toured the school and discussed the venture with headmaster Paul Jackson-Read. Great Malvern Primary School has joined with Somers Park Primary School, St Matthias Primary School, Suckley Primary School and Dyson Perrins to form the new trust. Harriett added: “Each of these schools has taken an important step towards getting free from local authority control and getting better use of their resources. “It's now important that we continue the battle for fairer funding for each of our local school and I will take the message back to Westminster that we need a fair deal now.”