A charity has been revealed as a potential major sponsor of one of Stoke-on-Trent's planned academies. The city council is planning to cut the number of high schools from 17 to 13 as part of a major shake-up because of falling pupil numbers and standards. Ormiston Education, part of a trust helping disadvantaged children, wants to be the sponsor of the academy to replace Trentham and Blurton schools. The council said it was prepared to talk to other potential lead sponsors. City mayor Mark Meredith said the council was "delighted" at the trust's interest. He said: "Ormiston aim to ensure every young person is valued, safe and free from prejudice. They share my determination that access to quality education should not be based on income or background. "In short, they believe that no child should be left behind. That guiding principle is one that makes them an ideal partner for an academy in Stoke-on-Trent." 'Excellent opportunity' A spokesman for Ormiston said it sponsored academies around the UK and regarded the Stoke academy as an "excellent opportunity". He said the trust worked closely within communities, placed the emphasis on the child and aimed to "remove barriers to learning". In February, city councillors agreed to close Trentham High, Berry Hill, Mitchell High and Longton High as part of a merger of eight schools into five academies. Parents, teachers and pupils have held many protests over the proposed closures and changes to the system which are due to take place between 2009 and 2014. City council leaders said the changes were because the city's education was not up to standard, declining pupil numbers and the poor condition of old school buildings. The city's education service is run by the private company Serco.
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