THREE primary schools are joining our multi academy trust - established to build a shared vision and achieve the highest educational standards possible.
St Mary’s CEVAP, Hadleigh, St Mary’s CEVAP Woodbridge and Sproughton CEVCP near Ipswich are all joining the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Multi Academy Trust on February 1.
Academies are state-funded schools which are no longer maintained by the local authority and increasingly groups of primary schools are forming multi academy trusts to work together.
Andrew Frolish, Headteacher at St Mary’s CEVAP, Hadleigh said: “Governors voted unanimously to consult the school community regarding academy conversion and have remained very positive throughout the conversion process.
“The consultation period has been very smooth and meetings have been constructive and encouraging. As a Voluntary Aided church school, we felt it was important to reinforce our existing spiritual and practical links with the Diocese.
“We believe our children and school will flourish within the Diocesan Multi Academy Trust, which shares our caring ethos and Christian values. Also, we are looking forward to working closely with other schools in the MAT, sharing good practice, supporting leaders and continuing to improve our good school.”
Karen Read, Headteacher at Sproughton CEVCP said: “At Sproughton, we are looking forward to being challenged and supported on our journey to becoming an outstanding school.
“By being part of the MAT, we hope to drive school improvement whilst developing our nurturing and child- centred ethos.”
James Leese, Headteacher at St Mary’s CEVAP, Woodbridge said: “Governors were unanimous in their decision to convert to the Diocesan Multi Academy Trust in the belief that the Diocesan Christian ethos and robust support and infrastructure comes with the opportunity of working as a family of schools.
“Parents' comments at open evening were overwhelmingly in favour. Staff have been very positive about the conversion and the opportunities of working together with other Church schools in raising attainment.”
Jane Sheat, CEO of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Multi Academy Trust, said the diocese set up a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) last year to work collaboratively with church schools to raise standards and ensure best practice is shared.
She said: “We have a great network of schools which already work together and support each other.
“The Trust is able to build on that. At its heart is a commitment to sustained school improvement, a belief that schools are stronger together and a Christian faith which sees education in the fullest sense.
“Church schools share a similar ethos and vision and are all about providing the very best education we can.
“Our first school, Tudor, in Sudbury, joined the trust in August last year and I am delighted that three more schools, all judged good at their last Ofsted inspection, are joining in February.
Government’s policy is that all schools will become academies and there are 88 Church of England schools in the diocese, which covers almost all of Suffolk.