A BOLD move has seen four Vale schools join forces to form a new multi-academy trust which could spell the end of the three tier system.
Last Friday Pershore High School, Cherry Orchard First School, Inkberrow First School and Norton Juxta Kempsey CE First School officially came together to form the Avonreach Academy Trust.
Under the multi-academy trust, the four schools will still keep their individual identities and the headteachers will still be in charge of their own schools.
But, the schools have said the move will help improve the education their pupils receive by working together more, sharing resources and teaching staff.
A key aim of the trust is also to bring to an end the three tier system. Currently pupils in Pershore and the surrounding villages move from primary school then to middle school and finally onto high school.
The trust hopes that by moving to a two tier system by keeping pupils at primary school until year six before moving straight to high school, there will be less disruption for pupils and will enable the four schools to work more closely together.
Although the multi-academy trust has just been launched, there are ambitions for more schools to join the trust.
Executive Officer of AAT, Clive Corbett, said: “Avonreach Academy Trust will strive to build, via intelligent and controlled growth, a family of schools that use effective collaboration to ensure ambitious outcomes are achieved for all our pupils, allowing them to achieve their full potential to become positive, confident and active members of tomorrow’s global society.
“We will maintain and enhance relationships with other multi academy trusts, individual schools, faith groups and members of our local communities to become a proactive and supportive organisation.
“Schools within the Trust are encouraged to develop and flourish with their own unique ethos and identities, promoting respect, responsibility and a lifelong love of learning within caring, compassionate and stimulating environments.
“This is an exciting time and we all look forward to working together to secure a positive future for all of our young people.”
