Schools trust move ‘grows opportunities’
Secondary and primary schools are to become part of a huge new educational trust - following the go ahead by Government chiefs.
The Department of Education has given the green light to the merger of Clevedon Learning Trust (CLT) and the Futura Learning Partnership.
The merger will create a trust comprising 27 schools across Somerset, North Somerset, Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire. As part of the change, Aspire School in Bath and secondary schools Clevedon School and Chilton Trinity School in Bridgwater will become part of the Futura Learning Partnership.
Primary schools across Somerset including All Saints, Yeo Moor, St Nicholas Chantry and Mary Elton in Clevedon along with Chestnut Park in Yatton, Northgate in Bridgwater, Westover Green in Bridgwater, Tickenham School and Willowdown in Bridgwater and Woolavington School will also be part of the new trust.
Twelve schools from across Bristol and South Gloucestershire will also become part of Futura Learning Partnership. The move will affect more than 10,000 young people across the region.
The merger is set to come into place in February 2023. Chief executive Andrea Arlidge said the two trusts had common vision and values and were each committed to developing an inclusive, allthrough organisation based on a powerful understanding of the educational journey from age three to 19. She said: “This merger will bring improved opportunities for more than 10,000 young people and 1500 staff. Each of our schools will retain its own identity, reflective of the community it serves, while also benefiting from the support of a strong trust.”
The proposal is in line with the Government’s ambition for every school to be part of a strong trust by 2030. Staff and governors will have the chance to find out more over the coming months.
Futura’s chair of trustees Malcolm Broad said: “It is our belief that the merger with CLT will help to ensure the new Futura Learning Partnership has the capacity and resilience to provide the best education for our pupils alongside high quality support and wider opportunities for our staff.”