[T]wo primary schools on the outskirts of the Lake District National Park have joined Cumbria Education Trust (CET), enhancing its portfolio of schools to six and establishing it as one of the largest multi academy trusts in Cumbria.
Tebay Primary School and Yanwath Primary School became part of the Trust’s family of schools at the start of the new academic year in September. Headteachers and staff from both primary schools were welcomed into the Trust at its annual conference held at Carlisle Racecourse where Chief Executive Officer, Lorrayne Hughes outlined the themes, vision and values for the forthcoming year to over 400 members of staff.
CET now operates two secondary schools – William Howard School in Brampton and Workington Academy on the west coast – and four primary academies – Yewdale Primary School in Carlisle, Longtown Primary School in north Cumbria, Yanwath Primary School near Penrith and Tebay Primary School in the south of the county. It is responsible for the education of almost 3000 pupils and students.
Tebay and Yanwath Primary Schools were formerly part of Building Futures Education Academy Trust (BFEAT). The Directors made the decision to transfer to a larger school based Multi Academy Trust (MAT) so that the two schools could take better advantage of the business support systems, economies of scale, collaborative working and school improvement opportunities that a larger MAT would provide.
Tebay Primary School is based in south Cumbria. Although it was built over 100 years ago, it enjoys modern facilities and extensive outdoor space. It has 44 children on roll aged between three and eleven and offers wrap-around childcare as well as 30-hour nursery provision. It is very much part of the community, many generations in the local area have attended the school.
Alex Beardmore, Interim Headteacher at Tebay Primary School said: “Everyone at Tebay Primary School is very excited about joining Cumbria Education Trust. Despite being the smallest schools within CET, I know that this school can gain lots of support to ensure that Tebay is providing the very best educational provision for all its children”
Yanwath Primary School is situated on the edge of the Lake District and takes full advantage of its wonderful surroundings such as Ullswater. It is oversubscribed, and caters for 183 pupils aged four to eleven. Children enjoy a vibrant curriculum where they are encouraged to expand enterprise skills and develop knowledge which they can apply in bespoke challenges and real life situations.
Speaking about joining CET, Headteacher June Venus said: “Cumbria Education Trust provides us with the ideal environment to promote and develop our ethos. Their support and challenge will enable our pupils to reach their full potential and offers our staff opportunities to develop professionally. We are delighted to be part of the Trust.”
The trustees of CET are committed to steady and maintainable growth with a vision of creating a ‘hub’ of primary and secondary schools in three distinct areas, Carlisle, West Cumbria and the Eden Valley.
CEO, Lorrayne Hughes considers a slow-growth approach is crucial to ensure that the Trust has the capacity, expertise and resources to achieve sustainable progress in all its schools. She explained: “I am delighted to welcome Tebay and Yanwath Primary Schools to the Trust and I am confident that in sharing best practice, supporting and challenging each other and working together for the benefit of all the schools in the Trust will ensure that all of our pupils and students have a happy and fulfilled school life and are inspired to reach their full potential in life.
“Our development as a multi-academy trust has been streamlined to enable our full focus to be placed on the academies at their time of joining the Trust. This allows each school to fully embrace the values and ethos of Cumbria Education Trust whilst retaining their own unique individuality which has been developed over the lifetime of the school to reflect the communities they serve.”
Based near Carlisle, Cumbria Education Trust was originally established as William Howard Trust in 2012 but changed its name in 2016 as it embarked on a programme of strategic growth which extends throughout Cumbria. The new name more accurately represents the geographic proximity of the Trust and is more recognisable regionally as well as in a national context.
Cumbria Education Trust is actively recruiting to their Trust Board and Local Advisory Boards. If you would like to help make a positive contribution to children’s education please contact Maria Graham for more information by telephoning 016977 45300 or emailing [email protected].