Wolds schools strengthen links
Three local schools in the Louth and the East Wolds area are currently in the final stages of a statutory consultation which is likely to lead to the formation of a ‘ground breaking’ shared trust known as the Wolds and East Education Trust.
Birkbeck School and Community Arts College in North Somercotes, Cordeaux School in Louth which is a Specialist Engineering College and John Spendluffe Technology College in Alford will be the ‘initial members’ of the Trust. However, it is proposed that the range of partners will widen considerably. Monks’ Dyke Technology College will be an associate partner member from the start as will the newly constructed Wolds College. Councillor Mrs Christine Talbot, Executive Councillor for Secondary Education and Healthier Communities, said:
“The ‘Shared Trust’ will build on the success of local partnership which has seen £7 million of additional funding for the Wolds College, associated building projects in schools and for the introduction of new diplomas. The three schools which have all been classified as ‘Good’ by Ofsted aim to use their collective skills, knowledge and expertise to raise standards for pupils even further.”John Stevens, Chair of Governors at the Birkbeck School, said:
“All the schools are keen to retain their own distinctive identity and aims but the common shared sense of direction and purpose will make each individual school stronger.” Canon Stephen Holdaway, Chair of Governors at Cordeaux School, said:
“The whole is greater than the sum of the parts and sharing expertise will be beneficial for young people and their communities.”George Willoughby, Chair of Governors at the John Spendluffe School, added:
“I welcome the establishment of a stable and sustainable framework to plan positively and strategically for the future at a time of rapid educational change.”
The growing collaboration and co-operation between schools and other providers has encouraged fresh thinking to tackle the issue of how best to provide access to a broad and balanced curriculum for scattered rural communities where pupil numbers are falling.
The three headteachers, Lynda Dobson (Birkbeck School) Peter Kubicki (Cordeaux School) and Christine Carey (John Spendluffe School) have identified a broad range of areas where collaboration could both increase the quality of education and be cost effective. These include the possibility of shared staffing, curriculum support, strengthened governance and the development of new projects and courses all of which will provide a broader range of opportunities for young people.
If the formal consultation is positive, the ‘Shared Trust’ will be implemented on 1 September 2008. The consultation is currently in progress and full details are available from the schools or on the school websites.
