Education Federation Launched in Mid Devon

THREE Mid Devon primaries are launching a pioneering educational

federation to maintain and improve their high standards .

The

governors of Wilcombe, Sampford Peverell C of E and Hemyock Primaries

have decided they want to work more closely together by forming a

federation which will be known as the Children First Federation.

The

governors of all three schools reached their decision following a

wide-ranging consultation exercise with parents and their local

communities which Tiverton People reported on in January.

The schools say the federation will ensure the

continuity of strategic leadership for all three schools whilst

maintaining high standards in teaching and learning.

Gary Chown will

be the Executive Headteacher of all three schools with new Heads of

Teaching and Learning appointed at each school.

Mr Chown took over at

Wilcombe in 2004 and oversaw significant

improvements in academic

standards as well as introducing

a number of innovative developments.

He

has also been chairman of the 320-strong Devon Association of

Primary

Heads. He said: “I am delighted that we received such

overwhelming support for our proposals during the consultation.

"This

federation represents a wonderful opportunity for all of us to

work

together to improve outcomes for children across all the

schools.”

The

new federation will have a single governing body to oversee the work of

the three primaries with representatives from all three schools. But

each school's unique individual ethos and values will be maintained

under the federation.

Mr Chown and the chairs of governors of

Wilcombe, Alison Rice, Sampford Peverell, Jim Pope, and Hemyock, Hugh

Whittaker, say federation will have a range of benefits for the schools

and all the pupils including:

• Improving outcomes for every pupil

and providing wider opportunities for them to take part in joint

projects

• Securing and developing successful leadership for the

future

• Providing more staff development opportunities which will

enable the schools to keep and develop valued staff and make better use

of individual staff expertise

• Enabling pupils to meet and work as

part of larger groups