Dame Fiona Reynolds officially launches The Corinium Education Trust.

​

Friday 14 September 2018 was a busy day for The Corinium Education Trust and Cirencester Deer Park School as the calendar bought together two important events, the official launch of The Corinium Education Trust and the opening of Deer Park’s new flagship building. Both, however, were managed seamlessly in a tight programme that enabled the community within and around our multi-academy trust to celebrate recent achievements. 

​

As host, Chief Executive, Chiquita Henson welcomed other school leaders, members, trustees and governors to the launch event in Deer Park’s Expressive Arts centre and, after a short lunch, she introduced the programme with a reflection on the Trust’s development, ethos and ambition.

​

‘As Chief Executive, I am keen to ensure that we are able to work in equal partnership, recognise our strengths, challenge each other and draw on our individual and collective expertise to support continuous school improvement and further raise standards.’ Chiquita Henson, CEO.

​

Chiquita Henson was joined by Carol Dougill, Executive Head of Kemble and Siddington CofE Primary Schools, Karen Venner, Head of Chesterton and Liz Lang, Head of School at Cirencester Deer Park. All three commented positively on the impact membership of The Corinium Education Trust was having on their schools, staff development and pupils’ learning.

​

 ‘Joining the Corinium Education Trust has enabled each school to retain its individual ethos and vision and work together as equal partners in improving outcomes for children. We share good practice, arrange joint, high quality training across the three school phases and look at data together so that we can target resources and expertise. The trust has laid the foundations to take local schools into the future with high aspirations for all – a very exciting journey!’ Carol Dougill

​

‘The staff at Chesterton Primary School and I are very excited by the opportunity to work in collaboration with other like-minded schools to develop the quality of education across Cirencester.’ Karen Venner

​

‘Our goal is to ensure that a high quality education is available to all young people in Cirencester and the surrounding areas, so that they are able to achieve more than they first thought possible. To have the opportunity to partner with local primary schools, to work collaboratively to provide a high quality provision from the age of 4 right through to 16 is really exciting.’ Liz Lang.

​

Although The Corinium Education Trust came into existence in 1 April 2018 after a gestation period of nearly two years, which allowed for firm foundations to be laid and strong relationships formed, the official launch was purposefully timed to fit in with the new school year and confirmation of the Trust’s sponsorship of Chesterton Primary School from 1 September 2018.

​

Dame Fiona Reynolds, Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and Patron of The Corinium Education Trust, commended the partnership on its comprehensive ethos and commitment to the learning and life chances of children and young people in Cirencester and the South Cotswolds. She acknowledged the challenges ahead and conveyed her confidence in the Trust.

​

‘I’m delighted to be Patron of the Corinium Education Trust, which has got off to a great start.  The focus on an excellent education for every child is an inspiring one, and it’s clear that by working together in the Multi Academy Trust, the schools in Cirencester will achieve more and do better for more children.  I wish the Trust every success.’ Dame Fiona Reynolds

​

Following Dame Fiona Reynolds, Hannah Woodhouse, Deputy Director at the RSC's (Regional Schools Commissioners) office in Bristol, put The Corinium Education Trust’s work into context by sharing the Department of Education’s priorities for the South West.

​

‘I was delighted to represent the Regional Schools Commissioner’s office in congratulating Corinium Education Trust on their launch.  We are always really pleased to be able to support new Multi Academy Trusts committed to improving educational standards through their dedicated work within and across schools.  I was also very pleased to be part of the opening ceremony of the impressive new building at Cirencester Deer Park School.’ Hannah Woodhouse

​

To close the official launch, Chiquita Henson, invited guests to join her and Deer Park’s former pupil and three times Olympic gold medallist, Peter Reed, OBE, to open the school’s new flagship building and, after ribbon cutting and plaque unveiling, Graham Russell, Chiar of The Corinium Education Trust closed the programme with a  vote of thanks.

​

‘The Corinium Education Trust provides a new opportunity for schools to come together and collaborate for the benefit of young people. The Trust is open for other schools and colleges to join and be part of something which represents a contemporary way of working together rather than standing alone.’ Graham Russell

We are very pleased to announce that Chesterton Primary School is now officially a member of The Corinium Education Trust.  

 

After putting a robust plan in place we finally received confirmation of the school’s successful conversion to academy status from 1 September 2018 in a letter from the Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds, on Thursday 30 August 2018:

‘Academies form an integral part of the Government’s education policy to raise attainment for all children and I am delighted that this school is becoming an academy. Chesterton Primary School will now have the opportunity to benefit from the freedoms and flexibilities of academy status, to share best practice and work with others to bring about sustained improvements to all schools in the area. I would like to thank you for your commitment to and assistance in the academy process.’ Damian Hinds

​

Chesterton Primary School is a sponsored academy. We take our responsibility for raising standards very seriously across our multi-academy trust and we know that whatever our individual circumstances, we can all learn from each other. We have already been actively involved in supporting Headteacher, Karen Venner, and her team and helping them bring about improvements since April 2018.

 

We have liaised closely with the local authority to ensure a smooth transition and recruited new members of staff and appointed an interim local governing body.

 

'Becoming part of CET marks a new beginning for the school community with significant opportunities to collaborate more effectively with other schools in the South Cotswolds.' Allan Brown, Chair of the interim local governing body, Chesterton Primary School.

 

To help us bring about the transformation necessary, we have appointed Ken Buxton, former HMI, as one of The Corinium Education Trust’s School Improvement Partners. This will ensure we are able to provide the school with appropriate levels of support and challenge: 'I am delighted to be working with The Corinium Education Trust (CET) in a supportive consultancy role. The priority is to ensure that all the pupils within the CET achieve their potential. To do so, I am focused on providing the challenge needed to ensure that the schools provide high quality teaching enabling standards to rise’. Ken Buxton

 

This confirmation of Chesterton Primary School’s membership of The Corinium Education Trust is timely. Although The Corinium Education Trust came into existence on 1 April 2018, the partnership, now between four schools, is being officially launched in a special event on Friday 14 September 2018 at Cirencester Deer Park School. Chiquita Henson, Chief Executive, will be joined by Dame Fiona Reynolds, Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and Patron of The Corinium Education Trust, and Hannah Woodhouse, Deputy Director at the Regional Schools’ Commissioner’s Office, and between them they will reflect on the value of working in partnership and the importance of creating futures for children and young people in the South Cotswolds.