Four Bridgnorth schools linking up to work as ‘family’

Four schools are teaming together to be run under a trust – separate from the local authority.

From left, Kay Ferriday Headteacher, St Leonard’s; Sarah Godden, Executive Head of the Trust; Jackie Hampson, Headteacher, Castlefields; and Paul O’Malley, Headteacher, Alveley.

The Bridgnorth Area Schools’ Trust was founded in 2015 by Oldbury Wells School to provide an academy group that would serve a local school network.

Castlefields Primary School and St Leonard’s CE Primary School are the latest to join the ranks.

Alveley Primary School previously joined the partnership in 2016 – with teachers say it had enjoyed a good boost to standards and to the quality of education for its pupils following the move.

Pictured with pupils from the new Year 7s at Oldbury Wells School are pupils from St Leonard’s, Alveley and Castlefields Schools with from left, Judy Mondon Chair of Governors, Oldbury Wells School; Richard Wassell Vice Chair of St Leonard’s School; Jane Ashling Chair of Governors, St Leonard’s School; Kay Ferriday Headteacher St Leonard’s, Sarah Godden, Paul O’Malley Headteacher Alveley, and Jackie Hampson Headteacher Castlefields.

Headteacher Jackie Hampson from Castlefields School said: “We are due to join the trust on November 1 when the legal process will be completed.

“We will continue to work as independent schools – as we are now – but will be joined together as a new family group.”

The trust was established with the purpose of supporting and coordinating local education.

It was founded on the belief that schools are stronger and can achieve more for their pupils when they work together.

As such, the trust’s logo was designed to reflect that view with individual coloured arches that together make up a bridge.

“We are thrilled to have two excellent schools joining our trust," added Sarah Godden, executive head of the trust. “Both Castlefields and St Leonard’s are great schools. They both have professional and dedicated staff, very successful pupils and strong, effective leadership.

Year 7 pupils at Oldbury Wells School and pupils from St Leonard’s, Castlefields and Alveley schools with Kay Ferriday Headteacher St Leonard’s, Sarah Godden Headteacher Oldbury Wells and Executive Head of the Trust, Paul O’Malley Headteacher Alveley and Jackie Hampson Headteacher Castlefields.

"We have worked together informally for many years and now look forward to the benefits to our students that will come from closer teamwork.”

Pupils from the four schools met together on October 4 for a Maths Masterclass held at Oldbury Wells School.

The regular feature at the school sees able mathematicians from year six come together from several local schools. They were joined today by headteachers and governors from the four schools to mark the occasion.

Kay Ferriday, headteacher of St Leonard’s, said: “The day was a day of celebration in Bridgnorth town. It is an important development for us at St Leonard’s and also for education in our town. I look forward to working with my fellow Headteachers to be part of shaping our schools’ futures.”