AN award winning primary school is preparing to share its expertise after joining a successful learning trust.
Reid Street Primary School, Darlington, has become part of the Education Village Academy Trust.
EVAT comprises Haughton Academy, Gurney Pease Academy, Springfield Academy, Marchbank Free School, Beaumont Hill Academy and Whinfield Primary School, which are all rated Good by Ofsted.
The trust has also been selected by the Government’s Department for Education to develop and build a brand-new centre for children with autism, which will be called The Garden Village School.
Reid Street Primary School has been a successful single academy trust since leaving local authority control in 2011. It has twice won the prestigious Global Empathy Award for demonstrating compassion in its daily life and features children who speak 24 different languages.
The 387 pupil school will now benefit from the economies of scale of a larger organisation meaning more of its funding will be available for teaching and learning resources in the future.
EVAT respects each school’s individuality and unique character, so Reid Street will retain its existing uniform, website and IT systems.
Principal Paula Ayto said: “Our school has been at the centre of the local community since it opened in 1912. Over time, it has seen many changes, including surviving two world wars, and has continued to thrive. This is the next step in its evolution.
“After lots of careful thought and consideration, leaders and governors decided that they wanted to build on their many informal collaborations by choosing a multi academy trust to merge with and we felt strongly that the ethos, vision and culture of the Education Village Academy Trust matched those of Reid Street.”
By merging there will be opportunities for all of the schools within the trust to learn from and support each other. There will also be openings for staff to develop their careers.
Reid Street will be able to use EVAT’s HR, finance and estates teams and because the larger trust features a secondary school the merger is expected to help with the year 6-7 transition which some primary pupils struggle with.
“This is an exciting next step for Reid Street, one which will stand the school in good stead for, hopefully, the next 112 years,” said Mrs Ayto.
“As principal, I will also be able to share my experiences and issues with the other heads as well as collaborate with the trust’s special educational needs experts and discipline for learning systems. This very much feels like the right time and the right fit.”
EVAT chief executive Mike Butler said: “I am thrilled to welcome such a good school to our community. With shared values and ethos, there is so much to be gained for staff and pupils by working together, to share expertise and experience, for the benefit of the children as they continue their learning.”
