TWO top performing school trusts have joined forces under a new name to ignite some of the best learning opportunities in the region.
Spark Education Trust replaces Vision 1590, itself the product of a merger in September of two Teesside multi-academy trusts.
The move follows shared ambitions to expand held by the Vision Academy Learning Trust and The 1590 Trust.
Spark will see four secondary schools, including Conyers School, Yarm, Laurence Jackson School, Guisborough, Huntcliff School, Saltburn and Egglescliffe School and Sixth Form, Eaglescliffe, and 11 primary schools, come under one umbrella organisation.
The new trust will serve 8,000 children and 1,200 staff making it above average in size. All the schools are currently ranked good or outstanding by Ofsted.
Each of the schools, some of which gained academy status as far back as 2013, will retain their individual identities, including branding and uniforms, but will benefit from the shared expertise held within the trust.
Spark spans three local authority areas and will now run one school in Middlesbrough, 11 in Stockton and three in Redcar and Cleveland. The new board comprises five trustees from each of the former trusts and a new appointment specialising in secondary education.
The move follows the retirement of renowned educationalist and Vision chief executive Simon White.
Spark Chief Executive Louise Spellman told guests at the official launch, hosted by Conyers School, Yarm: “Simon and I had worked together on several projects and joining the two trusts seemed a natural fit in terms of shared vision, values and the geography of the schools. It brings together two small but mighty trusts rooted in optimism, aspirations and the potential of all our young people.
“We wanted a name that would be different. Spark seems appropriate as it captures everything we want to achieve in our schools, such as igniting potential in young people and children and staff being bright sparks. It also celebrates the fact that the safety match was invented in Stockton.”
“Key to the new trust is that our schools will be more than just great exam results and inspection reports. It’s also about the development of the whole child using a broad curriculum and huge extra-curricular activities programme, including creative arts, sport and music. We want outstanding results and everything else including the right career pathways and destinations for our students.”
She said staff would benefit from working in a community of like-minded people with development opportunities for everyone from trainees to executive leadership.
“Working for the trust will be based on optimism and hope,” Mrs Spellman added. “Staff will have the opportunity to upskill in post and there will be a special Bright Sparks initiative for our most talented and ambitious colleagues. They will also have a huge amount of fun working with brilliant colleagues and fantastic young people.
“We will strive to provide an environment where they can flourish and ignite the potential in all our students who will become the trailblazers of tomorrow.”
Spark’s director of education John Downs said: “The curriculum has to be so much more than what happens in the classroom and exam results, it must prepare our young people for what lies ahead so they can deal with whatever life throws at them.”
Spark’s director of education for primary Maria Carlton said too often children were limited by exams. “At Spark we see things differently and make sure pupils will be ready for the next chapter of their lives,” she said. “We will help them enjoy their time at school.
“In years to come they won’t remember period four on a Friday studying maths but will look back on school trips to the Lakes or Parliament, learning a musical instrument, or making a sand castle at the seaside. These experiences will be the catalyst to personal growth and you would struggle to replicate these from a text book. We want to create memories that will last a lifetime.”
Spark’s director of education for secondary Lindsay Oyston told guests: “We will also invest in our talented staff offering professional development, from training to headships. Our Bright Sparks programme will support, train and mentor the teachers and leaders of the future and by doing this we hope to attract high quality candidates to our schools.”
Director of education Danny Yates added: “We will strengthen our community presence and develop partnerships with business. We will help everyone understand how they can make a positive impact on society.”
