Catholic schools set to join a new trust

Headteachers hope the fresh partnership will usher in a new era of support and cooperation among teaching staff to help achieve the best possible education for their students.

Mansfield’s All Saints’ Secondary School will become an Aquinas Catholic Academy on 1st April.

Headteacher Maureen Cobbett said: “This will mean a sharing of expertise across the academy trust and mutual support for each other as schools.

“As secondary and primary schools we all have good with outstanding Ofsted grades but this will help achieve outstanding grades in the future.”

Joining All Saints’ on 1st April will be Manfield’s St Patricks Primary School.

Later in the year St Philip’s Primary, Mansfield, St Joseph’s Primary, Shirebrook, and St Joseph’s, Boughton, will also come on board.

Ms Cobbett added: “We are considering sharing staff across the trust.

“So, if someone is an outstanding maths teacher then they could be shared across academies.

“Now guidance will be better because out educational welfare officer will be working across the schools to get to know the pupils really well.”

The newly established Aquinas Catholic Academy Trust is part of the Nottingham Catholic Diocese, funded by the Education Funding Agency.

Bursar Jon Holt said: “Though the schools have been working together and supporting each other for many years and this new venture allows them to provide the highest level of education for students across the area.

“All Saints’ is entering into this on a voluntary basis because our results are good and we think it will benefit our students.”