Tenterden Schools Trust unites schools

by Rachael Woods

Children in one part of Kent are to be offered a “seamless” education from nursery to the age of 19 as all the town’s schools become part of a multi-academy trust.

The Tenterden Schools Trust was launched this month.

Head teachers Sally Lees of Homewood School, Sam Crinnion of the Tenterden Primary Federation and Sara Williamson of St Michael’s Church of England Primary School have all joined forces.

From left, Sara Williamson, head teacher of St Michael's Primary School; Sally Lees, chief executive of the Trust and Homewood principal and Sam Crinnion, executive head teacher of Tenterden Primary Federation

Mrs Lees, who is chief executive, said: “All the heads are really excited about the trust. We have been working as a group for three years to make it happen.

“It means all the schools in Tenterden will be working together for the benefit of children and families in the area.

“The process has been complicated because joining church and non-church schools together has involved liaising with the Diocese of Canterbury, but it has gone very well.

“It means the schools can share resources, in terms of staff, buildings and finances."

In practical terms, primary school pupils would be free to use Homewood’s science labs or theatre to further their studies.

The move has seen the primary schools convert to academies, with church schools Tenterden Juniors and St Michael’s also both having to seek permission from the Diocese of Canterbury to join the trust, although this was not required for the infant school.

Home Farm Nursery at Homewood School is a subsidiary company of the trust and the idea of the alliance is to deliver a “seamless” education for pupils from birth to the age of 19.

Mrs Lees said: “A really important part of the vision is that Tenterden children can progress from nursery, through to primary and secondary and it will be a smooth connection.”