Chiltern Learning Trust has grown to a family of 15 schools with the addition of four Bedfordshire schools.
The four: Lancot Primary School, Kempston Challenger Academy, Daubeney Academy and Springfield Primary School – were all part of the Challenger Multi-Academy Trust (CMAT).
CMAT’s Trustees took the decision for the schools to join with Chiltern Learning Trust (CLT) and this was formerly approved, following an extensive period of consultation and due diligence, by the Department for Education on May 1, 2022.
CMAT’s Trustees had previously decided that joining with an experienced local multi-academy trust was the best course of action following the withdrawal of their original sponsor.
The Trustees selected CLT as the best multi-academy trust for their four Bedfordshire schools to join due to CLT’s excellent reputation and a shared character-led approach to learning.
CLT’s Senior Leadership Team is led by CEO Adrian Rogers and the team has worked closely with the four schools, sharing their collective knowledge and expertise.
Adrian Rogers, CEO at Chiltern Learning Trust, said: “As a local Bedfordshire trust, we are delighted and proud that the four schools are formally joining the Chiltern Learning Trust family.
“We look forward to working with the two communities that we already know so well, Kempston and Dunstable.
“The Chiltern Learning Trust is characterised by our passionate and unrelenting drive to ensure that every one of our pupils makes extraordinary progress, achieves exceptional standards and realises his or her huge potential within schools where best practice is commonplace.
“We have got to know each of the four schools and their communities over recent months and will be furthering this now they are all officially part of the Trust.”
Chiltern Learning Trust manages primary and secondary phase schools throughout Bedfordshire and Luton, including Denbigh High School, Challney High School for Boys and Challney High School for Girls, each rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. This is alongside two national teaching schools, demonstrating their expertise in supporting and improving schools.
Through this new partnership, CLT will deliver services that will strengthen teaching and learning, review current strategies for school improvement and support the development of effective, strong governance and robust leadership at each school.
As part of this new era, CLT aims to ensure the four schools retain and strengthen their own school status, without losing their individuality. To reflect this, the names of Lancot Primary School, Daubeney Academy and Springfield Primary School will remain the same. However, there will be a change to the name of Kempston Challenger Academy, with it becoming Kempston Academy to fully reflect the school now being part of the CLT family.
Matthew Lee, Head of School at Daubeney Academy, said: “Joining Chiltern Learning Trust will open doors of opportunity with a wealth of experience as we continue to ensure we deliver the best possible education to our students. We cannot wait to get started.”
Karen Bateman, Executive Headteacher at Kempston Academy, added: “We know that we will thrive by being part of the Chiltern Learning Trust family. Through collaboration with staff in CLT schools, working with the central team and learners across the Trust, we will have access to a wealth of opportunities, helping us to grow and develop.”
Claire Andrews, Headteacher at Springfield Primary School, said: “As we officially join the Chiltern Learning Trust, we are inspired to enhance the learning opportunities we provide working together. Everyone is enthusiastic for all the possibilities that we can achieve together towards excellence, ambition and inspiration.”
Claire Probert, Headteacher at Lancot Academy, added: “We feel passionately about the Chiltern Learning Trust vision to educate, empower and inspire our pupils and wholeheartedly embrace the journey that lies ahead, working within such a forward thinking and innovative Trust.”
To find out more about CLT, please visit www.chilternlearningtrust.org/
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