A multi-academy trust will grow to 17 schools if its plan to join forces with another trust is given the go-ahead.
The Cam Academy Trust, which runs four secondaries and eight primaries in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, has agreed with ACES Academies Trust to take on its five schools.
The boards of the two trusts announced today that, if the move is approved by the Department for Education, the ACES schools will become part of The Cam Academy Trust during the next academic year.
The schools that will move include a secondary - Hinchingbrooke School, in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire - and four primaries.
Merger ‘offers benefits for both trusts’
Claire Heald, CEO of The Cam Academy Trust, said: “This is an exciting development for education in Cambridgeshire, and we believe this proposal offers real benefits for both trusts. ACES schools bring their own strengths, and we see clear opportunities for collaboration and shared learning.”
She added that existing links between the trusts’ schools - for example, some Cam primaries feed into Hinchingbrooke - will give the trust “a strong foundation for this next step together”.
Andrew Goulding, CEO of ACES Academies Trust, said: “We are proud of what our schools have achieved and of the values that guide our work. Joining Cam will allow us to build on that success with the added strength of a wider, supportive network.”
Mr Goulding, who is set to retire, added: “This proposal is about making sure our schools continue to thrive and evolve in the best interests of pupils and staff alike.”
The proposal is now set to be considered by the DfE’s regional director and advisory board in June.
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