The East Midlands Advisory Board of the Department for Education approves Caunton Dean Hole C of E Primary School to join TEAM Education Trust
A village primary school has been saved from potential closure after joining an educational trust.
The East Midlands Advisory Board of the Department for Education (DfE) has approved the academisation of Caunton Dean Hole C of E Primary School, with the school now part of TEAM Education Trust.
The move comes after a consultation into the future of the school, as prior to the partnership with TEAM, the school faced the potential of closure due to falling pupil numbers over the past few years — with this year’s reception class only seeing two new children start school.
In addition to academisation, the DfE also formally agreed to the creation of a specialist resource unit on the Caunton Dean Hole site to create provision for pupils with additional needs.
The addition of the unit will provide financial sustainability to the school, with the unit, a sister site of TEAM’s Stubbin Wood School near Mansfield, set to receive additional funding through an existing agreement with Nottinghamshire County Council.
The new unit will also serve as an pathway for pupils to follow a mainstream primary curriculum and join their mainstream peers over time.
Now that the academy order has been granted, the school will begin the official process of becoming an academy, which may take several months to complete.
Sarah Baker, chief executive of TEAM Education Trust, said: “We’re all very excited that the school will officially become part of TEAM.
“We’ve been working closely with the school, the local authority, the Southwell and Nottinghamshire Diocese and the Church of England to ensure that Caunton Dean Hole C of E Primary School remains an integral part of the local community.
“The decision by the DfE means that the school will now benefit from the resources and stability of a multi-academy trust, whilst maintaining its identity as a welcoming and nurturing small school.”
Councillor Ben Bradley, Nottinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member, Education and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, said: “I am delighted that Caunton Dean Hole C of E Primary School’s decision to academise has been approved and plans to join TEAM Education Trust’s family of schools will progress.
“Our ambition is for children to have the opportunity to experience outstanding learning, to be safe and to have their needs met as close to home as possible. Nottinghamshire’s small schools are an integral part of their communities and sustaining them is vital for local children and families.
“Our recent small schools strategy was developed to support small schools and encourage them to consider collaborative working to mitigate the challenges and pressures they face.
“Not only will this bring additional specialist provision to Nottinghamshire, joining TEAM Education Trust’s family of schools means that the school will have more certainty over its future and be able to focus on what really matters; its pupils and their learning.”
Nigel Frith, Diocesan Director of Education, said “It’s great to know that Caunton Dean Hole C of E Primary School has a future. In the midst of these challenging times TEAM Education Trust stepped forward to take the school under its wing, and they have provided an impressive level of support ever since.
“The Trust has proved repeatedly its willingness to engage with the Diocese and we are grateful. Children are at the heart of this decision and it is our hope that this decision will offer them a real opportunity to flourish.”
