Powerful education trust of 18 schools forms after merger

The EQUA Mead Learning Trust officially launched on June 1.

It was formed when the EQUA Multi Academy Trust, which previously ran nine schools, and The Mead Trust, which previously ran three schools merged together.

At the same time, a further six local authority schools also decided to join, creating one single Trust with two secondary schools and 16 primary schools.

The EQUA Mead Learning Trust consists of schools across Wiltshire and provides education to almost 6,000 children and young people, in both church schools and non-church schools, with almost 200 Nursery places and 149 Complex Needs Resource Base places.

Primary school pupils along with staff at the EQUA Mead Learning Trust launch. Image: Trevor Porter 77108-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)

This is almost a third of all resource base places in the whole of Wiltshire, said Paul Skipp, chief executive officer of EQUA Mead Learning Trust.

He said: “We are delighted that schools from across the county have come together as one Trust. We are really excited about the opportunities the new Trust presents to our schools.

“As a Trust, we believe it is important to recognise the individual differences between schools, however, we also recognise the significant benefits to schools when they work closely with each other.”  

In April this year the Department for Education announced that over 50 per cent of schools across the country have now converted to become academies and are now in Multi Academy Trusts.

The South West has seen a swift increase, particularly over the last three years, with 64 per cent converting from being a local authority schools. In Wiltshire, 54 per cent of schools are now academies.

The EQUA Mead Learning Trust consists of Dauntsey Primary School, St Thomas a Becket CE Primary School, Rushall CE Primary School, Chirton CE Primary School, Woodborough CE Primary School, All Cannings CE Primary School, Bishops Cannings Primary School, St Barnabas CE Primary School, and Lavington Secondary school, which are based towards the east of the county.

It also includes The Mead Primary School and Castle Mead School, The Grove Primary School, Studley Green Primary School, Belllefield Primary and Nursery School and The John of Gaunt School, all based in Trowbridge, North Bradley CE Primary School, Southwick CE Primary School, and River Mead Primary School in Melksham.

Pupils watch Lilly, of Bellefield Primary School, help plant an Acer tree marking the launch of the EQUA Mead Learning Trust. Image: Trevor Porter 77108-3 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Mr Skipp added: “Schools are already seeing the benefits of working with each other through joint training events, sharing expertise and best practice, sharing resources and through increased opportunities for children and young people.

“Our central team is focussed on adding real value to each school, providing extra capacity which in turn allows a greater focus to be on the children and young people. This is a really exciting time for schools and we look forward to our continued work with them.

One of the schools that has joined EQUA Mead Learning Trust is Southwick CE Primary School, where headteacher, David Cook said: ‘We are really pleased to join the Trust, we think there are huge advantages to schools working closely and are delighted to be part of a local family of schools.”

The official Trust launch took place on June 1 in The Hub building at John of Gaunt School where headteachers and children from across all the Trust schools, joined together and took part in a combined Art project.