Cumbria’s largest schools trust looks set to grow again and launch a new education hub in the county.
Cumbria Education Trust is in talks to partner with Kendal’s The Queen Katherine School to start a new southern hub for the multi-academy trust, which has established similar school groups in the north and west of the county.
The 950-student school has approached the trust to formally explore the possibility of joining it.
The trust already has three secondary schools – William Howard in Brampton, Workington Academy and The Whitehaven Academy.
Since 2015, the trust has grown to cover 13 schools and is responsible for the education of more than 4,500 young people.
Its model is to build geographic hubs – as it has on the west coast and in Carlisle – for education from ages two to 18, with primary schools feeding secondaries.
Chief executive Lorrayne Hughes said: “We are delighted to have been asked to explore the possibility of Queen Katherine School working with the trust.
“It is a school with an excellent reputation and with a staff – like our own – dedicated to doing everything in their power to help young people achieve.
“We have been preparing for strategic growth over the last few years and are now well placed to work with headteacher Jon Hayes and his staff to looking at forming a southern hub.”
Mr Hayes said partnering with the trust would be an exciting next step for the school.
He said: “Queen Katherine School is a strong school which benefits all of its students and is achieving well by every measure, including this year’s excellent GCSE and A-level results.
“Joining with the trust would open up new opportunities for cross-school work and support, further curriculum expansion, staff development, wider opportunities and increased resources for students and staff.
“It would also give us greater opportunities for working with our primary partners within the local area and I think this would be a great move for all concerned and education in the South Lakeland area in general.”
The school, currently part of The Fells Trust, has 117 members of staff and offers 40 subjects for young people to study.
