A SOMERSET secondary school has announced it is joining an academy trust from this summer.

Kingsmead School, in Wiveliscombe, is joining multi-academy trust the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) on July 1 after the Department for Education (DfE) formally approved the transfer.

The CLF was formed in 2009 as a small, Bristol-based secondary education partnership. It now has 35 schools in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Somerset.

Previously, Kingsmead has been a standalone academy, with around 900 students on roll.

In 2022, Ofsted inspectors ranked the school as ‘requires improvement’, but noted improvements at the last visit, in December last year.

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Inspectors praised its work on personal development, safeguarding and careers education, recognising the quantity of work put into reviewing and strengthening the curriculum.

Kingsmead head teacher, John Eddy, said: “This is a hugely exciting development which I am confident will deliver substantial long-term benefits for Kingsmead and all of our staff and students.

“The CLF has an established track record of delivering significant improvement to schools across the west country. Its ethos of investing in people, building community partnerships and providing truly equitable opportunities for all pupils is firmly in line with our own ambitions.

“This is a decision which has been made with student wellbeing and success at the forefront of our minds and we are confident our students will benefit substantially from CLF membership.

“Closer relationships with other schools within the CLF will give us access to greater resources and expertise, helping our teaching staff to further grow their skills and deliver a first rate education to all students.

“It will not, however, mean that Kingsmead surrenders its identity– decisions about the school’s future will still be made within the Kingsmead community. The voice of our staff, students and parents will continue to be heard.”

Kingsmead has around 900 children on roll

Steve Taylor, CEO of the CLF, said: “Welcoming Kingsmead into the CLF family is a great opportunity for us to grow our Somerset cluster with a new and ambitious partner school and support more children and families in the area.

“I look forward to working with new colleagues, who will further enhance the CLF’s ability to create positive futures for young people across the south west.”

Ahead of the transfer in July, the school will also be inviting parents/carers to an information evening where they can meet representatives of the CLF and senior staff.