GOVERNORS of Queen Elizabeth’s School in Crediton announced in February that they are looking at working with a number of neighbouring schools on the possibility of forming a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT).

A MAT is a group of schools that work together in a formal arrangement.

All schools within a MAT are governed by a single board of trustees.

The board of trustees is responsible for decisions relating to how each school is run but there would still be a local governing body who would monitor and challenge the quality of education in each school.

QE governors believe that to ensure that all QE children continue to receive the best possible educational opportunities they must consider this partnership with like-minded schools.

The school says the proposal will mean that QE school remains an Academy School, but it will become a school within a MAT.

The governors told the “Courier”: “The Dartmoor Multi-Academy Trust has a strong vision to provide the highest possible quality of education for all our local children - cross phase (from pre-school to age 19) with a co-operative, community-based and inclusive ethos.

“Part of this process to form a MAT involves consulting with parents, staff and other stakeholders.

“With this in mind, governors at all the schools involved have arranged a series of meetings prior to the formal consultation.

“Since the announcement in February representatives from QE’s governing body have been attending the Farmers’ Market to gather views and share information with the community, and the Principal, Rupert Poole, has been in discussions with staff in the school and answering their questions.

“QE governors and Rupert have also had several meetings with all the schools in the potential MAT and now the group of schools are ready to host an Open Meeting for parents and the wider community to explain and discuss the current position.

“The meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 26 in the Barnfield campus Hall at QE starting at 6pm.

“If you would like to attend please email the clerk to the Governors, Lisa Champ, at: [email protected] together with any question you would like to put forward.”

Alan Quick