TWO TAVISTOCK schools want to launch a pioneering 'educational federation' to raise standards and achievement. St Rumon's Infants and St Peter's Junior have both been judged good schools by independent education inspectors and have regularly worked together for the past three years. But they say they want to formalise that co- operation and forge even closer ties to produce an outstanding federation. A wide-ranging consultation exercise has been launched for parents and the wider community to have their say. The plan has already won the backing of the heads and governing bodies of both schools. They would like to introduce the federation from September 2008. It will mean the schools retaining their individual identities, budgets and catchment areas — but it will allow structured and sustained collaboration between staff on the core purpose of teaching and learning. There will be a single executive headteacher and a single governing body, with senior leaders responsible for teaching and learning in each school. The head of St Rumon's, Clare Wesson, said: 'We believe these two good schools can become an outstanding federation in a union underpinned by our common values as Church of England schools. 'This will enable us to streamline our leadership and bring the schools closer together in ethos and vision. 'It will enable us to pool our resources and expertise for the good of all our pupils and it will help to improve the transition between the two schools.' The head of St Peter's, John George, who is retiring at the end of the academic year, said: 'This is the most exciting legacy I could leave. 'Our recent Ofsted inspection found St Peter's was a happy and caring school with high standards — I believe this federation will enable us to take both schools to another level.' The schools say the federation will allow them to use their resources more effectively. Staff would be able to work together to ensure all the pupils have access to a wider and more flexible curriculum. They could bring teaching and assessment in both schools into line, which would ensure an even smoother transition from St Rumon's to St Peter's and specialist staff, such as the special educational needs co-ordinator and subject leaders, would be able to work across both schools allowing a continuity of approach. The chair of governors at St Peter's, Hilary Johnson, said: 'There are a number of federations working extremely well in Devon already and we have also visited a highly successful federation between an infant and junior school in London to see how that works. 'The purpose of this proposal is to ensure the highest quality of teaching and learning for all our children.' Mrs Johnson, whose grandfather A B Treloar was head of the predecessor school to St Rumon's, said: 'I have a deep emotional attachment to both schools and I believe this is a tremendous opportunity to take teaching and learning in St Rumon's and St Peter's to another level.' The chair of governors at St Rumon's, James McQueen, said: 'Federation would mean one governing body providing one strategic vision of education for pupils at the two schools. 'Staff at both schools will be able to work closely together to create innovative and exciting ways of approaching teaching and learning and raising standards even higher.' There will be consultation meetings for parents at St Rumon's on March 6 at 6pm and at St Peter's on March 12 at 1.30pm. Parents are welcome to attend whichever is more convenient. The latest date for comments is April 2 and a final decision will be taken after the Easter school holidays.
