Five Lizard primary schools to become a 'multi academy'

St Keverne, Coverack, Manaccan, Grade Ruan and St Martin primary schools are to form the Keskowethyans Multi Academy Trust.

They already form a schools partnership that sees them share one headteacher, Tom Harman.

A meeting at which parents of children at all five schools could give their views and receive more information about the changes, was held last month.

Although the schools already share resources, by becoming a joint academy they will now receive funding directly from central government rather than Cornwall Council and will be able to decide how to use the money, as well as set their own curricula.

Responsibility will be given to a new, over-arching governing body, although each individual school will also maintain its own smaller governing body.

A letter will be published in each school newsletter this week informing parents that, after considering all the responses during the consultation process, the governors have voted to convert to academy status.

They wrote: “It was felt that, due to the amount of change in the education system, it is important that we take this initiative for our schools.

“We believe this will enable us to use our resources responsibly to ensure the schools sustain and improve what is important to us; our ethos and unique identity, the quality of education and care that we provide within our schools and to preserve their rightful place in our communities.”

It is hoped to open the schools as an academy trust on March 1. Between now and then each governing body will monitor the project, to “ensure that it remains in the best interest of all the schools.”

The letter adds: “We will ensure that the risks are understood and managed and that the appropriately skilled individuals are appointed as members and directors of the company.”