September 2022 - South Cumbria Multi Academy Trust

Staff from all three members of South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust marked a new era for education at the start of the academic year.

Around 150 staff, including teachers and support staff, from Chetwynde, Ormsgill and Vickerstown Schools, took part in an induction session led by education expert Caroline Vernon, director of Northstar Education Consultancy.

Caroline spoke to the staff explaining each school will bring their own strengths to SCMAT and the next steps will be to plan joint working on priority areas for further improvement.

They were welcomed to the Trust by Professor Andrew Wren who is CEO and Executive Headteacher of the SCMAT, led by Furness College.

“We have superb heads and superb teams and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together,” he said. “This is the start of a new era for education in South Cumbria and we are thrilled to have you on board and listen to your ideas.”

Staff took part in group sessions at the event at Furness College, including an icebreaker and gave feedback on how they would like to see SCMAT have an impact.

They also met new staff including Chief Finance Officer Ian Harris and Operations Manager Sue Harkins-Andrews who are part of the central services team.

The South Cumbria Multi Academy Trust was launched in September 2021 with Chetwynde school as its founding member and an aim to strengthen education across the area.

Member schools retain their own individuality and benefit from expertise among partners, access to facilities at the college’s £47million Channelside campus and outstanding shared services including finance, human resources, estates and health and safety.

David Holmes, headteacher of Vickerstown School which is set to formally join the Trust this term, said there had been a real buzz around the welcome event, which included an icebreaker so the staff could get to know each other.

“It was great to be here and to see the new people smiling and laughing together and there was a real feeling of positivity around the whole room.”

Ormsgill Headteacher Mick Cull said: “We are delighted to start the school’s new journey with the SCMAT and to work with other educators for the benefit of the whole community.”

Meanwhile Chetwynde Headteacher Steve Jefferson, who has been part of the SCMAT leadership team for 12 months, added he was excited to see what could happen next through collaboration with all the new partners and future partners.

More local schools are scheduled to join SCMAT later in the academic year.

For further information about joining the South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust, visit the website www.scmat.org.uk or email info@furness.ac.uk with the heading SCMAT.

A Barrow school that has joined the South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust this month is celebrating a hat-trick of education award nominations.

Three staff from Ormsgill Primary School and Nursery, which transferred into the new South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust led by Furness College on September 1, are in the running for prestigious Golden Apple Education Awards.

The Golden Apples celebrate the best of education in Cumbria and talent, resilience and achievements of the education sector and its inspiring people.

Ormsgill School Headteacher Mick Cull said it was a double celebration joining SCMAT the shortlisting of his staff across four categories.

“We are delighted that the quality of the school’s teaching and support staff and its close links with the community has been recognised in these education awards. It shows the sheer depth of talent we have at our school and the work that the staff put in above and beyond their roles.

“We are starting the academic year on a very positive footing. Our membership of South Cumbria Multi-Academy trust will accelerate improvements we are already making for the benefit of our pupils and the community.”

Ormsgill staff nominated for Golden Apples include Stephanie Buttriss, who is shortlisted in the Best Teaching Assistant category for her innovative work to give a voice to a pupil who struggles to communicate with the outside world.

In addition, teacher Laura Reid is in the running for Best Teaching Professional for her going above and beyond her own specialist subject of maths to improve literacy levels across her school and launching the community-wide Ormsgill Book Festival.

Plus popular caretaker Arthur ‘Hedley’ Smith has been nominated by pupils for Best Support Staff and also for the People’s Choice Award, which goes to a public vote.

The South Cumbria Multi Academy Trust was launched in September 2021 with education at its heart and a real focus on pupils achieving their full potential and gaining valuable academic and life skills.

Ormsgill School joins founding member Chetwynde School as the Trust commits to providing excellent education across the area. It will work with industry and the wider community to identify what skills and expertise are needed to give children and young people the best chance for their future.

Furness College Principal and Chief Executive Professor Andrew Wren said: “As soon as I stepped foot in the school and met Mick and he outlined the ethos of his school and his vision for the future, I knew that Ormsgill School was a perfect fit for the South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.

“Ormsgill School is a great school with a forward-thinking team led by someone who wants to make a real difference in his community and we are pleased to have them as our first standalone primary school.”

SCMAT is also working with Vickerstown School, which is set to formally join the Trust later this term, with more local schools also scheduled to join later in the academic year.

For further information about joining the South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust, visit the website www.scmat.org.uk or email info@furness.ac.uk with the heading SCMAT.

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