Federation to bring the best out of two schools
Two schools in Nuneaton are to join forces as part of a drive to improve standards.
Etone Community School and Technology College is to link with Hartshill School to form a new federation.
The current headteacher of Etone, Peter Kingham, will be the Executive Headteacher of the two schools. He will remain as headteacher at Etone, while Chris Connearn will stay as acting headteacher at Hartshill.
The federation has been brokered by Warwickshire County Council. It will allow the schools to work closely together, share good practice and learn lessons from each other.
Hartshill is currently in special measures and is being run by an interim executive board after the governing body was removed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in 2004.
Etone has seen results improve from 33% to 62% of pupils achieving five good GCSEs (A* to C grades) and 89% to 99% A* to G grades.
Peter Kingham, Executive Headteacher of the Federation, said: “It was an honour for Etone to be asked to form this federation. Hartshill School is very similar to how Etone was five years ago and we have proved at Etone that with hard work and determination a school can rapidly improve. We look forward as a school to working with Hartshill to bring about rapid improvement.
“I am delighted to take on the role of Executive Headteacher of the Etone - Hartshill Federation. There are many challenges ahead but I am convinced that Hartshill will move out of Special measures and improve rapidly as a school and that both Etone and Hartshill students will benefit from the federation. This is a win-win situation and it is the start of something new and big for the area.”
Chris Smart, chair of the Interim Executive Board said: “We have made progress at Hartshill since coming into office in the autumn of 2004, but want to accelerate. We are always looking for opportunities to innovate and improve the school and to reach the target of getting out of special measures. Hartshill will benefit from learning about the experiences of Etone in the past and we are looking forward to allowing staff at both schools to share their expertise. This is an exciting initiative for both schools and represents an imaginative strategy to improve the opportunities and ultimately the standards of all young people in the area and especially those from Etone and Hartshill Schools. The opportunities for successful staff at both schools are enormous.”
Eric Wood, County Education Officer, said: “This federation presents an opportunity to revitalise Hartshill School and to allow Etone to take on new challenges. I am confident that it will follow in the footsteps of the Bedworth Federation and produce results that governors, staff, pupils and parents can be proud of. The federation will initially operate until the end of March 2007 and will be reviewed in the early Spring 2007. However, we expect this to be the start of a longer term association and closer working between the two schools with clear and tangible benefits for both school communities.”