Lockyer’s Middle School in Corfe Mullen has joined Wimborne Academy Trust’s group of first and middle schools. Pictured with pupils are WAT chair of trustees John Dickson, CEO Liz West and Lockyer’s headteacher Mark Legge.
A shared vision of putting children at the heart of everything they do has seen two Dorset education establishments join forces.
Lockyer’s Middle School in Corfe Mullen is the newest member of Wimborne Academy Trust (WAT), which now has nine schools, including four middle schools, in east Dorset.
Altogether WAT has 2,900 pupils aged four to 13 and 450 teaching and support staff.
CEO of the Trust, Liz West, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Lockyer’s Middle to our family of schools.
“This is a coming together of like-minded organisations as we both share the same vision and ethos, which is putting our children first in everything we do.
“We look forward to building on the many existing strengths Lockyer’s already offers through collaborative working, shared best practice and staff development.”
Lockyer’s Middle School, which was rated Good in its last Ofsted, has joined WAT to benefit from partnership work with other schools, particularly the Trust’s other middle schools – Allenbourn, St Michael’s and Emmanuel.
By joining WAT, Lockyer’s will also receive on-going support from the Trust’s leadership and school improvement team.
Staff development is also key to the partnership, with WAT having its own Teaching School.
Lockyer’s Middle School in Corfe Mullen has joined Wimborne Academy Trust’s group of first and middle schools. Pictured with pupils are WAT CEO Liz West, Lockyer’s headteacher Mark Legge and WAT chair of trustees John Dickson.
Lockyer’s Headteacher, Mark Legge, said: “This is an exciting coming together of similar schools with shared goals all working together to improve the education of local children.
“I am passionate about middle school education and to be able to work so closely with other middle schools is an opportunity not to be missed.
“We’ll still be very much at the heart of the Corfe Mullen community, working closely with our pyramid schools, and now we’ll also gain from being part of a very successful multi-academy trust.”
Lockyer’s Middle School provides education for children from years 5 to 8. In addition to Allenbourn, St Michael’s and Emmanuel middle schools, WAT’s other schools are Witchampton CE First, St John’s First, Merley First, Colehill First and Hayeswood First.
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