As we gallop towards the end of another academic year it is important to take time to reflect on the progress and achievements of the whole Trust community.  We started the year by welcoming Warren School and Riverwalk School to our Trust, adding an exciting new Special School dimension.  As we come to the close of the year, we prepare to welcome a new community to our family of Schools.  Reedham Primary School in Norfolk.  We also prepare to extend our community at Barnby and North Cove Primary with a Specialist Resource base being built as I write.  Both settings will add further richness and complexities to our already far-reaching organisation.  The Trust has grown significantly since 2016 but the values that I held dear of family, community and child centred has not waivered.  

A key element of the Trust's community engagement is the connection with families and communities through our Locality Committees (LCs).  LCs are our version of local governance where members of wider school community, including parents can engage in supporting the school leaders.  While LCs do not have the legal duties of a School Governing Body, the committees do have a valuable role in the governance structure, effectively being the eyes and ears of the Trust Board and holding school and Trust to account.  

The 'birth' of the LC model has been difficult at times, with a break during the covid-years, a recovery of volunteering attitudes and a few changes in the Trust's governance support staff.  We have ridden all of those issues and are now looking forward to a more positive, more engaging and more impactful partnership.  

Every school and setting have a Locality Committee where schools work together with a single Academy Head there is a single Locality Committee.  We are actively seeking NOW volunteers from the community to apply to join the Locality Committee at your school.  If you are interested in finding out more how you can support the shaping of your community school, please get in touch.  Expressions of Interest, stating your name and connection to which school or setting, should be emailed to the Trust Governance Manager, p.folkard@consortiumtrust.org.uk

I very much look forward to working with you.

Andrew