Earlier this week the Department of Education’s Regional Director’s Advisory Board approved a merger between Excalibur Academies Trust(EAT) and Gatehouse Green Learning Trust(GGLT). This follows a wide ranging consultation with staff, parents/carers, governors, trustees, local communities and colleagues from the two trusts. It is hoped that the merger will be completed in time for the academic year 2023.
Excalibur Academies Trust was founded in 2012 and now has 15 schools, four secondary (including St John’s) and 11 primary, including nursery and Post 16 provision, with hubs based in Bristol, Wiltshire and Berkshire. GGLT comprises five schools, three primary and two secondaries, a joint Post 16 provision with Cotham secondary school in Bristol and a resource base.
The merger proposals include a “hub model”, with the schools in each area collaborating on activities such as training, curriculum planning and supporting young people. Links between the two trusts are already starting to have benefits, with shared SEND Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) expertise being one example. Now that the merger has been approved, both organisations will prioritise creating stronger links to ultimately shape and develop the local hubs.
This work will begin in earnest from next term, with a collective commitment to a set of joint values shared across all school communities. Meetings and activities to ensure people within the two trusts get to know each other, fully understand the merger and shape its future by informing trustees of what they value most, will also feature. A Shadow Board with fair representation from both GGLT and EAT will be established, although oversight for detailed planning will continue to be overseen by the joint merger steering group.
Margaret Simmons-Bird, OBE, Board Chair of Gatehouse Green Learning Trust commented, “This is excellent news and will allow us to continue the next exciting part of our journey. I would like to thank everyone in our schools’ communities for sharing their voices and opinions in the consultation; we have spent considerable time taking each and every one on board, enabling us to change our plans wherever possible.”
Toby Watson, Board Chair of Excalibur Academies Trust said, “We are delighted that our merger has been given the green light by the Regional Director’s Advisory Board. Much hard work went into the submission and now we can work more closely serving our young people, staff and communities.”
Nicky Edmondson, CEO of EAT added, “I am looking forward to the next stage of Excalibur and Gatehouse Green’s development. I can see a bright future for all our stakeholders, with ultimately our young people always being our first and foremost priority.”
Nick Lewis, Interim CEO, GGLT concludes: “I am so pleased for our communities and young people that after rigorous scrutiny and a positive consultation, our trusts are able to move a step closer together.”
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