Group confirms Cambridge schools will join national trust

Three Cambridge secondary schools and two sixth-forms are to be become part of a nationwide multi-academy trust, it has been confirmed.

In a letter to parents this week, United Learning (UL) said it had approved plans for Cambridge Academic Partnership (CAP) to join its growing group, although the move will need to be approved by the regional schools commissioner headteacher board in June.

CAP has repeatedly stated that should the proposals not be approved by the board, then school subjects and staff would have to be cut. It says that joining UL will ensure the financial stability of the partnership’s schools – Parkside, Trumpington, Coleridge, and the Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology.

But parents are worried that the move will result in a loss of local autonomy – they have raised concerns about both the quality of service the schools will receive from such a large trust and questioned whether the proposals with create financial stability in the face of government budget cuts.

From June 1, Abbey Meadows Primary School will also join the trust. The primary will also change its name to Galfrid School.

CAP chair Janet Swadling wrote: “We have been pleased to learn that the United Learning Trust Board accepted our request to join them at their meeting in April.

“This means that we can now proceed to submit our proposal to the regional schools commissioner headteacher board in June, and hopefully complete the process of joining the group by September.

“A number of very constructive meetings have already been held between senior staff members from CAP and UL.

“Also, we can confirm that within UL, the local governing body arrangements for each of the individual schools are effectively strengthened and that local and parental representation will continue.”

CAP has held a number of meetings with parents at Coleridge, Parkside and Trumpington as part of its consultation on the proposals.

Responding to questions raised by parents, the trust said: “We will be part of a region but we will remain our own cluster as CAP. CAP will no longer be a legal entity so there will be no need for a CEO.

“We will remain as a cluster of four schools in the city. The new role of executive headteacher, initially at Parkside, will ensure that our structure remains as a cluster.

“UL has confirmed that it is not anticipating any further growth in the region at this stage.”