Huttoft Primary School is to become the fifth school to join the growing Horncastle Education Trust.

The news comes as the trust celebrates its third anniversary on 1st December, marking three years since Banovallum School and Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Horncastle, New York Primary School and Frithville Primary School united to form a multi-academy trust.

Since the trust’s inception the schools have benefited from sharing expertise and support, working together to ensure their vision that “every student whatever their background has the right to flourish, to achieve and to succeed” is honoured.

Staff within the trust have previously worked with Huttoft Primary School, CEO Heather Payne explained: “We have worked together on a range of projects in the past and share a common ethos; it is a natural progression for Huttoft to join our family of schools.

“It’s an exciting time for our trust, and anyone wishing to join us either as a member of our dedicated staff team or as a school is encouraged to get in touch with us.

“We are truly delighted and look forward to welcoming Huttoft in spring 2022,” she added.

All four schools have celebrated various milestones and achievements recently, from QEGS’ 450th anniversary in June to Banovallum’s business-led Careers Convention in October. Both New York Primary School and Frithville Primary School contributed to the food bank during Harvest Festival, and New York Primary School is extending its site with a new modular building.

Commenting on the trust’s work, Simon Furness, Headteacher at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, said: “Despite the disruption caused by the pandemic, working within the Horncastle Education Trust has already provided a range of opportunities for leaders, teachers and support staff to work together for the benefit of the students; we have definitely been stronger together.

“We were able to work with Banovallum to ensure that the children of key workers and vulnerable children could continue to attend school, limiting possible interruptions to their education.

“As we look to the future, and hopefully a more settled period, the possibilities for further collaboration between staff and students across the trust are truly exciting.”

Grant Edgar, Headteacher at Banovallum School, added: “One of the key strengths of working as part of the Horncastle Education Trust is that we are able to provide a tailored response to the needs of our schools and community, which has been best illustrated during the pandemic.

“Being a small, local trust meant we could make decisions quickly in what was a very dynamic and fast-moving situation. We were able to share expertise, experience and knowledge to provide the most appropriate solutions to our various school communities.”

Paul Bargh, Headteacher at both Frithville and New York Primary Schools, commented: “Schools draw strength from the trust and each other, working as a cohesive group of professionals for the benefit of pupils in all of our schools.”

The Horncastle Education Trust is committed to delivering high-quality education and is rooted in Lincolnshire, encompassing schools which are geographically close, sharing the drive and commitment to provide inspirational places to study, work, learn and grow.

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