FOUR West Somerset schools are taking steps towards becoming a Multi Academy Trust.

At meetings held this week, the governors of All Saints Church First School in Dulverton, Dulverton Middle and Community School, Exford Church First School and Minehead Middle School agreed to consult their local communities on working together under a single board of directors.

The directors will work with local governing boards who will continue to monitor the schools on a day to day basis and report back to the directors.

The aim of the Trust would be to share knowledge, experience and expertise to increase standards across all four schools.

The four schools educate over 800 children and employ 50 teachers and over 100 support staff. It is hoped that the Trust could be in place from September 2015.

Chair of Exmoor Federation, which oversees the Dulverton and Exford Schools, Geoff Kirton said: “We’re delighted to have come to this agreement and look forward to working in partnership with Minehead Middle School.

“It’s a way forward that will really benefit our children, their families and the wider community and we are excited about the prospect.”

Chair of governors at Minehead Middle School, Martina Forster, said: “We believe that by working together our children can really benefit from sharing and utilising many strengths and skills and so raise standards and in turn make all of the schools in the Trust sustainable in the long term.”

Only All Saints First School and Exford First School are Church of England Schools.

Tess Gale, director of education for the Diocese of Bath and Wells, described the proposal as a “positive development”.

She said: “Working together in a Multi Academy Trust offers a powerful model for securing the future of high quality education across the unique community of West Somerset.”

Rose Collinson, director of children’s services at Somerset County Council, said: “We are very pleased that schools in West Somerset are committing to working closely together to offer a good quality education to the children of Minehead and Exmoor.

“Local guidance issued to parents by Somerset County Council, advising them on their options for schools, will not be affected by the creation of the MultiAcademy Trust.”

Consultation events will take place in Dulverton and Minehead in February.

There will also be an opportunity to participate online at a later date – keep checking your County Gazette for details