education
Contribution thanks to
Chris Lennon
FIVE YEARS OF BEING BEST!
T
Bedfordshire Schools Trust
www.bestacademies.org.uk Twitter: @BedsSchTrust
he Bedfordshire Schools Trust (BEST) is celebrating its fifth anniversary at the start of this new academic year. BEST launched in the summer of 2016. Previously BEMAT – the Bedfordshire East Multi-Academy Trust – the relaunch came under new leadership and with a new vision and set of values that would shape everything we now stand for. In the first five years BEST has grown, from six schools and two nurseries to a family of 10 schools and five nurseries. BEST schools in Living Life Magazine’s circulation area are: • Campton Academy, Campton • Etonbury Academy, Arlesey • Gothic Mede Academy, Arlesey • Pix Brook Academy, Stotfold • Robert Bloomfield Academy, Shefford • Samuel Whitbread Academy, Clifton While the first five years of BEST focused on bringing stability and coherence as well as growth to the trust, the next five years will see a period of significant change. Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) is transitioning to a two-tier model of education as part of its Schools for the Future programme. Primary and secondary schools will replace the system of lower, middle and upper schools that this area has been used to for many decades. This ambitious plan aims to ensure there are the right schools in the right places to cater for planned housing growth in the area over the next 15-20 years. The first schools to convert in what is known as the Shefford and Stotfold cluster are doing so this year. These include another BEST school, Langford Village Academy, which welcomed its very first cohort of Year 5 primary children this month. The rest of the cluster is due to change in the next few years. BEST is committed to this transition – subject to five pledges that CBC publicly committed to last year. We believe a two-tier system will help us provide your children with the best possible learning experience. It is our aim to keep our community up-to-date about the two-tier plans and we urge readers to visit our website www.bestacademies.org.uk to find out more. Or, if you have children at a BEST school, ask the Principal for more information. They’d be happy to keep you informed.
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