TWO MORE schools have joined an ever-growing multi-academy trust in Dorset.

On July 1, Okeford Fitzpaine and Shillingstone primary schools converted to become academies and join the Sherborne Area School's Trust (SAST)

SAST is a multi-academy trust, covering north and west Dorset and south Somerset.

The Trust provides improvement support and background services including finance, HR, estates, compliance and IT to member schools.

Lizzie Peters, headteacher at Okeford Fitzpaine, said: “As a small rural school, the opportunities for working with other schools within the SAST family is something that we relish.

"SAST and the North Dorset Teaching School Alliance have been a great support over the past year and we look forward to continuing on our journey to outstanding with their support.”

Jane Whitehouse-Sharpe, headteacher of Shillingstone Primary, said: “We look forward to working with other schools in our area who have the same drive and ambition as us to continue to provide the very best education for all our children.

"We are looking forward to collaborating with other schools, sharing best practice and providing our staff with excellent training opportunities”.

Steve Hillier, CEO of SAST, said: “Many schools in rural areas can feel rather isolated, but by joining SAST they benefit from high-level support and expertise, training opportunities, and from coming together with colleagues from other schools."

The Trust was only formed in 2017 but already has ten primary schools and two secondary schools on its books, as well as a number of nurseries. It caters for more than 3,170 students and employs more than 550 staff.

According to the Trust, the educational benefits for the children, staff, parents and wider community are the key factor in making any decision to change status, including:

• Helping children make even better progress and improved outcomes

• Preserving, protecting and enhancing what the school already has

• Add to the experience, expertise and quality of the Trust

• Even better teaching and learning

• It will provide the resources to continue to support outstanding teaching and learning

• High impact school to school leadership support

• More integrated and co-ordinated support for children and families

• Securing and managing resources and facilities to sustain high quality provision