TEACHING will improve and pupils' learning get better when an 'inadequate' primary school become an academy, it was claimed this week.

Holy Trinity Primary School, Taunton, is joining the Redstart Learning Partnership and becoming an academy in September, as revealed in the County Gazette last month.

Trinity and Ashill Community Primary School, which is rated 'outstanding' by OFSTED, are joining four other schools in the multi-academy partnership "to secure their futures".

The link up will enable them to share resources and expertise and Trinity and Ashill will "immediately start to see new investment and targeted support", according to Redstart chief executive Suzanne Flack.

She added: "Both Ashill and Holy Trinity will now benefit from a secure future and plans for sharing the best teaching and learning experience from across our trust.

"New and experienced teachers as well as school leaders will have new channels of support and career opportunities through being part of The Redstart Learning Partnership.

"Pupils will also reap the benefits of being part of a trust through enhanced teaching and learning.

"As all the schools in the partnership have their own strengths, I expect children and families to see steady changes when and where they are necessary.”

Trinity received a damning OFSTED report last November - head teacher Adrian Parsonage, who arrived weeks earlier and was credited with implementing improvements, has now resigned.

Steve Beynon, head of an interim executive board set up in the wake of the report, said: "We are delighted a decision has been made as to our sponsor so we can move forward quickly to raise standards in our school working with The Redstart Learning Partnership.

"We are sure this move will enable staff and pupils to achieve the quality we know they are capable of and reassure parents and the wider community that Holy Trinity can once again provide a high standard of education.”

Tony Blackshaw, chairman of governors at Ashill, which has two classes and a pre-school, said: "This is a great opportunity - we are so excited by the close working relationship enjoyed by the Redstart Learning Partnership schools.

"As a small, rural school we have been concerned for our sustainability in the rapidly changing world of education.

"Redstart has welcomed us with open arms and we are looking forward to supporting our partner schools and receiving the support that will enable us to retain and improve on our ‘outstanding’ status,"

The other primary schools in the partnership are Buckland St Mary, Castle Primary School in Stoke sub Hamdon, Redstart in Chard and Minerva in Taunton.