Partnership aims to provide streamlined curriculum for all ages (From This is The West Country)
Get involved! Send your photos, video, news & views by texting COUNTY GAZETTE to 80360 or email us
Partnership aims to provide streamlined curriculum for all ages
10:00am Saturday 2nd March 2013 in Somerset
By Hannah Green
Exmoor Federation head teacher Jerry Weedon with West Somerset Community College principal Gaynor Comber. PHOTO: Steve Quantick
YOUNGSTERS in West Somerset could benefit from a partnership designed to streamline their entire school career.
West Somerset Community College and the Exmoor Federation – Dulverton Middle, All Saints and Exford Schools – hope to work closely together in a new structure to provide a curriculum for 0 to 19-year-olds.
The strengthened collaboration aims to give children from the southern half of Exmoor access to a full range of specialist teaching from 11.
In return it is hoped the unique aspects of the schools based in the national park, not least the Exmoor curriculum, will provide a richer learning experience for West Somerset students.
College principal Gaynor Comber said: “This is a very exciting opportunity that will further improve the educational outcomes for young people across West Somerset.
“I am very pleased that the ExmoorFederationand the college will work even more closely than we currently do in order to secure outstanding progress and experiences in all the schools involved.”
Federation head teacher Jerry Weedon added: “We have always had a strong partnership between the three middle schools – Dulverton, Minehead and Danesfield – and the college because of the three-tier system, which we think works really well for the children.
“The college has far greater resources, which our pupils would have access to, while they are keen for their students to develop the environment ethos found in our Exmoor curriculum.
“Everything we do is about benefiting the pupils and giving them something extra, and we believe this partnership will do that.
“It’s all about developing something new and the ultimate aim is raising standards.It really is exciting.”
The college and the Exmoor Federation will work closely with parents, carers, staff and students, and with governors and school leaders inother partner schools, to share further information about the planned collaboration over the next year or two.
