welcome back
We hope you all enjoyed your Christmas break and are happy to see you back at school.
St. Thomas Church - Christmas Baubles.
Our classes have made some beautiful baubles that are now on display at St.Thomas Church, Salisbury.
These can be viewed from Tuesday 30/12 until Saturday between 10am - 6pm and Sunday 12pm - 6pm.
Look out for tree number 79!
Thank you to the PTA for arranging this lovely Christmas activity
Proposal to join a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) September 2022
Old Sarum Primary School is currently a maintained school. This means that it is controlled and maintained primarily by the Wiltshire Local Authority (LA). In the last decade or so, many schools in Wiltshire, especially secondary schools, have converted to academy status. This means that they are funded directly by the government rather than through the LA. Academy status allows more freedoms in how the school is run and the curriculum, although in practice, most academies follow the same structures and curriculum as maintained schools.
Over the last few years, many primary schools have been considering taking on academy status and joining a Multi-Academy Trust or MAT. A MAT is a group of schools which have joined together to provide mutual support and sharing of resources. MATs can be just primary schools, just secondary / sixth forms or a mixture, including special schools.
The main benefit of working together in a MAT structure comes from the ability to share resources and expertise to make better use of funding and ultimately to improve the quality of teaching and learning.
During the pandemic, leaders of small schools particularly found they were somewhat isolated although the LA worked its hardest to support them. MAT membership provides a network of support for its schools. They identify strengths and best practice to share, run training sessions to develop staff expertise. They undertake rigorous monitoring of standards and then use that information to improve their schools.
Old Sarum School Governors have reflected on these benefits and think it is worth exploring in more detail. They are therefore looking at three MATs:
Pickwick Learning Alliance https://www.pickwickacademytrust.co.uk/
Magna Learning Partnership https://www.magnalearningpartnership.org.uk/
Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust https://www.dsat.org.uk/
Joining a MAT does not usually mean changing the name of the school or the uniform. Parents of children in schools which have converted often say that they are not aware of the change of status. However, the difference made by MAT involvement should be seen in the improvement of children’s learning and their school experience. Governors are committed to applying to join a MAT only if we consider that there is a benefit to the education and welfare of children in our school.
We are aware that we need to explore the possible disadvantages of joining a MAT and also consult parents, staff and others who may have a view on the change of status.
We have put together a set of frequently asked questions (FAQ) about joining a MAT which may help parents and others.
The formal consultation will take place in the spring term but meanwhile, the Headteacher and other governors will be pleased to receive your feedback and we will do our best to answer any questions. Please either put your questions / comments on paper and send them into school (please put MAT Enquiries on the envelope) or contact Jacqui Goodall, Chair of Governors, at matenquiries@oldsarum.wilts.sch.uk.
Useful Website Links
https://www.parentkind.org.uk/Parents/Multi-academy-trusts-MATS
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Mulit-Academy Trust FAQ for Parents and Staff Sept 2022.pdf | Download |
Come and take a peek inside our school….
The children at Old Sarum have some lovely displays in their classes that they would love to share with you all.
YEAR GROUPS
WELCOME
Welcome to the Old Sarum Primary School website.
On behalf of our staff and governors, I would like to welcome you to our happy community school.
We are dedicated to giving every child the highest standard of education possible.
‘Emotional Literacy’ is at the heart of our school’s ethos. We believe all children should feel happy, valued and secure. This will pave the way for their success as lifelong learners and ensure good standards of behaviour and achievement.
All members of the school share a real sense of unity and commitment to serve our growing community and welcome opportunities to work with other groups from within it. We are very proud of all we have achieved since opening in September 2011.
Mr John Jones BA (Hons) PGCE. MSc. NPQH
Headteacher
Old Sarum Primary School staff have a message for you all...
Latest School Events
- May Half Term Holidays - School Closed30May2022
