BICKLEIGH-on-Exe Primary School has announced plans to join the successful Primary Academies Trust.

Bickleigh’s governors say they want to join the Trust in September and are holding an information meeting for parents next month.

The Primary Academies Trust is run by Chief Executive Officer Gary Chown and currently consists of eight schools.

Its most recent success was turning around the former Walter Daw Primary School in Exeter which was judged as requiring improvement by Ofsted inspectors just over two years ago.

Walter Daw became the Woodwater Academy in January 2013 as part of PAT and a new Ofsted report this month concluded: “The Trust structure provides an over-arching framework that is enabling rapid and sustained school improvement to the benefit of all pupils.”

The inspectors said Woodwater Academy was a good school with a range of outstanding features, including the leadership and management.

Bickleigh chairman of governors, Adrian Gicquel, said: “The governing body has spent the last six months considering the best way forward for the leadership and management of Bickleigh-on-Exe Primary School.

“We would like to reassure parents that this move will continue to support the current ethos and educational principles of Bickleigh-on-Exe School and our commitment to be an active supporter of the Learning Community, local schools and the community we serve.

“The governors see this as an exciting opportunity to work with other schools whose primary purpose is to focus on raising standards and increase the opportunities of learning for all pupils.

“This will be a wonderful opportunity for all the children, yet will preserve the individuality of Bickleigh-On-Exe School and the integrity of primary and Early Years education.”

Mr Gicquel said children would be able to meet and work as part of larger groups drawn from other schools in the Trust and there would be more opportunities to enhance the education of the pupils through joint school events such as sports and creative projects.

There would be an opportunity to share resources and to provide greater development opportunities for staff which would enable Bickleigh to retain and develop valued teachers and support staff and develop successful leaders for the future.

Bickleigh would also be able to share best practice with other Trust schools by making full use of staff expertise in specialist areas and manage school budgets more effectively.

There will be an information evening for parents at the school on April 15 at 7pm which will be attended by governors and Mr Chown.

Any questions or comments from parents should be submitted in writing to the school office by March 27.