TWO Mid Devon schools are launching an exciting educational partnership to enhance their pupils’ learning.

The governors of Uplowman C of E Primary School and Halberton Primary School have decided to form a federation from the start of the new academic year in September.

The schools have been working together since last year in a management partnership and the federation will formalise their relationship.

They say the federation will help to maintain high standards in teaching and learning and enhance pupils’ overall educational experience.

Each school’s budget, unique individual ethos, values and admissions procedures will be maintained.

But there will be greater opportunities to share the skills of individual staff across the schools.

Executive head teacher Steven Badcott will lead both schools with Rebecca Hart-Prieto as senior teacher for Uplowman and Christine Campion in the same role at Halberton.

There will be one governing body with representatives from each school.

The governors of the two schools took separate decisions to federate following wide-ranging consultation exercises with parents and their wider communities.

Uplowman chair of governors, John White, and Halberton chair of governors, Damon Campbell, said: “We are convinced that formalising our partnership will provide stability and opportunities for the continued development of both school communities.

“The federation will allow us to maintain our individual identities and traditions whilst sharing working practices to aid school improvement.”

They say some of the benefits of the federation will be to:

• Secure outstanding provision for children across the federation and enable them to become part of a larger community

• Share outstanding practice, staff expertise and experience across the two schools to ensure the highest possible standards

• Empower staff to participate in professional and career development

• Develop teams across the federation to share ideas, planning, resources, moderation and consistency

• Utilise a wider range of skills and experience from two existing governing bodies into one for the benefit of both schools