New opportunities for Weyford after school joins University Academy Trust

• Weyford to join University of Chichester Academy Trust to boost learning and give school access to academic experts
• Move will see Weyford collaborate with nearby Bordon Junior and Oakmoor School to share expertise and high-quality facilities
• New curriculum will be underpinned by University of Chichester research to raise aspirations across all years

PUPILS at Weyford Nursery and Primary will benefit from enhanced learning and greater access to top-quality facilities by joining Bordon Junior and Oakmoor schools as part of one academy trust.

The school, on Mill Chase Road, will come under the leadership of the University of Chichester Academy Trust, which has helped to raise aspirations across 15 others in Hampshire, West Sussex, and Portsmouth. The partnership will also increase opportunities to collaborate with the nearby Bordon Junior and Oakmoor.

Weyford headteacher Miss Julie Smith said she is looking forward to greater opportunities to work with the other schools to enable their learners to flourish, develop, and grow.

She added: “One of our values is aspiration and we believe the Trust will enable our Weyford family to reach their goals and for our school to continue on its journey to excellence. It will bring our learning community closer together and will provide the chance to develop a seamless curriculum from two to 16 years old.”

The move to join the Academy Trust pledges to enrich the school’s curriculum and educational programmes by utilising leading research and expertise from the University of Chichester, which has been training teachers for 181 years.

Staff will be able to undertake training with the higher education institution, while the school will get opportunities to work with the University’s teaching students, whom were recently named the “preferred-choice” by south coast schools in a recent survey.

Bordon Junior headteacher Chris James said his school’s new collaboration with Weyford will give their children more opportunities and will further raise the standard of education in the town.

He added: “We are excited about working more closely with Weyford, as part of our Trust, bringing benefits to children across Bordon as we share resources and expertise. Being a member of the Trust brings access to the wonderful new facilities at Oakmoor School and ensuring a smooth transition to secondary education and also to the expertise of the University.

“When schools work together, the creative and wonderful professionals within our academies can achieve amazing things. This is great for Weyford, great for Bordon Junior School, and great for the children and families of our town.”

Oakmoor School headteacher Paul Hemmings added: “We have always enjoyed a strong and close working relationship with the pupils, parents, and staff at Weyford Nursery and Primary School. It is wonderful that Weyford have joined our Trust as this will allow us to strengthen even further the quality of education in our town for the benefit of every family.”

The University of Chichester Academy Trust was praised by Ofsted in its last report for “rapidly improving the quality of education in its academies”. Inspectors also commended the Trust investment in its leaders and headteachers, all of whom were judged as good or outstanding in their own inspections.

Sue Samson, Chief Executive of the University of Chichester Academy Trust, said that the education of Bordon will benefit from the merger. She added: “We are delighted to welcome Weyford Nursery and Primary to our thriving family of Academies. There is a real enthusiasm among our existing headteachers to work with the staff and children of Weyford.

“The opportunities that we will be able to provide in Bordon with the three schools working together will be amazing. We have been working with the school throughout the pandemic and Miss Smith, the headteacher already feels like part of the family. We all look forward to working with the children and staff in the future to help the pupils to achieve their academic and personal ambitions.”

Find out more about Weyford Nursery and Primary School at www.weyfordprimary.co.uk. For more about the University of Chichester Academy Trust and how it is helping to raise aspirations across afflicted schools go to www.unicat.org.uk.