New Swindon primary school joins academy trust

Abbey Farm Educate Together Primary in Blunsdon St Andrew has become the fifth school to join the Educate Together Academy Trust.

The news was announced by the trust after the school signed a funding agreement with the Department for Education.

The Funding Agreement is a crucial step in the pre-opening process, meaning parents who selected the school as their first choice will receive an unconditional offer.

Parents and carers receiving a school place offer in April, or wishing to consider the school and pre-school, are invited to attend a ‘Meet the Headteacher’ event at Redhouse Community Centre on Friday, 29 April from 6.30pm until 8pm.

The school has recently appointed two teaching staff and will be continuing recruitment for an additional teacher and admin staff imminently.

Headteacher Emma Lindsay said: "Educate Together really did shine out to me as a school I could align with. The opportunity to work with an organisation fully supportive of an all-inclusive education could not be missed. 

"Very simply, I want to create a thriving, caring, forward thinking new school that meets the core principles of Educate Together whilst having some unique Swindon elements, linked to our local community."

In addition to preparing the building, resources and getting to know the families within the community, Emma and her team will undergo an Ofsted Pre-opening Registration Inspection, to ensure readiness to open and high standards of operation and curriculum planning. 

Project manager Nikki Buglass said: "The Ofsted visit is a key event for a new school. It is a great opportunity for us to showcase our plans and to discuss and finalise details. It is a very exciting time for the school."

The school is being delivered by offsite modular specialist Reds10. Framework Manager Joe Shepherd said: "It’s been a pleasure to work on this project with DfE and Educate Together Academy and it’s exciting to see crucial steps being taken ahead of the space being used in the new school year."

Details about the school can be found at www.abbeyfarmet.org.uk and the Educate Together Academy Trust website is www.educatetogether.org.uk