Seven Wiltshire schools aim to form a MAT

From thisisWiltshire.co.uk: 'Seven Melksham schools have announced plans to join together... Melksham Oak Community School and six primaries want to form a Multi Academy Trust.'

United Learning replaces head with principal and executive principal

From This is Wiltshire: Julie Tridgel, headteacher at Nova Hreod Academy in Swindon, announced she was leaving in February... Ben Parnell and Darren Barton... existing heads at United Learning's Glenmoor and Winton (Where Mr Parnell is Executive Principal) academies in Bournemouth - they will become Interim Executive Principal and Interim Principal on May 1.

Primary demand miscalculated - free school bid altered to avoid 'cannibalising' existing schools

From 'This is Wiltshire': Graham Taylor, the principal of New College (Swindon, Wiltshire): 'We were advised that a through school would be the most favourable option... We have since discovered that there wasn’t the (primary)demand we initially thought... We have no intention of cannibalising the whole area...'

Lack of experience was a real problem for free school founders

From This is Wiltshire:
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/10981592.School_campaigner_backs_college_plan/

Kevin Gray (who was trying to win backing for a free school bid but is now backing another bid) said: “The reality is we can’t compete with New College which has so much more experience behind it.

DFE: academy status would break community links

From the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:
http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/10964619.Consultation_held_to_help_determine_future_of_St_Sampson_s_Infant_School_in_Cricklade/


'After being judged as inadequate, government expectation for infant schools is that they close and become academy schools... governors at the infant school were granted permission by the DFE to put forward the merger proposal after deeming that academy status would break a relationship the school has with the community.'

21 schools bid to open free school for mainstream strugglers

From This is Wiltshire:
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/10959593.Trowbridge_plan_for_a_new_free_school/

'The Department for Education is considering an application from Collaborative Schools Ltd, a partnership of the 21 Trowbridge primary and secondary schools...

'...It has submitted plans for a 60 place school which, if approved, will open in September 2015.
Jayne Bullock, CSL co-ordinator: 'The school will provide a slightly different provision to ensure that children who haven’t fully adapted to mainstream education can be successful.'

Wiltshire primaries form trust

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/10839190.West_Swindon_schools_join_forces_as_council_cuts_bite/


From This is Wiltshire: "FOUR West Swindon primary schools have banded together as an academy trust this month amid growing concerns about council funding."