West Berkshire schools to join forces and become 'federated'

A consultation has taken place and the schools are to join forces to save money and share teaching resources from August 1, ahead of the start of the next school year.
West Berkshire Council said parents had given a warm reception to the idea, which it supported strongly, and governing bodies from both schools had voted in favour.
A joint governing body will now be formed to oversee the running of both schools.
Valerie Houldey will continue as headteacher of The Downs School and executive headteacher of Compton Primary School.
She declined to comment when approached by Newburytoday.co.uk
Alison Millar, who has been associate headteacher at Compton Primary during a partnership between the schools covering the last 18 months will undertake a bridging post between Compton Primary School and The Downs School as head of primary.
The chairman of Compton Primary School Governors, Rob Jobson said: “This is a very exciting venture. Children at the primary school are already benefiting from sixth form play-leaders and sports teaching from The Downs. This federation can only widen experiences for Compton children.”
The chairwoman of governments at The Downs School, Jan Roberts, added: “There will be more opportunity for staff in both sectors to learn from each other – there is excellent practice at both schools. We can also see that the use of resources across the two schools will provide much better value for money.”
The council’s schools portfolio holder Irene Neill (Con, Aldermaston) said she was confident the move would bring significant benefits.
Last year The Downs School ruled out becoming an academy, which would see it removed from the control of West Berkshire Council, and then in December district councillors voted against officer recommendation to approve a new £4.9 million science block at the school, despite their unanimous criticism of the council’s own education and planning departments for submitting muddled and late plans.
It is not the first time schools in West Berkshire have merged as a federation.
In 2006, Chaddleworth St Andrew’s Primary School and Shefford Primary School pooled resources in an effort to save both rural schools from possible closure due to problems with recruitment and a lack of pupils to fill them.