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Government Backs CVC to run Additional
Schools
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"A successful village college has been given
the green light to manage a chain of schools. Comberton Village
College is one of the first 11 schools in the country to be
awarded accredited provider status, meaning it has permission
to run two more schools, should the opportunities arise.
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"Stephen Munday, Executive Principal, said
this could lead to Comberton forming federations with failing
schools to try and turn around their fortunes, just as standards
at nearby Coleridge Community College in Cambridge have risen
since it joined the Parkside Federation. He also told the News
Comberton was still keen to manage any new secondary school built
in Cambourne, which lies within its catchment area. He said: "It
could be that schools in very difficult circumstances could be
federated with Comberton. This would see us providing restructuring
and reorganisation."
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"But Mr Munday insisted that taking on responsibility
for a struggling school would not affect the quality of education
on offer at Comberton. He said: "You have to be very thoughtful
and careful in your management and leadership, but it can bring
wider benefits to both schools. “It is a natural development for
us, and confirmation of the sort of work we are already committed
to."
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"The school has already formed the Comberton
Educational Trust to oversee its management, and the trust is
also responsible for Jeavons Wood Primary School in Cambourne,
which opened last year. Mr Munday said the system "works
very well" - and would be keen to see it extended to any
new secondary school which could be built, with hundreds of children
currently being bussed from Cambourne to Comberton every day.
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"He added: "Having this kitemark should
put us in a strong position to run any new schools that need to
be created. The county council is reviewing urgently the need
for secondary education in Cambourne. It’s very important that
the appropriate solution is found. We would absolutely want to
oversee any form of new provision for Cambourne."
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"Ed Balls, Schools Secretary,
said: "The successful schools and organisations we have announced
are among the most outstanding school providers in the country.
"They have a track record in not only running just one excellent
school, but the ability to spread this excellence to other schools
that need more support."
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[Adapted from an article by Stephen Exley in
the Cambridge News 27.02.10]
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