A PRIMARY school has been taken out of Special measures after forming a new multi-academy trust with a secondary grammar school.

 

The Dorney School, in Harcourt Close, Dorney Reach, officially joined Burnham Grammar School in the Beeches Learning And Development Trust on June 1.

 

The multi-academy trust status was requested by the government's Department of Education (DfE) following Dorney's Ofsted inspection in the summer of 2015 which found it 'inadequate' and plunged it into special measures.

 

Burnham Grammar, in Hogfair Lane, was approached as the sponsor for the primary school, and being part of the trust automatically removes Dorney from special measures.

 

Burnham Grammar will be supporting the staff of The Dorney School to improve their standards of teaching, as well as assist in the behind the scenes running of the school, as part of the trust.

 

However, Dorney has since got a new headteacher following the concerns in 2015, who is Henrik Rademacher, and in recent inspections was told it was taking 'effective action towards the removal of special measures'.

 

Dr Andy Gillespie, headteacher at Burnham Grammar School, said: “Under the direction of new headteacher Henrik Rademacher, the teaching team at Dorney have transformed teaching and learning since the Ofsted inspection.

 

"This is an exciting, vibrant, forward looking school which we are delighted to support.

 

“With the current state of school finances, arrangements such as multi-academy trusts are a key way for schools to share back room services and save money.

 

“With our Investors in People Gold Award, Investors in People Champion status and nationally recognised professional development programmes, Burnham Grammar is aptly placed to help Dorney to develop the already high standard of practice of their teachers, ensuring that inspirational learning leads Dorney out of special measures.”

 

Mr Rademacher, added: "At Dorney we are delighted to start our new partnership with Burnham Grammar School, which will bring benefits to both schools.”

 

Both schools said hard work had gone on behind the scenes to make the trust a reality. Burham's most recent 2017 Ofsted inspection saw it maintain its rating as 'good'.