Wessex Learning Trust


The Wessex Learning Trust is a British general secondary education conglomerate, controlling eight schools in the Cheddar Valley area of Somerset. It comprises six schools accommodating students between the ages of 2 and 9, one middle school accommodating students between the ages of 9 and 13, and one upper school catering for students between the ages of 13 and 18, including a sixth form].

History

The Wessex Learning Trust was founded as The Kings of Wessex Academy Trust, and registered at Companies House on 17 August 2010 by Christopher Murray Richardson. Richardson was the then-headteacher of The Kings of Wessex Academy in Cheddar, Somerset and created the trust with eight schools from the local area joining imminently. On 9 May 2016 it was renamed the Wessex Learning Trust and on 1 September 2017, Gavin Ball was appointed as Executive Headteacher, succeeding Richardson. This followed Richardson's departure a day earlier.

Structure

Since 2010, the trust has compromised the following schools:
A proposed ninth school is Wessex Church of England Primary Academy in Highbridge.

Governance

The trust members are Martin Davey, Brian Kirkup, the Reverend Richard Neill of St Mary's Church, Wedmore, and Richard Oliver. Below them, on the board of directors, are Gavin Ball, the Reverend John Angle of St Andrew's Church, Cheddar, James Colquhoun, Alan Davies, Sheridan Flavin, Marie Getheridge, Paul Jacobs, Brian Kirkup, Susan Moreman, Gareth Smith, Kevin Walke and Gareth Woodcock.