The Stourbridge Educational Trust

The trust aims to create a sustainable centre of excellence for learning within Stourbridge that will forge through collaboration and educational entitlement for all, building upon:

• Existing outstanding practice
• The specialisms of the institutions
• The expertise of the local community partners.

This shared trust opened 1st October 2008

Schools: Thorns Community College, (A Specialist Arts College), Redhill School and Specialist Language College, Pedmore Technology College and Community School and Ridgewood High School a Specialist Science College,

Partners:  Dudley LA, Stourbridge College, King Edward VIth College and Lloyds TSB.

The schools were already working with Stourbridge College and the involvement of King Edward VIth College through their 14-19 work was specific to supporting the able and talented pupils to progress there and it was a natural progression to include them as trust partners.

Examples of trust impact include:
• Establishment of the professional development networks across the schools. The collaboration in science has led to the provision being enhanced by sharing resources and facilities.
• Development of the 14-19 options and routes. The development of the diplomas and seamless projections for students are already being planned for the town’s young people.
• Inroads into developing community cohesion across the township. The joint orchestra production by one hundred able and talented musicians from across the town at the launch event was an inspiration to all and modelled collaboration through the hard work of the performing arts co-ordinators from all the secondary schools. Also a very successful ‘Stourbridge student voice' team building day was held involving students from each school's council.

• PE faculties work collaboratively to plan a range of sports events.
• Staff development opportunities with team leaders and faculty staff from each school meeting and working together to establish common priorities for 2009/10. A common training day is planned. To stimulate community cohesion a 'Stourbridge student voice' team building day was held in June, involving students from each school's council

Plans for the future include seeking out more trust partners who can add value to its work and include an appropriate HE partner. The trust is also keen to develop community cohesion opportunities and the 14-19 curriculum, looking at timetabling opportunities for commonality in 2010.

“The Trust’s strengths provide the potential and a structure that will support collaboration in the Stourbridge area” Clive Nutting, Headteacher at Ridgewood High School.

“We have actually moved the 14-19 curriculum forward and we now have a creative and innovative curriculum diet that we need to develop further.”Lynn Aston, Acting Headteacher at Thorns Community College.

“The benefits of the collaboration are already stimulating interest from staff. This is strength for the Stourbridge area and has potential”.
Brian Heavisides, Headteacher at  Redhill School.