Winchester College to Partner United Learning Trust in Midhurst Academy Proposal

The United Learning Trust (ULT) has today announced a partnership with Winchester College to sponsor the proposed academy in Midhurst.

The partnership brings together the largest sponsor of academies with one of the country’s most renowned independent schools with a global reputation.

Winchester College is approximately 30 miles from Midhurst and will work with the academy to assist in raising standards and aspirations of teaching and learning. This would include the sharing of teaching materials, joint professional development sessions and the formation of academic policy. Winchester will also share directly in the governance of the academy.

The United Learning Trust is a subsidiary charity of the United Church Schools Trust (UCST) which owns and operates ten independent fee paying schools. Both sets of schools work closely together. ULT has also established a successful link between its Swindon Academy and Marlborough College which is giving students the opportunity to benefit from shared learning and access to academic facilities and provide staff from both schools with the opportunity to share best practice.

Announcing the partnership with Winchester College, Sir Ewan Harper, Chief Executive of the United Learning Trust said:

"In everything that we do, we seek to provide the best possible opportunities for our students and staff. That is why I am delighted to be working with Winchester College, an outstanding partner with whom to take forward our plans for the proposed academy".

"The academies programme provides a unique opportunity to bring together like-minded organisations who share a common purpose. A decade ago such collaboration would have been impossible but, as we are demonstrating across the country, such partnerships accelerate academic achievement.

"Parents in Midhurst and the Rother Valley have high aspirations for their children’s education. We want this academy not only to meet these aspirations but to exceed them. The partnership with Winchester College demonstrates our commitment to creating an academy that is a force for academic achievement".

Dr Ralph Townsend, Headmaster of Winchester College said:

"This is a wonderful opportunity for Winchester to look outward, to share our knowledge and experience with those with similar aspirations to us and to learn from our partner organisation.

"The historic mission of Winchester College fits well with the aims of the academies programme. We are very keen to work closely with a school geographically close to us with whom we can build an ongoing relationship of support and sharing.

"We look forward to building a positive and meaningful relationship between ourselves and the proposed academy and to working with ULT and West Sussex County Council to develop an excellent school."

Welcoming the announcement, Andrew Adonis, the Schools Minister, said:

"Winchester's commitment is a decisive moment for the academies programme. Winchester is a powerhouse of academic excellence, which it will bring to its academy and to the wider programme. It will be working with a highly experienced academy sponsor in the United Learning Trust."

"More than 20 private schools are now engaged in academies. I hope the engagement of Dulwich, Oundle and Marlborough, and now Winchester, will encourage other leading private schools to follow suit."

Welcoming the news, Mark Dunn, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People's Services, said:

"This is wonderful news for all the children and parents in the Rother Valley area. We are delighted to be working with Winchester College and ULT to develop the proposal for a new academy for the communities of Midhurst and the Rother Valley. This is a unique opportunity for parents and pupils of the area to benefit from both ULT’s experience and the link with Winchester. We will be talking with all the communities in the area in the coming months to make the very best of this opportunity."

Local MP, Andrew Tyrie said:

"This is a transformational opportunity for secondary education in the Midhurst area. Winchester College and the United Learning Trust both have reputations for the very highest standards in education. They will be working closely with the Midhurst community to turn Midhurst Grammar into an outstanding school.

"The academy project is the fruit of a close relationship and a lot of persistence between West Sussex County Council, the government and me, to make this possible. I would particularly like to thank the Schools Minister, Andrew Adonis, and the key County Councillor, Mark Dunn for their hard work.

"I am proud to be associated with this project. And I am now confident that the necessary commitment on all sides will be sustained for the benefit of thousands of my constituents".

The proposal for the academy is currently subject to independent public consultation being conducted by Dame Jocelyn Barrow. A final decision on the academy will be made in June and if it goes ahead, the new academy will open in September 2008.