Staff and pupils at Stoke Lodge Primary School took part in a special assembly on Friday 9th September to mark joining the Olympus Academy Trust (OAT). Also attending the event was Dave Baker, CEO of the trust, who welcomed everyone to their “new school family”.
Following a brief dialogue with the pupils about the origin of the trust’s name (it comes from the aero engine which powered Concorde), Mr Baker presented Stoke Lodge headteacher Richard Clark with a commemorative plaque to mark the school’s joining of the trust.
Mr Baker then settled down to enjoy a regular Stoke Lodge assembly which culminated in a number of children from across the age range being recognised as “stars of the week”.
Stoke Lodge is one of three primary schools that formally joined the trust on 1st September 2016, the others being Callicroft (Patchway) and Filton Hill. They join existing members Abbeywood Community School, Charborough Road Primary School and Meadowbrook Primary School, forming a trust which is now responsible for over 550 staff and 4,000 learners.
Given the growth of the trust to seven schools, it has appointed two part-time executive headteachers (two days a week each). Richard Clark, previously CEO and executive headteacher of the now defunct Cosmos Academy Trust (which had Stoke Lodge and Callicroft as its members), will combine overall leadership of Stoke Lodge Primary with an executive headteacher role for the trust. Claire Banks will combine her overall leadership of St Werburghs Primary in Bristol with an executive headteacher role for the trust, having supported the trust’s primary schools as an external consultant for the last year or so.
All schools still have a headteacher or associate headteacher who is responsible for the day to day running of the school but with additional support from the trust.
• For details about the Olympus Academy Trust, visit: www.olympustrust.co.uk
Photo (l-r): Richard Clark (headteacher, Stoke Lodge), Sharon Bishop (associate headteacher, Stoke Lodge), Dave Baker (CEO, Olympus Academy Trust) and Stoke Lodge pupils with the commemorative plaque presented to the school.
This article originally appeared in the October 2016 edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine, delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,500 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.
