News


Schools trust formsmerger


FUTURE Schools Trust (FST), which runs two of the town’s biggest secondary schools, has mergedwith another organisation. DownsMail has learned that FST,


the umbrella for Cornwallis and New Line Learning academies, has become part of a large chain based in Richmond, Surrey, and will now trade under the name Every Child, EveryDay Trust (ECEDT). Education observers claim the


merger ismore likely an acquisition and an acknowledgement that FST was allegedly failing. FSTexplained: “In an increasingly


challenging educational landscape, Future Schools Trust has been look- ing at the benefits of joiningwith an- othermulti-academy trust. “We believe this routewould pro-


vide the best opportunity to enable us to share good practice and to fur- ther improve standards across the board.” It is not known if the December


2017 departure of FST chief execu- tive Joshua Coleman – who arrived


on a one-year deal inAugust 2016 – was linked to themerger plan. Cornwallis is rated as a good


school by Ofsted, while New Line Learning requires improvement. However,NLLwaspraisedrecently for progress in key areas. FST,which also includes theTiger


Primary School, becomes part of the ECEDTon September 1.The schools will run normally day-to-day, al- though parents and students have been warned of “some short-term upheaval”. Headteacherswill continue to run


their schools, butwill forma leader- shipgrouptodevelopcollaboration. Kent education expert Peter Read


said: “Future Schools Trust was, frankly, failing.This sounds less like amerger andmore of an acquisition. “We have seen in other parts of


the country that a perfectly good school becomes a multi-academy trust, acquires more schools, and proceeds tomuck all of themup.” DownsMail approachedFSTfor a comment but it declined.


downsmail.co.uk Isabel set forMalawi


A COXHEATH student is hoping the public will help to get her on her way to Africa on amission to improve the lives of those inMalawi. Isabel Coltham (15), from Linden Road, will be building permanent


homes, installingwater pumps and helping farmers care for their stock as part of a four-week project. But before she boards her


plane next summer, she has to raise £4,000 for her trip, which will include a wildlife conserva- tion project. Isabel, a student at The Corn-


wallis Academy in Maidstone, said: “This trip offersme a great opportunity to make a signifi- cant difference in theworld and I am determined to make my fund-raising campaign fun and interactive.” Already, she is holdingweekly


cake sales at Coxheath church and has plans to stage a three- legged race. Her enthusiasm to raise the


fee for her trip of a lifetime has already won her the support of Maidstone andWealdMP Helen Grant. Mrs Grant said: “Isabel is a delightful andmature young woman and I


MP Helen Grant and Isabel Coltham


know she will make the most of this opportunity and that it will provide her with experiences she will never forget. I also know that she and her team will be undertaking vitally important work to improve the lives of theMalawian people.” Anyone who would like to support Isabel with her fundraising should go to www.gofundme.com/svcm65-malawi-expedition-2019.


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Maidstone Weald August 2018


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