A NEW partnership is being forged by a recently-formed multi-academy trust and Kidderminster’s Baxter College.

The Habberley Road school is joining the Severn Academies Educational Trust (SAET) to further develop opportunities for pupils and staff.

The SAET was set up by a group of Wyre Forest schools, led by Stourport High School, in August in response to the Government’s pledge that all schools should form such allegiances in order to boost learning outcomes.

Stourport Primary School was the first primary to sign up and Baxter College becomes the second high school in the trust.

The SAET chief executive, Stourport High executive principal Chris King, welcomed Baxter College into the trust, saying he was “looking forward to a mutually rewarding educational partnership with the school and others across Wyre Forest”.

He said the SAET was “committed” to preserving the individuality of each member school and they would benefit from additional support, the sharing of best practice and economies of scale.

“The trust has a commitment to preserving local school identity and ethos, with each school led by its principal, governors and other senior leaders, with its own way of doing things,” said Mr King.

Baxter College principal Tim Waites said support from the SAET would be “invaluable” in moving the school further forward and in maximizing the opportunities for young people.

He said: “Joining the trust will enable us to focus exclusively on teaching and learning and boost our capacity to make more rapid leaps to our improving results.

“By taking advantage of the economies of scale, we will be able to concentrate more of our resources on providing the best facilities and education to enable all our pupils to reach their potential.

“Baxter College has many strengths which we will also be able to share with the trust schools.”

Dick Jeavons-Fellows, chairman of governors at Baxter College, said the board and senior staff will continue to be responsible for managing and developing the school, with support from the SAET.

He added: “These are exciting times as we join this fledgling trust, working in close partnership for the benefit of our pupils now and in the future.”

Mr Jeavons-Fellows will be appointed to the SAET board of directors.