CATS - Consortium of All-through Schooling

Just some of our ongoing and recent projects:

Dartmouth All-through Academy

CATS was delighted to have been asked by E-ACT to be one of their partners in the development of a new all-through 3-18 Academy in Devon. E-ACT is committed to developing an exemplar all-through Academy which will be a model for application in other rural communities where small primary and secondary schools would benefit from working together as one unit.

E-ACT is a major Academy sponsor with a well-developed inclusive philosophy alongside its drive to raise standards in disadvantaged communities. CATS has had a long standing relationship with Dartmouth and it was a natural progression to be a partner in helping them to develop the best possible practice in all-through learning as an Academy.

The Dartmouth Academy opened in September 2010. CATS was able to assist with the development of an exciting all-through curriculum model and to support the appointment of the new principal. CATS will continue its relationship with Dartmouth through Barry's appointment as Chair of Governors.

E-ACT and CATS, along with South Devon College, the Britannia Royal Naval College and Devon County Council who also partner the Academy, will support Dartmouth Academy to develop innovative and exciting approaches to all-through learning which will dramatically improve outcomes for children and make it the school of choice for the community.

Leadership in All-through

CATS is working with the National College for the Leadership of Schools and Children's Services (National College) in a research project to isolate the key elements of the leadership of all-through schools, academies and federations. This is an exciting new development for CATS which we hope will develop further in the coming years.

CATS has worked with the National College to identify a number of study sites across the country in different contexts and structures to take part in the project. Each of these will be visited by a researcher to take them through a research tool which is designed to identify what is special and different about leading an all-through structure and then to look at the potential training needs for those leaders currently in post and those who aspire to all-through leadership.

Thank you to CATS members for responding to the questionnaire that was sent out to support and broaden the scope of the project.

Educational organisations link to boost all-through learning

Lesley King, Director of Academy Networks at the
SSAT, with Kelvin Peel & Barry Bainbridge

The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) has partnered with CATS to help school children's development.

The SSAT and CATS will work together to promote the learning advantages to children of an all-through educational setting - that is schools providing education for 3 to 19-year-olds in one location. Both organisations will use their extensive educational experience to develop new structures and learning models for children.

Lesley King, Director of Academy Networks at the SSAT, recently met with Barry Bainbridge, Director of CATS and Kelvin Peel, vice-chairman of CATS to sign a memorandum of understanding and secure the partnership.

Lesley King said: "This is an excellent opportunity for our two organisations to share best practice and our educational expertise in order to aid the development of children, and foster the growth of all-through schooling."

Barry and Kelvin share Lesley's view and add: "We are extremely pleased to forge this partnership with SSAT and hope it will encourage the growing number of school and local authority leaders who are considering all-through approaches to learning to move forward with confidence".

The partnership will:

• look at the potential benefits of all-through learning communities;
• identify current best practice;
• research to prove the principles; and,
• provide specific support to develop all-through settings.

SSAT and CATS will immediately begin the planning for the first joint national conference for all-through education.