Trust Update

On 1st February The Sercombe Federation joined the Alexandra Academy Trust.  The Multi Academy Trust(MAT)  has built a reputation in Cheshire East for effective, INCLUSIVE practice, high expectations and a restless ambition for the future of all pupils.  It’s values of equal opportunity, evidence-based research and professional development were a big attraction to the Federation as it sought a partnership to help leaders further enhance opportunities for pupils and staff.

The Federation is a hub of 2 schools: Cledford Primary & Nursery School in Middlewich and Gainsborough Primary & Nursery School in Crewe.  The Federation has one governing board and the two schools have worked together in a formal federation since 2018.  In 2024 both schools achieved their best ever results at the end of key stage 2, with pupils consistently achieving above the national average in reading, writing and maths.

Both schools are graded ‘good’ by Ofsted. Staff in the Sercombe Federation are committed to enabling every child to learn to speak well, to read and write with understanding at an early age and to use mathematics in context and to solve problems; these are known as basic skills in the Federation, regarded as non-negotiable and taught systematically every day.  Staff have high expectations of what can be achieved and there is a strong belief in the power of PRACTICE.  Both schools invest in RELATIONSHIPS as a cornerstone of good learning.   

For around 50% of the Gainsborough school roll, English is an additional language (EAL) and many pupils are new to the country.  The school has built a reputation for INCLUSION, with pupils showing great respect and tolerance of a wide range of backgrounds and cultures.  Staff in the school have developed a great deal of expertise in helping pupils to develop their language learning quickly.  Raising the quality and rigour of classroom TALK is a priority for pupils at Gainsborough, enabling them to explore and express their feelings and to address their behaviour and their interaction with others.  This kind of language learning is also essential to help pupils retain knowledge and to transfer their skills across subject areas.

Cledford is an inclusive school with a reputation for a personalised approach to learning.  Teachers are unerringly kind and positive in their interactions with pupils, parents and each other.  The ‘three R’s’ at Cledford are Respect, Responsibility and Resilience and these values are taught to pupils every day.  Cledford is an ‘artsmark’ school and has a proud tradition of using the arts to ignite learning. There is a significant commitment to family support in the school and parent partnership is a strength. s