Meridian Trust / Proposed Voluntary Merger With CPET

Dear Parents / Carers,

RE: PROPOSED VOLUNTARY MERGER OF CAMBRIDGE PRIMARY EDUCATION TRUST (CPET) WITH CAMBRIDGE MERIDIAN ACADEMIES TRUST (CMAT)

On behalf of Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust (CMAT), we are writing to inform you of a proposal for the voluntary merger of Cambridge Primary Education Trust (CPET) with CMAT.

This proposal would see CPET and its five Cambridgeshire primary schools – Hatton Park Primary School, Histon & Impington Brook Primary School, Histon & Impington Park Primary School, Somersham Primary School and Trumpington Park Primary School – join with our Trust.

No doubt some of you will be aware of CPET and its schools. CPET’s Primary schools enjoy a strong relationship with CMAT’s secondary schools in Cambridgeshire, including North Cambridge Academy and Northstowe Secondary College, with some of CPET’s pupils going on to join CMAT schools. 

CMAT currently looks after nine primary schools and the voluntary merger with CPET would bring this total to 14. The proposal would allow CMAT to increase capacity in our Primary Leadership and expertise at a time of significant recent growth in this area.

We are discussing a change of name for our Trust to reflect the merger and the way the trust’s geography has changed over the last decade.

CMAT and CPET have enjoyed a strong working relationship for a number of years. CMAT currently provides support to CPET for a range of services including estates management and IT. CMAT’s CEO Mark Woods and CPET’s CEO Lesley Birch both sit on the Trustee board for each Trust.

CMAT’s Trustee Board made the decision to explore the voluntary merger with CPET due to this existing relationship and the Trusts’ close alignment of values. Both CMAT and CPET have a clear commitment to providing outstanding education in the heart of their local communities.

Our founding CEO, Martin Bacon, was particularly passionate about education and strengthening our offer in primary education will ensure his legacy lives on.  Martin worked closely with Lesley as Histon & Impington Brook Primary School and Swavesey Village College were designated as teaching schools at the same time.

Other benefits of the voluntary merger include the simplifying of our relationship with the new teaching school hub for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough schools which is based at Histon & Impington Brook Primary School. The hub supports more than 300 schools, making it the third largest hub in the country, with a range of professional development for teachers at all stages of their careers.  It would also bring more subject specialism, within and across phases, allowing us to strengthen an all-through, all-inclusive curriculum.

Please do take the time to visit CPET’s website at https://www.cpetrust.co.uk/ for further information on the organisation.

In essence, we believe the proposed merger will give us scope for an even stronger future for our children, staff and wider communities.

The proposal is for the merger to be fully completed by spring 2022 following a thorough and comprehensive period of consultation and due diligence. We will shortly be opening a period of public consultation, to end on the 1 December 2021, and we would really value your views.

CPET presentation Parent and Community Consultation EventDownload
CMAT CPET Merger FAQsDownload

Existing schools across the trusts:

CMAT: https://www.cmatrust.co.uk/cmat-academies/

CPET: https://www.cpetrust.co.uk/topic/our-schools

Virtual Live Events

There will be two virtual live events where you will have the opportunity to hear from the leaders of both CMAT and CPET and to raise any questions.  The links to these events are below. 

  • Wednesday 10 November 6:30-7:30pm – JOIN HERE

And

  • Thursday 11 November 6:30-7:30pm – JOIN HERE

The live events have now concluded. The recording of the live event can be found below.

Online Survey

We have set up a survey to formally gather your views – we would value your time in completing this.  LINK TO SURVEY HERE

In Person Events

If you would like a more personal discussion regarding the above proposal please do get in touch via consultation@cmatrust.net or book a space at one of the three smaller in person consultation meetings detailed below.  Please note that spaces will be limited at these in person consultation meetings due to Covid-19 measures.

We understand the significance of what is proposed and will continue to keep you informed and offer the opportunity for you to speak to senior leaders from both CPET and CMAT to answer any questions you may have.

Yours faithfully,

MARK WOODS                                  SHIRLEY JAMIESON

CMAT CEO                                         CMAT CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

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