TWO well-regarded Somerset schools are the latest to become academies, according to the county council.

Chilton Trinity School in Bridgwater and Critchill School in Frome are both rated ‘good’ by Ofsted when they were most recently inspected in September 2014.

The two schools will become academies in June, joining multi-academy trusts at separate ends of the county.

Schools which are performing well can choose to become ‘converter academies’ if their governors deem that such a move would be best for their pupils.

Of the 102 academies operating in Somerset as of March 2019, 70 are converter academies which have chosen to go down this route.

Chilton Trinity School will officially become an academy on June and will become part of the Clevedon Learning Trust, which includes the Northgate and Willowdown primary schools in Bridgwater as well as primary schools in Puriton and Woolavington.

The Clevedon Learning Trust is actively looking for governors for the 11 schools and 3500 pupils and students aged 4 to 18 they have across their trust to help to improve the lives of young people.

A spokesman for the Clevedon Learning Trust said: “The most important qualities for being a school governor are enthusiasm, commitment and being able to work well in a team, making joint decisions on strategic policy, school ethos and budgetary control.

“People don’t need teaching experience, but do need an interest in education and the well-being of children.”

One of the current governors, Vicky Edkins, governor at Woolavington Primary School, is an expert in cognitive science and behavioural psychology.

She said: “Becoming a governor is a wonderful thing to do. It is really energising to think you are helping so many young people in their futures. I wanted to help my children’s school to be the best that it can be and understand the education system they are in.”

The 11 schools that the CLT are currently made up of is: Clevedon School, Mary Elton Primary School, Northgate Primary School, Puriton Primary School, St Nicholas Chantry CofE Primary School, Tickenham Church of England Primary School, Westover Green Community School, Willowdown Primary Academy, Woolavington Primary School, All Saints CofE Primary School, and Yeo Moor Primary School.

For further information or to show interest, please contact the Trust’s lead Clerk, John Purcell at JPurcell@Clevedonlearningtrust.org.uk.