MRS Ethelston’s Primary School could share resources and teaching expertise with a school in Chardstock under new proposals.

Plans are in place for the Uplyme school to be federated with St Andrews in a formal and legal agreement where the two schools would share a governing body.

The two would share resources, teaching expertise and leadership, although each school would retain its own character, budget, and Ofsted inspections so there would be no change on a day-to-day basis.

Mrs Ethelston’s headteacher Andrew Rice would be executive head for both schools, spending time in both.

Children would not spend time travelling between schools but Uplyme pupils could use the modern facilities at Chardstock for occasional sport, music and environmental activities.

Consultations have taken place in both schools to allow parents to have their say and ask questions.

Mrs Rice has assured parents that standards at Mrs Ethelston’s would be maintained. She said: “We are continually looking at ways to maintain our high standards and ensure the progress of all children in our staff meetings and inset days.

“Chardstock would join this process to ensure continuous improvement in both schools.”

The headteacher said in order to maintain Mrs Ethelston’s as an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted school, it needs to keep learning and improving.

“Federation would give us opportunities for staff development through working with a wider range of staff,” she said.

“We have a very successful staff team but they need further development opportunities to challenge and motivate them.

“This cannot be provided by a single school.

“But by giving further professional opportunities, we would be able to keep our best staff without them finding new posts in different schools.

“This would provide the highest quality teaching and learning for your children by happy, motivated staff.

“Mrs Ethelston’s has figured in the top five per cent of schools nationally over recent times and we intend to stay this way.”