HEADteachers from schools in the Stradbroke pyramid are discussing plans to form a ground-breaking academy umbrella trust.

Andrew Bloom, in charge at Stradbroke Business and Enterprise College, and his colleagues from the surrounding area have been holding a series of meetings on the proposal.

They recently discussed the idea, along with other concerns about funding for rural schools, during a meeting with Schools Minister Lord Hill, organised with the support of local MP Dr Dan Poulter.

The schools already work closely in partnership and Mr Bloom said that in order to offer the best possible education for pupils, the idea of a trust, which would be one of the first in the country, had been put forward.

He said: “I think we are doing a super job already within the pyramid and this is about trying to enhance that further. We are not aware of the Department for Education offering a similar model – that’s one of the difficulties.”

Other schools in the pyramid include Wilby, Stradbroke, Fressingfield, Worlingworth, Mendham and Laxfield primary schools.

Mr Bloom added: “We want to make sure that we don’t jump into anything that adversely affects any of the schools.”