Avanti Hall School in Exeter to grow with help of new academy trust

Avanti Hall School in Exeter is to be transferred to a new Multi Academy Trust, with the aim of helping the undersubscribed school grow. It is proposed that Reach South Academy Trust, which currently runs fifteen academies in the South West, will take over the management of the school later in the year.

Since 2019, the school has been operated by the Avanti Schools Trust, having previously been a Steiner Academy. The Avanti Schools Trust has worked hard to improve standards of teaching and learning for pupils. However, low pupil numbers at the school have had an impact on the Trust’s ability to ensure the future of the school.

The Trust, in discussion with the Department for Education, has therefore taken the decision to seek the transfer of Avanti Hall to another academy trust, Reach South, which will be better placed to make further improvements. Reach South has significant experience of taking on undersubscribed schools and helping them to grow. It operates ten schools in Plymouth, and the Trust’s local knowledge and expertise will help to drive further improvements at the school.

Phil Arnold, Principal of Avanti Hall School, said: “I am so proud of the huge progress we’ve made at Avanti Hall School over the last few years. The tireless efforts of the academic and support staff have helped to create a school which has a strong sense of community and offers an inspirational curriculum to every student. We are now excited about taking our improvement journey further, and so I am looking forward to working with the fantastic team at Reach South to grow the school and make our shared vision for exceptional education in Exeter a reality.”

Dean Ashton, Chief Executive Officer, Reach South Academy Trust, said: “Our vision at Reach South is to support the academies in our family to flourish through a strong ethos of collaboration. We believe passionately that no child’s aspirations should be limited by the expectations of others.

Led by Phil Arnold, I know the team at Avanti Hall School shares our determination to support every child in fulfilling their potential. We are confident that Avanti Hall has a bright future ahead and we look forward to working closely with pupils, parents, carers and staff.”