Wessex Learning Trust

GAVIN Ball is head of the Wessex Learning Trust, based in Cheddar, a £40 million operation with 1,000 staff serving 17 schools with more than 6,000 pupils.

It’s now the largest trust in Somerset – and looks set to grow further. Crispin School in Street is the latest to join and there are discussions about new hubs there and in Frome, Wells and Shepton Mallet.

Gavin Ball was born in Paulton Hospital and went to Somervale School in Midsomer Norton, where he was chair of the sixth form committee. He struck up links with Norton Hill’s sixth form, where his wife Julia was a pupil.

He said: “That’s really how the idea of collaboration between schools began.”

He didn’t go into teaching immediately. His first job was with NatWest in Frome. By the age of 22 he was a manager at Clark’s shops up and down the country.

He said: “That was an excellent grounding. I was in charge of people much older than me and being in charge made me focus on finding solutions to our own issues.

“But I knew I didn’t want to do this for the rest of my life. I loved the chance to develop people. They would volunteer to come in on Saturdays for training. I did some aptitude tests and teaching came up.

“I was told there was a shortage of teachers in business and economics, so that’s what I studied at what is now the University of the West of England in Bristol.”

Various senior roles followed at schools in Ferndown, Dorset, Chew Valley, Kingdown, Warminster, Gordano and Nailsea, before he became principal of Frome College in 2012.

It was in danger of being classed “inadequate” by Ofsted but was judged “good” 15 months later, after tremendous efforts by both staff and pupils.

He said: “We wanted everyone to be proud of their school and proud of their town. It was the students who asked for new, smarter uniforms. They were fed up of being second best to Writhlington. It was a tremendous achievement.”

He moved to Cheddar in 2017 as head of Kings Academy before becoming full-time chief executive of the trust, which had eight schools at that time.

He said: “I’ve been living the dream, with every single school in the Cheddar Valley catchment now a member of the trust, as well as Nailsea.

“We have 6,000 pupils and another 360 in ten pre-schools, with pupils aged from six months to 19 years. All our schools benefit from the support and collaboration provided by the trust.

“We can recruit the best teachers and buy in expertise in areas where it is needed. For example we are planning to recruit an educational psychologist.

“Each individual school in the trust is encouraged to maintain its own distinctive ethos, be at the centre of their community and raise aspirations and achievement.

“This is achieved in two ways: firstly, through excellent teaching to inspire curiosity, unlock talents and realise potential; and secondly, by ensuring high quality care, guidance and support that ensures the personal development and welfare of each child.”