An infant and junior school have joined together in a federation – the first of its kind in the Chesterfield area.

Gilbert Heathcote Nursery and Infant School in Scarsdale Road and Cavendish Junior School in Edmund Street formed the federation after the plans got the support of parents, the local community, Derbyshire County Council and other schools.

Under the federation the schools:

• Have one headteacher and governing body 

• Continue to operate separately but with a high degree of collaboration, including the flexible use of buildings and staff 

• Are funded individually but have the flexibility to pool budgets

Gordon Simmons, chair of governors for the new GHC Federation of Schools, said: “The headteacher of Cavendish Junior School moved to another school last Easter and both schools have suffered from falling pupil numbers so it just made sense to form a federation.

“I have

worked with both schools over the years and I am certain that the federation will benefit all concerned. We have already secured Government funding to buy a new telephone and on-screen information system.” 

Headteacher Sue Armenante said: “The infant and junior school have always worked closely together so this is the next natural step.

“This is going to be a gradual process. The pupils should not notice many changes but the staff will be training together and we hope to organise more joint events between the schools.”

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for schools, has also given the federation his support.

He said: “The reaction from parents to the federation has been very positive. This move gives both schools the stability they need to move forward with confidence.

“On the first day pupils moving from Gilbert Heathcote to Cavendish Junior were greeted by Sue Armenante. Having someone they knew in their new school helped them to settle in more quickly.”