A radical plan to appoint a single 'super head' to oversee two Teignbridge schools has been unveiled by county education chiefs.
Blackpool C of E Primary and Chudleigh Knighton C of E Primary could be set to form one of the first educational 'federations' in Devon. The schools could retain their individual identities, budgets and catchment areas, but share a single executive headteacher and governing body. The Chudleigh Knighton school has failed to attract a permanent headteacher and some parents have moved their children elsewhere. However, Blackpool head Paul Jones has been praised for his leadership and expressed an interest in the top job. Each school would appoint 'heads of teaching and learning' and, if successful, the pioneering move could be adopted elsewhere. Devon County Council has denied the move is a cost-saving measure and insisted it would enable the schools to 'work together to find new ways of approaching teaching and learning, raising standards and promoting inclusion'. Mr Jones said: 'Our leadership and management has been highlighted as excellent by two Ofsted inspections, the local authority and HM Inspectorate and we are, therefore, extremely well placed to be part of this exciting new educational development.' The chairman of governors at Chudleigh Knighton, Jonathan Green, said: 'I am personally very pleased with the way forward which has been proposed by the re-structuring process. 'As a parent myself, I am satisfied that the steps we are taking will bring about the stability which is required and also the necessary changes that will ensure improved performance and achievement, long term, for our children and the school.' The governing bodies of both schools will draw up formal proposals to federate in September and parents have been promised full consultation before any decisions are made. The new St Catherine's C of E Primary, which geographically lies between the two at Heathfield, is not included in the shake-up. A spokesman for Devon County Council said federation was one option available 'when particular situations lent themselves to it'. He said that, if approved, the federation would be monitored before deciding whether other schools could benefit. The first project is likely to be in north Devon, where three primary schools are considering plans.