The Wellsway Multi Academy Trust has appointed Annie Smart as the executive headteacher to oversee the launch of its new primary school in Keynsham.
Mrs Smart will take on the leadership of Two Rivers Church of England Primary School, alongside her current role of headteacher at Chandag Infant School.
Mrs Smart, a highly experienced and successful primary school leader, will be responsible for establishing the new school, which will open with one reception class in purpose-built temporary accommodation on the Wellsway School campus in September.
She will take up the post after Easter, working with the trust’s director of primary, Dr Matthew Cottrell, and colleagues on the pre-opening phase.
Mrs Smart will also oversee the school’s move to its new permanent building on the Hygge Park development as soon as it is completed, during the academic year 2021/22. At that time, the trust will appoint a permanent headteacher for Two Rivers school to lead it in developing its own distinctive identity as a Church of England primary.
The new school, which is being opened to address a shortage of primary places in east Keynsham, will take in two reception classes – up to 60 children – a year from 2021 until it reaches its planned admission number of 420 pupils.
It will benefit from collaborating with other trust schools in the Keynsham and Saltford area and from the wealth of expertise and skills available across the trust, which runs 13 schools in Bath, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
Mrs Smart said, “I am looking forward to the challenge of setting up Two Rivers primary and making sure that from day one it delivers the high quality education that all children deserve.
“I am confident that with the backing of the trust and the Bath & Wells diocese, plus the strong roots we already have in our community, we can build an outstanding team of staff to work with parents and children and achieve great things.”
Dr Cottrell added, “I am looking forward to Two Rivers C of E Primary becoming part of Wellsway Multi Academy Trust’s family of schools. Mrs Smart is an excellent leader who knows the Keynsham community well and I am delighted that she is taking on this role as executive headteacher.”