Test Valley School will 'hugely benefit' as it looks set to join HISP Multi Academy Trust

Test Valley School is currently working towards joining HISP Multi Academy Trust (MAT), with the process expected to be completed in January. 

The trust schools currently include Thornden School in Chandlers Ford and Portswood and Tanners Brook primary schools in Southampton.

As part of the new partnership, Test Valley will welcome a new head of school in September, Caroline Lowing.

Ms Lowing was previously deputy head at Harrow Way Community School in Andover until 2021, and more recently was school improvement lead at HISP and helped a number of schools inside and outside of the trust with improvement work.

Caroline Lowing, the new head of Test Valley School.

The new head said: "The school will have the benefit of all that the MAT offers. All of the schools can share effective practice and expertise and meet regularly."

Ms Lowing said the trust "punches above its weight in terms of our further networks", as it is a base for Solent Maths Hub - supporting the development of maths teaching to all ages, along with having two Teaching School Hubs to deliver "high quality training".

She continued: "We are also a Research School, one of only 40 in the country, that leads on translating the latest research on teaching and learning into classrooms to benefit young people directly."

The trust was recently made part of the Science Learning Partnership - sharing excellent practice around teaching science at all ages.

Ms Lowing added: "Test Valley will hugely benefit from all of this. Training will be held at the school and our staff will have access to high quality continuous professional development. Areas such as IT and site management will be supported centrally by the trust. Despite its (beautiful) rural location, Test Valley will be part of a family of schools and therefore less isolated."