A CLACTON school has joined forces with five others across north Essex to create a new trust and boost education standards.

Clacton County High School has started the new multi-academy trust – called the Sigma Trust - with five schools from the Colchester area.

It is designed to boost teaching, leadership and standards, with the schools sharing ideas and resources.

County High executive principal Jeff Brindle will become the chief executive officer of the Sigma Trust.

He said: “As a group of schools already working in close partnership we consider that the time is right to formalise our working partnership.

“The evidence from school improvement research shows that small groups of schools, who share the same values and beliefs and who already trust and support one another, can become an unstoppable force for rapid and sustained improvement.

“This is a very exciting venture for all the schools in the new trust.”

The other schools involved are Monkwick Infant and Nursery School, Monkwick Junior School, The Stanway School, St Helena School and the Thomas Audley School.

They have now finished a consultation process with parents, governors and staff to rubber-stamp the trust agreement.

Mr Brindle added: “We all feel a passionate commitment to this new venture.

“As a group of schools we will be working hard to ensure that, over time, we deliver on our vision and that the students in our care here in north east Essex benefit strongly from the new partnership.”