A leading educator has pledged to drive up standards in education across South Cumbria after taking up an executive role.

Professor Andrew Wren has joined South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust as CEO and Executive Headteacher from this new academic year.

The Trust, which formed in September 2021, now has six schools across Barrow - Chetwynde, Ormsgill, Vickerstown, Newbarns, Cambridge and South Walney Juniors.

Professor Wren said: "I had never planned to run a Trust but I can see first-hand the positive changes that have been made in the first couple of years of SCMAT.

"We have established something here that is focused on high quality and inclusive education for all with a focus on pupils achieving their full potential and gaining valuable academic and life skills."The Mail: South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust CEO Professor Andrew Wren has pledged to drive up standards in education across the communitySouth Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust CEO Professor Andrew Wren has pledged to drive up standards in education across the community (Image: Philip Hatfield)

Professor Wren, who is from Cumbria, led Furness College for eight years, including a successful Ofsted inspection, a move to chartered status and the merger of Furness College with Barrow Sixth Form College.

He added: "Change is constant in education and there is an opportunity here for us to be proactive, work together and support our member schools to be the best they can be.

“We are working from a really sound base and there is so much expertise to share across our staff."

The move is not the only significant change to be seen recently across the Trust's schools.

Kathryn Kittley has been appointed as Director of Communications, Reece Edwards has taken up a role as Head of Primary at Chetwynde while Mark Bland is now Deputy Headteacher at Vickerstown School.The Mail: South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust’s new Director of Communications Kathryn KittleySouth Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust’s new Director of Communications Kathryn Kittley (Image: SCMAT)

Newbarns Headteacher Gary Birkett, Cambridge Headteacher Jenny Lavery and South Walney Juniors Headteacher Zena Lines have all joined the Trust’s senior leadership team.

The term starts next week for the Trust's schools with an inset day for all staff including activities to build relationships and an education specialist speaker.