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History of the Partnership

The group started life as a partnership arrangement between Deansfield Primary and Willow Dene School in June of 2011. The Headteacher of Deansfield, John Camp, became the Executive Headteacher of both schools and oversaw the improvements that needed to be made at Willow Dene. As a result of the tremendous success of the partnership and the rapid transformation at Willow Dene, the partnership extended to South Rise Primary School in February 2012, Horn Park in April 2013, Halstow in September 2014, and Wingfield and Alderwood in September 2015.

Today, the Compass Partnership of Schools is led by John Camp, as Chief Executive Officer, with his Leadership Team. Compass is a charitable trust of eleven primary schools, one junior and one all-through special school. The schools are based in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, and in Braintree and Clacton in Essex, and work very closely together to raise standards of provision and attainment for over 5000 children. These schools are at the heart of contrasting communities and achieve highly, regardless of context.  We have a shared vision and set of values that underpin all that we do, with a central focus on creative, innovative and engaging teaching that develops a love and interest in learning. We craft meaningful contexts for learning that actively engage children in rich dialogic tasks, developing key skills for independence, confidence and resilience.

From partnership to charitable trust

We became a multi-academy trust on 1st July 2017 under the same name.  In January 2022 we welcomed Cann Hall, John Ray Junior, Notley Green and Shalford Primary Schools to our Trust. Boxgrove and Kidbrooke Park Primary Schools joined us in October 2023.  The Compass Partnership of Schools will retain its identity as a group and will continue to protect the unique characteristics of each of our schools. We firmly believe that collaboration should not equate to ‘sameness’. We celebrate diversity in all its forms, and whilst there are some very clear consistencies across our schools, these do not undermine their individuality. We are clear that we need to be consistent about the right things, quality and integrity.

Compass Partnership Facts

We are a growing Partnership of schools. To date we are:

13 schools, 14 sites, 2 geographical areas, 5000 pupils and over 1000 staff.