The Learning for Life Trust expanded in September 2024 to include the high-performing Cockermouth School. As the Trust's ethos is to develop a partnership of schools working together, whilst retaining their own particular identity and community links, this partnership was a very natural opportunity to work together to improve provision for all of the young people in our area.

Our approach seeks to build on the individual strengths of each partner school working together and, with the addition of Cockermouth School, we greatly add to the expertise and resources available to all and offer some real benefits in making the transition of children from Primary to Secondary education as effective and smooth as possible.

The Trust has already shown that this approach works, with both its primary schools having had recent OFSTED inspections which confirmed their 'Good' standard, while the Trust has also developed nationally-recognised expertise in some subject areas.

In addition, the Trust continue to support Cockermouth School as a beneficiary in the Government's new school building programme, with the design of a brand-new school being finalised, and work expected to begin in 2025.