A NEW federation in West Devon is now up and running with the hopes of seeing positive changes for two primary schools.

The Tamar Valley Federation has seen Bere Alston Primary School and Lifton Community Primary School join together for the benefit of both pupils and the two village communities, led by executive headteacher Melanie Cripps.

Melanie has been headteacher at Lifton for almost five years and has been supporting Bere Alston since September 2017, after the retirement of the school’s former headteacher. After much dedication and time planning, Melanie and both teams of staff at the schools said they were delighted when Lifton and Bere Alston joined as a federation on April 16.

Melanie, who is a former Tavistock Comprehensive student, said the schools were very excited about the prospect of joining together.

There will be an acting head of school in each establishment, with permanent heads of schools to be secured for September 2018.

Melanie, who lives in Launceston, said: ‘This is an exciting time for both schools, where pupils and staff can work together on joint projects, share expertise and resources. Both schools are unique and will retain their own identity, but working together will secure the sustainability for both schools in the future.

‘We are making positive changes to modernise the school, including the opening of the breakfast club, working on improving the outdoor environment, we invite parents to our weekly achievement assemblies, plus a new after school club and a new curriculum.

‘The two schools are not too far apart. One of the strengths of Lifton is the very popular foundation unit and as I’m committed to this type of provision for early years education, I hope to make plans to open a foundation unit at Bere Alston in the future for children from the age of two years and up.’