Faith Primary School joins All Saints Multi Academy Trust

A primary school in Everton has joined All Saints Multi Academy Trust.

Faith Primary School, located on Prince Edwin Street, will now be known as Faith Primary Academy and is the first primary school to join the trust.

It is an inclusive, joint denominational school which has 204 pupils and 35 members of staff.

The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Roy Gladden, officiated proceedings at the academy on Tuesday 29 November and cut a ribbon to mark the occasion.

Later in the day to celebrate the new partnership and the start of advent, All Saints Multi Academy Trust and the school held a special service at St Francis Xavier’s Church.

Pupils and staff walked to the church and were led by a very special guest, Fiona the donkey.

The procession symbolised the scene from the bible where Mary and Joseph were planning the arrival of their new baby, while at the same time having to make such a difficult journey on a donkey, and was re-enacted by the children walking the half a mile distance from their school to the church.

During the service, Rev Stuart Haynes explained the meaning of advent to pupils, staff and special guests, and gave a blessing in honour of Faith Primary Academy being formally part of the trust.

Over 200 children joined in with hymns and filled the church with their beautiful voices. Students and staff from other academies within the trust also were in attendance and warmly welcomed a new school community into the family.

All Saints Multi Academy Trust is jointly sponsored by both the Diocese and Archdiocese of Liverpool and is inspired by the ecumenical vision of Bishop David Sheppard and Archbishop Derek Worlock of how communities are ‘stronger and better together’.

The trust operates two secondary schools in Liverpool, The Academy of St Francis of Assisi and The Academy of St Nicholas, as well as All Saints Sixth Form College.

Sarah Williams, headteacher of Faith Primary Academy, said: “We are overjoyed to be joining All Saints Multi Academy Trust. Our own values perfectly match those of the trust, and together, we will work in partnership to bring the best education and life chances for our children.

“Being part of a trust means there is a wealth of support and expertise that we can access, as well as having the opportunity to collaborate with other schools and share best practice.”

After the service students were given an advent calendar from the trust to take home with them.

CEO of All Saints Multi Academy Trust, Heather Duggan said: “We are pleased to welcome Faith Primary Academy into our family of schools.

“Faith Primary Academy is much loved by its community and as a trust we encourage all of our academies to maintain their individuality. We are excited to embark on this new journey and support Sarah, and her excellent team of staff, so that they can continue to flourish and provide academic success for all children.”