Reach academy chain to open third branch

The Reach academy chain is set to open a third branch that will take control of around 15 schools in the south west of England.

The academy chain is currently made up of Reach2 and Reach4, with the knew Trust to be named Reach South.

Reach South will take control of around 15 schools across Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall from September 2016, with the aim of taking on a similar number again in subsequent years.

The new trust will be headed up by Dean Ashton, a former children's services director in Cornwall.

He said: "As someone who has worked, and still lives, in the South West, it is a real privilege to be leading a brand new academy trust.

“Whilst Reach South will benefit from the wider support of the Reach family, this will be an academy trust of the South West, for the South West.

“Everything we do will focus on our central belief in ‘Aspiration Beyond Expectation’, and I look forward to working closely with schools right across the region.”

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