Cheltenham Education Partnership

The Cheltenham Education Partnership (CEP) is a nonprofit organisation and registered charity (Charity Number 1211050) serving the educational community in Cheltenham, United Kingdom. It operates as an equal partnership comprising secondary schools from both the maintained (state) and independent sectors, alongside local organisations and charities. The partnership aims to expand educational horizons and foster social cohesion among young people in Cheltenham[1][2][5].

History and Background

CEP was officially launched in October 2019 after nearly two years of planning and discussions among senior leaders of local schools. The initiative was driven primarily by Adam Dunning of Cheltenham College and David Evans of Dean Close School, who envisioned a collaborative, town-wide partnership that would facilitate cooperation between educational institutions and other local sectors[5].

Aims

The Cheltenham Education Partnership is guided by several core aims focused on enhancing educational outcomes and community engagement for young people in Cheltenham:

• Ensuring the best interests of young people are central in education initiatives.
• Providing outstanding educational opportunities accessible to all young people, irrespective of social, economic, or educational background.
• Promoting professional development for teachers, including updates to knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
• Encouraging mutual respect between education professionals and students across state and independent sectors.
• Fostering social cohesion within Cheltenham.
• Building strong links between schools, colleges, universities, and wider community sectors such as the Cheltenham Festivals, Cheltenham Christian Arts Festival, The Cheltenham Trust, and GCHQ for communal benefit[2][5].

Objectives and Activities

CEP functions as an enabler organisation, supporting and encouraging initiatives that align with its aims. Its key objectives include:

• Developing and maintaining an annual programme of events and activities for students across partner schools.
• Cultivating a culture of collaboration among partner organisations, with shared decision-making prioritising student benefit.
• Offering professional development opportunities for education professionals within partner institutions.
• Seeking new partnerships beyond the traditional educational sectors.
• Securing funding from appropriate sources to sustain its activities[2][5].

The partnership organises a variety of events and programmes for students, including unique student-led projects such as the "Spill the Tea" podcast, which encourages open dialogue and engagement among students from partner schools and colleges[1].

Membership and Partners

The partnership currently consists of seven state secondary schools, four independent schools, one further education college, and the University of Gloucestershire. This diverse membership enables CEP to bridge educational sectors and foster cooperative ventures across Cheltenham[1][4].

Governance

As a registered charity (No. 1211050), the Cheltenham Education Partnership operates under a governance structure typical of UK nonprofit organisations, overseen by trustees responsible for ensuring it meets its charitable objectives and delivers its mission effectively[3].

The Cheltenham Education Partnership continues to play a significant role in enhancing local education by promoting collaboration, supporting professional development, and creating enriching opportunities for the youth of Cheltenham.

[1] https://sites.glos.ac.uk/cep/ [2] https://www.schoolstogether.org/formal-partnerships/the-cheltenham-education-partnership/ [3] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1211050&subId=0 [4] https://sites.glos.ac.uk/cep/partners/ [5] https://www.schoolstogether.org/case-studies/cheltenham-education-partnership/