Two schools nestled in between Radstock and Bath have appointed a new headteacher.

Ruth Noall, who started her teaching career in Bristol before working in Taiwan, has almost twenty years’ experience of working in education.

A former Teaching and Learning Consultant for the Local Authority’s Maths Team, and a Deputy Head in Bristol who helped take a school from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Good’, Ruth has taken up the post of Executive Headteacher at the Church Valley Schools Federation. Created in 2012, the federation is a partnership between Shoscombe VA Primary School and St Julian’s VC Primary School, Wellow.

Ruth said: “I chose to take up the headship at the Church Valley Schools Federation because I recognise that both Shoscombe and St Julian’s are passionate about ensuring children are given the best possible opportunities to thrive within a nurturing and exciting learning environment.

“Both schools offer fantastic grounds, experienced teachers, and very nurturing and yet also challenging curriculum and approaches.

“I believe that primary education needs to be well-rounded and provide children with excellent teaching and learning to ensure they achieve academically. But above all, that children are given opportunities to shine and succeed in all aspects, achieving their fullest potential and leaving school with confidence and self-belief that they can tackle challenges with resilience, learn from mistakes and be happy and successful in all that they choose to do.”

Shoscombe School offers specialist forest school sessions to all age groups and the children also take part in many outdoor learning activities, including looking after chickens and a performance garden area and planting vegetables to use in cooking.

Ruth added: “We have been awarded the EU Erasmus Plus project for another year running and this year it is entitled ‘respect-reuse-recycle’ and runs for two years.

The Erusmus projects allow us to fund hugely enriching and exciting wider curriculum opportunities from Arts Week to specialist music teachers. Children from Shoscombe this week are taking part in Schools Without Walls and will produce a performance poem with a professional poet as well as visit the Egg Theatre to see Slam Poetry in action.

Prospective parents and their children are always welcome to visit and meet Mrs Noall. Visit: www.churchvalleyschoolsfederation.co.uk for more information.