Consortium's fundamental aim is to maintain and enhance the position of community schools at the heart of our communities across East Anglia. We have a passion for, and recognise that for our smaller primary schools to remain vibrant and viable, closer integration and collaborative working is necessary to ensure that our curriculum is exciting, provision is full and the outcomes for pupils are exceptional.

Whatever the size, community schools in rural locations face particular challenges at a time when the local authority maintained sector is experiencing decreasing capacity. The current funding system, for example, penalises schools with relatively fewer pupils. It is our belief and experience; however, that such schools can provide an excellent standard of education and that the key to achieving this is collaborative working, school-to-school support and delegated decision-making.