WORCESTERSHIRE'S first multi-academy trust is continuing to strive for higher standards, its executive principal has said.

Rivers CofE Multi Academy Trust - made up of Worcester's St Clement's CE Primary, Cutnall Green CE First in Droitwich and Heronswood Primary in Kidderminster - started working together in October.

After one term together, and after overcoming some teething problems, the schools are all on the right track.

Their joint work was the brainchild of executive principal Kate Brunt, the former head at St Clement's.

After the school was rated outstanding by Ofsted, she wanted to make it even better.

And by working closely with two other schools, all of the trio have been able to consolidate, and are able to learn from each others' best practise.

This offers a buffer for the often fragile existence of a primary school, Mrs Brunt said.

"We were an outstanding school and doing outreach and support work, but didn't know what to do next," she explained.

"When you're outstanding there's normally only one way to go, but we wanted to keep getting better.

"It only takes one set of bad results in a primary school and things can change.

"I felt Worcestershire can be quite slow in terms of federation and executive headship so I went out to see if there were any other schools that I could help and that could help us."

Originally, St Clement's started working in partnership with Cutnall Green, before Heronswood joined the fold.

The fact that the schools are in three very different locations is a benefit, according to Mrs Brunt.

The Rivers Trust does not want to make all schools the same, but strives for each to be the best original establishment it can.

Staff are able to share ideas and learn from the work of their counterparts.

"Bringing three schools together isn't easy, especially when they have three different ways of doing things," Mrs Brunt said.

"We're not all trying to be the same - all the schools are different but have the same ethos.

"Every member of staff has been to other schools and that model of leadership challenges each other.

"All the teachers are dedicated and committed."