Lift Schools is thrilled to announce that East Wichel Community Primary School and Nursery, winner of Primary School of the Year 2025 in the Tes Schools Awards, will be joining our trust in 2026.
The Department for Education has approved the move, which will bring the total number of schools in the trust to 58.
The school, located in Wichelstowe, Swindon, is a high-achieving and inclusive school. It was rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in 2022 and was recently named Primary School of the Year 2025 in the Tes Schools Awards. The school is well known for its compassionate approach, excellent teaching, and strong ties to local families and the community.
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Paula Phillips, Headteacher at East Wichel, said:
“We are absolutely delighted that East Wichel has been approved by the DfE to join Lift Schools. As a school, we are always looking for new ways to achieve excellence. Joining Lift Schools will allow us to collaborate with like-minded schools and ensure the very best for every child, every day.
“We chose Lift Schools as a partner, because they share our ethos of delivering an excellent education for every child, they respect the individuality of each school and its community and are forward thinking and innovative in preparing children for the future. These shared values give us great confidence as we look ahead to this exciting new chapter for our school.”
Lift Schools CEO Becks Boomer-Clark said:
“We are delighted that the DfE has approved East Wichel’s application to join Lift Schools. East Wichel is an excellent school with a strong team, a powerful sense of purpose, and a deep commitment to inclusion, all of which are central to how we work as a trust. We look forward to welcoming the school formally into Lift Schools in January 2026 and working closely with the Wichelstowe community in the years ahead.”
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Laura Parnham and Matthew Corps, Co-Chairs of Governors, added:
“East Wichel is a school we are incredibly proud of - a school rooted in values, inclusion, and high expectations. The achievements of our staff and pupils in recent years, under the inspirational leadership of Paula Phillips, have been exceptional, and our priority is ensuring that this success is built upon as the school continues to go from strength to strength.
“We are delighted that the DfE has approved our application for East Wichel to join Lift Schools. We are excited by this new partnership which will give us access to a wider professional network, deeper school improvement expertise, and more opportunities for staff development, all while protecting the unique identity and ethos that makes our school so special.”
When the transfer is complete in January 2026, East Wichel will become part of a national network of 31 primary schools. The school will join a familiar partner in nearby Lift Hazelwood in Toothill, as the two schools already share a close working relationship and a strong commitment to excellence and inclusion.
