HISTORY was made at one of Swindon's secondary schools this week as pupils walked through the doors of Lawn Manor Academy for the very first time.

The school, which used to be Churchfields Academy, is the first to join the newly-formed Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust where resources and expertise will be shared in order to improve educational standards.

As part of the changes, the school was given a complete overhaul with new-look uniforms paying homage to the school’s historic roots by designing the school logo using the shape of the sunken garden on the Lawn Manor Estate.

This week, Lawn Manor Academy welcomed back both returning pupils and new Year 7s.

While many of the other changes will be unnoticeable to pupils and parents, headteacher Sandra Muir has put in months of planning to make sure the transition into the RWBAT goes as smoothly as possible.

“It isn’t just a name change or a rebrand, it is a completely new school," she told the Adver.

“Expectations and respect for others, being a part of our community and having a real academic ethos in the school where the children can succeed is important to us.

“There has been a huge amount of planning over the last 12 months about what we want Lawn Manor Academy to look like and creating the Lawn Manor Way which is a set of rules the students are bound by. That planning has come into force to make our vision happen and to inspire and create futures for all.

“The history in the community is important for us and that is why we have incorporated it into the logo and badge.

“It is important that the children know that and we want to be part of our community.”

As part of the RWBAT, the leadership team hope to build on their ethos of creating and inspiring futures for all by working with colleagues at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy to strengthen each other and maximising the potential of each person in its community.

RWB Academy headteacher George Croxford will oversee the trust.

“We have a proven model for teaching and learning and if that is right and students’ attitudes are right then everything comes together," he said. "It is about building this relationship between teachers and students and setting standards and expectations.

“The first thing for us is to get the leadership right and under Sandra and her team we have it right. They have made massive changes here already and that is moving the school forward.

“In opening a new school it gives you a fresh start and that is the biggest thing.

“We have other very successful schools that are wanting to join and we are looking forward to developing the work of the trust. Our aim is to provide the best possible education we can.”

Long-term plans for the new academy include the development of a sixth form provision as well as the introduction of a new house system to recognise and reward good behaviour but also introduce an element of competition between the pupils.