The new school year has begun with a fresh chapter at Lantern Community Primary School (LCPS) in Ely, as Mr Chris Axten-Higgs takes up the post of Head Teacher.
Mr Axten-Higgs joins from Ridgefield Primary School in Cambridge, where he has served as Headteacher, leading a committed team focused on delivering high-quality education and supporting pupil wellbeing. He will also oversee Downham Feoffees Primary Academy (DFPA) in Little Downham, working closely with Mrs Benita Sherrington, Head of School at DFPA, to provide strong, collaborative leadership for both schools.
Both are part of Meridian Trust – a growing family of 32 schools across Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and beyond. LCPS and DFPA have worked together for a number of years, sharing expertise and resources, and will now continue to strengthen those links under Mr Axten-Higgs’ leadership.
Chris said: “I am delighted to be starting as Head Teacher at Lantern Community Primary School. Both LCPS and DFPA have such welcoming communities and I am excited to get to know our children, families and staff.
“At The Lantern, the idea of ‘shining light in our communities’ really resonates with me – it’s about every child growing in confidence, persevering through challenges, caring for one another, and working together as a team. I’m excited to nurture these qualities in our children.
“With Mrs Sherrington’s leadership at Downham Feoffees and the support of our staff and families, I’m confident we will continue to build a supportive environment where all children can thrive.”
Lesley Birch, Deputy Chief Executive of Meridian Trust, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Chris to Meridian Trust. He brings great experience and a clear commitment to children’s learning, and we hope both LCPS and DFPA will continue to flourish under his leadership, working alongside Mrs Sherrington and our brilliant staff teams.”
With the new school year underway and a strengthened leadership team in place, both schools are looking forward to an exciting year ahead.
For more information about both schools, visit: https://www.lanternprimary.org/ and https://www.downhamfeoffees.org/