The 5 Pits Partnership (5PPS) is a formal collaboration that brings together 12 schools with the aim of improving educational opportunities for the young people of the area. The 12 schools, which are all members of the Tibshelf Cluster, include two infant schools, a junior school, eight primary schools and a community school.

The schools in and around Tibshelf formed a local cluster over 15 years ago and have a history of working well together across a number of areas from sport to shared resources. As Headteachers have come and gone, new Heads have been welcomed into the cluster and now, to a more formal, collaborative method of working.  

With the current educational landscape constantly shifting, The 5 Pits Partnership will continue to look to the future and to its role in supporting systems leadership across this area of Derbyshire, in order to positively influence the education of children in the wider community.

Our Vision:

To provide excellent educational experiences and outcomes so that all pupils in the 5 Pits Partnership attend a school that is at least ‘Good’ or better.

The aims of the 5PPS are to:  

  • Raise aspiration of children staff and governors by offering high quality, inclusive and enriching learning experiences
  • Secure strong strategic leadership
  • Maintain and develop individual character, ethos and distinctiveness of each school.
  • Achieve economies of scale of 5PPS to ensure cost effective services, including training and development

The 5 Pits Partnership currently has in place:

  • Memorandum of Understanding
  • Credible Plan
  • Regular meetings for all stakeholders (senior leaders, teaching staff, admin staff, Governors, SENCo)
  • 5 Pits Development Plan
  • A Partnership Parliament

The 5 Pits Partnership Parliament

Our children are also involved in collaborative ways of working.  Each school elects two school councillors from each key stage to form part of the Partnership Parliament.  This Council meets termly to work on community developments and fundraising initiatives.

The other schools in the 5PPS are:

Blackwell Primary SchoolNewton Primary SchoolTibshelf Infant & Nursery School
Heath Primary SchoolPilsley Primary SchoolTibshelf Community School
Mickley Infant SchoolShirland Primary SchoolWesthouses Primary School
Morton Primary SchoolStonebroom Primary School