We are delighted to welcome All Saints CE Primary School, Cockermouth to the Good Shepherd Trust family.
Introducing Ashley
Ashley has been teaching for 13 years across KS1, lower KS2 and year 6. He joined All Saints in 2022 as Deputy Head, and in September 2025 took on the role of Acting Headteacher.
Ashley is still very much involved in the classroom, offering PPA cover for years 5 and 6 twice a week. This is important, as the school has recently undergone a period of notable change. Retaining a teaching role has allowed Ashley to remain in touch with the implications of those changes for teaching staff.
Ashley revealed his favourite aspect of teaching; “The Eureka moments, particular for those children who find certain aspects of the curriculum difficult. That moment when it all becomes clear and clicks into place, and seeing how much joy that brings is wonderful to witness.”
A happy and caring school
When asked what makes All Saints special, Ashley had a lot to share.
“We are a happy and caring school with a strong family ethos. We have a close team of staff – without exception, everyone is very supportive of one another. Two new staff have joined us this year, and very soon commented on the group dynamic being extremely supportive and collaborative.”
“This strong culture of support has helped staff to be resilient and embracing of change. A lot has changed since January 2025, and I am proud of how the staff have managed this.”
“Equally, our children show a lot of care and support for their peers. There is a strong awareness and appreciation for differences among the children. They really look after each other in the playground.”
“We feel support from our families as well, who are strong advocates for the school. Any surveys we conduct always return extremely positive feedback from the families of our children.”
Celebrating differences
Inclusion is a priority for All Saints, and an area where the school particularly excels. The school caters well for a range of experiences and needs, with a dedicated resource provision for Autism.
Ashley observes, “We celebrate a wide variety of achievements at All Saints, as we recognise that we all excel at different things. Everyone deserves to know what they’re doing well.”
Social and emotional needs of the children are prioritised. Ashley comments, “The children need a strong social and emotional foundation, so that they feel ready and able to learn.”
The school offers ELSA provision, benefitting from three members of staff who have completed the ELSA specific training. In addition to this, all staff receive training around different needs, giving them a good awareness of how they can support children with a broad variety of challenges.
Working closely with external agencies such as Barnardos further enriches the whole school’s ability to celebrate differences and support one another. Initiatives such as whole class decider skills sessions help children to learn about making good choices within their friendships, for example.
Strong community ties
All Saints school sits firmly at the heart of its local community.
They work closely with their local church, and regularly go on visits within the community, such as carol singing and Lent lunches at a nearby care home. The school also invites visits from organisations such as the police to provide education and discussion around local issues.
Beyond the immediate local community, the school’s curriculum is enriched with other valuable experiences, taking advantage of its Lake District location with activities such as sports clubs, an annual kayaking trip, fell walks and bike riding days. Further afield, children enjoy opportunities to experience trips such as visiting Parliament, and even residential trips to learn about different cities.
Joining the Good Shepherd Trust
“We are excited to officially welcome All Saints to the trust this month, and we look forward to working together on our common goals, as well as seeing All Saints become a vital and valuable part of our collaborative community of schools. Behind the scenes, a lot of preparation has gone into ensuring a smooth transition into the trust for All Saints, and the foundations for a strong relationship have already been built.”
Claire Render MBE (CEO)
Ashley adds, “A good relationship with the trust developed quickly. From September, initial conversations felt very positive about moving into the trust. There was an understandable amount of trepidation from families and staff. However, early on, meetings were held with staff and parents, which were very reassuring about what the move would look like.”
“Our school’s core values strongly aligned with those of the GST, with a shared emphasis on what is important – such as development of the whole child, celebrating all achievements, Christian values, and inclusion. The practice of our values will only become stronger being part of a wider community of church schools.”
“I am looking forward to more opportunities to collaborate with other schools within the trust. Sharing expertise, particularly on the theme of school improvement, will help us to build on the progress we have already made.”
“Collaborating with like-minded schools facing similar challenges and using the same resources will really benefit us.”
“We have already attended two conferences (CUSP and Early Years), coming away with valuable information and useful ideas, as well as starting to build networks. So we very much look forward to experiencing more of what the trust has to offer.”
A bright future
Looking ahead to the next 3-5 years for All Saints, Ashley commented, “There is a lot we do really well. In next 3-5 years I would like to see further work around curriculum development.  Our focus will be on working with children to achieve their key milestones and help all to reach their full potential.”