Clarendon Academy in Trownbridge has announced a new partnership with £11,000-a-term Winchester College.

The school gained academy status in December last year, after its most successful exam results at both GCSE and A-level.

Winchester College head Dr Ralph Townsend is a trustee of the Education Fellowship, which sponsors Clarendon Academy.

The arrangement will mean that Year Seven students at Clarendon will take part at an end-of-year graduation ceremony at Winchester College, to celebrate their achievements in English and humanities. Sixth form students will be able to attend weekend lectures at Winchester College for maths, science and humanities A-level subjects, starting in February.

Clarendon principal Mark Stenton said: “It is an immense privilege to be partnered with Winchester. Our work together will benefit both schools, as we aim for a fusion of best practice in education.”

Winchester College is regarded as one of the top three schools in the UK and is among the top academic performers.

Mr Stenton, as the Education Fellowship principal, will head a leadership team of Clarendon vice principal Darren Lawrence and Winchester director of studies James Webster, meeting each month to make plans.

Johnson Kane, chief executive of the Education Fellowship, said: “We want all of our academies to have the standards of excellence enjoyed at Winchester, as all children deserve that. We are sure Clarendon will deliver that.”