ACADEMI E S T RUST

To seek for that which is good, right, and true. 3 Our Values

4 Our Vision, Ethos and Values

7 Our Family

8 Q3 Academy

10

12 The Grace Payne Aspiration Centre

14 Our Curriculum

17 Growing the Trust

18 Our Services

20 Shaping the future together

23 Next steps

2 Our Values

3 Our Vision, Ethos and Values

Our name “Q3”embodies our ethos: ‘To seek for that which is good, right and true’. We believe all children can succeed and the Q3 Academies Trust is committed to educating the whole child, underpinned by Christian values.

Academic excellence is at the heart of our work, paired with a relentless focus on high quality teaching and enrichment opportunities for every young person who joins the Q3 Academies Trust. We are determined to provide all students with the very best start in life, with the ambition to leave us as independent, confident young people with a ‘can do’ attitude and the determination to succeed.

We also want them to develop an attitude of care and responsibility towards others and their surroundings, and to have a positive impact on their community.

4 However, actions speak louder than words and Q3’s reputation is built on:

• An ethos and culture of integrity and honesty. What we say and do, we believe; • A clear and defined purpose for every child; • Uncompromising standards from governors through to students; • Building right relationships – people matter most; • Recognition and rewards; • The Pursuit of Excellence.

The Q3 Family currently has two Academies in the Trust, Q3 Great Barr and Q3 Langley, and the Grace Payne Aspiration Centre. We are keen to expand the Q3 Academies Trust to partner with other passionate educators in both the secondary and primary sectors to spread our work more widely across and beyond .

The Q3 Academies Trust has taken time to ensure that we operate a cost-effective central services structure and a business model that delivers maximum efficiency, effectiveness and economies of scale in order to be able to provide appropriate levels of support. The rapidly changing educational landscape brings both opportunities and challenges, and membership of our Trust will ensure that our Academies are well placed to take full advantage of this.

Our success is a direct consequence of the work that is undertaken by the talented and dedicated staff we have in our Academies and we hope you will be inspired to consider joining us on the next stage of the journey.

Dr Caroline Badyal Mr Eric Payne OBE Chief Executive Sponsor Quaerere Academies Trust Quaerere Academies Trust

5 6 Our Family

Grace Payne Aspiration Centre

7 It is a great honour and responsibility to lead Q3 Academy, Great Barr. A Q3 responsibility I and all staff and Governors relish. Academy First and foremost we want every child to feel happy and excited about coming to school. Only when each child feels secure and comfortable can Great Barr we challenge them to grow and learn together.

We want our students to return home telling their families of the memorable, exciting learning experiences they have enjoyed. Experiences that make it easier to recall the detail necessary for exam success, and to develop their character as much as their academic potential.

Our passion is helping young people to flourish and become confident, capable adults ready for the world ahead.

This passion creates a genuine warmth that supports every member of our Q3 community. Our traditional family 8 values and Academy ethos, ‘To seek for that which is good, right and true’ helps to keep the academic and well- being of every student sharply in focus and drives our ambition for continual improvement.

A multi-academy approach gives each individual academy greater capacity to fulfil our shared aims. By working together we are able to share resources; nurture, develop and keep talent within the Trust; and seek financial efficiencies to put even more resources into supporting learning. Furthermore, as we expand the Trust to include primary partners, we can better meet the needs of children on the transition to secondary education by working even more closely with teachers and families.

Mr Mark Arnull Head of School

9 At Q3 Academy Langley we prioritise the importance of an excellent start Q3 to a student’s journey through their secondary education, working in a brand new building offering an innovative, refreshing and rigorous Academy approach to transition.

Our key priority is to embed the Langley learning habits that will stand students in good stead for their future academic success and adult life beyond the Academy. We aspire to the highest standards of behaviour with a high expectations culture.

An un-stinting focus on high quality teaching and learning underpinned by a curriculum that values each child and offers a personalised approach to learning ensures that all students make rapid progress and settle into secondary life quickly. What happens at Key Stage 3 plays a vital part in a student’s educational journey; we aim to ensure they get off to a flying start!

10 Our commitment to a broad and balanced curriculum is enhanced by the Wednesday and Thursday afternoon physical education and extra-curricular offer. In addition our innovative ‘Ethos Weeks’ allow students to broaden their horizons and develop additional skills through these experiences.

The development of our Multi Academy Trust has already shown to be beneficial in many areas not least the attracting and retaining of key staff members. Operating across more than one school can mean that opportunities for promotion, growth and developing of colleagues can be managed with the Q3 Academies Trust (QAT) rather than losing talent where room for promotion may be stifled. We have been able to book external speakers to come and deliver training to our teaching staff and the opportunity to network and bring staff together from across the QAT has been beneficial for all concerned.

Working as a family has also seen expertise shared from the Great Barr site – for example our attendance and welfare officer works across both Academies and has shown considerable impact since her role and scope widened.

Mr Peter Lee Head of School

11 The Grace Payne Aspiration Centre

The Grace Payne Aspiration Centre has been developed with the support of our Sponsor, Eric Payne. The centre has been developed in memory of our Sponsor’s late wife, Grace Payne. Our vision for our students who work within the new centre is simple:

‘Inspire to Aspire’ Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities.

The CCF unit is based within the Grace Payne Aspiration Centre and provides our students with the skills and self- confidence to take charge of their lives so they can reach their full potential within their Academy and beyond.

Our CCF is currently a Royal Air Force contingent.

12 13 Our Curriculum

Both Academies offer a broad, engaging and robust curriculum allowing students to rapidly build on their Key Stage 2 foundations, while preparing for the intellectual rigour of Key Stages 4 and 5. Literacy and numeracy are a key focus throughout the curriculum.

Academic

In addition to the traditional subjects of Maths, English, Science, Humanities, Languages, Well-being (PE) and Technology, students follow two courses designed by the Q3 Academies Trust.

HORI7ON is a bespoke programme designed for our Year 7 students and extended through the Cre8 package in Year 8 covering the visual and performing arts; computer science and enterprise.

Students then move on to a 3 year KS4 curriculum at the start of Year 9 following one of four pathways:

1. The English Baccalaureate 2. The Achievement Route 3. The Applied Route 4. The Supportive Route

ASPIRE is our unique course developed by the Academy’s staff and local businesses to complement a full selection of A Levels while providing ‘work ready’ skill development and experience for Post 16 students.

14 Holistic

The quality of teaching and learning • Charitable Work is embraced across the Trust is key to our academic by staff and students, including success. However, academic excellence support and volunteering for has to be underpinned by the spiritual, overseas initiatives for example moral, social and cultural development CCD Rainbow House Orphenage in of the whole child. tailand.

Q3 offers a range of tried and tested • The Cadet Unit provides students initiatives as part of its learning with leadership development, self- package which are key to ensuring discipline and access to a wide every child in our care has the widest range of opportunities. possible access to the opportunities that will equip them for the future. We • Duke of Edinburgh Award want to work with you to find which aspects of our work could benefit your • The Annual Sponsor’s Dinner students and staff. There will also brings together Post 16 students be strategies you have implemented and business people, creating a which would strengthen Q3’s existing unique networking opportunity. model. • Community Engagement is an • Vertical Tutoring creates a family essential part of every student’s ethos with students supported both experience, developing confidence academically and socially. to contribute positively to society. Comunity lunch and rememberence • Passport 0-25 is an entitlement for service are just two examples. every Q3 student providing a range of essential life experiences. • Aspire2Innovate is a brand new leadership and enterprise • Transition week gives every programme designed by the student, including the new Year Q3 Academies Trust for Year 9 7 intake, an introduction to their students. This includes accreditation next phase of study with a range of by the Chartered Management academic and social experiences. Institute (CMI).

• Residentials are a key part of every • Prince William Award ‘Dare to be student’s experience including local, your best self.’ Our KS3 students national and overseas visits. participate in this national character award programme.

15 16 Growing the Trust

The Q3 Academies Trust is keen to work with partner schools and academies who will introduce fresh thinking and new ideas. By working together we can deliver the change and pursue excellence for more children in Sandwell and the surrounding areas.

Our vision is built around growing a family of academies that, working in true partnership, will make a significant contribution to the life chances of young people in our communities.

Our journey so far has seen us develop a strong focus on education, underpinned by a truly holistic approach to working with children. This is supported by a range of back office support services, such as Finance, ICT, HR and Facilities Management that deliver a robust infrastructure for the future.

Whether you are a good or outstanding school or a school that requires improvement, the Q3 Trust wants to develop a partnership with you if you share our values and aspire to excellence.

The opportunity to access a wider level of experience and a deeper pool of knowledge is becoming a major driver in educational thinking and practice. We believe that sharing expertise and resources within an enlarged family of Academies is the best way to deliver long term success and sustainability.

17 Our Services

Academy Improvement

The Q3 Academies Trust (QAT) ensures that excellent teaching and learning is at the heart of its work and can therefore provide access to the following:

• Evaluation and Improvement Planning; • Sixth Form Improvement Team; • Management advice and consultancy; • Curriculum Development and Timetabling; • CPD and Appraisal Support.

Finance

With an increasing strain on education budgets there is a need to ensure that effective financial management is maintained. The QAT offers a range of services that can ease that burden. Along with the use of our in-house accounting system, access will be provided to:

• A comprehensive programme of financial management and reporting; • A detailed budgeting and forecasting process; • Developing and implementing excellent internal controls; • Contract negotiation, procurement advice and tendering; • Payroll administration.

Administration

Tangible benefits can be gained from working together to streamline common administration activities. Back office support can be offered across the Trust that will help to release much needed resources back into teaching and learning. This would include:

• A comprehensive package of support for student attendance; • A robust programme of data monitoring to enhance student performance; • Maintenance of complete and accurate student records; • Providing a structure for the recording of assessment data and the upkeep of its effectiveness; • Lesson Observation Monitoring.

18 Human Resources

HR issues continue to play an increasingly important part in academy life. With access to a team of HR professionals, who understand the educational environment, savings can be made with the following additional support:

• Centrally managed HR records including pensions administration; • A full recruitment process including developing job descriptions and formulating contracts; • Developing programmes to increase staff retention; • Access to HR advice, arbitration and occupational health services; • Access to a library of existing policies and the development of new ones; • DBS - administration (excludes DBS payments to our provider).

ICT

ICT support can be an expensive luxury, and often the level of service that is affordable does not meet the needs of a school. The QAT has a highly skilled and dedicated ICT team who can assist schools with a variety of needs, tailored to individual requirements, including:

• Infrastructure support (including the possibility of on-site support); • Technical advice and support; • Design solutions and Network management; • ICT Security and Data Protection advice; • ICT Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Advice; • Website management.

Buildings and Resource Management

In managing buildings, whether it be in relation to the day-to-day operational needs of the school or the development and delivery of new facilities, the QAT has access to a professional team who can help with all aspects of building and resource management, including:

• Maintenance and repairs, planning and delivery; • Technical advice and support; • Event and lettings management; • Project management of capital projects and other logistical matters.

19 Shaping the Future Together

The Q3 Academies Trust vision has education at the very heart of all that it does supported by Christian values. Our relentless focus on excellence in teaching and learning is reinforced with high standards of student behaviour. We are passionate about developing our young people to have a spirit of independence that enables them to contribute fully to their learning experience. We have a firm policy on Business Dress (uniform), embraced by every student. There is a minimum expectation that all lessons are at least good or outstanding.

Each member of the Q3 Academies Trust family has access to an environment where effective practice is shared and resources are available to deliver excellence in teaching and learning. This raises the aspirations and achievements of all our students.

Working together ensures consistency and excellence across the Trust, we:

• Make sure that no individual or group of learners is left behind; • All contribute to the drive for continuous improvement; • Consistently promote the core values of the Trust; • Prepare students to be responsible citizens; • Provide the tools students need to engage fully with the learning process and the world beyond education; • Are all fully committed to the needs of our local communities; • Always ensure family values underpin our work.

20 21 22 21 Next Steps...

If you are excited by the opportunity of working with the Q3 Academies Trust (QAT) to provide excellence for all of our young people, we would like to begin a dialogue with you.

Why should you consider joining Q3? Together we can share effective practice creating a climate of achievement for every student. You will become part of a family however; we want you to maintain your unique identity within your community. We want you to join us because of your contribution and the influence you could have on the direction of Q3.

We want to establish: • Educational clusters of excellence with secondary schools supporting a group of primary schools; • A learning culture where responsibility for nurturing our students is shared by all.

We want to embrace: • A range of specialisms that will complement each other and offer the widest opportunity to our students and our teams of staff.

We expect the best; we prepare to be the best; and we achieve the best.

Next Steps…

If you or your governors would welcome a discussion or a visit, we are happy to accommodate any number of different approaches. If you believe the Q3 Academies Trust is for you please contact:

Dr Caroline Badyal Chief Executive Q3 Academies Trust Wilderness Lane Great Barr B43 7SD www.q3mat.org.uk Tel: 0121 358 6186 Email: [email protected]

23 ACADEMI E S T RUST

Q3 Academies Trust Wilderness Lane Great Barr Birmingham B43 7SD

W: www.q3mat.org.uk T: 0121 358 6186 E: [email protected] To seek for that which is good, right, and true.