PROSPECTUS 2016/17 LEIGH SHAPING LIVES, Academies Trust TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES

Welcome to

Welcome to our Trust However, like all siblings, our academies share Prospectus for 2016/17. Please certain core values and ways of operating. You take time to browse through can learn more about the things our academies these pages, which will give share in common over the next few pages. you a sense of what Leigh Academies Trust does. We are More than anything, we are about shaping already one of the country’s children’s lives for the better through high- most successful multi- quality education and care. In doing so, we aim trusts. We are incredibly proud of our to transform the communities in which they live achievements – we hope you will see why. as children and will live as adults, so that the life chances of future generations are enhanced by a We are developing ‘clusters’ of academies across strong legacy handed down from those who have the South-East. Each cluster is no more than a gone before them. thirty-minute drive from end to end. Geography is important to ensure strong collaboration. If you are interested to !nd out more about us, please do get in contact. Whether you are a Our clusters contain all phases of education, from current or prospective parent of a child in one nursery to Post-16. Each one has a passionate of our academies, an employer keen to forge commitment to inclusion. For example, Milestone links with schools, a member of the community Academy, in our North-West Cluster, is one interested in becoming a governor, a potential of the region’s largest special schools. Across employee or an educational establishment many of our mainstream academies, both primary interested in partnership with an already and secondary, we have designated centres for successful multi-academy trust, we would like children with special educational needs. to hear from you.

Our academies are like siblings, not clones. We believe that innovation, creativity and autonomy are vital. These qualities cannot thrive in an environment where everyone is forced to do the Simon Beamish same thing. Chief Executive

Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 3 Our values

Leigh Academies Trust is dedicated in its aims to remove barriers and provide opportunities to achieve academic excellence for all. It has signi!cant experience in running schools and today includes both sponsored academies and schools which have chosen to convert to academy status.

Shaping Lives, Transforming Communities

In order to achieve its aims, Leigh Academies Trust embraces a series of core values. Each value helps to shape the decisions we make and is integral to the vision of the Trust.

What we stand for: What we value: What makes us distinctive: • High ideals, strong moral values • A ‘can-do’ attitude towards • Small-school, ‘human-scale’ and boundless ambition to achieve continuous improvement and education to personalise the excellence for all; innovation; educational experience; • Strong collaboration and teamwork • Creating con!dent young adults with • An enterprising culture to create so that we are much greater than the high levels of resilience and integrity. close partnerships with industry sum of our parts. and other educators.

4 Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 Sir Geo"rey Leigh Bob Findlay Founding Sponsor Chairman

The Leigh City Technology College (CTC) opened Bob Findlay was born in Canada, but has lived in the in 1990 as one of the original 15 City Technology UK since 1965. He joined Morgan-Grampian in 1969 Colleges, through the generous personal and later became Managing Director of its main sponsorship of Sir Geo"rey Leigh. He became the operating subsidiary and a Director of the public- !rst Chairman of the College in 1990 and retired in holding company. In 1974, he left Morgan-Grampian 2006. to start Findlay Publications.

When the CTC was !rst formed, Sir Geo"rey A strong desire to help address manufacturing’s was Chairman and Managing Director of Allied greatest constraint, its skills shortage, through London Properties PLC, a company quoted on the persuading young people to pursue careers in Stock Exchange, engaged in the development engineering, led him in 1989 to donate £400,000 of commercial, industrial, o#ce buildings and and lead a £1.6 million project developing new housebuilding. Through his charitable work in curriculum programmes for the $edgling City education, business, and health, both in the private Technology Colleges Trust. Concurrently, he and public sectors, he has helped organisations to helped found and build the Kent TEC into a £30- grow, to become more e"ective and to raise large million success, delivering government-training sums of money for the bene!t of their communities programmes. In 2006, he became Chair of Governors and the country. at The Leigh City Technology College in Dartford, which became Leigh Academies Trust in 2008.

Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 5 Our academies

London

Dartford

Canterbury Maidstone

Ashford Royal Tunbridge Wells 6 secondary academies

NORTH WEST KENT

CLUSTER Dartford Primary Academy 7 Academy primary academies

CENTRAL KENT CLUSTER SOUTH EAST 1 LONDON special CLUSTER academy

6 Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 The Trust was formed in 2008, when The !rst cluster was in North-West The Leigh Technology Academy and Kent, centred around Dartford, and Long!eld Academy were linked under is almost complete. The other two one governing body. It currently existing clusters are in South-East encompasses more than 10,000 London (Greenwich and Bexley) and students, between the ages of 2 and Central Kent, between Maidstone and London 19, in fourteen primary, secondary and Tonbridge. special academies. When this project is !nished, each of Dartford our clusters will include around ten Each year, we hold six schools, serving approximately 6,000 Principals’ Forums, allowing students from ages 2-19, and all will Principals from all of our have a highly-inclusive approach to education. They will be semi- academies to ‘openly’ Geographical proximity autonomous groupings with their own discuss and share ideas and Canterbury identities, but which subscribe to the between sites and their core values and distinctive features successes, helping the Trust Maidstone location along key of the Trust. Each cluster has its own to evolve and improve. transport routes ensure Executive Director, who leads the that each Leigh Academies cluster’s team of principals and reports directly to the Chief Executive of the Trust academy is within Trust. Ashford one hour’s drive of all the Royal Tunbridge Wells others.

The latest academy is Langley Park Primary, which opened in September 2016. Cherry Orchard Primary Academy - the !rst school in the Ebbs$eet Garden City - will open in September 2017.

The Trust has chosen to remain local and medium-sized. We believe in ‘earned autonomy’ for our academies. Those academies with a strong track record of improvement receive less monitoring and intervention than weaker ones. All of our current academies can be accessed within a one-hour drive of one another. We want to keep it this way. We are developing self-managing, self-improving ‘clusters’ of academies across the region.

Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 7 Primary education ‘I was delighted to see that Hartley Primary Academy has been judged to be ‘outstanding’ in all areas by Ofsted.’ Dominic Herrington, Regional Schools‘ Commissioner

The Trust operates seven primary academies. In The Trust is strongly committed to Our governing bodies are also linked. the next two years, we primary education. A successful Whilst primary academies all have have approval from the primary education generally leads to their own development groups, they a successful life afterwards. If things are governed by an Academy Board, Department for Education go wrong in , some which brings together primary and to open more primary children never recover. secondary governors around one table. academies to meet the This enables governors to understand All of our primaries are linked to a the process of education from age 2 need for school places. nearby secondary academy. Strong through to 19 and is a powerful driver collaboration is encouraged at of collaboration between phases. the outset to provide additional opportunities for sta" and students. Wherever possible, our primary These links help to break down the academies have their own nurseries. arti!cial divide between phases, so Currently, the Trust has six nurseries, that students’ transition is as smooth but this is likely to grow over the next as possible. Our secondary academies eighteen months. This helps us to allow preferential access under their get children’s development o" to a admissions arrangements for students successful start from the moment they attending our LAT primary academies. enter formal education.

8 Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 Secondary education

The Trust has six secondary academies, Business” across secondary academies, well-trained sta". Our students leave one of which is a UTC. Most of to link our schools !rmly into the world school well quali!ed, ready to take their its schools have bene!tted from of work. Our secondary-age students next steps into work, training or further signi!cant rebuilding programmes over enjoy a business-mentoring scheme study. the last decade and enjoy splendid, and work placements and we are about new, state-of-the-art facilities for to launch our !rst set of advanced learning. Environments are technology- apprenticeship quali!cations. Our secondary academies are rich, $exible and welcoming. Academy organised around a ‘human- sta" take a business-like, yet caring, We have enjoyed much academic approach to achieve successful success at secondary level. Despite scale’ education model outcomes for young people. the fact that most of our secondaries in which each academy are high schools which operate in is organised into smaller We believe in fostering selective areas, our results are well entrepreneurship in our students. That above national averages. This is in no ‘college units’ with 350-500 is why we have developed our own small part due to the hard work and students in each one. initiative called “LAT Working With dedication of our talented team of

Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 9 The Leigh UTC

The Leigh UTC was the !rst university technical college The Leigh UTC specialises in works very closely with industry and engineering and computing. These university partners to create work- to be part of a multi- specialisms re$ect the fact that the based, engaging, relevant opportunities academy trust. future success of the British economy for young people aged 14-19. The Trust depends upon highly-trained young is now planning to broaden the reach of people in these !elds. The Leigh UTC The Leigh UTC by opening up access to Unlike its peers, The Leigh UTC did all secondary-age pupils from 2017. not stand alone, but was developed by a highly-successful group of existing academies that could provide ‘The Leigh UTC education and back-o#ce support demonstrates a progressive from the outset. A recent change in attitude towards technical government policy has determined that this is now the preferred route for all education as well as its existing and forthcoming UTCs. In that links to the business sense, Leigh Academies Trust has led the way in this important innovation in community.’ English education. Andrew Hodgson Chief Executive O#cer Beck & Pollitzer

10 Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 Inspiration Academy @ THE LEIGH UTC inspiration academy @ THE LEIGH UTC

In February 2016 Leigh Inspiration Academy and The Leigh This development will greatly enhance Academies Trust was given UTC will enjoy a symbiotic relationship, Leigh Academies Trust’s drive to sharing expertise and resources, as well encourage more young women to permission to develop the as ensuring that all students bene!t access the opportunities available UK’s !rst 11-14 extension to a from working with many local and through careers in engineering and UTC. national businesses. computer science.

This is another ground-breaking, In addition, this development and that national initiative, which will allow of adjacent land will provide indoor and ‘Leigh Academies Trust students to follow a broad, balanced outdoor sports facilities for the bene!t o"ers excellent educational curriculum with enhanced provision for of both The Leigh UTC and the local opportunities for local STEM-based subjects. community. children so I am really pleased we should now see The Leigh UTC expand.’ Gareth Johnson MP

Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 11 Post-16 education

Leigh Academies Trust Post-16 o!er comprises four campuses in Kent: The , The Leigh UTC, Longfield Academy and Wilmington A large number of LAT16 students progress on to university, including Academy. Russell Group universities, with others taking jobs and apprenticeships Building upon our success and as part of our ongoing in !elds such as engineering, L A commitment to delivering an outstanding educational accountancy, medicine and leisure. experience to our post-16 students, Wilmington, The Leigh and The Leigh UTC have registered their candidacy Find out more at www.lat16.org.uk T 16 to become accredited International Baccalaureate World Schools with a view to delivering the International businesses, universities and other organisations to ensure Baccalaureate Careers-related Programme (IBCP) from that our students have the opportunities and advice they September 2017. need to follow their chosen path. The IBCP is a $exible post-16 programme o"ered in 17 countries around the world, which combines academic, LAT16 students have access to a wide vocational and practical learning skills. Students must follow a career-related course and between 2 and 4 IB range of opportunities: diploma courses at standard and higher level in a wide • Appropriate range of academic and range of subjects. The core curriculum is fundamental to the development of students academically, personally and vocational courses; socially, combining the skills valued by employers with • Flexible learning programmes; excellent quali!cations. • Development of skills and attitudes

This year, LAT16 students can choose from over 50 di"erent prized by employers; academic, vocational and technical quali!cations, studying at • State-of-the-art facilities; more than one campus if necessary. No other group of local • 24/7 learning; schools or academies in Kent can o"er such a wide range • of choices. LAT16 students have the bene!ts of a $exible, Enrichment and work-related learning independent, college-style education, while retaining the experiences; personalised support, advice and guidance needed to help • Excellent employer and university links; them succeed and achieve their goals. • Bespoke pastoral programmes; Through our LAT Working With Business initiative and careers • Personalised support, mentoring and service, all academies work closely with a wide range of guidance.

12 Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 Special education

The Trust is committed to inclusion and Leigh Academies Trust also has creating opportunities for all students, a number of designated special regardless of their circumstances. In provisions in its existing mainstream ‘Milestone continues to fact, one of our core values is to remove academies for students with an be Outstanding. barriers to success, whatever they Education and Health Care Plan. might be. These centres provide the Trust The strategic in$uence of with even more expertise in special Leigh Academies Trust has Milestone Academy joined the Trust educational needs, including speech, had a signi!cant impact on in 2012. It is one of the largest special communication and language needs, schools in the region and was again hearing impairment, autistic-spectrum the culture at the school.’ rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted in 2016. disorders, visual impairment and It has nearly 300 young people from moderate learning di#culties. Ofsted, 2016 ages 2-19 with profound and multiple learning needs. Milestone gains much The Trust is opening more new from its interaction with the Trust’s ‘basic need’ primary academies in other mainstream academies. It also Kent shortly. All will have their own gives much in return through its highly- designated specialist provisions. talented, knowledgeable and skilled group of sta".

In 2014, Milestone Academy developed an o"-site, Post-16 centre at . This is an excellent example of how working together can create more opportunities for vulnerable youngsters and sta" collaboration.

Milestone Post-16 students now enjoy greater autonomy and independence through access to the di"erent approach to learning in a mainstream setting provided at Wilmington.

The Academy is now developing primary satellite provision at Dartford Primary, which was launched in September 2016.

Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 13 Opportunities for teaching sta"

Our annual conference, held each year salary. Leigh Academies Trust is in February, brings together teachers The Trust has also introduced its own from across the Trust for a day of high- recruitment and retention bonuses to proud to attract only the quality training. Each day includes enable it to compete for the very best best, most highly-quali!ed an address from the Chief Executive, teachers. followed by workshops run by our own and dedicated teachers to sta" and trusted external facilitators. We are committed to high-quality its sta" and is committed training for all teachers. The Trust is to o"ering excellent career Leigh Academies Trust has its own the lead school for Kent and Medway pay scale for teachers, which enables Training, which trains over 100 teachers paths and opportunities annual progression based on good every year. More than 60% of these to those seeking this performance. Activity and development were judged to be ‘outstanding’ by the allowances enable academy leaders University of Brighton in 2015/16. Many environment. to recognise the best teachers and to of these trainees choose to start their provide enhanced responsibilities and careers in LAT academies.

14 Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 Opportunities for leaders

The Trust holds Principal and Senior workshops from leaders in other to create opportunities for career Leadership Forums six times per year, sectors. progression within and across our bringing together all key executives academies. from across the Trust to share best Middle leaders already collaborate practice, address challenges and strongly across our academies, with contribute to Trust development. regular opportunities to meet and It is quite normal for sta" share good ideas with like-minded to move between our In addition, the Trust has launched its colleagues. own middle-leadership programme to academies as they develop develop our best aspiring leaders for The Trust believes in a ‘grow-your- their careers and take on senior roles. The programme is led by own’ philosophy of leadership. We are our own sta", in association with the fortunate to have a large number of new challenges. Institute of Education, and includes highly-talented sta" and work hard

Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 15 ‘A high level of challenge and support, which come in equal measure, leaves no room for complacency. It creates a culture of high aspirations and a desire to improve year on year.’ Simon Beamish Chief Executive

16 Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 A culture of improvement

All Trust academies enjoy high-quality support in a range of All academies within the Trust experience regular modular educational and ‘back-o#ce’ services. This includes human reviews with the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive resources, !nance, IT, estates management and procurement. and Executive Director. This enables full discussion and This means that support is highly responsive and tailored accountability of all educational improvement matters at to the needs of individual academies. It allows the Trust to least six times per year. access best value and more e#cient ways of supporting academies to deliver these services to the standard they We are also launching our new Academy Challenge Partners demand. initiative this year, putting our academy leaders together with tried and trusted experts as they move towards In addition, the Trust has developed a range of educational excellence. support services for its academies. This includes the Academy Improvement Team, which contains high-quality The Trust has an e"ective programme of annual peer review senior experts in a range of subject areas who support and for its academies. This brings together trained external challenge academies on a weekly basis. inspectors and academy senior sta" and provides excellent training for our leaders as well as robust challenges for our The Trust also recognises the importance of a range of other academies. educational services to support academies to meet the needs of their young people. That is why we have also developed our own Inclusive Services Team, who work across the Trust.

Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 17 Ofsted ratings

Ofsted grade on Academy Latest Ofsted grade joining the Trust GOOD with The Leigh Academy GOOD OUTSTANDING Joined September 2008 leadership

Long!eld Academy SATISFACTORY GOOD Joined September 2008

GOOD with Wilmington Academy INADEQUATE OUTSTANDING Joined September 2010 leadership

Dartford Primary Academy Dartford Primary Academy INADEQUATE GOOD Joined April 2012

Milestone Academy OUTSTANDING OUTSTANDING Academy Joined September 2012

Hartley Primary Academy GOOD OUTSTANDING Joined June 2013

REQUIRES Tree Tops Primary Academy INADEQUATE IMPROVEMENT with Joined March 2015 GOOD leadership REQUIRES Molehill Primary Academy INADEQUATE IMPROVEMENT with Joined March 2015 GOOD leadership

18 Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 Academies not yet inspected as part of the Trust

Ofsted grade on Academy joining the Trust

The Leigh UTC Not yet inspected Joined September 2014

Stationers’ Crown Woods Academy GOOD Joined September 2014

Oaks Primary Academy GOOD Joined March 2015

Mascalls Academy GOOD Joined September 2015

Eastcote Primary Academy GOOD Joined February 2016

Langley Park Primary Academy Not yet inspected Joined September 2016

All 2 4 10 LAT academies of our academies of our academies are of our academies inspected by Ofsted are graded graded ‘outstanding’ are graded since joining the ‘outstanding’ in leadership ‘good’ or better Trust have improved by Ofsted by Ofsted by Ofsted

Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 19 We value the individual identity of each of our academies. While each academy is part of the LAT family, we recognise that all have a unique ethos and history.

20 Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 Results 2016

Primary

% of children achieving a good level of development in the Early Years (national average = 66%) 70% % of children who pass the phonics test in Year 1 (national average = 81%) 79% % of children who achieve national Secondary standard at Key Stage 1 in reading (national average = 74%) 75% % of pupils who achieve A*-C % of children who achieve national in English and maths GCSE standard at Key Stage 1 in writing (national average = 56%) 63% (national average = 65%) 70% Attainment 8 score % of children who achieve national (national average = 48.1) standard at Key Stage 1 in maths 48.9 (national average = 73%) 74% Progress 8 score % of children who achieve national (national average = 0.0) standard at Key Stage 2 in reading 0.0 (national average = 66%) 64% % of pupils achieving the % of children who achieve national English Baccalaureate standard at Key Stage 2 in writing (national average = 24%) 20% (national average = 74%) 84% Average academic grade at % of children who achieve national A Level standard at Key Stage 2 in maths (national average = C+) C- (national average = 70%) 69% % of children who achieve national Average vocational grade at standard in grammar, punctuation A level Distinction+ and spelling at Key Stage 2 75% (national average = Distinction-) (national average =72%)

Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 21 Transforming communities

Our community-facing initiatives across • Sports Centre and Hydropool, • Play 4 Ages and MegaCamps, Leigh Academies Trust include: Milestone Academy. Available secondary academies and Milestone Academy. Provide • Telescope Bistro, Long!eld to Milestone young people and holiday clubs for children across Academy. Open twice per week members of the local public – the local areas during academy to the local community, serving open daily. closure periods. high-quality cuisine, prepared by • Horticulture Centres, Wilmington Post-16 students following City & Academy and Milestone Academy. Guilds diplomas in professional Run by students and servicing local Our core philosophy says cookery and hospitality services. businesses with high-quality fruit, • Dartford Football Academy, The vegetables and $owers. Both have it all: ‘shaping the lives of Leigh Academy. Students taking won awards at Chelsea Flower young people through A-Level courses at The Leigh Show and are members of the can access professional football Royal Horticulture Society. high-quality education training at Dartford Football Club. and transforming the communities in which they live’.

22 Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 LAT Enterprises

The unique aspect of LAT Enterprises have bene!tted from our venues for is that it exists solely to raise income to years, we know it’s about establishing a enhance the education of the students relationship. within Leigh Academies Trust. The company operates from each LAT Enterprises is able to o"er a variety academy within Leigh Academies of venues, including lecture theatres, Trust under the direction of the Trust theatrical space, boardrooms, halls, Business Director. LAT Enterprises a hydrotherapy pool, sports halls, welcomes approaches from classrooms, !elds, $oodlit arti!cial organisations willing to work in playing surfaces, tennis courts and partnership. Contact details can be much more. found on the website. LAT Enterprises is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leigh Each building is unique and our services Academies Trust. range from simple space hirings for Over 40 venues for hire meetings or sport to fully-serviced Find out more at events. With many repeat clients, who www.latenterprises.org.uk.

Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 23 Working with Businesses

Leigh Academies Trust values partnerships with local Careers advice businesses for mutual gain. We are passionate that each and every student within the Trust should bene!t from All of our students have the opportunity to have a careers signi!cant business engagement to prepare them for their interview at any stage of their education. As part of future after leaving education. Understanding how the Leigh Academies Trust, our academies are all committed world of employment works and the key skills needed to to the Investors in Careers award, which demonstrates be successful, over and above academic quali!cations, the comprehensive careers and work-related learning encourages our students to strive to achieve. opportunities a"orded to our students.

Our valued business partnerships take many forms and include business mentoring, visits to workplaces, presentations within our academies, projects for students, work experience and much more. Leigh Academies Trust is proud to be developing its own LAT Working With Business initiative.

24 Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 LAT Alumni

Leigh Academies Trust is partnered with Future First, a registered charity, to bring the LAT Alumni community to life. The Trust is keen to foster a thriving community of ex-students, who can bring their expertise back into academies as they progress with their careers.

The LAT Alumni website, launched We are looking to all of you for your Our alumni community spans in August 2015 and designed as our valuable support to help and guide six academies and gives shop window for prospective alumni those now following in your footsteps. members, provides a gateway for ex-students the chance to joining the alumni communities for The Once signed up, alumni can join our reconnect with old friends and Leigh Academy, Long!eld Academy, exclusive LinkedIn and Facebook to inspire new generations Wilmington Academy, The Leigh UTC, alumni communities to network with Stationers’ Crown Woods Academy old friends and to keep abreast of news of learners. and . Our alumni and events from their academies. members include a whole range of inspiring career and education role Visit http://www.latalumni.org.uk models, volunteers, work-experience for the latest alumni news and to sign providers, governors and mentors. up today, free of charge.

Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 25 Executive team

Simon Beamish Chief Executive Simon Beamish graduated from York University with a BA in Politics and went on to study for a PGCE in History at Durham University. He gained an MSc in Social and Political Theory from Birkbeck College, University of London, as well as an NPQH from the National College for School Leadership. He has taught at several schools in Kent, Medway and South-East London. In 2009, Simon was appointed Principal of Long!eld Academy within Leigh Academies Trust. In the previous year the predecessor school had achieved just over 20% 5+ A*-C grades, including English and maths. By the time that Simon left the school in September 2013 to become Principal of The Leigh Technology Academy, this !gure had risen to just under 70%. Simon was appointed Chief Executive of Leigh Academies Trust in November 2013, succeeding Frank Green, CBE, who went on to become Schools’ Commissioner for . In addition to this role, Simon is currently Chairman of Governors of Roseacre Junior School in Maidstone. He is also Chairman of Kent and Medway Training, one of the region’s largest teacher-training providers. Simon sits on the Regional Schools’ Commissioner’s sub-regional board for Kent and Medway and the Executive Board of the Kent Association of Headteachers. He is also a trained Ofsted Inspector. He lives in Kent with his wife Emma and their three children.

Neil Willis Deputy Chief Executive / Executive Director (North West Kent) Neil graduated from Plymouth Polytechnic with a BSc in Geography and gained his PGCE from Goldsmiths College, University of London, before teaching in Surrey and Kent. He was Headteacher at Axton Chase School during its transition to becoming Long!eld Academy in 2008 and Principal at Long!eld Academy until 2012, when he became Deputy Chief Executive of Leigh Academies Trust. Whilst at Long!eld, Neil was integrally involved in the design and development of the new academy building, which opened in September 2011. As part of this work he led the introduction of iPads as a learning device for all students. As the !rst large-scale scheme in Europe, it has garnered worldwide recognition, winning the national ICT Facility Award and being runner-up as Academy of the Year 2011.

Stuart Reeves Executive Director (Central Kent) Stuart graduated from University College London in 1991 with a BEng in Biotechnology and went on to study for his PGCE at the Institute of Education, London. A teacher of physics, Stuart received an award from The Teaching Awards for excellence in science teaching. Following a number of leadership roles, his !rst headship was at Cockermouth School in West . He then moved back to the South-East as Headteacher of Mascalls School, Paddock Wood. Both schools are popular, successful and hold ‘good’ Ofsted ratings. Stuart joined Leigh Academies Trust in September 2015 to lead and expand the Central Kent Cluster. A keen cricketer, Stuart lives in Sussex with his wife and two children.

26 Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 Steve Avis Finance Director Steve is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and joined Leigh Academies Trust as Finance Director in January 2015. He has over 25 years of experience within !nance across the public sector and has held senior management positions in the civil service, including in the Department for Education. He was also head of !nance at Partnerships for Schools (now part of the Education Funding Agency). Before joining the Trust, Steve was director of !nance and operations at a high-pro!le new academy in central London. Steve has two daughters and two grandchildren. He lives in Surrey and is a lifelong supporter of Leeds United Football Club.

Sue Crocker Business Director Sue has worked in the education sector since 1996, including both the primary and secondary sectors, and was appointed Leigh Academies Trust Business Director in 2008. Sue has led the Trust through major capital-building programmes totalling £49.5m, the most recent of which, The Leigh UTC, opened in September 2014. Current projects include Langley Park Primary Academy and Castle Hill Primary Academy, due to open in September 2016 and 2017, respectively. Sue is integrally involved in all aspects of business and operations and has been instrumental in bringing new schools into the Trust. Other areas of strategic leadership include health and safety, estate management and administration.

Stephane Vernoux IT Director Stephane joined Leigh Academies Trust in 2012 to transform, develop and deliver the Trust’s IT strategy. Much emphasis is placed on growth, mobility, innovation, risk and exposure management, and achieving outstanding educational outcomes. Before moving to the UK, Stephane began his career as a biomedical engineer. He then turned his focus to IT, with over 15 years’ technical and management expertise. Most recently, Stephane worked as the Head of IT for the largest indoor ski-slope operator in Europe, prior to which he held various IT roles within a specialist property company.

Richard Taylor HR Director Richard joined Leigh Academies Trust in 2014 to develop the Trust’s HR strategy and drive improvements in our people practices. Richard is a chartered member of the Institute of Personnel and Development and has devoted his career to building successful HR teams that add real value to the organisations they serve. Over the last decade, Richard has held a number of HR leadership roles across a variety of sectors, including engineering, construction, facilities management and oil and gas and he brings to the Trust a commercial, pragmatic and creative approach to people management.

Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 27 A brief history of the Trust

• Leigh Academies Trust • The Leigh Technology • Wilmington Academy • Long!eld Academy (LAT) begins under Academy gains an joins LAT. rated ‘good’ by Ofsted Frank Green, CEO. ‘outstanding’ Ofsted with ‘outstanding’ • The Leigh Technology rating. leadership. Academy opens its • Long!eld Academy brand new £35m moves into its brand- building. new, £26m building. • Long!eld Academy joins LAT.2008 2009 2010 2011

• York Road Juniors joins • Hartley Primary Academy joins LAT. • Simon Beamish LAT as its !rst primary • Wilmington Academy rated ‘good’ by Ofsted with appointed CEO. provision. ‘outstanding’ leadership. • The Leigh UTC opens • Milestone Academy • Wilmington Academy moves into its brand-new, £13m in brand-new £10m joins LAT as its !rst building. building, specialising special school. • LAT signs agreement with The Stationers’ Company to in engineering and sponsor a South-East London secondary academy. computing. • Stationers’ Crown Woods 2012 2013 Academy joins LAT, starting the South-

• LAT gains approval to open a new East London cluster of • Eastcote Primary Academy joins the secondary free school in Greenwich. academies. Trust. • LAT gains approval to operate the • St Albans Infant • Hartley Primary Academy gains brand-new Langley Park Primary Academy joins LAT. ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating. Academy in Maidstone and Cherry • Milestone Academy regains ‘outstanding’ Orchard Primary Academy in Ebbs$eet. Ofsted rating. 2014 • St Albans Infants and York Road Juniors • Langley Park Primary Academy opens. merge, creating Dartford Primary • LAT gains approval to develop an 11-14 Academy. extension to the UTC, called Inspiration • LAT takes on three primary academies in Academy. Maidstone from another multi-academy • LAT gains approval for construction of trust: Molehill, Oaks and Tree Tops a third college at Wilmington Academy, Primary Academies. taking the pupil admission number to Shaping Lives, • Mascalls Academy joins LAT, starting the 240 per year. Transforming Communities Central Kent2015 cluster of academies. 2016

28 Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 Our partners

Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 29 30 Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 Be inspired at Leigh Academies Trust

‘The Leigh Academies are transforming communities across South-East England. We are shaping education for young people so that they will have a variety of opportunities and a far better future.’

Sir Geo"rey Leigh Founding Sponsor

Leigh Academies Trust Prospectus 2016/17 31 LEIGH Academies Trust

Chief Executive: Simon Beamish BA (Hons) MSc PGCE NPQH

Green Street Green Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1QE t: 01322 620586 | f: 01322 620401 e: [email protected] | w: www.leighacademiestrust.org.uk

Leigh Academies Trust is a registered company, company no 2336587. An exempt charity. v3. 10/2016