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 Great Barr 10 Q3 Academy Langley 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 Sandwell. 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).