CLF NEWS Edition 16 19/04/18 “Embedding Excellence” Secretary of State for Education ALSO visits Bristol Brunel Academy INSIDE THIS ISSUE... Snakes alive! TV Stars attend Maths conference Pic left to right Jon Jones Principal Bristol Brunel, Kai Salandy, Derek Fulgence, Damian Hinds MP and Matt Leek CLF Rugby Head Coach The Secretary of State for Education the Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP and Prince’s Trust CEO, Nick Stace paid a flying visit to Bristol Brunel Academy. The visit was hosted by Jon Jones, Bristol Brunel Academy Principal, Steve Taylor CEO of the Cabot Learning Federation and Professor Jane Harrington, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost, University of the West of England and Chair of CLF Board Damian and Nick were keen to see how the Prince’s trust projects work with young people in schools as well as visiting a thriving academy working collaboratively as part of a Multi Academy Trust. They visited a Year 10 lesson where students were Equality & Diversity Success completing a STEM activity designing and constructing a self-propelled model car, the lesson was delivered by Rebecca Owen, Associate Assistant Principal and set up by the Prince’s Trust. Following the lesson Damian and Nick asked students about their work with the Prince’s Trust and the other activities they have been involved in. The students also got involved in a question and answer session with Damian about the life of an MP and the role of the Secretary of State for Education. The afternoon ended with a tour of the Academy before Damian was presented with a Cabot Learning Federation Rugby shirt and rugby ball by Year 10 students Derek Paralympian vists City Academy Fulgence and Kai Salandy. Jon Jones, Principal said, “This was an inspiring opportunity for our students to meet the Secretary of State for Education and the CEO of the Prince’s Trust and I would like to thank them for giving up their time in their busy schedules. It fills me with pride that the Academy is being recognised for the excellence we strive for and the high standards we are achieving for our students.” “Embedding Excellence” ‘Good’ say Ofsted....Again at Hans Price Hans Price Academy was recently inspected by Ofsted. The Cabot Learning Federation is extremely pleased to announce that Ofsted has judged that the Academy remains ‘Good’. Ofsted said, “The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection.” Inspectors acknowledged that during the Principal’s time in post, “He has laid the foundations for improvements which have recently started to bear fruit. The school is increasingly the school of choice for local parents and carers because leaders have established a culture of learning and high aspiration. The Principal and the wider leadership team are galvanising staff and driving a culture of improvement recognised by all.” Of the pupils they said: “Pupils are not disturbed by low-level disruption and they want to participate in their lessons. They arrive promptly to lessons and are well equipped.” They went on to say, “The Principal is securing better-quality teaching in most subjects because middle leaders are becoming increasingly effective in their roles. They are enthusiastic and value the role they play in developing teachers’ practice. Middle leaders feel trusted to lead improvement in their subject areas and to exercise their initiative. You are also holding them to greater account for pupils’ progress. The enthusiasm felt by middle leaders is also felt by other staff across the school. Morale is high because staff want to work at the school.” Teaching is also improving because of the support provided by the wider Cabot Learning Federation. For example, federation staff with specific subject expertise make regular visits to school to provide bespoke support for teachers. Staff also attend regular subject meetings with other teachers in the federation to enhance their subject knowledge. Consequently, staff have been able to address areas for improvement from the previous inspection that focused on teaching. Ofsted noted, “Pupils feel positive about their school experience. Staff have nurtured a welcoming, tolerant school culture where pupils respect each other and feel it is ‘OK to be different’.This is because good behaviour and the emphasis on learning enable pupils to feel safe and comfortable.” Ofsted concluded, “Pupils report that they feel safe in school for different reasons.These include site security, the supportive, tolerant nature of other pupils and the impact of Ready to Learn on establishing order and calm around the school. As one pupil told me, ‘Behaviour is good because of the Ready to Learn system.’ The vast majority of parents also agree that pupils are safe in school, as do all the staff who responded to the staff survey.” Tony Searle, Principal said, “We are pleased with the contents of the letter and feel that it captures many of the as- pects of the Academy we would hope to be recognised. It was a Section 8 Inspection, which means that some of the significant strengths of the academy sit outside of inspectors’ key lines of enquiry; where this is the case, they have not been captured in the letter, which is a shame as there are many! However, overall the letter does highlight the excellent work of teachers and leaders at all levels as we strive to consolidate our work and build upon a job well started. The letter feels a fair reflection of where the Academy is now and highlights the work we are undertaking to continue to improve.” Steve Taylor CEO of the Cabot Learning Federation said, “I would like to congratulate and thank all staff at Hans Price Academy for the positive outcome, and for the extremely hard work that has gone into creating, sustaining and improving the excellent learning environment for students at Hans Price and the local community they serve.” Ofsted,“The school is increasingly the school of choice for local One student told Ofsted, “Behaviour parents and carers because is good because of the Ready to leaders have established a culture Learn system.” of learning and high aspiration.” “Embedding Excellence” Begbrook Primary Academy retains Ofsted ‘Good’ Begbrook Academy was recently inspected by Ofsted. The Cabot Learning Federation is pleased to announce that Ofsted have judged that the Academy remains ‘Good’. Ofsted said, “Pupils enjoy school; attendance is above the national average and continues to improve. The majority of parents and carers are very pleased with the continuing good-quality education.” During the inspection, Ofsted established that, “Staff feel included and supported”. They highlighted that “Teachers have a clear and consistent understanding of how to develop pupils’ comprehension.” Ofsted identified that “The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection.” They went onto say that, Those responsible for governance, including the trust, ensure that there remains a sharp focus on improving outcomes for all pupils.” Ofsted also recognised that the collaborative work offered by the trust supported the improvements being made. They recognised that the leadership team, “Are ambitious for pupils and committed to developing excellence in the education provided, aiming for pupils to leave the school fully and solidly prepared for the next stages of their education.” Ofsted also identified that “Achievement overall is good across the school.” They acknowledged that the Principal “Recognises the strong and emerging leaders who work across the school, forming a cohesive, forward-thinking team that is determined to ensure that every pupil can ‘believe, achieve and succeed’.” Ofsted reflected that, “Parents of children in the Reception classes were pleased that their children are expected to talk to each other and try to sort problems out before asking a teacher. Older pupils are increasingly able to discuss their learning and therefore identify what they need to develop next. A typical comment was, ‘I know that I must work hard and not give up if I want to do well.” Principal of the Academy Laurie Munro said, “We are extremely proud and pleased with this Ofsted report and feel it is a fair reflection of everything we have implemented. The report recognises that we have introduced a number of new initiatives, which are still in an early stage of development and that the impact of these is yet to be felt. However, the inspection feedback clearly validates that we have developed the right strategies to move the academy forward for the benefit of our pupils and the local community that we serve.” Steve Taylor CEO of the Cabot Learning Federation said, “I would like to congratulate and thank all of the staff at Begbrook for the positive outcome, and for the work that has gone into creating, sustaining and improving the excellent learning environment for children at Begbrook Academy.” Ofsted “Pupils enjoy school; Ofsted “The leadership team has attendance is above the maintained the good quality of national average and education in the school since continues to the last inspection.” improve. “Embedding Excellence” Continued success for Raising Aspirations Over two thousand students, within the diverse community of East Central Bristol, Bath and Weston-super-Mare converged on the University of the West of England (UWE) for the annual ‘Raising Aspirations Careers Event.’ This event of high quality careers information, advice and guidance, was attended by Year 9 students from fourteen different schools within and outside the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF.) Over this two day event students had access to key note speakers including Deputy Mayor, Cllr Asher Craig and Steve Taylor CEO of the Cabot Learning Federation. There were over sixty companies and higher education organisations exhibiting at the event.