Academy 360 in Sunderland has achieved the Inclusive School Award with Flagship status.
Making Pupils Feel Happy and Safe
The Principal, described by her senior leaders as ‘visionary’ leads with a big heart and a clear sense of moral leadership. A great deal of work has gone into steering the direction of Academy 360 since the Principal’s arrival. Where the academy was once described as being in a challenging and desperate situation, the current Leadership Team have taken the all-through school from strength to strength. Leaders have ensured that the model for the school is right for making pupils and staff feel happy and safe.
The academy is large, but a calm place, conducive to both academic and personal growth. There is a ‘can do’ culture at Academy 360. The learning here is purposeful. Everything from role play in the reception classroom to group reading in the Learning Resource Centre is planned to perfection, allowing no opportunity for missed learning. No stage of the school is more important than another. The attitude, ‘good teaching and learning is good teaching and learning whatever phase of the school you are in’ ensures that no stage is left behind on their journey towards whole school improvement. Everything the pupils experience is purposefully planned through the staff responding to the needs of their pupils.
Learning is the Real Reward
IQM’s journey through the school began in its reception phase. Pupils are surrounded by visual reminders of where their learning journey is taking them. Pupils are enabled from an early age to understand that everything they do has a role in contributing towards their academic and personal development. The use of both indoor and outdoor space is well thought out, ensuring that no opportunity for learning can be missed. Pupils as young as five years old are engaged in the world around them with opportunities to learn about topical issues, as well as developing their academic ability, through programmes such as Read Write Inc. Concepts such as Forest School and Beach School are used to support pupils in exploring the world around them. Time has been invested in staff to lead on these outdoor provisions and the children are thriving from the experiences. Their experience journey can be seen mapped out on the corridor walls. Pupils love to collect their experience badges throughout the year and this is then shared with parents, through communication apps. Learning is the real reward at Academy 360 and the children are all winners.
The spaces around school have been well thought out and are lovingly cared for by the pupils. Pupils have a voice at Academy 360 and have contributed towards some of the design of pupil used areas. Every space is a teaching space. There are no unused corners or hidden spots. This was evident when walking through the primary phases as our Assessor came across an intervention session with Gram Seed. Gram’s intervention services provide students the opportunity to learn without books through Gram’s storytelling, based on his own life experiences and triumph over adversity.
Transition is Seamless
The transition between primary and secondary phase is seamless due to the diligence of the academy leaders in ensuring pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their journey. During the visit, our Assessor met with a pupil panel consisting of primary and secondary pupils. Pupils talked about their experiences in school and the consistent approaches taken to ensure pupils in Year 5 are already on a transition journey, allowing them to move into Years 6 and 7 purposefully and without strife. This level of consistency was again seen in the panel consisting of pupils from the pupil leadership team. The same language was used by the Year 7 pupil as was by the two Year 11 pupils.
Moving throughout the secondary phase, the atmosphere was calm and purposeful. Pupils were engaged in learning opportunities and had clear direction from their teacher and support staff who they described as, “adults who care and know how to laugh”.
The pupils used words such as, “adventurous, inclusive, diverse, well-rounded and ‘class’’’ to describe their school. They talked about how they felt prepared for each stage and how the staff, “help with solutions to problems”. Pupils are encouraged to aim high through celebration assemblies and weekly focuses such ‘Future Fridays’ where pupils are able to discuss career opportunities.
These opportunities are further encouraged and, in some cases, realised through the inspiring enrichment programme on offer. Pupils talked about the opportunities on offer to visit places of interest across the UK and abroad. Fully funded scholarship opportunities have also made it possible for Key Stage 4 (KS4) students to apply to stay in London and learn from Goldman Sachs, a leading investment management company.
Genuine Feeling of Enthusiasm
There is a genuine feeling of enthusiasm and passion for the pupils and their families. There is a collaborative feel with everyone contributing to the vision and strategic direction of the school. Staff know the communities in which they serve and are proud to be able to tell the history of the post-war housing estate where ‘everyone knows everyone.’
During meetings with teaching and non-teaching staff members, the comment was made that, “if you have good leaders, you’ll have a good team”. Workload is reviewed often and a human touch is applied to all decisions. Although a large all-through school with various stages, the staff operate like a family. A newly appointed leader commented that they had never known a team of people who were truly there for each other.
This commitment to inclusion was reinforced during the learning walk. It was clear to see how the various strategies for supporting students to succeed enable the school to be wholly inclusive. Leaders have invested time and resources in ensuring these provisions are purposeful, safe learning spaces for students.
Opportunities Are For All
Opportunities are for all at Academy 360. As leaders recognise their strengths, they also know when to call on further expertise and support for their pupils. During the visit, our Assessor met with parents who described the staff at Academy 360 as their, “rock”. One parent said that the school had stopped her child from, “slipping through the net” through the SENDCo’s relentlessness and determination to ensure children with additional needs are catered for. Another parent described Academy 360 as, “a school for everyone”. Responsive, not reactive is the way forward. In allowing staff the time to learn from the expertise across the phases of the school, the curriculum is crafted to provide excellent learning opportunities alongside, “touchable” experiences. Staff at the academy go over and above to support the learning of all their children.
The academy’s vision for ‘what’s next?’ was discussed with the school’s DSL, as she gave examples of how they have made a difference to the lives of some of the young people they work with. From pupils accessing the Washington Mind project, which supports them with how they see themselves, to the Emotional Health and Resilience Nurse, who has opened the world of school to some pupils, there is a strong vision for where the academy wants to take their school next. Pupils who had previously spent time away from school and would present a ‘mute’, when in school, are now growing in confidence due to the hard work and dedication of staff and the inspiring vision of the academy leaders.
There is a genuine inclusive ethos and the school is a safe, happy place for all. It is clear from the review process that the team at Academy 360 continue to be fully committed to ensuring the welfare of pupils and staff is lived each day.
Find out more about the IQM Inclusive School Award
If your school is interested in obtaining the IQM Inclusive School Award or you wish to talk to a member of the IQM team please telephone:
028 7127 7857 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm)
or email: [email protected] for further details.
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