Kempston Challenger Academy in Bedford has achieved the Inclusive School Award.
Background
Kempston Challenger Academy (KCA) was formed in 2016 when a former middle and upper school merged and the current Headteacher was appointed. The academy operates within the Challenger Multi Academy Trust (CMAT). KCA is a smaller than average secondary school, with 649 Year 6- 13 students currently on roll. From September 2018, the academy will become a Year 7-13 school.
Context
Kempston is a town with higher than average levels of deprivation and Bedford Borough has been identified as requiring additional government support due to the low levels of attainment at KS4 and the largest gap between disadvantaged/ non-disadvantaged students in the UK. Attainment on entry for students at KCA is lower than average. The school has not yet had an Ofsted inspection. A DFE inspection in 2017 reflected positively on the current action planning and the capacity for improvement demonstrated by the new SLT. This was further endorsed by a Challenge Partner’s QAR audit undertaken in 2016. CMAT have commissioned a safeguarding audit and provide a range of interventions to support development and rapid change.
The gender balance of 333/316 is slightly in favour of girls. The majority of the students come from a white British background, with a number of students from Indian, Pakistani, African and Eastern European backgrounds. Punjabi, Polish and Italian are the most common languages.
Improving Data
However, data for 2018 is a lot more positive, with good progress being shown at KS2, better than average at KS3 and a projected P8 score of 0.95 for Year 11 in 2018. As the school was only formed in 2016, there has not been an Ofsted visit, although one is imminent.
Within the current cohort of students, 225 have been identified as SEND (15% of the cohort); 258 students have English as an additional language, 225 students are in receipt of Pupil Premium and 91 students have been identified as more able and talented.
Supporting Learners
The school has appointed an EAL coordinator who has introduced a range of interventions to support learners and provide targeted interventions for beginner learners and stage learners
Stretch and Challenge
The school has appointed a More Able and Talented (MAT) coordinator who monitors the progress of the students and the impact of interventions, including the take up of the ‘Stretch and Challenge’ online resources and the Brilliant Club.
Supported Access to Mainstream Lessons
The onsite Aspen provision for students with complex needs is managed through KCA and the 15-student cohort are on the school roll. The provision is led by a member of the SLT and there is an inclusive culture developing which facilitates supported access to mainstream lessons for the Aspen students wherever possible.
Improved Systemic Inclusive Practice
There is a palpable focus and commitment from the staff to building a knowledge of their students and much has been achieved over the last 18 months to secure improved systemic inclusive practice. This can be built on to empower more effective learning and teaching going forward. The students talk confidently about the changes in the school and strongly confirmed that teachers know them well and they are well supported.
Sources of Evidence
The evidence presented for the assessment was extremely detailed and the IQM coordinator fully involved her SLT colleagues and other curriculum and pastoral leads on the self-evaluation process. Over the course of the assessment I met with members of the SLT, the Inclusion and safeguarding teams, various members of staff, students, the student prefect group, members of the student council, parents, a governor and members of the Challenger MAT, including the CEO. I visited an assembly and undertook several learning walks with the Head and the IQM coordinator.
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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