Outwood Academy Brumby Achieves Inclusive School Award

February 25, 2022

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Outwood Academy Brumby, Scunthorpe, part of the Outwood Grange Academies Trust, has achieved the IQM Inclusive School Award

Introducing Outwood Academy Brumby

Outwood Academy Brumby joined the Outwood Academy Grange Trust in 2012 and is one of two Outwood Academies in the Scunthorpe area, along with Outwood Academy Foxhills. The Principal has recently joined the Academy and has provided the Academy and staff with ‘a fresh focus.’ He is the Executive Principal for both Outwood Academies in Scunthorpe, enabling the sharing of good practice and supporting consistency across both. Outwood Academy Foxhills has a different demographic with Outwood Academy Brumby in an area of high deprivation. Due to the close working relationship across the Academies a wide range of areas of specific expertise can be called upon when required.

Consistent Support

The Academy has currently 790 students on roll, which has increased year on year from 2018. The Pupil Premium Indicator is currently 38.62% with FSM at 35.63%, well above the national average of 20.8%. There are 25 students with an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP)and 143 students identified as Special Educational Needs Support (K,) which is slightly higher than the national average. The Vice Principal shared that nine students with EHCPs were recently diagnosed on the Autistic Spectrum and associated this directly to the consistency of the Academy procedures and support.

Unstinting Focus

Outwood Academy Brumby is proud of their skill in building on their successes and the Academy’s work in continuing to raise the aspirations and expectations of pupils. Their focus on improvement for attendance, particularly for disadvantaged pupils; a reduction in low-level disruption, especially at Key Stage 3 and high expectations of pupils in English and mathematics are shared by all, particularly at Key Stage 3. The focus within the Academy is consistent; positive praise and celebration of achievement which correlates directly to decreased incidences of fixed term exclusions.

Students at the Forefront

The Academy’s vision and ethos of ‘Students first, Raising standards and Transforming lives’ is apparent. The Vice Principal of Deep Support confirms, ‘All staff aspire for [and model] the ethos.’ and described how the Academy is on a journey to provide the best for the students, where the students question everything, and consequently staff are encouraged to discuss ‘the Why?’ of the positive reasons for the changes in the Academy, keeping students at the forefront of their improvements.

Breaking Down Barriers

Outwood Academy Brumby supports vulnerable students through the Personal Learning Centre (PLC) and The Bridge. Both started in September 2020 and are in operation currently. The Bridge is currently in transition due to the employment of a new Bridge Leader, to support consistency across the Inclusion provision and stability for the students to support building positive relationships and understanding. The PLC supports mainly KS4 students who are experiencing issues surrounding anxiety, home issues and have multi-agency involvement. It provides a safe and supportive area for students to access for periods of time to continue with their studies and for one-to-one support. Students who are currently attending on a part time timetable, access the PLC and attend agreed lessons. Additionally, the Academy has Learning Managers in role who are responsible for a particular year group to provide consistency and a named point of contact to students and their parents, building relationships and trust. The Learning Manager interviewed encapsulated the ethos of the Academy as ‘Every single child, regardless, will be treated with the same respect and we will support them to break down any barriers.’

Vibrant and Relevant Curriculum

Outwood Academy Brumby is spread over a large area, with a new build which integrates the older buildings. The buildings have undergone numerous changes and adaptations to ensure the broad and balanced curriculum is supported to a high standard. The curriculum has been adapted to suit the demographic of the students and provides vocational subjects and specific teaching areas are available for this, including a superb dance area, a construction area and food technology. There are specialist areas to support students with physical disabilities with hygiene suites for personal care and physiotherapy. All areas in the Academy are accessible and well presented. The students are well managed and organised into Vertical Mentoring Groups (VMG) which have identified students from each year group to provide peer mentoring and support. Students in the VMGs are encouraged to work together as a group, across the ages and Key Stages.

Praise and Encouragement

The Academy staff and students were extremely welcoming and enthused about the inclusive ethos of the Academy. On the day of the assessment there was a Careers Café, which engaged students and provided information and advice from the Armed Forces and local College. This was held in the lunch hall and available for all students across both Key Stages. In addition, a termly event of Praising Stars, which provides students with their current progress data and heavy support from staff, was ongoing throughout the second day of the assessment. It was evident that the Academy used positive praise and encouragement to support their students in understanding where they needed to improve in order to efficiently and effectively progress towards their future goals.

In Summary

Outwood Academy Brumby provided a wealth of organised evidence for the Inclusion Quality Mark Inclusive School Award assessment, and it was evident that inclusion is at the heart of the Academy and that they have an adaptable provision which supports eliminating barriers to achievement.

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: info@iqmaward.com for further details.

Want more information on the IQM Award? Click here to request your free IQM information pack