Sir Jonathan North Girls’ College has achieved the Inclusive School Award with Flagship status.
‘To Create Good People’
Sir Jonathan North Girls’ College is an outstanding secondary school within the Lionheart Academies Trust. There are currently around 1200 students on roll and the school is working with a growing number of feeder primary schools. This figure has risen over the last two years from 51 feeder schools in 2021 to 73 in 2023. The College welcomes students from across the world and currently has over 54 languages spoken in the school. The College has a very high reputation across Leicestershire and is the only all-girls multi-faith school in the County.
The Principal shared the school’s simple aim which is “to create good people”. To do this the College has embedded a curriculum that provides both academic excellence and holistic development, taking every opportunity to develop the ‘whole child’ making them strong, independent, adaptable young learners able to embrace challenges and become responsible citizens. The College’s philosophy is, “Every learner has the right to an outstanding education and can be successful regardless of their background”. This is underpinned by the school’s values; The ‘4Rs’ – Resilience, Resourcefulness, Reflectiveness and Respect.
The College strives to ensure all girls ‘learn without limits’, enabling them to become strong, independent, adaptable young learners who are able to embrace challenges and be responsible citizens. The ‘4Rs’ are visible across the whole school and drive the Personal Development Programme in Tutor Time. Staff have worked with students this year to look at ‘What does it mean to be Resilient/Resourceful/Reflective/Respectful?’ and the school environment reflects this with displays across public areas and in subject departments.
Holistic Provision
Holistic provision is seen as a priority at Sir Jonathan North and is supported by the strong tutor and pastoral provision. The Skills for Learning team consists of 14 Teaching Assistants, one of whom is currently undertaking ELSA training. Pastoral and SEN support has been enhanced by the school employing their own Educational Psychologist who works in College one day per week delivering workshops on anxiety, resilience and self-regulation. Additional support is also available through the Local Authority SEMH package which leaders have subscribed to. A new rolling programme for Personal Development has been introduced this year with all students taking part in one session each week which is used to debate key issues.
A five-year, whole-school curriculum has been introduced, supported by a bespoke booklet for each module and a range of external agencies, speakers and workshops. A number of one-off sessions are introduced into the weekly programme at key times to support students’ understanding of global events, providing a safe environment to ask questions and express personal viewpoints without taking sides. The most recent of these focussed on the current crisis in Gaza. As an outcome from this session, the students created a student ‘peace wall’, where all students had the opportunity to express their thoughts.
The College’s assembly programme celebrates both national and international events as well as marking cultural and religious observations. Leaders aim to prepare students for life in modern Britain, as well as giving them an appreciation of the differences as well as the commonalities across cultural, religious, ethnic and socio-economic communities. They have recently secured an Eco-Schools Green Flag award in recognition of the impact of the work done by the Eco Club and are proud to work in partnership with many external bodies enabling students to participate in national programmes such as Young Enterprise, Youth Parliament elections, debate competitions, MFL Spelling Bees and the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver Awards.
Committed to the Inclusion Journey
Leaders at Sir Jonathan North Girls’ College remain committed to the inclusion journey and the importance of being a Flagship School. The College was involved in the first Inclusion Quality Mark conference providing a workshop on Student Leadership for other schools and colleges attending the event and is currently supporting another school within its cluster with its student leadership journey.
Leaders and staff work closely with other members of the Lionheart Trust and are involved with the Leicestershire Education and Improvement Partnership, having an involvement in a number of working groups and collaboration activities across the city. Leaders are considering applying for IQM National Champion status in the next selection period.
Student voice and student leadership remain a strength across the school through Student Council, Diversity Ambassadors and Sports Leaders. Staff undertake student voice activities every week during tutor time covering all aspects of school life and students have been fully involved in the process of renaming each of the school buildings. As part of the process, students were asked to propose inspirational females who they felt were worthy of having a building named after them. The inspirational figures shortlisted were then discussed by students in their tutor sessions before being voted on and a decision taken on the new names. Information about the named leader is now displayed in each block, raising all students’ knowledge about the individual.
Articulate Students
During the IQM visit, our Assessor met a group of extremely articulate students who spoke highly of the opportunities provided for them. They mentioned many positive aspects of the school including the range of extra-curricular provision, the breadth of music opportunities open to them and the built-in curriculum enrichment activities. Students feel they are actively encouraged and supported to put themselves forward and to develop as leaders. They also spoke about the acceptance and welcoming approach used in the school for students from all cultures and fully appreciate how everyone is involved in the range of religious festivals across the year.
Transition to Sir Jonathan North is managed well despite the complexity of working with 73 different feeder schools and involves a programme of assemblies and activities in feeder schools, parents’ evenings, a transition day, summer school and a trip to Beaumanor Hall on the first day of the autumn term. Year 7 pupils were very positive about the transition arrangements and spoke about the summer school which had enabled them to get to know the school building, meet their teachers, experience lessons and meet new friends before the start of term. Additional support meetings and visits are arranged for SEN and vulnerable students and the website contains audio recordings from Year 7 students to provide an insight into college life for the new intake.
The students felt that their needs are met well and find the Tutor Programme both supportive and useful. They told our Assessor that it is easy to get support for learning or personal issues in school, that the staff are very approachable and they liked the variety of clubs. Transition for students joining in the middle of the school year is managed well, with the needs of EAL learners being particularly well met. All students are assessed on entry and regular check-ins take place with a pastoral mentor. Students joining mid-year receive a resilience badge for settling in and becoming a member of the college team.
Exemplary Behaviour
Behaviour during the IQM visit was exemplary. The students have a good understanding of the school’s values and how these link to the behaviour expectations in the school.
During a tour of the school, our Assessor was able to see a snapshot of the school and to see evidence of how the school is made accessible to all students regardless of their additional needs. All staff are fully committed to providing the best possible experience for their children and work very hard. The provision of class seating plans for every lesson, linked closely to the needs of every student ensures that all students have their needs met and feel safe. Learning environments across the school are welcoming and used wherever possible to support learning. The sports facilities, including a bespoke tennis centre, are enviable. Staff in the school know the pupils well and make sure transition is used effectively to share both the academic and emotional needs of the child. Staff constantly monitor children’s wellbeing, watching out for any changes in behaviour and involving parents as soon as any potential concerns are identified.
Students’ wellbeing is viewed as a priority within the school and a Wellbeing Hub is staffed daily enabling students to attend at key times for bespoke sessions, with some students accessing their lessons virtually from The Hub. Some students will use the Wellbeing Hub at the start of the day to support the transition into school. Wraparound provision, both as a Breakfast Club and Lunch time Club, supports students who find key times of the day stressful or who require support with homework, providing a safe environment for key students. Students finding the noise of the canteen stressful can also opt to eat outside. Key students have access to ‘Time Out Passes’ and all year groups have a Pastoral Base that is led by the Pastoral Lead.
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.
Want more information on the IQM Award? Click here to request your free IQM information pack.