Sirius Academy West in Hull has achieved the Inclusive School Award with Flagship status. Sirius Academy is a member of The Constellation Trust.
Strong Commitment to Inclusive Practice
Sirius Academy West demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusive practice over time.
It is clear that the academy has benefitted from its passage through the IQM Framework both as a scaffold to harness its energies towards building an inclusive environment and through its ability to harness the support available via its Cluster Group.
The academy has developed several strands of inclusive practice, several of which were explored in detail during the visit.
The development of ‘The Hub’ is having a significant impact upon the most vulnerable students in the academy and staff plan to expand this provision even further.
The academy has developed ‘The Hub’ to provide a central focus for young people and their needs whether these are focussed upon school, family or relationships more generally.
Its staff strive to gain student confidence and thereby build resilience and perseverance.
Premised upon developing a growth mindset, The Hub supports students in learning to understand how they feel.
During the course of the interviews on this theme, the following quotes were recorded as pertinent:
• “No matter who you are or where you are from, we will always welcome you to our school.”
• “Every student is embraced, their needs identified and supported.”
• “Being able to treat students equitably according to their needs”.
The Hub is achieving impact in:
• Eliminating barriers to learning.
• Enhanced engagement with hard-to-reach students.
• Reduced behavioural incidents.
• Positive feedback from parents.
‘Be Her’ Programme
‘Be Her’ is a programme that aims to aspire young women by giving them the tools and confidence to achieve more.
The girls who are selected to participate benefit from a programme of activities and events designed to promote self-esteem and includes talks by prominent female members from the community and elsewhere.
The programme aims to challenge preconceptions received from society that defines them such as families who don’t believe in education or a wider belief that they will never amount to anything.
In short, breaking the cycle of low aspirations.
Students have extensive opportunities to develop personally through the curriculum and staff spoken to draw attention to the fact that this is very much embedded rather than being a ‘tick box’ exercise.
New Phonics Strategy
Particular support is made available to staff who request it with regard to teaching sensitive topics.
The academy has drawn benefit from its local network. In particular, there has been a recent review of the literacy strategy to promote standards in this vital curriculum access area.
A new phonics strategy has recently been introduced. All staff involved have received training in this.
Students who would benefit from this provision are identified from baseline assessments and the delivery is embedded in a 25-minute session as part of their English lessons.
Sirius Academy West has been on a journey to develop its inclusive practice and it is clear, both from this visit and from prior documentation made available, that it has been a determined and vigorous one.
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