Warwick Academy in Northamptonshire has achieved the Inclusion Quality Mark’s Inclusive School Award.
Academy Improvements
The Academy has been through a period of ‘change’ over the last 4 years with its original Academy Trust TEFT folding in 2018 and the Academy being handed back to the LA before joining the Lion Academy Trust in September 2018. The original Headteacher left in 2019 and the academy had an Interim Headteacher until August 2020. An Executive Headteacher was put into the school from Easter 2020 and stayed until Easter 2022 when the current Acting Head of School took over. An Associate School Leader has been supporting leadership in Summer Term – in a DHT and consultancy capacity to support the transition. Despite these significant changes the Academy is clearly making great strides with school improvement and are able to celebrate many successes.
Inclusion At Heart
The Academy prides itself on having inclusion at the heart of everything it does. The Vision of the Trust and the Academy – ‘Every child no matter what can succeed’ drives the academy values, Aspiration, Honesty, Respect, Kindness and Responsibility. As a result, the expectations of pupils and staff are clearly evident across the Academy, visible in public areas and classrooms and clearly understood and followed by the majority. The Academy acknowledges that some of the Year 6 cohort have struggled with behaviour this year and as a result exclusions appear high over the last 12 months with a total of 72 fixed term exclusions. The impact of the effort and focus spent on behaviour this year is evident in the ongoing term-by-term reduction in exclusions. All staff treat pupils as individuals and clearly articulate the importance of managing pupils according to their particular needs, identifying how to enable children with particular needs to access and succeed in school. A focus on identifying and managing children’s anxieties is clearly evident and is an ongoing focus for 2022/23.
Staff Make A Difference
What is highly apparent is the passion and dedication of the newly appointed Acting Head of School and the drive of the staff to make a positive difference. The staff I met at all levels were committed and passionate about meeting the needs and making a difference for every child. There is great evidence of support from the Lion Academy Trust and the Interim Executive Board is fully supportive and involved in the Academy’s ongoing journey and performance.
An Inspiring Environment
The environment in school is fully accessible to all pupils and is engaging and inspiring. Classroom expectations are consistent across the school ensuring support for learning is mirrored across year groups and communal areas are inspiring and support learning without being overbusy and causing overload for ASD pupils. The Acting Head of School with the support of the newly appointed Learning Mentor is now looking to transform some of the outdoor areas to provide greater opportunities for key children to be supported both with behaviour and learning.
Everyone Is Supported
The wellbeing provision for pupils, parents and staff ensures that everyone in the academy feels supported and cared for. Staff and Leaders talk with passion and great commitment about the importance placed on treating every child as an individual, understanding their own personal situations and being adaptable and flexible enough at all times to meet those needs. The use of talking partners helps children learn to support each other from an early age and the Academy plans to introduce Pupil Mental Health Champions in the coming year. The establishment of both a Learning Mentor and Family Support Worker have ensured parental and family support is effective.
Leaders Have A Clear Vision
Leaders are clear about the vision and next steps for the academy and share these with staff. They have excellent reflective skills and want the best outcome for all pupils whatever their individual needs.
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.
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