STRATEG PLAN
Introduction
Working together to make our schools better and our communities stronger
At LEO Academy Trust, we are proud to serve 6000 pupils from across the London Borough of Sutton and Surrey. Our Trust was formed in 2015. Since then, we have developed a family of great learning communities - formed of twelve primary schools, grown a culture of excellence for all, while providing endless opportunities for our pupils, staff and the local communities we are part of.
With over 700 staff, our schools are empowered to support each other to improve both outcomes for our pupils, and to drive performance across the wider school system. Learning, Excellence, and Opportunity are at the heart of our Trust’s vision, embedded through our shared mission, values, and aims
Strategic Ambition
Misson, Vision & Values
Our Mission
Our Vision
LEO Academy Trust is committed to developing a family of great schools, where collaboration makes a real difference for our children, staff and communities.
Our Values
We take immense PRIDE in our values, which guide everything we do.
LEO Pupil Outcomes
Our aim, that all children should have access to an ambitious curriculum which develops them for the challenges of life, is underpinned by our LEO Pupil Outcomes. These outcomes extend the curriculum offered at every LEO school and ensure we provide a rich, broad curriculum that prepares children for their future. This includes making sure all pupils have the fundamental skills to access the technology of the future.
LEO Explorers
Our Learner Profile - LEO Explorers - is an approach and not a curriculum The priority is for pupils to understand the subject disciplines, as part of a knowledgerich curriculum, as opposed to a set of generalised skills. Therefore, these skills are used to facilitate deep substantive and disciplinary knowledge, and work alongside a progressive and inclusive curriculum. Our learner profile entails the kinds of attributes and dispositions needed for all subjects. We start from the premise that key skills are grown based on knowledge, and within curriculum subjects, ensuring our pupils are prepared for both now and the future.
What Makes a Great LEO School?
MISSION, VISION, VALUES, & AIMS
The Trust's mission, vision and values are clearlyevidentacrosstheschool.
A consistent approach to embedding and developing the Trust’s inclusive vision of 'ExcellenceforAll'isclearlyevident. Theschool supports theimplementationof theTrust’sfivestrategicaims.
TEACHING, LEARNING & ASSESSMENT
TheTrust’sTeaching&LearningStrategyis embeddedacrosstheschool
Adaptiveteachingsupportstheschool’s inclusiveapproachtolearning. Apedagogicalapproachtotheuseoftechnology iswelldevelopedacrossallyeargroups.
CURRICULUM
PEOPLE AND CULTURE
TheTrust’sPeople StrategyandGrowing GreatPeopleFramework isembeddedacrossthe school.
Theschoolsupportsthe Trust’ssuccession planningbyrecruiting, retaininganddeveloping talentedstaff.
Theschoolclearly followstheLEOTEAM approach.Staffdevelop collaborativeanddeep partnershipswithother LEOschoolsasrequired, whiletheschool supportsandbuilds thesebeyondtheTrust.
Theschooloffersanambitiouscurriculum.(AtLEO,weseeanambitious curriculumasonewhichgoesbeyondNationalCurriculumexpectations, bothintermsofcontentandoutcomes). Leadersensurethattheschool’scurriculumiscoherentlyand progressivelysequenced.
Theschooloffersawiderangeofopportunitiesforpupils,enablingthem toexcelacrossallLEOPupilOutcomes,ensuringthattheyarefuture ready.
INCLUSION
SEND(includingpupilwellbeing)
TheTrust’s SEND Strategy isembeddedacrosstheschool.ThePupil Wellbeing Policy isinplace.SEND childrenmakegoodindividual progressfrom theirstarting points
PupilPremiumChildren
ThePupil Premium Strategy iseffectiveandPupil Premium (PP) childrenmakegoodprogresswiththegap closing
Behaviour&Attitudes
Strong valuesunderpingoodbehaviour Thereisawhole-school behaviourapproachwhichisunderpinnedby the LEOBehaviour Strategy.
PERFORMANCE, QUALITY ASSURANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY
Positionedinthetopten,forallattainment &progressmeasures,withintheirEEF 'family'ofschools. https://educationendowmentfoundation.or g.uk/tools/families-of-schools-database/ Progressandattainmentoutcomesfor pupilsexceednationalaveragesbytheend ofeachkeystage.
Theschoolsuccessfullyengageswith qualityassurancereviews(internaland external)withpositiveoutcomes.
OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS
School of choice for local parents. Children attend school regularly. Persistent Absence (PA) is effectively addressed for all groups.
Graded Good or better by Ofsted
EffectivenessoftheAcademyCommitteetosupport& challengetheschool,inlinewiththeTrust’sSchemeof Delegation.
GOVERNANCE & COMPLIANCE
Schoolmeetsstatutorycompliancerequirementsfor: website,GDPR,Health&SafetyandRisk. Safeguardingiseffective.Allstaffarecompliantwiththe Trust’sSafeguardingPolicy.360’OnlineSafetyreviewis regularlyreviewedandimprovedon.
LEO 2030
Reimagining Education, Connecting Communities, Thriving People: Our Vision for 2030
2030 promises a world brimming with both potential and challenge As technology reshapes our lives, the need for a thriving society built on strong education, connected communities, and thriving individuals has never been greater LEO 2030 envisions a future where education transcends traditional boundaries, communities are connected across diverse backgrounds, and individuals are equipped to reach their full potential. This vision is underpinned by the principles of innovation, inclusivity, and continuous learning, extending beyond the walls of the Trust and drawing inspiration from global perspectives.
Our vision for LEO 2030 outlines our strategic roadmap for the next five years, with a focus on three key pillars:
Reimagining Education: Learning will transcend traditional boundaries, developing skills for the future and utilising innovative digital tools, while developing inclusivity and global citizenship.
Connected Communities: At LEO we bridge divides, fostering collaboration and participation across diverse backgrounds, cultures, and abilities
Thriving People: By leveraging local, national, and global knowledge, we will cultivate a future where our people are equipped to reach their full potential.
LEO 2030 is underpinned by three core principles:
Innovation: Digital technology will be harnessed creatively to unlock new learning opportunities, foster community connection, and empower individuals.
Inclusivity: No one will be left behind Learning and participation will be accessible and relevant to all, regardless of background or ability
Learning Beyond LEO: LEO 2030 extends beyond the walls of our Trust. It is a continuous journey, fuelled by a collaborative exchange of ideas. We draw inspiration from local, national, and global practice, trends and challenges. By embracing diverse perspectives, we will cultivate a future that is not just sustainable, but empowering for all
LEO 2030 is not just a blueprint, but an invitation for all to join in shaping a future where education, community, and individual potential flourish together.
Strategic Aims 2025/26
Our trust objectives for 2025/26 aim to deliver the next steps towards our vision for LEO 2030. Our focus over the next twelve months is the development of the following areas:
a) Reimagining Education
Continue to develop an ambitious curriculum, which includes opportunities to explore: digital & AI skills, digital & media literacy, AI & robotics, financial education, careers education and sustainability & climate science.
Continue to develop oral language and disciplinary literacy across the curriculum, ensuring equity and excellence.
Explore alternatives to enhance our outdoor education & residential trips offer
Enable the expansion of Early Years education from 9 months to 5 years at all LEO schools
Develop a new LEO SEND Strategy 2030 which is focused on inclusive mainstream practice and high quality SEND resource bases.
Explore the possibility of adding special school provision at LEO.
In the hybrid era, pupils are more engaged than ever in how and what they learn. No longer confined to traditional methods, they thrive in environments that encourage discussions, problem-solving, group projects, and hands-on experiences. Today's classrooms need to support a wide variety of learning styles and activities. From flexible seating arrangements that foster collaboration to quiet areas for focused work, every corner of the classroom must offer something different to cater to the diverse ways students learn Our LEO Reimagining Classrooms Programme will do just this, while also keeping a focus on spatial learning, promoting a style of teaching which takes advantage of the environment around the student to facilitate learning.
Further development of PE, Sport, Food Education, Wellbeing & School Meals.
Create an innovative co-curricular offer for Music & The Arts.
Investigate the possibility of creating a hybrid or online school for 7 - 18 year olds.
Working with partners such as Discovery Education and LGfL, enhance teaching and learning through the embedded use of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
Banstead and Sutton.
Develop a Pop Up Community Cafe at every LEO school.
Further improve our Mental Health Support offer for children & adults
Introduce Mentoring Programmes for Year 5 & 6 pupils
Increase opportunities for Intergenerational Learning & Community Lunches
Launch a new LEO Community Radio / Podcast / TV platform.
Supplement our careers education programme through Community Careers Lunches for Year 5 & 6
Increase community engagement from 12 months + (toddlers) as preentry into a LEO Nursery
Community Defibrillator Project across Sutton with the Paul Alan Project
Host Community Lunches in partnership with AgeUK
Mutual.
Develop the work of our NIoT Associate College, with increased participation in all ITT, ECF and NPQ programmes
Embed the use of Google Gemini AI for all staff.
Update the Trust’s Growing Great People Framework & People Strategy for 2026 - 2030.
Improve the physical environments used by staff as part of a focus on employee wellbeing
Build a 21st Century model for supply teaching
Our strategic aims are underpinned by an innovative approach to the use of digital technology and our inclusive vision of Excellence for All.
Education Strategy
Our Education Strategy, and in particular the school improvement approach, is built on professional dialogue, deep partnership and genuine ambition for all children. We know our schools well, with professional conversations detailing and sharing evidence. We utilise pupil, staff and parent voice, data analysis and first hand feedback including school visits, all triangulated with effective quality assurance. Through this relationship and approach, priorities for continued improvement are collectively identified and owned. A one team approach ensures expertise and learning is shared at all levels. Through our Education Strategy, there is a strength of pedagogy, shared vision and collective ownership. There is ambition for excellence through our LEO Pupil Outcomes and LEO Explorer Learners framework.
Our Business Strategy focuses on creating a financially stable and supportive environment for all our academies. We foster a collaborative network, working alongside our academies as a dedicated team to ensure their success. This includes supporting the wider school network, addressing parental needs, and supporting a strong learning community.
By providing high-quality resources, professional development and capacity for growth, we ensure efficient resource allocation. Clear compliance frameworks minimise financial risks, freeing academy leaders to focus on their core mission – delivering exceptional education. We further support academies in developing enriching pupil experiences. This fosters a love of learning and contributes to long-term financial stability for both individual academies and the trust. Through this comprehensive approach, we empower each academy to thrive, allowing every pupil to reach their full potential.
Beyond LEO
Harnessing the Power of Collaboration and Partnership: Learning Beyond LEO
The educational landscape thrives on continuous improvement. To achieve our ambitious vision for 2030 and beyond, we will continue to embrace the power of collaborative learning This strategy prioritises a proactive approach to knowledge exchange, looking beyond our own Trust to identify and adopt best practices at local, national, and global levels
By fostering connections with highperforming schools and trusts, we gain valuable insights into:
Innovative teaching methodologies: Learning from successful models will inspire and equip our educators with cutting-edge pedagogical approaches
Effective leadership strategies: By studying the leadership styles of high-achieving schools and school systems, we can refine our own leadership practices for maximum impact.
Empowering student success: Examining successful student support systems implemented elsewhere will inform strategies to personalise learning and unlock every student's full potential.
This collaborative spirit extends beyond geographical boundaries We will continue to actively seek out international best practices, exploring successful educational models from around the world. This global perspective will broaden our horizons and challenge us to think outside the box, fostering a culture of continuous improvement within our MAT.
This collaborative strategy will involve:
Benchmarking: Identifying schools and trusts demonstrating exceptional results in areas aligned with our vision.
Knowledge Exchange: Establishing partnerships and fostering open communication with these institutions to learn from their successes and challenges
Adaptation and Innovation: Critically evaluating and adapting these best practices to our unique context, fostering an environment where we can innovate and develop our own leading practices. This outward-looking approach will fuel continuous improvement, allowing us to:
Stay Ahead of the Curve: By learning from the best, we can anticipate and navigate evolving educational landscapes, ensuring our students are equipped with the skills they need to thrive in the future
Cross-pollination of Ideas: Engaging with diverse perspectives fosters creativity and leads to the development of more effective strategies for student success.
Building a Collaborative Network: Collaboration strengthens the entire educational ecosystem, benefiting not only our own schools but also the wider community.
As we look to the future, LEO's commitment to continuous improvement and knowledge exchange will ensure that the Trust remains at the forefront of educational innovation, shaping a brighter future for generations to come.
