Page 4 Introduction from the Chair of Trustees and the Chief Executive
Page 5 Vision and Values
Page 6 Governance
Page 7 Executive Team
Page 8 NET Staff College
Page 9 Collaboration and staff survey results
Page 10 Join Our MAT
Page 11 School Improvement
Page 12 Curriculum
Page 13 The Co-curriculum Offer
Page 14 Our Academies Map
Page 15 Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
Page 16 Abbey Park Primary Academy
Page 17 Badger Hill Primary Academy
Page 18 Chesham Primary Academy
Page 19 The Ferns Primary Academy
Page 20 Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
Page 21 Frederick Nattrass Primary Academy
Page 22 Hazlehurst Primary Academy
Page 23 Hilton Primary Academy
Page 24 Merlin Top Primary Academy
Page 25 Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
Page 26 Mount Pellon Primary Academy
Page 27 Norton Primary Academy
Page 28 Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
Page 29 The Oak Tree Academy
Page 30 Whitecliffe Primary Academy
Information correct at the time of publication 2025.
Page 31 PROUD and student voice
Page 32 Reading Routes
Page 33 Book Vending Machine
Page 34 Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
Page 35 The Blyth Academy
Page 36 Buile Hill Academy
Page 37 Denton Community Academy
Page 38 Dyke House Academy
Page 39 Essa Academy
Page 40 Farringdon Community Academy
Page 41 Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
Page 42 Freebrough Academy
Page 43 The Grangefield Academy
Page 44 Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
Page 45 Hetton Academy
Page 46 Kearsley Academy
Page 47 Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
Page 48 Kirk Balk Academy
Page 49 Manor Community Academy
Page 50 Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
Page 51 North Shore Academy
Page 52 Red House Academy
Page 53 Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
Page 54 Thornaby Academy
Page 55 Thorp Academy
Page 56 Walbottle Academy
Page 57 Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
Page 58 Graduation
Introduction
Chair of Trustees
Having served on the Board of Northern Education Trust since its inception in 2012, I have seen its radical transformation into a cohesive, extremely high-functioning organisation, with students at the heart of every decision made. The introduction of the NORTHERN model of school improvement, (under the leadership of the CEO), has resulted in the improvement of student outcomes, meaning our students have the best possible educational foundation to enhance their life chances as they mature into adults.
At the time of writing (September 2023), all our inspected academies are now judged by Ofsted to be good or outstanding. This is a phenomenal achievement, and is testimony to the skills, care and dedication of our staff, along with outstanding leadership and the culture of high expectations that is embedded in all of our academies.
I am honoured to chair an organisation which truly cares about every single one of its students, and is genuinely child centred.
Mark Sanders OBE Chair of Northern Education Trust Board
Chief Executive
At Northern Education Trust we strongly believe that every single student, regardless of their background or ability, can be successful, and every decision we make is driven by what is best for them.
The implementation of the NORTHERN model of school improvement has led to rapid transformation and significant improvements across the trust, evidenced by the fact that all our inspected academies are now rated good or outstanding. The model has been proven repeatedly - several recent examples include North Shore Academy in Stockton on Tees, judged by Ofsted to be outstanding in all areas in July 2021. Previously judged as requires improvement, and never judged to be good, this is an extremely rare achievement; and even more noteworthy given that the academy is located in one of the most deprived areas of the country. Dyke House Academy in Hartlepool was rated outstanding in March 2022, and The Grangefield Academy in Stockton on Tees was rated outstanding in December 2022. In January 2023, Freebrough Academy in Brotton was rated outstanding and Walbottle Academy in Newcastle was rated good. Both Freebrough and Walbottle academies were previously rated inadequate and subject to special measures before joining the trust.
The trust itself underwent a multi-academy trust summary evaluation visit by Ofsted in March 2023, which found the trust has transformed its schools and the experiences and life chances of its students. These “monumental improvements” are the result of exceptionally strong leaders, highly skilled trustees and governors, and exceptional staff that fully understand and implement the trust’s vision and values.
None of these improvements could have been achieved without our talented and committed workforce, and as a caring employer, we invest heavily in professional development. Our NET Staff College, established in 2021, provides outstanding training and professional development opportunities for staff across all disciplines in the trust, and the wider education sector.
I am incredibly proud to lead this organisation, and will continue to ensure we do everything possible to ensure our students achieve their best possible outcomes, so they are fully prepared for life beyond school.
Jane Wilson Chief Executive
Our Vision
We constantly focus on standards as we understand outcomes are paramount. Our decision-making is driven entirely by what is best for children. By doing this we enhance the life chances of the children and young people in our care.
Vision and Values
Our Values
We care passionately about the education and welfare of young people. We believe that all young people, irrespective of background or ability will be successful in our Trust (please refer to Equality and Diversity Policy).
We are not and will never be selective. We believe that local schools are for all children.
We are always inclusive. Our mechanisms to support the most vulnerable child to succeed and overcome barriers to learning are a key aspect of our work.
Our approach to education recognises that outcomes are paramount and also allows children to gain experiences and values which prepare them fully for life in modern Britain. This includes workplace skills and appropriate advice for future progression.
We have high expectations of behaviour.
We adopt the local authority admissions protocol and work closely with them.
We would always wish to act in such a way that has a positive effect on a neighbouring school or community. We care passionately about children in all schools, not just our own.
That all employees act with integrity and embrace the value that ‘we are the Trust’.
We work regionally and nationally to develop approaches to MAT improvement that influence the wider school-led system.
Governance
The governance and financial responsibilities of multi-academy trusts are set out in the Academy Trust Handbook, published and updated by the government each year. Multi-academy trusts are also charities in law, and Northern Education Trust was first set up as a non-profit charity in 2012.
In order to meet its responsibilities, Northern Education Trust has a governance structure consisting of members, a trust board, an executive team and sub-committees, as shown in the diagram below:
The trust board has three primary core functions, controlled by statutory and regulatory requirements:
1. ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
2. holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient appraisal of staff; and
3. overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent
The board has delegated authority to a number of sub-committees to support the effective fulfilment of these functions, as shown in the diagram above.
Academy Councils have delegated oversight and scrutiny of specific areas for their individual academies, providing challenge and support to academy leaders. Academy Councils are a vital part of the Trust’s governance structure. They provide an essential link to an academy’s local community, encouraging and supporting opportunities that enhance and reflect the diversity of the local area.
Members
Trust Board
Executive Team
Audit and Risk Committee
Continuity and Resilience Committee
Curriculum, Standards and Welfare Academy Councils
Executive Team
Northern Education Trust is led by the Chief Executive Rob Tarn, and his executive team as shown below. Under the scheme of delegation, approved by Trustees, the team manage the day to day activities of the Trust, working closely with principals, corporate directors and academy councils.
Jude Mitchell
Gareth Edmunds
Deb Murphy
(Primary)
Andrew Newton
(Secondary)
Gemma Knox
(Secondary)
Adam Palmer
James Howard
(Primary)
Sara McCallum
Principal (Primary)
Dean Buckley
(Secondary)
Nikki Gibb
(Secondary)
Andrew Murphy
(Secondary)
For more information about the training opportunities available via the NET Staff College please visit NSC.Northerneducationtrust.org or contact NET-StaffCollege@northerneducationtrust.org
NET Staff College
Building upon the strong reputation and success of Northern Education Trust the NET Staff College has been established to provide outstanding training and professional development opportunities across a number of disciplines for the educational sector.
The staff college is the vehicle through which all training and personal development is provided across the trust. Whether this comes in the form of our incredible initial teacher training programme, our deployment of the early career framework with a national partner, delivery of one of the reformed National Professional Qualifications, our subject specialism training or via the vast array of support staff training programmes we offer, we are confident that we have the right training to enable all staff to be highly successful in their role.
The NET Staff College training is delivered via a blended approach which combines asynchronous online training with live face-to-face and virtual sessions. Building on our successful remote learning offer, our online training allows colleagues to access bespoke training videos on an ad hoc basis. Our face-to-face training benefits from taking place in our stunning NET Staff College building based at Freebrough Academy. This state-of-the-art facility allows colleagues to focus entirely on their personal learning and development in a calm and purposeful environment.
Collaboration
Northern Education Trust academies can rely on collaborative working at leadership, school and departmental levels to offer a strong foundation of support for school improvement. Being part of our multi-academy trust brings a strong sense of collaboration that provides a consistent, supported approach to education. The sharing of resources, good practice, expertise and skills means that students trust-wide are led by the best team to improve their outcomes.
Students in all academies across Northern Education Trust also come together for a range of events including the NET Games, NET Golf and NET Fest where both students and staff come together to celebrate as one.
Our outcomes focused, child-centred approach to education unites all academies within our trust to ensure a bright future for the students in our care.
Staff survey results
Staff surveys provide valuable feedback to senior leaders, and staff are encouraged to provide their opinions regularly. In the most recent staff survey conducted, the majority of responses were overwhelmingly positive. 96% would recommend their academy/the trust to parents/carers who are considering where to educate their child, and 93% would recommend working for the trust to others. 97% are proud to work for the trust.
100% of staff agreed or strongly agreed that leaders do all they can to ensure their academy has a motivated, respected and effective teaching staff. Over 98% of staff agreed that students are safe, their academies deal with any bullying effectively, and students are challenged to make good progress.
Of the most recent academies to join NET at the time the survey was carried out (Freebrough, Badger Hill, Whitecliffe and Walbottle) 100% of staff agreed or strongly agreed that their academy had improved since the last Ofsted inspection.
The government’s vision is for every school to be part of a family of schools in a strong multi-academy trust. For more information on joining our trust please contact Kathryn Nicholson, Executive Assistant to CEO by emailing k.nicholson1@northerneducationtrust.org.
Join our MAT
Northern Education Trust welcomes enquiries from schools that share our vision and values, who may wish to join our multi-academy trust.
We are unswerving in our commitment to ensure that the outcomes our young people secure prepare them fully for life beyond school. Our academies are vibrant, happy and thriving communities where children achieve, and feel safe and cared for. Inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do, as we strive to help children and young people overcome any barrier to learning.
Academies within our Trust work together to improve educational standards and strive for school improvement. Our outcomes focused, child-centred approach to education helps improve teaching and learning as well as providing students within the Trust with valuable experiences that improves their aspirations.
Ofsted Rating Primary Academies
Ofsted Rating Secondary Academies
School Improvement
School Improvement Table 1 below shows the percentage of 11 year-olds who achieved at least the nationally expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of Key Stage 2, in each year from 2017 to 2024. No national tests were carried out in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. The trust average demonstrates sustained improvement each year since 2017, with the trust figure continually exceeding the national average - being 17% higher in 2024.
Table 1
Table 2 below shows that the percentage of students who
a grade 5 or better (strong pass) in both English and maths exams at the end of Key Stage 4, has improved by 15% since 2017.
No external examinations were carried out in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, and 2023 is the first year that marking standards returned to pre-pandemic grading levels.
Table 2
Curriculum
We firmly believe that all children, irrespective of their starting point, are entitled to a broad and ambitious curriculum. To that end, we are delighted to offer an innovative and knowledge-rich curriculum, which enables any student within Northern Education Trust to fulfil their potential and develop the all-important skills and qualities, which will serve them well in later life. We do this by ensure that all students have access to the widest possible range of subjects and experiences.
The curriculum reflects the Northern Education Trust vision of ‘outcomes focused, child centred’. Our curriculum delivers vital subject knowledge and skills, which are complemented by a raft of enrichment activities that broaden and extend the student experience.
The arts play an important role within our curriculum offer as it plays a huge part in the enrichment of young people’s learning and educational experiences. Exposure to the arts can unlock potential in young people, helping them to develop skills in communication, collaboration, creativity and problem solving. In addition to the enjoyment and enrichment the arts bring, arts education can increase young people’s engagement in school and learning, and support key educational outcomes. As a result all students have the opportunity to study art and design, music and drama.
The vast majority of our secondary academies provide the opportunity for students to enrich their musical interests by taking advantage of peripatetic music lessons delivered by local specialist services, covering keyboard, brass, wind, string and percussive instruments, as well as singing.
The curriculum is designed to give all students the opportunity to develop as enquiring individuals who feel valued and respected, so that they, in turn, learn to value those around them. Equality of opportunity is a key principle in the design of our curriculum model and we fully support the entitlement that students have to study the English Baccalaureate.
We operate a 3:2 curriculum model with three years assigned for the delivery of our Year 7, 8 and 9 programmes of study. These programmes of study have been carefully crafted to ensure that they go beyond the requirements set out by the National Curriculum.
At the end of Year 9, students opt for subjects that they will study in Years 10 and 11 and they complete those subjects by the end of Year 11. Our highly flexible two-year curriculum delivered in Years 10 and 11 allows us to create personalised guided pathways for our students.
Curriculum Equality and Diversity
At Northern Education Trust equality and diversity is promoted through an inclusive curriculum offer. We provide all of our students with the opportunity to succeed and to reach the highest level of personal achievement.
We achieve this by:
The promotion of equality of opportunity
Ensuring all areas of the curriculum challenge discrimination
Ensuring that curriculum planning takes account of the needs of all
Monitoring and evaluating curriculum provision at academy and Trust-wide level so that it represents a diverse culture and society, and encourages tolerance and respect
Ensuring that the teaching methods used in the delivery of the curriculum are diverse and appropriate for all needs and learning styles
Providing resources that reflect and promote equal access for all
Promoting cultural understanding and awareness through the content and delivery of the curriculum
Actively closing gaps in attainment and achievement between students for all groups of students; especially students eligible for Pupil Premium, students with special educational needs and disabilities, looked after children and students from minority ethnic groups.
The Co-curriculum Offer
At Northern Education Trust it is our goal to ensure that we educate the whole person, and because of this we give equal importance to academic, pastoral and co-curricular aspects of life. We use the co-curriculum to enhance wider personal development and promote positive attitudes to learning.
The co-curriculum underpins our school culture and prepares students for life in modern Britain through the teaching of responsibility, respect, tolerance
and acceptance in everything we do.
As part of our broad curriculum offer, we believe that the opportunity to learn and develop beyond the academy gates is crucial to a students’ individualised personal progress. We have a vast programme of educational visits and experiences that take students from the classroom to destinations both domestic and abroad, working in partnership with the co-curricular programme and subject curriculums.
Our Academies
13 Primary academies including one Nursery.
1. Abbey Park Primary Academy (APA), Calderdale
2. Badger Hill Primary Academy (BHA), Redcar and Cleveland
3. Chesham Primary Academy (CHA), Bury
4. Essa Primary Academy (ESP), Bolton
5. The Ferns Primary Academy (TFA), Bolton
6. Frederick Nattrass Primary Academy (FNA), Stockton-on-Tees
7. Hazlehurst Primary Academy (HHA), Bury
8. Hilton Primary Academy (HPA), Newcastle upon Tyne
9. Merlin Top Primary Academy (MTA), Bradford
10. Mount Pellon Primary Academy (MPA), Calderdale
11. Norton Primary Academy (NPA), Stockton-on-Tees
12. The Oak Tree Primary Academy (OTA), Stockton-on-Tees
13. Whitecliffe Primary Academy (WCA), Redcar and Cleveland
17 Secondary academies 2 including sixth forms
14. The Blyth Academy (TBA), Northumberland
15. Buile Hill Academy (BUA), Salford
16. Denton Community Academy, (DCA), Manchester
17. Dyke House Academy (DHA), Hartlepool
18. Essa Academy (ESA), Bolton
19. Farringdon Community Academy (FCA), Sunderland
20. Freebrough Academy (FRA), Redcar and Cleveland
21. The Grangefield Academy (TGA), Stockton-on-Tees
22. Hetton Academy (HTA), Sunderland
23. Kearsley Academy (KEA), Bolton
24. Kirk Balk Academy (KBA), Barnsley
25. Manor Community Academy (MCA), Hartlepool
26. North Shore Academy (NSA), Stockton-on-Tees
27. Red House Academy (RHA), Sunderland
28. Thorp Academy (THA), Gateshead (including Sixth Form)
29. Thornaby Academy (TCA), Stockton-on-Tees
30. Walbottle Academy (WBA), Newcastle upon Tyne (including Sixth Form)
The Northern Education Trust Art Gallery showcases pieces of art from all of our academies within the trust. Work displayed has been created using a variety of materials, techniques and processes.
The work produced by students within the Trust is of the highest quality and the talent displayed in every piece is incredible. Students have explored different themes, techniques, processes and disciplines to create eye-catching artwork. We are extremely proud of the hard work and dedication that has gone into each piece, and are looking forward to seeing what else our amazing students create.
Abbey Park Primary Academy is located in semi-rural north Halifax on the border of Bradford. The academy is situated on beautiful, extensive grounds that it takes much pride in. Its forest school garden provides the perfect place for students to enjoy their surroundings and learn about the environment.
The academy excels in forming meaningful relationships with its local community. This includes strong links with the local church as well as participating in a range of school games across the local area of Calderdale. The academy runs a range of events throughout the year that strengthens the relationship with the community and ensures students know how they can contribute, such as an annual community lunch, different charity fundraising days, strong links with the emergency services and much more.
Respectful, Nurturing and Ambitious
How many students are on roll?
199 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
89 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Requires Improvement
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Good
Abbey Park Primary Academy has an inclusive, well-balanced and engaging curriculum that is enhanced by a variety of enrichment opportunities. This is so that students can achieve their very best during their time at Abbey Park. These extra curriculum activities include a range of sports, drama, playing an instrument, music lessons facilitated by the local authority, different community events and a variety of campaigns such as the road safety campaign which Year 5 take part in.
As well as creating a caring relationship with the community around them, the staff also make nurture a key focus of their daily life within the academy. Staff believe this must take place before learning can be effective, and this is enhanced through the caring ethos that runs throughout the academy, from their pastoral team and beyond. Creating strong foundations of care for all of their students is what allows academy staff to be more outcomes focused, knowing their students feel supported to achieve, and staff are driven to ensure student outcomes are the best they can be.
Since joining Northern Education Trust, Abbey Park Academy has embraced the network of support that comes with being part of a multi-academy trust. It is particularly grateful for the strong links with other primary schools in the trust, which enables collaborative working to ensure excellent outcomes for all children.
138 students How many pupil premium students are on roll?
28 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Good What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Good
Badger Hill Primary Academy
Badger Hill Primary Academy is situated in Brotton and offers beautiful, panoramic views of coastline, countryside and the small surrounding villages. With recent investments, the inside of the academy has been transformed into an outstanding environment for learning that all students can enjoy. Passionate about the area they live in, Badger Hill Primary Academy students won the North East of England Process Industry Cluster Primary School Environmental Award in January 2020. The award encouraged students to explore environmentally-themed projects and to think in a ‘green’ way about their surrounding community.
Inspiring a bright future
The academy is highly committed to inspiring students to be ambitious, creating a career-focused curriculum that allows students to look to the future and link learning to real life experiences. Learning and teaching is designed for students to develop as enquiring individuals by allowing them to understand, embed and apply new learning in a range of contexts. The aim of teaching students about aspirational careers will instil them with confidence to pursue exciting futures and to achieve their dreams.
Badger Hill Primary Academy prides themselves on delivering a broad and balanced curriculum and within that recognises the importance of science, which is why it is such a high profile subject in the academy. Teachers have a desire to enthuse and inspire students to develop a lifelong love of science which is reflected in the academy’s exciting, enquiry-driven and inclusive curriculum. The teaching of science in the academy provides students opportunities to question, explore, investigate and challenge their scientific thinking to gain a better understanding of the world around them and allows them to build the cultural science capital they need to succeed in life. The delivery of high quality science lessons in the academy has recently been recognised by the awarding of the Primary Science Quality Mark GILT award.
Through adopting and embracing Northern Education Trust’s systems, policies and practice, Badger Hill Primary Academy has been able to focus on developing a high quality education for all. The support from the Trust has been transformational, allowing dedicated focus on academic achievement and positive outcomes. Overall, Badger Hill Primary Academy has utilised the expertise of directors of learning and the tiered leadership of the Trust to keep moving progressively forward. This drive for high aspirations for students and for the academy is what continues to shine as the academy continues to progress within our ever changing environment.
Chesham Primary Academy
Principal: Kirsty Whiting
Address: Chesham Primary Academy, Talbot Grove, Bury, BL9 6PH.
When did the academy join NET?
1 March 2024
How many students are on roll?
307 students How many pupil premium students are on roll?
73 students What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Inadequate
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Not yet been inspected
Chesham Primary Academy is situated in the suburban area of Bury, a market town in Greater Manchester, Lancashire. The community is close-knit and diverse, representing at least four different faiths and the demographics are mostly families or young professionals with a mixture of private and social housing. 44% of students describe themselves as ethnic minorities. The school building itself is situated on beautiful vast grounds on the edge of Clarence Park. The academy grounds offer a positive environment for learning, with bright open classrooms and plenty of playground and grassy areas.
The children and staff are proud to be members of Chesham Primary Academy and its wider community. A strong, caring ethos which celebrates success and achievement is embedded, with students and staff alike being supportive of each other. Teachers and senior leaders are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for each and every child.
Chesham Primary Academy prides itself on its vast opportunities for sport, which is fundamental to the academy and its students love to take part in after-school football clubs and a range of sporting competitions, and during playtimes the playground is vibrant with students participating in various sports and activities.
Vibrant, Friendly, Transformative
Since joining Northern Education Trust, the academy has seen a rapid transformation in student performance and attitudes. Students are rising to the challenges of the new maths, humanities and arts curriculum and are producing countless examples of fantastic work which they cannot wait to show off at PROUD.
Staff have valued the ability to work with other NET academies to share best practice, offer support in terms of teaching and support staff, and share resources. This collaboration
other schools in the local area with students being able to connect with other children from different demographics in the same year group. The academy has also strengthened links with parents and local services, implementing coffee mornings for parents with children with SEND, meetings with a local mental health practitioner and the Head of Inclusion Service at Bury Council.
Having already seen a significant improvement in attainment and achievement in the short time since joining Northern Education Trust, staff and students are feeling optimistic and excited about what the future holds for them.
The Ferns Primary Academy
Principal: Keith Jones
Address: Plodder Lane, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 0DA
When did the academy join NET?
01 September 2012
How many students are on roll?
457 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
153 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Inadequate
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Good
The Ferns Primary Academy is located in Farnworth in the town of Bolton. The academy grounds are purpose built and include a sports field, two playgrounds and a woodland. Facilities at The Ferns Primary Academy are of the highest quality including a large library area and a new, contemporary ICT suite to ensure students have the best resources.
The academy has strong links with the surrounding community, with students being invited to switch on the town’s Christmas lights every year. Other links also include the nearby care home where students run arts and crafts, read to patients and often put on singing performances. By working with other local cluster schools, The Ferns Primary Academy participates in ‘Farnsworth as One’ where the students celebrate their local area, reflect on their aspirations and gain an understanding of what is special about where they live.
Innovative, Creative and Happy
The warmth of The Ferns Primary Academy can be felt by all visitors on site; the mutual care between staff and students, the manners of the children and the strong community-feel is tangible. Visitors often comment on the wow-factor that the academy projects, noticing the overall positive culture that staff and students have worked together to cultivate. The academy particularly excels with its early years department which acts as a beacon in the local area for other authorities to visit and learn best practice from –something which the academy is very proud of.
Over the last few years, the academy has undergone transformational changes that continue on an upward trajectory. Learning behaviours of the students are outstanding and they excitedly engage with the cultural enrichment opportunities the academy offers them, such as theatre trips and creatively-planned lessons. Reading acts as a golden thread throughout the academy’s broad curriculum and children become captivated with their lessons, as the school strives to ensure that all children can read effectively before they progress into secondary school.
As part of Northern Education Trust, The Ferns Primary Academy feels supported at every level, to be able to focus on providing a bespoke educational setting where teaching and learning is of the highest quality. Both staff and students within The Ferns Primary Academy feel they benefit from Northern Education Trust’s vision as it raises standards, expectations and allows them to nurture good learning relationships.
Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
By J. E Year 10
Kirk Balk Academy
By R. S Year 11
Essa Seconday Academy
Frederick Nattrass Primary Academy
Principal: Carolyn Minto
Address: Darlington Lane, Norton, Stockton on Tees, TS20 1BZ
When did the academy join NET?
01 September 2013
How many students are on roll?
214 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
118 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Good What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy? Good
Frederick Nattrass Primary Academy is located in Norton, Stockton On Tees, situated near the local duck pond in the heart of the suburb. Stockton is an up and coming part of the North East with more and more new housing estates being developed nearby which continues to increase the number of areas within the academy’s catchment area.
The academy has a strong link with the local community, having welcomed local athletes, artists and MPs and they have formed a good relationship with the local church.
Students are often involved in raising awareness of local green projects that help look after the area and take care of the environment, such as their recent recycling campaign. The academy’s Eco Warriors were recognised by Ofsted in a recent report and are renowned for the difference they are making in reducing plastic waste. The academy continues to proactively teach students about their responsibility to look after the planet, allowing students to take the lead on effective campaigns.
Frederick Nattrass Primary Academy staff have worked hard to implement a broad curriculum which enables pupils to develop the knowledge and personal skills needed to prepare students for the next stage of their education and to be well rounded citizens. The curriculum intentionally develops pupils’ understanding of their future opportunities, including developing their career aspirations and their understanding of their responsibility towards protecting the planet.
The academy has a tangible outgoing, positive atmosphere that can be felt by visitors and seen in the children’s confidence as you walk around the building. The fun and exciting way teachers promote learning within the academy inspires students to engage with their learning and enjoy every lesson. Staff are relentless in their pursuit of removing barriers to learning and because of this, children succeed and have the best possible opportunity to learn. Pupil voice is very strong with staff encouraging individuals to excel in their numerous roles in the School Council, as part of the Health and Safety Team, as Eco Warriors, Head Boy/Head Girl, Digital Leaders and even allowing Year 6 students to lead their own assembly once a week.
Frederick Nattrass Primary Academy has been on an upward journey with a lot of changes taking place in the last few years. It is now embedding these differences into its culture to ensure positive outcomes continue and students thrive. In 2019, Frederick Nattrass Primary Academy achieved unprecedented success in its KS2 results with 91% of students achieving the expected standard in spelling, punctuation and grammar, writing and maths. This was one of the highest percentages in the local authority – a huge success the academy plans to continue.
Hazlehurst Primary Academy
Principal:
Anne-Marie Knowles
Address:
2 Geoffrey St, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 9PQ
When did the academy join NET?
1 March 2024
How many students are on roll?
199 students How many pupil premium students are on roll?
16 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Inadequate
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Not yet inspected
Hazlehurst Primary Academy is situated in the urban town of Ramsbottom, Bury in the North West of England, close to rural areas and surrounded by private and social housing. Located in a small, stone terraced street, the academy’s building is an early 1900s stone school, holding a wealth of character and interesting features for example the front of the building has been kept in its original, historic condition, with separate entrances for boys and girls still visible.
Since joining Northern Education Trust the building’s interior has undergone a swift refurbishment, with bigger and brighter learning spaces, new IT equipment, a newly-established library space, and a new outdoor learning area is planned for Reception students. A distinguishing feature of Hazlehurst Primary Academy is their Care Code which embodies the following key words: Care, Achieve, Respect and Everyone’s Included. The Care Code has seen students rise to high expectations and thrive on being given various responsibilities. Students feel pride in following the Care Code and earning Care Cards, with a sense of belonging and support for one another becoming well embedded throughout the academy. This can be felt by staff, students, parents and visitors.
The academy takes tremendous pride in their outdoor learning opportunities. With a large outdoor space at the bottom of Holcombe Hill, the academy regularly participates in national ‘learning outside the classroom’ days and has a well-established forest school area where students can experience forest school sessions for part of the year, learning skills such as fire lighting, whittling, willow crafts, den building and much more. The academy also holds strong links with its local community and are part of a cluster of local schools who support one another at various events such as sporting competitions and open celebration assemblies each Friday which are well attended by the school community. The academy also has an excellent music offer supported by a local music service. Many students continue to study music at secondary school with a few achieving admission into specialist music schools.
Caring, Happy, Ambitious
Hazlehurst Primary Academy has undergone a rapid and positive transformation since joining Northern Education Trust, with senior leaders describing the transition as going from being an island to becoming part of a huge city where the level of support is immediate. The academy has felt the immense impact of implementing successful, tried and tested systems drawn from expertise, seeing an instant improvement in predicted outcomes.
The implementation of the Expectations for Learning policy has ensured excellent behaviour from students across the academy. Students are focused on their learning and classroom expectations are exceeded on a daily basis. With the introduction of Reading Routes, more students are reading for pleasure and thoroughly enjoy the wealth of high-quality books on offer. Students also participate in the Oxford Reading Buddy scheme supporting younger students with their reading journey.
Outstanding What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy? Outstanding
Hilton Primary Academy is a larger than average academy situated in Blakelaw, a western suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne. The academy grounds are the proud home of a British-Legion-recognised war memorial to commemorate lives lost during World War Two where the academy hosts Remembrance Day every year. The area of Blakelaw is amongst the 19% most deprived neighbourhoods in the country, an aspect that energises Hilton Primary Academy to set ambitious expectations for its students, encouraging them to aim high. The principal and staff strive to raise standards through consistently high expectations and encourage their students to achieve their best.
Hilton Primary Academy has established strong links with its local community, particularly with the church parish. During the recent pandemic, the academy became a hub for the church’s summer food bank, helping to distribute food parcels to the community. Sports have also been a huge way in which the academy has established links with its local area, with Newcastle United Football Club and Newcastle Eagles Basketball Club coaches offering PE opportunities to students, as well as the academy’s girls’ football team winning both local leagues.
Celebrating Achievements, Diversity and Enrichment
Hilton Primary Academy offers its richly diverse school community a broad and balanced curriculum with enrichment opportunities that help students develop into successful learners and prepares them for the next phase of their education and beyond. Taking advantage of teacher expertise across the Trust, the academy has implemented a highly effective curriculum. Hilton Primary Academy students utilise their staff’s expert knowledge to excel within the arts, with two of Northern Education Trust’s art leads being part of the Hilton Primary Academy faculty. This expertise has enabled the academy to showcase an art exhibition and create a logo for the launch of The British Transplant Games. The games are inclusive games for transplant survivors, including children as young as five.
Hilton Primary Academy is proud to have adopted and embraced the effective systems and protocols of Northern Education Trust which are now embedded into academy life. It has had a hugely positive impact on student outcomes and their behaviour, which is visible within the academy. The relationship and available support from the network of principals and executive principals allows the academy to work in collaboration across the Trust, to provide students with the best education possible.
Principal: Neil Cooper
Address: Braithwaite Avenue, Keighley, BD22 6HZ
Merlin Top Primary Academy
Merlin Top Primary Academy is situated in
When did the academy join NET?
01 April 2013
How many students are on roll?
333 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
182 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Requires Improvement
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy? Outstanding
for the extremely worthy cause.
Resilient, Positive and Engaging
Merlin Top Primary Academy ensures that students’ day-to-day academy life is underpinned by the four Rs: Resilience, Respect, Responsibility and Reflection. The academy feels strongly that these represent what staff and students work together to achieve, helping to encourage excellent behaviour and to create positive learning relationships that continue to flourish.
Enriching children’s lives is a big part of Merlin Top Primary Academy’s approach to teaching and learning. Beyond the core curriculum, the academy provides children with a range of opportunities to help build their aspirations, increase their cultural experiences and build their personal development. Enrichment activities include residential trips, mountain biking experiences, canoeing and so much more that the students can take part in and enjoy. Through these activities children can learn key life skills such as teamwork and leadership, whilst becoming more well-rounded learners.
Outcomes at the academy continue to improve following the academy’s huge leap to an ‘Outstanding’ rating by Ofsted in 2019. Since joining Northern Education Trust, Merlin Top Primary Academy has been able to work collaboratively with other academies who have offered working systems and initiatives to help improve teaching quality, as well as encouraging a competitive streak with a range of sporting competitions.
Overall, Merlin Top Primary Academy strives to create the best life chances for their students. Every aspect of academy life from the curriculum to enrichment, to the school grounds and lessons, are custom-made to encourage high aspirations and expectations that allows students to reach their potential.
Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
By L. A Year 11
Manor Community Academy
By E.C Year 6
Hilton Primary Academy
Principal: Ruth Collyer
Address: Battinson Road, Halifax, HX1 4RG
Mount Pellon Primary Academy
Mount Pellon Primary Academy is located in the industrial town of Halifax in West Yorkshire. The academy building is visually and architecturally interesting due to its age and is larger than other schools in the area. Working with the Forest School Association, Mount Pellon Primary Academy is also planning to develop a forest garden for their
The academy is a cohesive hub for the local Pellon and Calderdale community, bringing together a variety of cultures and languages into one close-knit community. Through strong face to face communication, Mount Pellon Primary Academy engages both parents and students to come together as one. It also has strong links to its feeder secondary
When did the academy join NET?
01 April 2013
How many students are on roll?
304 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
130 students
The academy is distinguished by its richly diverse community, both culturally and linguistically. Staff work hard together to create the social cohesion and sense of community that runs throughout the academy, which it prides itself on. A large proportion of students at the academy are completely new to the English language or English is their second language when they first enrol, meaning staff need to work together with them to understand English, as well as the world around them.
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Requires Improvement
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Good
Mount Pellon Primary Academy is committed to ensuring identity is an integral part of the curriculum to help students understand their own cultures and beliefs and those of others, including the wider community. Developing cultural capital is extremely important to the academy, which is why it has a wealth of enrichment activities and opportunities that help students understand Pellon, Halifax and further afield, to enable students to create their own aspirations and aim high.
In the last few years, Mount Pellon Primary Academy has continued on a steep incline of improvement, with its progress measures being continuously high and evidenced in its phenomenal leap in Ofsted rating from Inadequate to Good in 2019. Staff feel tremendously supported on this journey by being part of Northern Education Trust, recognising that through the sharing of expertise, good practice and resources, the academy has been able to progress in the quality of teaching it provides to its students.
The academy is a central part of children’s lives and the staff at Mount Pellon Primary Academy are determined to maintain its position as the positive hub it has become to many families in the area.
Norton Primary Academy is a larger than average academy that is situated in the town of Norton, in Stockton-on-Tees. The area is amongst the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in the country which is reflected in the academy being significantly above the national average for the amount of students who receive pupil premium funding.
across the years and the positive atmosphere is tangible with students demonstrating co-operation and courteous manners in all aspects of academy life. A strong safeguarding culture runs through the academy with staff knowing their students well, understanding what they need and what they can do to maintain the positive culture the academy has created.
How many students are on roll?
359 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
133 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Requires Improvement
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Good
The academy has strong links with the local community and does a lot to support a range of local businesses and foodbanks. To help look after the local environment, Norton Primary Academy has an eco-group which often participates in litter-picking in the local area, taking good care of the town they live in. The academy has a strong partnership with Mike McGrother, a local musician, who hosts a range of charity events, raising awareness on important subjects and celebrating local heroes such as reflecting on the important work of the NHS and hosting an event which celebrated Stockton’s World War One heroes. The academy is proud to participate in these events and help raise awareness of important charities in the local area.
Welcoming, Driven and Vibrant
Music and the arts are a huge part of Norton Primary Academy, with the students being extremely dedicated and committed to cultural events and performing wherever possible, such as the Mayor’s Christmas Carol Concert every year. Students at the academy are renowned for their progress in maths, having claimed the title of top school in Stockton for Maths progress in previous years. Staff have also sought to strengthen students’ love for reading, recently installing a brand new library and encouraging children of all abilities to pick up a book.
Norton Primary Academy students excel in being exceptionally respectful of adults and each other. Behaviour has improved immensely
Northern Education Trust has provided Norton Primary Academy with an immense amount of support that allows it to feel like it is part of one big school across many sites. The academy feels that it benefits from support at a strategic level, middle leadership level and that it is able to collaborate with other academies on a teaching level to adopt high quality consistency throughout. The academy has a strong and determined leadership team that has been supported well in making considerable improvements within the academy, raising expectations and delivering the Trust vision.
Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
By B.C Year 6
The Ferns Primary Academy
By N. T Year 10 Kearsley Academy
Principal: Elizabeth Pollitt
Address:
Newham Grange Avenue, Stockton-On-Tees, TS19 0SF
The Oak Tree Academy
The Oak Tree Academy is located in Stockton-On-Tees, an up and coming area of North East England. The building itself is situated on beautiful vast grounds that includes four big playgrounds, a wooded area where children are able to learn outdoors, outside areas that include a wildlife pond and a recently planted forest of four hundred sapling trees which staff and students are watching grow together. The new forest was part of The Woodland Trust’s Green Tree School Award that the academy worked hard to earn.
When did the academy join NET?
01 September 2013
How many students are on roll?
244 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
180 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Requires Improvement
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Good
The academy has positive links with its local community, especially with St Paul’s, the local church. Remembrance Day is also a significant event for the academy and its community, with members of the public coming in to help students crochet poppy bunting to display around the school. Moreover, the academy has strong links with the local charity café, Shaw Trust Enterprises Garden Centre and Café, where nursery and reception students learn about café service before coming back to the academy to run their own café afternoon where they serve their families and parents. The local community is a caring one that comes together with the academy to help one another.
Child-Centred, Aspirational and Happy
Through a relentless and rigorous system of school improvement adopted trust-wide, The Oak Tree Academy ensures students can both reach and exceed their potential, by refusing to put a ceiling on what a child can achieve. The academy has outcomes which are consistently above the national average in both combined and individual subjects and, as a result, has become one of the highest performing primary schools in Stockton.
The academy excels in opening up life chances for its children through the hard work and determination of caring and aspirational staff. The structure of Northern Education Trust promotes collaboration between subject experts and teachers, allowing leaders to share best practice, pool resources and to combine brain power to ensure students receive the best quality of teaching. The vision and values of the Trust are truly embedded within The Oak Tree Academy, with all staff demonstrating them on a day to day basis.
The Oak Tree Academy prides itself on the progress it has made in the last five years and continues to strive for better. Staff are dedicated to accelerating children’s progress, so by the time they come to leave the academy they are not only prepared for secondary school but for life beyond education. The academy never gives up on children, working with them to have a positive,
45 students What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Good What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Good
Whitecliffe Primary Academy is situated in the rural area of East Cleveland, near Saltburn-by-the-Sea and its main catchment area includes the two nearby villages of Carlin How and Skinningrove. Investment into the school building has created a positive environment for all students to thrive in, with state-of-the-art facilities that encourage a positive culture of learning for all students.
The students, parents and staff of Whitecliffe Primary Academy are a close-knit community, united in striving for young people to reach their potential, with the academy’s two-year-old provision ensuring students are welcomed early into academy life. Together, everyone enjoys coming together for a range of events such as summer and Christmas fayres and the annual Family Fun Afternoon which includes a range of outdoor activities including a Parents vs Children rounders game, lots of food and a great amount of fun. The positive relationships staff at Whitecliffe Primary Academy have created with families allows a great atmosphere for learning within the academy.
Inclusive, Community and Aspirational
Being a close community allows Whitecliffe Primary Academy staff to get to know each individual child and their background very well. These relationships help to establish a strong level of support where staff can go the extra mile to ensure academic achievement. The culture of care created throughout the academy runs at every level from leadership, to teachers, to the pastoral team and teaching assistants who all offer a high quality of care to every student. This in turn results in exceptionally-behaved students who are respectful of staff and each other to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
PE and Sport is an important part of Whitecliffe Primary Academy’s curriculum, resulting in the award of
the Platinum School Games Mark, first achieved during the academic year of 2016/2017 and maintained since then, to commemorate their commitment to the development of further opportunities for all students to engage in physical activity, physical education and competitive school sport. The academy often invites a range of coaches into PE lessons and continues to increase the opportunities of enrichment including sports clubs, gardening and art to help support children’s development. Ensuring students understand wellbeing and helping them to strive for healthy lifestyles runs through the heart of the academy’s teaching and is the strength they are able to share with other academies across the Trust.
Through joining Northern Education Trust, Whitecliffe Primary Academy has been able to support other academies with their expertise in PE, whilst also gaining knowledge from other teaching faculties. The Trust has enabled the academy leaders and teachers to network with other academies, ensuring teaching and learning is as good as it can be for all students. The consistency and progression that comes from trust-wide training and working with specialists has allowed Whitecliffe Primary Academy to not only develop the core curriculum but also beyond, with fresh perspectives always available to keep the academy progressing.
PROUD
A culture of praise runs through all Northern Education Trust academies and a key aspect of this is through our PROUD events. Each week students select a piece of work they are proud to be publicly rewarded for, being given certificates by members of the senior leadership team, recognising their excellent work. Occasionally, VIP guests such as local footballers or athletes are invited to help celebrate, which adds to the sense of achievement and recognition for the students.
Students are so keen to show off their work, this even continued throughout the lockdown periods of the pandemic, with our academies moving the PROUD event online. Students shared many wonderful examples of the innovative ways they
The PROUD initiative encourages and inspires students to value their work, and enables our academies to recognise and celebrate their achievements.
Student Voice
The main aim of Student Voice is to create a culture of positivity and to bridge the gap between staff and students. It provides a platform to ensure staff are doing everything they can to support the students and make sure they feel heard. kept themselves busy, as well as continuing their learning at home.
Student Voice is an initiative across Northern Education Trust academies that allows a committee of students to facilitate positive change for students. Each Student Voice group has an elected president and the committee meets regularly to discuss a range of different, topical issues and consider how they can continue conversations about issues that affect students across the academy in fun, interesting ways.
Reading Routes
Devised with the aim of encouraging students to enjoy reading at its very heart, ‘Reading Routes’ skilfully enables students to build vocabulary, knowledge and cultural equity with minimum effort and maximum enjoyment.
The Secondary Reading Routes programme is a route map, based on the London Tube Map, and consists of 18 different routes (genres), with around 90 books in total along the routes. Each route interconnects and travels through the local area passing familiar landmarks. Across each half term, students see the launch of a different route genre and are given a book of their choice from the route. Staff are also reading a book from each route to further encourage discussions and build a sense of community based around reading. Students are rewarded with personalised certificates for every 5 books they read, and for each route they complete they are awarded tokens for the book vending machine. If they achieve a magnificent 10 routes/50 books, they receive a Kindle for their amazing reading achievement.
The Primary Reading Routes programme is devised so children in every key stage can visit magical lands and read books connected to each land. The programme is progressive from nursery to year 6. Each child has their own colourful passport, which records the books they have chosen as they move through their reading adventure. Pupils choose from a wide range of books which include short stories, folk and fairy tales, myths and legends, information texts, poetry, novels and picture books. They mark off each book on their passport as they complete a book. As children move through their ‘Reading Routes’ adventure, we celebrate in school with special stickers, certificates, assemblies and other rewards.
Reading Routes – a poem
It's time for us to open up, yet another book, Which story is inside? Let’s take a look.
A story against magic forces, or a rebellion against the law, Every Reading Routes book you read, opens up yet another door.
Can I take a look at the next genre?
Fantasy, crime, or even horror?
Am I in a wizarding world set in the past, Or am I finding out the truth about my home town, Finally at last?
Our map across the town, has so many books, Come for a ride, we can go anywhere, Which route have you took?
Dystopian, sci-fi, humour, or thriller. Reading books, it’s a knowledge-filler!
By Faith W, Y8, North Shore Academy
Book Vending Machine
To further enhance the wider culture of reading within the Trust, academies have installed book vending machines.
Students can vote on the book titles available from the vending machines via their Student Voice group. When students achieve milestones of reading along the Reading Routes, they are awarded tokens, to enable them to choose a book of their choice from the vending machine.
Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
By A. M Year 10
Buile Hill Academy
By R. J & H. P Year 6
Frederick Nattrass Primary Academy
Principal: Martin Wood
Address:
Chase Farm Drive, Blyth, NE24 2JP
The Blyth Academy
The Blyth Academy is located in Blyth, a coastal town in the south east of Northumberland, ten miles outside Newcastle upon Tyne. The academy has strong links with other schools in the local community, including both primary and secondary schools. This facilitates a strong educational network in the rural area of Northumberland and promotes the positive vision of the Trust in the wider community.
Students and parents from The Blyth Academy enjoy the exciting celebration events, such as graduations and prom, where they can celebrate the academy and the students’ success together with teachers and staff. The strong, close knit community they make up allows a safe and encouraging space for children to progress and is at the foundation of the academy’s success.
When did the academy join NET?
01 October 2013
How many students are on roll?
840 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
462 students
Progressive, Vibrant, Community
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Requires Improvement
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Good
Students sit at the heart of everything in The Blyth Academy and their eagerness to learn and enthusiasm for school demonstrates a great appreciation for everything the academy offers them, as everyone works together for a bright future. The Blyth Academy excels in their child-centred, safeguarding approach to each and every child in their care, always considering what is best for the child as an individual. Together with the staff, students are encouraged to look forward to the future, with the academy offering a comprehensive careers programme. The programme helps ensure education doesn’t stop at 16 years old and allows students to explore the opportunities and avenues available.
The academy has progressed hugely in the past few years, increasing the number of students receiving 5+ in English and Maths from 19% to 48% in only a short space of time. This progression has earned the academy the title of Most Improved School in Northumberland and one of the top five most improved schools in the country. The support provided by Northern Education Trust has allowed staff, heads of faculties and teachers at The Blyth Academy to share best practice in many ways. The links created ensure that no member of staff feels isolated and instead can be part of a bigger educational community who are striving for the best outcomes. The opportunities the Trust provides staff allows them personal development, which is instrumental in developing the quality of what The Blyth Academy teaching staff can deliver to their students.
Principal: James Haslam
Address:
Eccles Old Road, Salford, M6 8RD
Buile Hill Academy
Buile Hill Academy is located in the inner-city suburban district of Pendleton in Salford, Greater Manchester. In 2008, the academy was rebuilt and transformed into a multi-million-pound state of the art facility, with superb sporting facilities including a 4G pitch, tennis court and dance studio along with impressive, purpose-built woodwork and metalwork rooms, food technology classrooms and a dance studio. Buile Hill Academy is immensely proud of its strong co-curriculum offer, particularly their creative arts and sports provision. A former creative arts school, the academy works with the Peripatetic Music Service to offer music tuition to their students and provide opportunities for students to learn a new instrument or improve on existing
When did the academy join NET?
1 September 2024
How many students are on roll?
916 students
A distinctive feature of the academy is its close partnership with the Manchester United Foundation which provides unique opportunities for students to engage with their local community and receive coaching and mentoring from a full time Manchester United employee based at the academy. Every year, a student is selected to be the ball assistant for Manchester United FC for the entire season.
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
434 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Requires Improvement
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Not yet been inspected
Dynamic, Purposeful, Student Focused
The academy is also proud of its links with Barnados, working together on their fully funded, family support programme for hard to reach children. Barnados allocates staff members to work with students with poor attendance inside the family home, to break down the barriers to learning and attendance and allow students to re-engage with the school and their education. Salford Local Authority also fund a family support worker to support Buile Hill families. Buile Hill Academy has felt the beneficial impact of the level of collaboration that comes with being part of a multi-academy trust. From senior leaders such as Directors and Executive Principals, to back office support in HR and Finance, Buile Hill’s growth has been greatly supported by Northern Education Trust’s family of schools and has allowed for a greater focus to be placed on the students and their learning.
Since joining Northern Education Trust, Buile Hill has seen a rapid improvement in attendance and student engagement. Students and staff alike have described the change as inspirational, with the academy feeling like a completely different place. The academy has transformed into a calm, orderly and purposeful environment where students understand that GCSE outcomes are paramount to their life chances and therefore attitudes to learning have greatly improved. The support of parents and the community has been overwhelmingly positive. The rapid trajectory the academy is on will change the lives of young people and further enhance the growth of the wonderful community of Pendleton.
Denton Community Academy
Principal: Donald Cumming
Address: Eccles Old Road, Salford, M6 8RD
When did the academy join NET?
1 January 2025
How many students are on roll?
1276 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
459 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Special measures
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Not yet been inspected
Denton Community Academy is located in the town of Denton in Tameside, Greater Manchester. The academy is an amalgamation of two local schools that closed. In 2010 the academy reopened its doors to a £24 million building, welcoming staff and students together as part of one proud community. The town of Denton is a growing and diverse community of local shops, businesses and restaurants near the academy.
Denton Community Academy has undergone a rapid and note-worthy transformation. Working alongside Northern Education Trust for a year before formally transferring, the academy has become the most improved school in Tameside and one of the most improved in England for the % of students achieving a strong pass in GCE English and Maths. Through instilling high expectations and an outstanding praise culture, the academy feels like a completely different place. There has been a significant improvement in educational outcomes and staff and students alike are safe and happy within an overwhelmingly positive and supportive environment.
Collaborative working has been fundamental to Denton’s transformation. Senior leaders have been onsite from the beginning to establish the right behaviour and a positive culture that fosters teaching and learning. Denton Community Academy has felt a part of Northern Education Trust from the very beginning, with the opportunities for growth and development beyond educational outcomes being phenomenal.
Denton Community Academy has significantly improved its links with the local community. Through improved communications with parents, local businesses, primary schools and the Local Authority, the academy has established strong links that further support their culture of support and collaboration. Senior leaders comment that the academy’s transformation could not have been achieved if it wasn’t for Northern Education Trust. The future is bright and ambitious for the students, staff and the wider community as the academy continues on its journey.
Principal: Dean Cope
Address: Mapleton Road, Hartlepool, TS24 8NQ
Dyke House Sports and Technology College
Dyke House Academy, rated outstanding by Ofsted in all categories, is located in Hartlepool, close to the Hartlepool Marina and the historic quayside attractions. The academy was refurbished and partly rebuilt in recent years providing students with state of the art facilities including a 3G pitch, a fitness suite, dance studio and a high quality recording studio for the music department.
Dyke House Academy prides itself on its tangible warmth and praise culture that runs through the heart of the academy, where student success is celebrated across all areas. This was recognised by Ofsted in its inspection in March 2022, who also said that “student conduct was superb”.
When did the academy join NET?
01 April 2013
How many students are on roll?
1318 students How many pupil premium students are on roll?
711 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Good What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Outstanding
The academy prides itself on its Elite Development Sports Programme, which was first launched in 2013 and ensures students fulfil their potential in both a sporting and academic sense at Dyke House Academy.
Caring, Inclusive, Aspirational
Student Voice also plays a huge part in the functioning of the academy, offering students a chance to be heard and encouraging them to be proud of their achievements. This culture helps create positive relationships between staff and students, evidenced through the ever-increasing amount of students choosing to stay at the academy’s sixth form year on year. High aspirations are a significant part of life at Dyke House Academy, with Principal Adam Palmer once being a student from the Academy himself. There is a history of success in students gaining places at Russell Group universities from the sixth form, including a number of students successfully achieving places to study at Oxbridge. The academy has been selected as a link with Oxford University, who will mentor Dyke House Academy to support their aspirations and future applications to Oxford University.
Through being a part of Northern Education Trust, Dyke House Academy participates in genuine collaboration between all of the trust’s academies as they all work towards the same vision. Support from the subject directors has allowed consistent, successful systems to be implemented in Dyke House Academy. An exceptionally well-designed curriculum inspires students, and reading is of central importance, with a wide breadth of reading programmes in place. The academy has high aspirations for every single one of its students, and continues to see vast improvements in their outcomes.
Essa Academy
Principal:
Mel Flynn
Address:
Lever Edge Lane,
Bolton, BL3 3HH
When did the academy join NET?
01 June 2024
How many students are on roll?
1097 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
394 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Good What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Essa Academy is situated in Great Lever, a thriving, exciting district in the town of Bolton in Greater Manchester. Bolton is a gateway town for international arrivals and refugees, with a supportive, multi-cultural community. Essa Academy holds strong, positive links with its local community, with a stellar reputation and high parental engagement. Feedback from parents is significantly positive and the academy works closely with members of the community, including local mosques and other schools in the area, to ensure the best for the local area and Great Lever.
Essa Academy excels in its attendance rates, being part of the top 10% of secondary schools in England for outstanding attendance. Essa Academy offers great outcomes for students in terms of academic achievement but also provides offers around character development through extra-curricular activities such as cadets, Essa Experience days and the Music in Secondary Schools Trust (MiSST) programme, linked with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber; Essa is one of 29 schools across the country to offer this programme. The MiSST programme provides funding for classical instruments such as violins and trumpets, regular support and tuition and creates opportunities to perform. It is a programme of excellence that the academy is proud to offer.
Success, Spirit, Community
Essa Academy stands for ‘Effort, Standards, Spirit and Achievement’. The academy takes tremendous pride in its continuous superb results for Maths, Science and Art and offers a holistic approach to education, providing students with the opportunity to form excellent outcomes and life experiences, to ensure they leave with the appropriate qualifications and skills needed to be positive, thriving members of society and the community of Bolton. The specialist provision for English as a second language ensures further, excellent support for new international arrivals into the academy.
Essa Academy is one of the first schools to join Northern Education Trust with a Good Ofsted rating. Essa has found the transition to NET to be very supportive and the ability to collaborate with other NET academies, senior leaders, directors and support staff, all working towards the same common goal, has been a refreshing experience. The opportunities for networking and collaboration have created an overwhelming sense of community on a much wider scale and has been an increasingly positive force for Essa as a school.
Farringdon Academy
Principal: Jordan Bedford
Address:
Allendale Road, Sunderland, SR3 3EL
When did the academy join NET?
01 September 2023
How many students are on roll?
679 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
299 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Requires Improvement
Farringdon Community Academy is located in the urban suburb of Farringdon, Sunderland, being a relatively deprived area with a mixture of private and social housing. The demographics are varied with the local community consisting of young, middle aged and elderly male and female residents and the academy is situated within close proximity to its students, with the majority of students being able to walk to and from school. Built in the 1950s the academy’s building is rich with character and continues to grow in size, with an impressive and modern new build being a welcome and exciting addition.
A previous community sports academy, sporting and exercise is fundamental to the academy and its students. Its facilities include a state of the art 5G pitch, full fitness suite, swimming pool and a school sports partnership with 35 local feeder primaries. This partnership allows the academy to serve its community
Thriving, Safe, Diverse.
Teachers are passionate, dedicated and knowledgeable, and ensure that lessons are engaging, challenging and adapted to meet to meet the varied needs of their students, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Students feel confident and optimistic about their futures and this is reflected in student attitude and behaviour.
The academy also provides essential and exceptional support to its more vulnerable students with the use of
through the delivery of PE sessions and spectacular sporting festivals. With significant links to the community already, the academy is eager to strengthen its relationships with local people even further and is devoted to doing everything it can to achieve this.
Farringdon Community Academy excels at providing an inclusive, thriving and happy environment for its students, where students feel cared for and an atmosphere of respect and support radiates throughout the school. There is a tangible culture of achievement and praise which sits at the heart of the school, with hard work being proudly celebrated through initiatives such as Principal Praise and PROUD Fridays; celebrating student success is an integral part of daily school life. This positive environment drives a love for learning and staff are relentlessly committed to helping students reach their full potential.
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Not yet been inspected
These provisions allow students with ASD and additional needs to receive the resources, tools and support needed to succeed and flourish at the academy.
Since joining Northern Education Trust, the academy has undergone a rapid transformation with outcomes significantly improving and continuing to rise. Staff and students alike have already noticed the hugely positive impact this has had, along with the creation of a joyful, caring and outcomes focused environment that strives to create the best possible life chances for its students.
By L. O Year 11
Kirk Balk Academy
Freebrough Academy
Principal: Michael Garthwaite
Address:
Linden Road, Brotton, Saltburn by the Sea, TS12 2SJ
When did the academy join NET?
01 September 2019
How many students are on roll?
841 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
371 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Inadequate
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Outstanding
Northern Education Trust Freebrough Academy is located in Brotton between the seaside towns of Saltburn and Whitby, boasting panoramic views of the North East coastline. Many students travel to the academy from surrounding villages each day.
The academy has strong links with the surrounding community with principals of local colleges and primary schools being representatives on the academy council. Students also take part in food hamper collections, fundraising and volunteering within their local community.
Freebrough Academy joined Northern Education Trust in 2019. In that time, it has undergone a rapid, positive transformation and seen a dramatic improvement in outcomes and behavioural standards, which is a great source of pride for students and staff. The quality of education students receive has improved significantly and student’s personal development is a stand-out feature across the academy. These phenomenal improvements resulted in Ofsted rating the academy Outstanding in January 2023.
The academy has an ambitious and well-established curriculum which creates great opportunities for all students regardless of background or ability. The curriculum has been devised with careful consideration and ensures students leave the academy with a wide range of knowledge and skills. Staff at Freebrough Academy are passionate,
skilled and knowledgeable; teachers provide high quality teaching and adapt their lessons to meet the needs of the students well, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
The academy has a positive community-feel, whereby students, staff and the local community all work well together to achieve the very best in student outcomes. Freebrough Academy students excel in their love for learning, having positive attitudes and striving for the best in everything they do. This can be seen both within lessons and in the extensive enrichment programme on offer.
The academy also has an obvious love for reading that is inherent throughout. Through joining Northern Education Trust, Freebrough Academy has adopted reading initiatives, such as Reading Routes, that now form the foundation of a positive culture of reading for both staff and students – a culture that can be felt as soon as you step into the building.
Through the network of academies within Northern Education Trust, Freebrough Academy has been able to share, adopt and implement a range of initiatives that ensures its students receive trialled and proven best approaches to learning. The academy has a warm and welcoming feel, and student conduct and behaviour is exceptional as students share common values of respect, tolerance and kindness towards everyone in the school community, creating a culture of support and a strong community feel.
The Grangefield Academy
Principal: Kathryn Wright
Address:
Oxbridge Avenue, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 4LE
When did the academy join NET?
01 January 2014
How many students are on roll?
1016 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
520 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Inadequate What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Outstanding
Northern Education Trust The Grangefield Academy is located in Stockton-on-Tees in the North East of England. The academy relocated to a new building in 2016 that is fully equipped to teach a variety of subjects to a high level and provides an outstanding learning environment for students. Facilities include five specialist technology and food rooms, two art rooms, a specialist drama studio, a music suite, tennis courts, two large sports halls and so much more for a positive learning setting for students to enjoy.
The academy has really strong links with its local community. During the pandemic students wrote letters to residents at the local care home where the academy had previously provided reading books. Each year, the academy also takes part in the CAUSE Christmas Hamper appeal where students provide gifts and create hampers for families in the local area to ensure everyone can celebrate over the Christmas period.
More practically, the academy also offers its facilities to Stockton Rugby Club who, in turn, provide students with additional coaching. These strong local links help drive a positive culture in the academy.
Passionate, Caring and Diverse
The academy is excellent at ensuring every single student is cared for, receives an engaging and challenging education and has the best secondary school experience possible. Staff excel at knowing their students, understanding how they learn best and what their individual needs are in order to tailor lessons to ensure they are challenged and can succeed. There is a palpable culture of achievement and encouragement which can be felt across the academy. Students hold high expectations of each other’s behaviours and attitudes, and everyone is treated with respect.
The praise culture at The Grangefield Academy is at the heart of the school, being an integral part of daily school life, motivating students and celebrating their hard work. Student’s efforts and successes are rewarded every day using Applause Moments and students are encouraged to bring their best work to show the leadership team at “PROUD Thursday” each week.
The curriculum provided at The Grangefield Academy is wide and ambitious and students leave the academy having achieved highly both academically and socially, with staff expecting only the very best from their students. Year 11 outcomes in particular are exceptional and results in Maths and English are well above national average. Teachers have expert subject knowledge which enables them to deliver the curriculum extremely well, using various innovative strategies to develop and build students knowledge.
The academy places huge importance on reading, being passionate about inspiring a love of reading for all. Reading is embedded into the curriculum, exposing students to texts that will challenge their views and allows them to experience new genres. Students’ personal development and wellbeing is also supported, through the academy’s enrichment programme which offers a wide range of activities from first aid, to karaoke, robot lego and a plethora of sports clubs, which help students to grow and develop.
Since joining Northern Education Trust, The Grangefield Academy has been able to implement a model of rapid school improvement. Outcomes for students have improved year on year, student numbers have increased and the academy has been able to recruit exceptional staff. This culminated in the academy being rated Outstanding in all categories by Ofsted in December 2022, which both staff and students are extremely proud of.
Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
By C. M Year 6
Badger Hill Primary Academy
By A. M Year 10
Dyke House Academy
Principal: Vicky Pinkney
Address: North Road, Hetton le Hole, Houghton le Spring, DH5 9JZ
Hetton Academy
When did the academy join NET?
1 September 2022
How many students are on roll?
660 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
310 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Requires Improvement
Hetton Academy is located in Hetton-le-Hole, a semi-urban community half way between Sunderland and Durham. Hetton is known for its rich history as a coal mining town which can be traced back 1,000 years. With some areas of significant social deprivation and others of affluent new builds, Hetton Academy upholds the ethos that everyone is given the same opportunities and are supported irrespective of background. The academy works hard to create an inclusive, warm environment with
student care being their number one priority.
Student-centred, positivity, ambitious
The academy provides a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, where staff and students show the upmost respect towards each other. This can be felt by visitors and seen in student behaviour and confidence. Staff are passionate about removing barriers to learning and strive to create the best life chances for their students. This culture of care runs at every level from senior leadership, to teachers, to support staff, all of whom put students at the heart of everything they do and provide the highest level of care.
Hetton Academy has strong links with local primary schools, with members of the academy’s senior leadership team sitting as governor representatives on the primary boards, and vice versa. This link also allows Hetton Academy to model and share the Trust’s vision and values locally.
The academy also has good links with parents/carers and regularly shares moments of student achievement and success on social media, along with a frequent newsletter which has been well received by families.
The academy has a strong sporting tradition, particularly in football, rugby and cricket. The academy also has a specialised provision to support speech, language and communication needs and the majority of its students progress with over 9 different post-16 providers.
Hetton Academy prides itself on being a community school that serves its community regardless of need, socio-economic background or ability level. This positive relationship is evident with the academy’s frequent participation in local events such as celebrations of the area’s mining and railway heritage. The academy often provides a base for clubs and societies such as gymnastics and football, with Hetton Juniors, a sports club with over 1,000 young members, regularly meeting at the academy to practice and prepare for their matches.
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Not Inspected Yet
Hetton Academy is proud of their decision to join Northern Education Trust in 2022, after carefully researching 17 different trusts across the North East. Being part of Northern Education Trust has been hugely beneficial in terms of staff training and collaboration with other academies to improve systems, share good practice and work towards the same vision. The academy has embraced Northern Education Trust’s effective systems and protocols, embedding them into academy life, which has had a great impact on student attitudes, behaviours and outcomes, particularly in English and maths. The academy is optimistic and excited for the future and to continue progressing and improving.
Principal: Ryan Baxter
Address:
Springfield Road, Kearsley, Bolton, BL4 8HY
Kearsley Academy
Kearsley Academy is nestled within Kearsley and Farnworth in the vibrant and bustling town of Bolton, which is one of the largest local authorities in England. Its grounds include a state-of-the-art 3G astroturf pitch and superb modern school building, ensuring students are always surrounded by an impeccable environment that they can thrive in.
When did the academy join NET?
01 September 2012
How many students are on roll?
769 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
323 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Requires Improvement
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Good
The academy has a great relationship with their local community, often inviting high profile members to
Positive, Successful and Proud
academy events, such as when the captain of Bolton Wanderers attended PROUD Thursdays and was able to see students’ best work. Strong links with other local schools also allows Kearsley Academy to be able to model the Trust’s values and share them with the surrounding community. The academy has built great, responsive relationships with parents too, by communicating effectively, dealing with problems thoroughly and making any concern a priority.
Kearsley Academy prides itself on the positive culture it has created. The academy has exceptionally polite students who are commended for their character and ability to care for each other. Kearsley Academy has formed an inclusive environment and ensures all the children feel cared for by staff. The whole academy is a close-knit community that demonstrates a high level of support, where children look after each other and treat each other with respect.
Students at Kearsley Academy are offered a wide range of opportunities enthusiastically endorsed by the principal, who believes cultural enrichment is vital for the future of the students. Activities include attending the theatre, opera or ballet or taking part in school trips. The academy excels within music and the arts, nurturing many highly talented musicians within the student body. Kearsley Academy funds peripatetic music lessons, that helps develop the inner musician in many students, who can then showcase their talents in school assemblies, performances and beyond.
In the last four years, Kearsley Academy has transformed, becoming one of the highest performing schools in Bolton, with outcomes for English and Maths being well above the national average. This success was recognised in 2020 when the academy won the Education Business Award’s Outstanding Progress Secondary School Award. Through the strong relationship between Kearsley Academy and other Northern Education Trust academies, it has been
Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
By E. J Year 11 Walbottle Academy
By M. G Year 3
Hilton Primary Academy
Kirk Balk Academy
Principal: Hayley Craddock
Address: West St, Hoyland, Barnsley, S74 9HX
When did the academy join NET?
01 March 2015
How many students are on roll?
1335 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
418 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Requires Improvement
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Good
Residing approximately six miles south of Barnsley, Kirk Balk Academy serves the communities of Hoyland, Hoyland Common, Elsecar, Platts Common, Blacker Hill, Jump, Birdwell, Pilley and Tankersley; all of which were traditional mining villages before pit closures. Kirk Balk Academy is proud to play a part in regenerating the area following these closures.
Over £30 million has been invested into Kirk Balk Academy to provide a
school community every chance for success. There are several specialist areas in the building including a four-court sports hall, a superb lab, ICT suites, 2 drama studios, a lecture theatre and a catering kitchen. The academy’s feeder primary schools, other local secondary schools and Barnsley School girl’s football team are invited to share the academy’s facilities, creating an exciting, bustling environment within the academy throughout the week.
Kirk Balk Academy staff work hard to create an inclusive, warm environment within the academy that allows students to feel happy and safe. More so, staff are brazenly ambitious for students and believe they are capable of anything. This positive learning environment drives the children’s love for learning and ensures they can work hard to reach their full potential. Strong foundations of care are built by staff, particularly by the academy’s DEEP support and inclusion teams. This level of care then creates the ideal culture for children to achieve their best.
The academy has seen year-on-year improvements in the last five years, with each one bringing another record-breaking set of results. The academy particularly excels in the core subjects, achieving the highest results in the local area for the percentage of children passing English and Maths. It is now the academy’s aim to maintain this momentum, striving to become the highest performing school in the country. Kirk Balk Academy’s drive to be the best is what helped push its most recent Ofsted rating to Good in all areas, being constantly outcomes focused and determined to achieve.
Since joining Northern Education Trust in 2015, Kirk Balk Academy has experienced an unbelievable level of support from the Trust’s leadership team and collaboration across academies. It is this support that has helped drive the significant annual improvements in the academy, allowing teaching staff to stay focused on academic achievement and building relationships with students.
Principal: Steve Jones
Address:
Owton Manor Lane, Hartlepool, TS25 3PS
Manor Community Academy
When did the academy join NET?
01 March 2015
How many students are on roll?
1053 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
548 students What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Requires Improvement
Manor Community Academy is located in Hartlepool within the North East of England. The staff at Manor Community Academy work hard to overcome any social disadvantage students may experience. Initiatives such as free school breakfasts, 1:1 tutoring, the provision of all revision resources, help with school uniform and an offering of free curriculum-based school trips and enrichment clubs all help support student development and ensure they receive the best possible education for them to achieve their full potential.
The academy has a strong relationship with its local community, working in collaboration with the local authority, its feeder primary schools and other principals in the area to make sure that everyone is serving the local children in the best possible ways. The academy community is very inclusive and comes together in true spirit to support each other at all times. Acting as a hub within the community, Manor Community Academy staff welcome everyone to come and see the incredible work they do and to experience the community-feel of the academy first hand.
Community, Flourishing, Special.
Manor Community Academy is unique with its provision of an Alternative Resource Base within the academy grounds. The base offers students with special educational needs a safe space they can choose to go to learn, on site, where there are specially designed facilities, sensory rooms and an outdoor space for learning besides the mainstream curriculum. The adapted kitchen space also provides the perfect setting for cooking lessons. This provision provides additional space for SEND students to thrive within the academy.
As well as its special educational needs provision, the academy also excels in its post-16 transition, with recent figures showing all but one student enrolled in higher education, apprenticeship or employment. Compared to the local ward’s high unemployment rates, this shows huge success for the academy’s approach to improving the life chances of its students, progress which has been achieved through the provision of high quality careers guidance and support throughout each year group.
Outcomes have improved significantly for Manor Community Academy in the last few years. On average, students now achieve one grade higher in every subject than they did three years ago. Through being part of Northern Education Trust, staff at Manor Community Academy can share physical resources and lesson plans that helps immediately improve teaching and learning. Additionally, subject directors and leadership teams form a network in which staff can share best practice and development strategies that helps consistently improve schools. Pairing these opportunities with hard work and commitment, staff have been able to work with students on achieving such progress in outcomes and creating a long term difference to the quality of
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy? Good
Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
By R. S Year 11
Essa Academy
By M. D Year 10
Denton Academy
Executive Principal:
Andrew Murphy
Address:
Talbot Street, Stockton, TS20 2AY
North Shore Academy
When did the academy join NET?
01 September 2012
How many students are on roll?
771 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
484 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Inadequate
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Outstanding
North Shore Academy is based in the town of Stockton-On-Tees and surrounded by densely populated housing estates that are continuing to grow. Local business innovation is taking place with expanding wind turbine farms and recentlydesignated Teesside Freeport, meaning there are more and more STEM career opportunities becoming available on the doorstep of North Shore Academy that could change the future for some of our students. The academy has formed strong links with these local businesses, as well as colleges, which thrive on mutual
North Shore Academy has demonstrated to the local community the value of education and continues to prove the difference it can make. North Shore Academy has a great connection with the local council, who provided a support letter to Ofsted during a recent inspection, as well as asking the academy to take on extra students for the next three years.
North Shore Academy was recently judged as Outstanding by Ofsted. The academy made huge strides in school improvement, jumping from Inadequate and never being rated as
North Shore Academy prides itself on its inclusive and warm atmosphere that welcomes all students, staff and visitors the moment they step into the building. The positive relationships built between staff and parents are evident and provide a strong foundation for students’ learning, with staff continually going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that students achieve. The rigorous recruitment process at the academy allows it to select staff members who demonstrate excellence in their practice and who can continue to make a positive difference. This dedication from staff does not go unrecognised and leaders at North Shore Academy ensure staff have a healthy work/life balance that keeps the positive attitude alive throughout the academy. The results of this were made evident through the great feedback from a recent staff survey with 98% of staff surveyed agreeing or strongly agreeing that they are proud to be members of staff at North Shore.
The academy excels in its provision of the personal development curriculum for students, offering enrichment experiences that further their cultural knowledge and expand their personal growth. The academy is renowned for its innovative ideas with many being adopted trust-wide such as the Reading Routes programme, Tonne of Knowledge, Need To Know Books and Reading Strategy.
North Shore Academy has undergone an impressive journey since joining the Northern Education Trust. By taking time to embed standards and expectations of behaviour, the academy is now a tremendously positive place to be, with students self-regulating and taking real pride in their learning. The academy recognises the incredible support and benefits of being part of a multi-academy trust, and the impact that has on improving outcomes for all its students.
Principal:
Rob Byrne
Address: Rutherglen Road, Red House Estate, Sunderland, SR5 5LN
Red House Academy
When did the academy join NET?
01 October 2014
How many students are on roll?
478 students How many pupil premium students are on roll?
268 students
Purposeful, Productive and Vibrant
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Requires Improvement
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Good
In 2019, Red House Academy was the twelfth most improved academy in terms of outcomes in English and Maths across the country; progress that continues to be made throughout each year group. The academy most prides itself on the quality of relationships staff are able to make with students which creates strong foundations for students to achieve. Staff work hard at Red House Academy to deliver high quality teaching, inspiring students to surpass the limits they may put on themselves and with a strong focus on young people and their ambitions.
Through being a part of Northern Education Trust, Red House Academy is able to have a strong focus on its students and their
needs. The academy is able to seek advice and expertise from established staff within the Trust who have many years of enabling school improvement across the sector. Through support from the central team, the academy can function effectively, enabling academic staff to focus on the teaching and learning needs of its students and young people.
Red House Academy has undergone rapid improvement in the last few years, driven by strong leadership within the academy and across the Trust. In the last two years the staffing at the academy has been incredibly stable, allowing the academy to continue to provide a teaching environment where students feel known, valued and understood.
Thornaby Academy is a smaller than average 11-16 secondary school located in a small urban town in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees.
When did the academy join NET?
1 January 2024
How many students are on roll?
492 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
305 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Requires Improvement
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Not yet been inspected
Thornaby Academy has a close-knit community that knows its students extremely well. We are proud of the strong and positive relationships that exist between staff and students and communications systems are being improved to ensure parents/carers feel listened to. Parents also receive academy news and updates every week, and positive stories and student achievement is shared daily on social media pages to further strengthen the ties between the academy and the community.
The academy excels at providing an inclusive and supportive environment for its students, with effective pastoral systems in place to support the needs of the students. Over time, the number of students on roll has increased significantly and outcomes in English and Spanish are the strongest. Thornaby Academy also has an Enhanced Mainstream School for students with communication and interaction needs. There are ten funded places for the Hub and all students with a place are in receipt of an Education & Health Care Plan (EHCP).
The academy was delighted to join Northern Education Trust in January 2024, and within a very short space of time, the academy has already improved significantly in many ways. Parents have been supported to
range of systems to improve the daily running of the academy.
Aspirational, Vibrant, Friendly
There is a growing culture of praise within the academy, where student achievement is celebrated in every lesson through PROUD postcards, applause moments and extra applause on the doors. Every week PROUD Fridays are very well attended and students are excited to bring along the work they are most proud of and receive a certificate and PROUD prize. Furthermore, every Friday, the Principal awards five students, one from every year group, with the Principal’s Prize for the star student. Celebrating student success and achievement sits at the heart of the academy and is an integral part of daily school life.
Since joining Northern Education Trust, Thornaby Academy has felt a positive and beneficial impact through collaboration with other NET academies. Colleagues from other local NET schools have been on hand to support the implementation of new systems, provide training, share ideas, strategies, resources and effective practice, and offer support and guidance. This intense support has led to staff being confident in implementing new systems and, having developed a network, drawing on that for additional support where needed. There has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the experience of becoming a
Principal:
Joanna Macaulay
Address: Main Road, Ryton, Tyne and Wear, NE40 3AH
Thorp Academy
When did the academy join NET?
01 September 2014
How many students are on roll?
1466 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
374 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Serious Weaknesses
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Good
Thorp Academy is located in West Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, and its catchment covers a wide geographical area. Situated on a large site overlooking the Tyne Valley, the academy offers a high quality learning environment for students, including two large sports halls, twelve science labs with specialised technology equipment and a contemporary building which provides a positive educational setting for all.
The academy has strong links with the local community, particularly with its ten feeder primary schools. It offers a comprehensive transition programme to year 6 children from the primary schools, welcoming upcoming students to make use of the academy’s facilities and take part
Thorp Academy has seen rapid improvements in previous years, with positive results continuing on an upward trajectory. The academy offers an extensively broad curriculum that allows its students to develop throughout each year, along with great enrichment opportunities to enhance their learning, such as foreign language trips abroad, skiing trips, Duke of Edinburgh Awards and much more.
Strong pastoral support systems within Thorp Academy, across all year groups ensure students feel supported, and know exactly who they can reach out to, from their very first weeks in the academy. The consistency of support from learning managers and beyond allows the academy to sustain a nurturing
Walbottle Academy
Principal: Richard Harrison
Address: Hexham Road, Walbottle, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE15 9TP
When did the academy join NET?
01 September 2020
How many students are on roll?
1704 students
How many pupil premium students are on roll?
767 students
What was the Ofsted rating prior to joining NET?
Inadequate
What is the current Ofsted rating of the academy?
Good
Northern Education Trust Walbottle Academy is located in the outer west of Newcastle City and has 13 official feeder primary schools, with students coming to Walbottle Academy from 38 primary schools in total. Situated in a semi-rural location, the grounds of the academy include parts of land that are protected by English Heritage due to its proximity to the ancient Hadrian’s Wall.
The academy has strong links with its local community, often sharing best practices with other local schools and expanding the trust’s vision beyond its own academies. Staff care deeply about the wellbeing of students not only within Walbottle Academy, but throughout the large City community they are part of, having high involvement with the local council’s SEND Executive Board and the City-wide Promise Board.
Transformational, Exciting and Proud
Walbottle Academy has recently undergone a monumental transformation with rapid improvements and changes across all areas of the academy, resulting in a recent Ofsted inspection in January 2023 rating the academy Good. Students feel safe and happy at Walbottle, commenting that the academy “feels like a different place”. Staff are also overwhelmingly positive about the changes the trust have brought and feel proud to work at Walbottle Academy. The academy has a fantastic praise culture that encourages students to be proud of their work, share their learning and celebrate their achievements. The innovative and effective rewards systems at the academy, which celebrate and encourage attendance and academic achievement, are highly valued by students. This positive culture of success can be felt strongly across the academy.
Walbottle Academy has adopted a new and ambitious curriculum which ensures that the range of courses available at key stages 4 and 5 are well matched to student’s aspirations. The academy also has a relentless focus on improving attendance and positive outcomes for students and is unapologetically focused on the life chances for students. This moral purpose has driven the academy’s rapid improvement.
As the largest academy within Northern Education Trust, staff at Walbottle Academy describe it as a sleeping giant. Despite having only joined Northern Education Trust in 2020, the huge impact of the trust has resulted in systematic changes, structural alterations and enhanced leadership, all of which has all worked together to drive phenomenal positive changes for both staff and students. Through the sharing of the trust’s vision and values, Walbottle Academy’s staff and students have been united through a consistent, outcomes focused approach to teaching and learning that has helped progression to continue. Its community is united in improving outcomes and life chances for its students, maintaining a high culture of expectations and creating a positive space for students to thrive.
Northern Education Trust Art Gallery
By E. A Year 8
Buile Hill Academy
By L. M Year 6
Norton Primary Academy
Graduation
Students in our secondary academies take part in a moving graduation ceremony to celebrate their hard work and commitment in Key Stage 3 before they move into their GCSE years. The ceremonies involve the students wearing caps and gowns whilst they are presented with scrolled certificates from their principal. Families are invited to attend the ceremonies, and take great pride in their achievements with enthusiastic rounds of applause.
The ceremonies give students their first experience of what it feels like to graduate, which the Trust hopes will raise their aspirations to continue their hard work, as well as recognising and celebrating their achievements to date. The events create memories that will stay with them throughout their lives.
