Strategic Vision: Wakefield Grammar School Foundation

Discover The Wakefield Way.

STRATEGIC VISION Way Ahead.

2023 - 2028

INTRODUCTION The Wakefield Grammar School Foundation Strategy addresses the broad, high-level development areas and objectives for each School and the provision of education across the whole Foundation. This includes the Foundation’s Schools, their pupils, their people and its centralised resources, together with its finances, facilities and communications.

The purpose of creating this Strategy is to have a written commitment that ensures alignment and rigour in respect of the diligent running of the Foundation to: Improve organisational performance across the Foundation and its Schools Help maintain Board and SLT visibility Harness prudent and effective governance, working within the AGBIS guidelines Meet our charitable aims Implementation of the Strategy, together with the day-to-day management of the Foundation’s Schools, is delegated to the Heads, with the Director of Finance and Operations acting as the operational link between the Heads and the Governors via an Executive Group.

The Director of Finance and Operations also oversees all the Foundation’s financial affairs and has direct responsibility for the provision and management of all Foundation-wide support services.

ABOUT THE

FOUNDATION

The Wakefield Grammar School Foundation is one of the country’s leading families of independent day schools. An education at our three schools is different in many ways but at the heart of it all, there is one guiding ethos which defines everything we do, academically, socially and ethically. We call it The Wakefield Way. The Wakefield Way is about developing inspirational learning environments which celebrate and nurture the distinctive needs of boys and girls. It’s about encouraging each individual pupil to look outwards as well as inwards as they become remarkable people with the desire to make a difference in the world.

It’s about building confidence, inspiring hearts and minds, and instilling an empowering sense of purpose. But, most of all, it’s about providing an imaginative foundation for life, learning and lasting achievement.

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VALUES, VISION & MISSION Within the Foundation, we believe that values bring about vision and mission, since what we believe precedes what we do. The Foundation Values act as a keystone, underpinning its Vision and Mission, which is adopted by each of the Schools. There is a golden thread running through the Foundation, with each School having its own values, school strategy and development plan that align with the Foundation Values, Strategy and sub-strategies. The four elements – Values, Vision, Mission and Strategy – combine so that we are united by our language, communication and leadership. empowered to compete, develop and remain relevant. Our Mission is measured by the metrics employed within each supporting pillar of the Strategy.

Values

Foundation

WGPPS

VALUES Foundation

VISION & MISSION Foundation

WGSF

STRATEGY & SUB-STRATEGIES

VISION & MISSION Values

Values

QEGS

WGHS

School Strategies & Development Plans

WGHS WGPPS

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QEGS

OUR VALUES WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER

GENUINE Proud of our history - We are forward thinking.

DISTINCT Empowering individuals - We celebrate difference.

UNITY Sharing a common purpose - We are stronger together.

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OUR VISION WHAT WE AIM TO ACHIEVE

OUR MISSION WHAT WE DO Providing education in a supportive, engaging and inclusive environment that inspires individuals to develop their abilities, strengthen their character and fulfil their potential.

g Enabling long lastin iety contributions to soc y for through a shared jo learning.

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A SUSTAINABLE FINANCIAL FUTURE

Significant financial challenges face the independent school sector over the coming years, including the likely introduction of VAT. As a Foundation we are committed to providing a first-rate education within a sustainable financial framework.

A SUSTAINABLE FINANCIAL FUTURE Working across the Foundation and supported by a series of reviews that will be undertaken throughout 2024, we will ensure that we: are an agile, financially sustainable organisation that proactively responds to economic, social and demographic change provide a good value, attractive and high quality educational experience have an estate strategy with the right spaces in the right places to meet the needs of our school community now and in the future staff appropriately and efficiently for the size, structure and needs of our pupils keep best value at the forefront of our decision making through good purchasing decisions and by optimising our assets for income generation.

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CROSS FOUNDATION WORKING To deliver our Strategic Vision, we bring together talented and motivated people within the Foundation who work as one team. The Foundation’s Exec Team comprises our three Heads and the Director of Finance and Operations. Together, they work in parallel to implement the agreed strategies and policies consistently across the Foundation and its schools.

Foundation Strategy & Policy Implementation

BEYOND THE

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

WGSF

Beyond the strategic objectives, across the Foundation, we are committed to sharing facilities, events and activities with other schools (within and beyond the Foundation) and community organisations.

POLICY

WGPPS QEGS 6

WGHS

OUR STRATEGY Our overriding strategic objective is to secure organisational sustainability, to enable the continued success of our schools and our pupils – essentially to honour and enliven the pledges made in our Vision, Mission & Values.

Our Strategy to meet these objectives comprises the six development areas set out on the following pages, grouped into three reporting areas: Pillar A - Experience Pillar B - Delivery Pillar C - Resources The objectives for each of the Foundation’s six development areas follow under each pillar.

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PILLAR A

EXPERIENCE We will create a cohesive, seamless journey through the Foundation’s Schools from the age of three to eighteen. From Pre-Prep to Junior, Junior to Senior and Senior to university, work or other further education, we will nurture a joy for learning, anchored by kindness and resilience. We will celebrate successes.

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OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

WE WILL...

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PUPIL WELLBEING (Personal Development & Other Achievements) (a) Promote a culture that encourages the wellbeing, safety, happiness and contentment of our pupils. (b) Facilitate enquiring minds and educational curiosity for all our pupils. (c) Hear and trust in the Pupil Voice, celebrating all areas of School life.

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PUPIL SUCCESS (Academic Achievements) (a) Provide engaging, inspiring and contemporary environments for our pupils to thrive, whilst preserving and being respectful of our traditions as independent centres of learning. (b) Ensure that we provide an appropriate range of educational pathways to continue to meet the needs of our pupils.

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PILLAR B

DELIVERY We will foster a culture of openness, candour and intelligence, both emotional and intellectual. We will welcome new ideas and perspectives. We will encourage our people to embrace these qualities.

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OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

WE WILL...

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COMMUNITIES (Admissions, Marketing, Communications & Partnerships) (a) Build and maintain a culture based around equity, diversity and inclusion, ensuring our Governors, staff and pupils represent the full diversity of skills and backgrounds from our catchment area. (b) Promote accessibility to our schools, by providing opportunities for children in the community. (c) Be good citizens of Wakefield, as a local employer and as a custodian of our history and buildings. We will do the right thing, supporting local schools, businesses and charities, whenever possible. (d) Maintain effective links with our parents and alumni, to enable lifelong engagement with our schools and pupils. (e) Ensure our internal and external communications are consistent, co-ordinated between our Schools and adhere to a Foundation-wide Marketing, Communications & Public Affairs approach.

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OPERATIONS (Facilities, Processes, Inspection & Compliance) (a) Comply with all applicable regulations, ensuring good governance and accountability. (b) Ensure our Schools are fully supported by agile, efficient processes and services. (c) Measure and leverage our data to communicate better, monitor trends and respond accordingly. (d) Provide the appropriate IT infrastructure to underpin the highest quality of teaching, learning, welfare and administration. (e) Remain committed to taking environmentally sustainable options.

(f) Ensure that our resources are sufficient and appropriately utilised to recruit and retain pupils.

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PILLAR C

RESOURCES We will proactively evaluate and develop our available people and financial resources in the short, medium and long-term.

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OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

WE WILL...

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DEVELOPMENT

STAFFING

(a) Maintain a financial plan for the period of this vision, which sets clear financial objectives and informs our investment decisions.

(a) Deliver an excellent teaching and learning experience across all areas of our curriculum, encouraging new ideas and innovative teaching methods.

(b) Seek to right-size by matching resourcing and costs to our pupil numbers, bench marked appropriately.

(b) Manage and develop our people, to ensure excellent performance, by providing training and development opportunities.

(d) Review bursary provision to ensure we are providing sustainable levels of support.

(c) Prioritise the well being of our people; celebrate those who deliver beyond our expectations; and support anyone who needs it.

(c) Maintain a suitable cash reserve.

(e) Maintain and develop our estate to meet the needs of The Foundation, its staff and pupils. We will facilitate partnerships, creating spaces that are accessible and multi functional. (f) Maintain an appropriate level of financial resource to reinvest into the Foundation over the short, medium and long term. (g) Adopt and implement a fund-raising plan for both capital projects (including developing Clayton) and bursary provision to cultivate regular philanthropic giving and support other specific campaigns.

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GENUINE DISTINCT UNITY

Green House Governors' Office 158 Northgate Wakefield WF1 3UF 01924 231600 wgsfoffice@wgsf.net

Discover The Wakefield Way.

Way Ahead.