Big Move One
High Performing Schools
WAT Primary Games spotlights future sports stars!
The Windsor Academy Trust Primary Games at Aldersley Stadium in Wolverhampton was a resounding celebration of youthful athleticism and competitive spirit. The event, which welcomed a whopping 175 students from our seven primary schools, was especially notable for the introduction of two new WAT family members: Milton Primary Academy and Greenway Primary Academy. Both schools made their mark with brilliant performances and demonstrated real pride in excellence.
Morning events saw young athletes dive into hockey and tag rugby, with the excitement being attributed to inspirations from the Summer's World Athletics Championships and the current Rugby World Cup. Notably, Greenway Primary Academy clinched the victory in a nail-biting tag rugby event, while Colley Lane PrimaryAcademy dominated with an unbeaten streak in hockey. Moreover, Milton Primary Academy's commendable performances led to securing two third-place finishes.
Leanne Bridgwood, Executive Leader, said: "The commitment, the competitive spirit, and above all, the power of collaboration displayed today were genuinely remarkable. A heartfelt thanks to our dedicated staff, especially James Perrin, whose meticulous organisation made this day a huge success."
Big Move One
High Performing Schools
The afternoon was charged with enthusiasm as all participants congregated in the athletics stadium. Cheers echoed as students from various academies showcased their prowess in 60 metres, 150 metres, 400 metres, standing long jump, and howler throw events. Manor Way Primary's Sam and Charlie, Tenterfield Primary Academy's Oscar and Effie, and Rivers Primary Academy's Teagwen, Honey, and Logan were among the standout performers. Goldsmith PrimaryAcademy boys also made headlines, particularly with Mikel's awe-inspiring performance in the 4x100m relay.
Special acknowledgment goes to our Sports Leaders from Cheslyn Hay Academy. Their mature approach and dedication in supporting our younger participants were evident throughout the day. As representatives of our secondary institutions, they showcased leadership and served as commendable role models for the younger learners in our trust family.
Dawn Haywood, CEO, reflected on the day, stating: "Today, we've not just provided an opportunity; we've ignited passions and unlocked personal potential. Our moral purpose is to continuously drive both academic and personal growth. As we conclude a tremendous week for our primary academies, marked by events like our iPad unboxings, I'm particularly thrilled to welcome and applaud the performances of our new trust family members, Milton Primary Academy and Greenways PrimaryAcademy."
Big Move One
High Performing Schools
In a display of consistent excellence and tenacity, Colley Lane PrimaryAcademy triumphantly secured the title as the overall winner of the WAT Primary Games for the second consecutive year. Their remarkable achievement wasn't just the result of isolated moments of brilliance but was underpinned by a series of outstanding individual and team performances. These displays of skill and teamwork showcased the academy's commitment to nurturing athletic prowess. The new entrants to the competition, Greenways and Milton Primary Academies, also made their presence strongly felt, clinching the second and third places respectively. Their impressive standings, especially in their debut year, hint at promising futures in upcoming events. Yet, the day belonged to Colley Lane, whose unwavering spirit and dedication to sportsmanship once again crowned them champions.
The Aspire Award, a recognition of character virtues, was deservedly awarded to Krejai from Goldsmith PrimaryAcademy for demonstrating determination, respect, and compassion.
In essence, the Windsor Academy Trust Primary Games was not just a sporting event but a manifestation of the trust's commitment to holistic development, collaboration, and the celebration of excellence. We cannot wait for next year’s event, can anyone topple Colley Lane?
Big Move One
High Performing Schools
Big Move One
High Performing Schools
"It's not an easy task," said Sami. "But Sam performed flawlessly. The cast was also asked to create their own content with their phones at home. Sam went above and beyond, and we now have so much extra content that will really help build the programme as a whole."This refers to the follow-up materials and upcoming Instagram page.
Virtual_Decisions: IDENTITY is currently in post-production, but it is already being hailed as a groundbreaking new tool for early assessment. The programme will give the MPFT team the tools they need to assess the needs of their young people and then provide them with the appropriate support based on their individual needs.
The VR experience will also allow young people to explore social issues in a safe and controlled environment, helping them to develop coping mechanisms and learn how to deal with difficult situations in a healthy way.
Virtual_Decisions: IDENTITYwill be released later this year.
This was a wonderful opportunity for students to reach their personal potential and there will be many more to come. Well done Sam!
Big Move One
High Performing Schools
Windsor High School and Sixth FormActivities Week
Every year, Windsor High School and Sixth Form sets aside a special week that stands out from the usual routines of a traditional school calendar.This isActivities Week, a time when students participate in learning activities which enables them to pursue their interests and passions. It's an invaluable opportunity that goes beyond textbooks and classrooms, offering a unique educational experience that simply can't be replicated in a standard school week.
Activities Week at Windsor is a carefully curated blend of diverse activities and trips designed to engage, inspire, and challenge students in ways that align with their individual interests, hobbies, and curriculum preferences. From the delectable Windsor Bake Off to the design-focused Graphics Week, each activity is designed to stimulate both intellectual and personal development.
One of the most remarkable outcomes ofActivities Week is the boost in self-confidence that students experience. By stepping out of their comfort zones and engaging in activities they might not have encountered otherwise, they gain a newfound sense of self-assuredness.
Big Move One
High Performing Schools
Activities such as the dynamic Football Week and Basketball Week provide hands-on experiences that foster a deeper sense of accomplishment, further enhancing their belief in their own capabilities. Sixth Form students use this time to complete their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Expedition – we are very proud of their achievements!
Activities Week is also a powerful catalyst for improving communication skills.Through group activities and shared experiences, students learn to express themselves more effectively, listen attentively, and collaborate seamlessly with their peers.These skills are invaluable in both academic and real-world settings, setting the stage for future success.
While the activities offered duringActivities Week may fall outside the realm of the normal curriculum, there's no doubt that this week is an integral part of the Windsor High School and Sixth Form calendar. It's an expectation that every student will participate and attend regularly, recognising the profound impact it has on personal development and overall educational experience.
Big Move One
High Performing Schools
Big Move Two
Staff Talent
We are excited to announce the date for the upcoming Windsor Academy Trust Staff Conference, themed 'Thriving', which promises to be an engaging and inspiring event.
Please save the date for this important occasion:
Date: Friday 8th December
Venue: International Convention Centre, Birmingham
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Staff Talent
We believe that thriving as leaders, educators and professional services staff is crucial for our individual growth and the continued success of our schools and the young people within the Windsor Academy Trust family. This conference will provide an opportunity for all of us to come together, share ideas and gain insights that will help us thrive in our roles.
More details about the conference, including the agenda, keynote speakers and registration information will be shared with you in the coming weeks. We assure you that this will be an event you won't want to miss.
This conference will not only be a platform for professional development but also an occasion to connect with colleagues from across the family, exchange experiences and inspire one another.
We are confident that 'Thriving' will empower all of us to enhance our impact on the young people we serve.
We look forward to seeing you at the conference on Friday 8th December. Please mark this in your calendars, and stay tuned for further updates.
Big Move Two
Staff Talent
Staff Experience and Wellbeing Survey
Our first annual staff experience and wellbeing survey, in partnership with education research provider, Edurio, is well underway. Thank you to everyone who completed this so far. The survey results will enable us to gain useful insights to create the very best working environment for everyone. The survey will close on 6th October with stakeholder focus groups taking place shortly after October half term.
WAT Talent Institute Launch
We are excited to be launching our WAT Talent Institute, which brings together our entire Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) offer under one brand and provides us with a platform from which to develop and grow the excellent work we do for staff professional development. The launch event will be taking place on Monday 2 October at WindsorAcademyTrust’s Central Office and will be a celebration of our CPL achievements so far and also an opportunity to share our vision for the future, including sharing details of our newly formed partnership as an Associate College with the National Institute of Teaching. Our executive team, WAT Headteachers and CPL Leads as well as school leaders from partner schools and trusts and other key CPL external partners have been invited to this exciting event.
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Staff Talent
Associate College Partnership with the National Institute of Teaching (NIoT)
Our designation as an Associate College for the NIoT began on 1st September and has started well. Recent appointments have been made to support our newly formed partnership with the National Institute of Teaching. Jenny Naujeer from Kingswinford Academy, who undertook a WAT Associate position last year, is going to be supporting the WAT CPLTeam for one day a week with setting up our new Initial Teacher Education provision, due to open in September 2024. Cassandra Gray from Cheslyn Hay Academy has been appointed as a WAT Associate for the current academic year, with her areas of focus dedicated to supporting the WAT CPLteam with delivery of the Early Career Framework, in order to provide additional capacity to the team as we increase our provision of CPLwithin and beyond WAT.
National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)
We are extremely pleased to report that our latest NPQSL cohort have received their course results, with 100% pass rate. Our current NPQH cohort have recently undertaken their final assessments and will receive results before Christmas and other current NPQ cohorts including our NPQ in Leading Teaching, NPQ in Leading Behaviour and Culture and NPQ in Leading Teacher Development cohorts will all be undertaking their final assessment window from the 2nd - 9th October.
Applications are currently underway for our autumn start NPQ cohorts including the NPQ in Leading Teaching, NPQ in Leading Behaviour and Culture, NPQ in Leading Teacher Development and the new NPQ in Leading Literacy. The deadline for applications for these cohorts is the 18th October, with course start dates from the week commencing 23rd October.
Early Career Framework (ECF)
Delivery of the Early Career Framework (ECF) with our new Lead provider, the National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) has started. Atotal of 37 ECTs have been recruited so far across WAT and other partner schools including DudleyAcademiesTrust (DAT) schools.
Big Move Two
Staff Talent
Greater functionality with e-payslips
EPM now offers an enhanced payslip experience through the EPM Single Sign onAccount.This enables you to make changes to your email address and bank account details. If you have moved schools within theTrust, it also enables you to have access to all of your payslips. We would encourage all staff to sign up to this as it enables you to securely manage some of your key personal details. Please note, it does also allow you to change your home address but we would ask that you continue to notify HR of any change of address so we can update all our systems. The EPM step by step guide can be found in the StaffTalent area of LaunchPad and shows how easy it is to change from your existing e-payslip account to the enhanced one, where some self service is available. Should you have any questions then please get in touch with your HR lead.
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Civic Leadership
Staff Talent
WAT Community Foundation Call for Volunteers
We are looking for staff volunteers to join the WAT Community Foundation Fundraising Team to help shape and deliver an ongoing programme of fundraising activity for the Foundation this academic year. Virtual meetings will take place on a half termly basis. If you’ve got some time to give and would like to get involved, please email Claire Gething at cgething@windsoracademytrust.org.uk to express an interest.
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Civic Leadership
Staff Talent
CodifiedApproach
Over the summer, a Civic Leadership codified approach has been developed to support schools across the WAT Family build a deeper understanding of their communities and provide a clear framework for delivering civic impact. The document is grounded in research from across the schools and universities sectors and includes a range of useful templates to support schools in the delivery of their civic activities. This is now being shared with Civic Leads in schools for feedback before it is finalised and embedded across the family.
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Civic Leadership
Staff Talent
Windsor Reading Project
At the end of last term, Windsor High School and Sixth Form was visited by some residents from Lapal House.This was part of a reading project whereYear 9 students read to the residents in small groups. Students selected their favourite books to share with the residents which represented a diverse range of interests from gothic horror to historical fiction. Students read aloud to the residents and discussed with them their own experiences of reading, creating a wonderful community of reading across the afternoon.They also enjoyed a cup of tea and a biscuit and had the time to share stories of school. It was a special day; the residents really enjoyed the session and the students were fantastic in their reading and caring nature towards our visitors.
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Big Move Three
Sustainability
Civic Leadership
WAT COP
Our WAT COP event is taking place at Windsor OlympusAcademy on Friday 13th October. The event will be an exciting, informative and interactive day for students to come and share their experiences and opinions on sustainability and climate action and at the same time learn how they can be involved in making things happen within their own schools. The workshops throughout the day will encourage students to look at their responsibilities and plan what direct action they can take in schools to further support their sustainability goals. We are excited to be welcoming Paul Turner - Ministry of Education, Megan Thoms - Schools of the Future and Suzanne Gibbon - Let's Go Zero, who will all be supporting us as keynote speakers or workshop hosts.
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Civic Leadership
Sustainability
Our commitment to driving down our CO2 emissions in order to meet our net zero goal has taken another step over the summer break. We have increased our solar PV footprint by 112kWp introducing solar panels at Goldsmith, Rivers and Manor Way Primary Academies. This continues our drive to reduce our commitment on drawing electricity from the national grid. This project also helps develop and deliver on our sustainable financial strategy.
Solar PV Infrastructure
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Big Move Three
Sustainability
Civic Leadership
External Canopies
During the summer we commissioned projects to construct external canopy areas at Kingswinford and Great WyrleyAcademies; these canopies provide external spaces that can be used for outdoor learning as well as supporting social and dining times.
In addition to this functionality, the canopies installed are designed to support the mounting of PV solar panels. This allows us the opportunity to increase our self generated electrical infrastructure in the future as demand grows.
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Sustainability
Civic Leadership
Zero Waste to Landfill
During the summer term we carried out a tender exercise to procure a waste and recycling partner to support our sustainability goals. We were seeking a partner that shared our values of minimising waste being disposed of at landfill sites. We have taken a three year contract with B&M Waste to provide a waste and recycling collection service.
B&M Waste Services Ltd is a national, carbon-neutral total waste management company with a Zero-to-Landfill ethos.They are dedicated to increasing their customers’recycling efficiency. They are committed to providing industry-leading sustainable solutions alongside understanding and managing the environmental and social impacts of waste management.
This contract is a trustwide agreement and schools will join the umbrella contract as and when their existing agreements end. Currently seven of our schools have joined the contract with the remainder following throughout the course of this year.
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WAT Reach
Welcome to Milton and Greenways Primary Academies
On 1st September, Milton Primary Academy and Greenways Primary Academy in Stoke-on-Trent, officially transferred from Learning Village Academy Trust to join the WATfamily of schools.
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WAT Reach
WAT CEO, Dawn Haywood, joined staff at both Greenways and Milton for their inset day on 4th September to officially welcome our new colleagues to the family. Dawn commented: "I'm delighted to welcome staff and pupils at Greenways and Milton to the WAT family. We have been working with both schools for some time and know we are aligned in our aspiration to ensure that all children unlock their academic and personal potential. The joining of both schools creates a new learning community for us in the Stoke-on-Trent area and will extend the reach of the WAT family further. As we move forward, our shared goal remains clear: to provide quality learning experiences that shape the futures of our young people and strengthen community ties. With the addition of Greenways and Milton to our family, we're optimistic about what lies ahead.”
Headteacher of Greenways Primary Academy, Jemma Garside, said: "Joining the WAT family is a significant step for Greenways and we are excited at the opportunities this new partnership will bring to our staff, pupils and community. Our motto, ‘Aim high and be a Star’, and our BIG 5 values align with the WAT Aspire Mountain and together we will continue to unlock the academic and personal potential of our pupils."
Headteacher of Milton Primary Academy, Rebecca Bailey, added: "At Milton, we're enthusiastic about joining the WAT family. With shared values and a mutual commitment to student growth, I believe our students will thrive even more. The combined expertise and resources of the WATfamily will certainly enhance the learning experience at Milton."
Big Move Five
WAT Reach
Windsor OlympusAcademy opens its doors!
The doors to Windsor OlympusAcademy opened for the first time on Wednesday 7th September, welcoming its inaugural cohort of 180 Year 7 students and marking a significant milestone for both the WATfamily and the local community.
Windsor Olympus Academy, situated in the heart of Winson Green, has been meticulously designed to provide a nurturing environment where students can flourish academically and personally. The school will be a community hub at the heart of Winson Green, somewhere that will not only fulfil the shortage of secondary school places locally but also provide a welcoming and inclusive asset for the whole community.
The new students will benefit from modern and thoughtfully designed classrooms; specialists sports spaces including a full-size 3G artificial pitch, multi-use games area and courts for basketball, netball, tennis and football; performing arts, dance and fitness studios; art, graphic and design workshops; science labs; a multi-purpose dining/assembly hall; and ample outdoor recreational space. In line with WAT’s sustainability strategy, the school also has its own eco-hub with a developing woodland and habitat area for students to learn about conservation and building sustainable environments for future generations.
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WAT Reach
Headteacher, Sally-Jo Wilkinson, remarked: "I am delighted to finally welcome our first students through the doors. Windsor Olympus Academy is not just a school; it's a place where young people can thrive. Our mission is to empower every student with the knowledge, skills and confidence to achieve their full potential. We believe that each student is a unique star in the making, and we are here to help them shine brightly."
WAT CEO, Dawn Haywood, shared her excitement about the milestone, stating: "The opening of Windsor Olympus Academy is an extremely proud moment and marks a significant step in our ongoing commitment to providing outstanding educational opportunities within our communities. Our WAT Family believes in the transformative power of education, and we are dedicated to nurturing the talents and aspirations of the young minds who will shape our future. Windsor OlympusAcademy is the embodiment of this commitment."
Enabler 1: Digital Technology
EmpowerED
Over the last six months, we have been working with headteachers and 1:1 digital leads across our schools to define the next stage of our digital strategy. Teaching and learning has been powered up brilliantly by technology since the launch of our 1:1 strategy in 2020. However, we want to make it even better for the future. Amongst various actions, we have named the next phase of our strategy ‘EmpowerED’ to reflect the intended outcome of our strategy for students, staff and parents. You can read more about EmpowerED in the latest iteration of our vision and strategy document here
Phase 4 of EmpowerED learning has also been rolled out this month. This phase ensures students in years 3 to 11 all have access to a personal iPad that can be used both in school and at home and strengthens the breadth and depth of our digital technology strategy. This now means we have iPads in the hands of over 5500 children, including over 180 at Windsor OlympusAcademy.
Enabler 5: Marketing and Communications
Enabler 5: Marketing and Communications
