Thriving Together - Parent Magazine - Autumn Edition

Thriving Together The Windsor Academy Trust Family Magazine Autumn Term 2025

EMERGING YOUNG WRITERS

Every child is a unique star in the making – and we are here to help them shine brightly

Thriving Together

Contents 4 Welcome from our CEO 6 How we do things Our vision and game plan 8 Unlocking Academic and Personal Potential Where curiosity meets challenge, and every student finds their purpose, their passion, and the power to change their world.

14 Building Staff Talent Boosting careers in the best organisation to work and grow.

18 Society Boosting civic action to empower our communities to thrive.

22 Sustainability Boosting environmental action for the benefit of future generations.

25 System Boosting education for all children no matter where they go to school

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Welcome from Dawn Haywood CEO

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Dawn Haywood welcomes you to the second edition of our Windsor Academy Trust Family magazine, Thriving Together.

As we reach the end of the autumn term, I am delighted to welcome you to this special edition of our family magazine, Thriving Together. This time of year is always a moment to pause and reflect. Looking back at the last few months, I am filled with pride. Across our family of 15 schools, we have seen incredible energy, kindness, and talent, from the determination on display at our Primary Games to the leadership shown by our students at our recent WAT COP climate summit.

Co-creating Brighter Futures for All This term has been particularly significant as we launched our new plan for the next five years: WAT Strategy 2030, Co-creating Brighter Futures for All. This isn’t just a document for school leaders; it is our promise to you.

It is about ensuring every child in our family of schools is known, supported, and inspired to be the very best they can be. We have identified five big areas where we will focus our energy to make a real difference, we call these our "Turbo Boosters". You can read all about them and what they mean for your child over the next few pages.

When Strategy Comes to Life We saw exactly what this vision looks like recently at our annual staff conference. We brought together 1,200 staff from across all our schools to focus on how we can be the very best for your children.

But while the day was designed for our staff, it was our students who truly stole the show. Over 200 young people took to the stage, delivering performances that brought the whole room to its feet. From the high-energy dance finale to the soulful massed choir, there were standing ovations and teary eyes across the hall. It was a powerful reminder to us all that while a strategy is written on paper, it is lived by our students.

Thank you for everything you do to support your child and our schools. Whether you are cheering on the sidelines, helping with homework, or simply asking "how was your day?", you are a vital part of our team. I hope you enjoy reading these stories of success and celebration. On behalf of the whole Windsor Academy Trust family, I wish you a peaceful, happy, and restful break.

Warm regards, Dawn Haywood CEO Thriving Together

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Co-creating Brighter Futures for All: Our Vision for 2030 At Windsor Academy Trust, we are always looking ahead. We want to make sure every child in our family of schools has the very best chance to succeed, today and in the future.

This term, we are proud to launch our new strategy for the next five years. We call it WAT Strategy 2030: Cocreating Brighter Futures for All. This isn’t just a document for school leaders. It is our promise to you and your children. Our core purpose remains the same: to unlock the academic and personal potential of every student.

We want your child to leave us with excellent qualifications, but we also want to help them find their spark.

Whether that happens on the sports field, on a stage, or by helping their local community, we are here to support them. We want to build their character and give them the chance to discover their passions and purpose. Our goal is for every student to become a kind, confident, and happy young person who is truly ready to make their mark on the world.

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Read the full plan here:

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Turbo Booster One Students

At Windsor Academy Trust, the very heart of our 'Co-creating Brighter Futures for All' Game Plan is our unwavering shared moral purpose: to unlock the academic and personal potential of every single child.

Turbo Booster 1: Students is the powerful engine that directly propels us toward this guiding star.

This strategy is our commitment to going beyond academic outcomes, ensuring we create conditions where every student is known, challenged, supported, and inspired daily.

We achieve this by focusing on: Unlocking Academic Potential: Fostering deep understanding, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning.

Unlocking Personal Potential: Developing students who have discovered their passions, pursue their talents, and hold high hopes for their future with a clear sense of purpose.

This work is grounded in our core values of Excellence and Inclusivity. Our shared approach to excellence, delivered through our School Transformation Model, ensures every student leaves Windsor Academy Trust not just wellqualified, but ready to lead a happy, successful, and fulfilling life. The stories that follow powerfully illustrate how we deliver on this vital part of our strategy.

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Aspire to Dance: Over 70 Boys Take to the Stage in a Celebration of Creativity In a vibrant celebration of creativity and collaboration, 74 boys from six of our schools recently took to the stage for the inspiring Aspire to Dance showcase.

This powerful project was specifically designed to increase engagement in dance among boys, providing a dynamic platform for them to explore their creativity, develop new skills, and build lasting confidence.

Students had the fantastic opportunity to work alongside professional dancers and collaborate with peers from across the Windsor Academy Trust family. Their dedication and teamwork shone through, culminating in a final performance that was both inspiring and brilliantly executed.

This initiative is a perfect, shining example of our core mission: to unlock the personal potential of every child. By creating inclusive and challenging opportunities like Aspire to Dance, we actively challenge stereotypes and empower our young people to discover and pursue new passions.

A huge congratulations to every student who participated and a sincere thank you to the staff who dedicated their time and energy to making this event such a resounding success.

Click to watch the highlights

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Sportsmanship, Friendship, and Excellence Shine at the Windsor Academy Trust Primary Games 2025 Nearly 200 young people from across seven of our primary schools came together for an incredible day of sport at the annual Windsor Academy Trust Primary Games.

Hosted at Aldersley Stadium in Wolverhampton, the event provided a fantastic opportunity for our students to compete with friends, feel inspired by current world-class athletes, and experience state-of-the-art facilities.

The core aim of the Windsor Academy Trust Primary Games is to encourage sportsmanship, friendship, and celebrate excellence among children from our Walsall, Halesowen, and Stoke Primary Schools.

A Day of Teamwork and Determination The morning was dedicated to exciting team sports, played in perfect conditions on the astroturf pitches. The level of competition was high, with incredible teamwork and determination on display.

Tag Rugby Victory: Greenways Primary Academy took the victory in the Year 5/6 mixed tag rugby event, showcasing the fantastic improvements all schools have made in this sport.

Hockey Champions: Collaboration was key in the hockey event, where girls played the first half and boys played the second half, with the scores added together. This led to a huge amount of support from the sidelines. Colley Lane Primary Academy came out on top with six wins out of six, demonstrating remarkable determination and resilience.

In the afternoon, the energy continued to build in the athletics stadium. The atmosphere reached a fever pitch as all year groups cheered each other on. Every child took part in at least one individual event, including the 60 metres, 150 metres, 400 metres, standing long jump, or howler throw. The day ended with an incredible spectacle of relay races—a fitting finale to the Games.

Overall Winners Points were calculated across all three events for the overall winner of the Windsor Academy Trust Primary Games. A huge congratulations to Greenways Primary Academy who successfully defended their title! They fought off a strong challenge from Colley Lane Primary Academy in second place and Goldsmith Primary Academy who finished third.

Click to watch the amazing video!!

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Windsor High School and Sixth Form: Rocking the River Rooms We are bursting with pride following the recent, electrifying performance by the band B63—made up entirely of talented Year 9 students from Windsor High School and Sixth Form—who took to the stage at the professional music venue, The River Rooms.

This ambitious group is the youngest band the school has ever had perform at such a high-profile, external event, and their success story perfectly embodies the mission of Windsor Academy Trust: to unlock the personal potential of every child.

Dedication and Initiative Shine Through The students demonstrated extraordinary initiative and collaborative spirit in the lead-up to the event. Far exceeding expectations, they personally managed to sell over 70 tickets, securing themselves a prime spot on the billing for the evening.

This entrepreneurial drive and commitment to their art is a fantastic achievement in itself, showing their ability to take ownership of an ambitious project.

The atmosphere at The River Rooms was incredible, with a fullcapacity crowd there to cheer them on. B63 put on a truly fantastic and memorable performance, demonstrating professionalism and musical talent that far exceeded their years.

Confidence Beyond the Classroom It is wonderful to see our students performing with such composure and confidence in a professional setting. These real-world, highstakes experiences are invaluable. They teach our young people crucial life skills, including: Teamwork: Working together closely to coordinate rehearsals and logistics.

Resilience: Handling the pressure of performing in front of a large audience.

Creative Expression: Finding their voice and passion through music.

By supporting opportunities like this, Windsor Academy Trust ensures that learning extends far beyond the classroom. We provide an ambitious platform for students to test their skills, build character, and find their unique spark.

A huge well done to all the members of B63. Your dedication and talent are an inspiration to us all, and we are so proud to celebrate your fantastic achievement!

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Goldsmith Primary Academy are Black Country School Games Champions!

We are delighted to celebrate the fantastic achievement of the students from Goldsmith Primary Academy who won Gold medals at the prestigious Black Country School Games Finals in Sportshall Athletics. This victory saw them move up from their runners-up position last year, proving that determination pays off!

The Final, held at Aldersley Leisure Centre in July, brought together only the very best school teams from across the whole Black Country region.

The Road to the Final Getting to the Final was a huge achievement in itself. More than 200 schools from Walsall, Sandwell, Wolverhampton, and Dudley entered the first rounds. To qualify, Goldsmith Primary Academy had to win two challenging local competitions.

The Final brought together the champions from all four regions, making the victory a famous one for the school and for Windsor Academy Trust.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work Sportshall Athletics is a wonderfully loud and exciting team event. The children compete in relays on the track and in field events, and every single team member’s points count towards the final score. This means that teamwork is the key to success.

Goldsmith Primary Academy showed incredible team spirit throughout the competition, supporting each other through every moment of the day.

This success was built on the children's commitment to practising the events and their amazing togetherness on the day. Every performance, whether running, jumping, or throwing, was celebrated by the team. This outstanding sporting achievement is a brilliant example of how we unlock the personal potential of every child at Windsor Academy Trust.

Goldsmith Primary Academy is immensely proud of every student who represented the school so well on this truly memorable day.

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Turbo Booster Two Staff

At Windsor Academy Trust, we believe that the single biggest factor for improving outcomes in our schools is simple: having the very best teachers in front of students, every day. That’s why we invest so much in developing, supporting, and celebrating the 1,200 talented individuals who work across our family of schools.

Whether in the classroom or as part of our professional services teams, every member of staff plays a vital role in unlocking academic and personal potential.

Our approach to staff development is nationally recognised. We’re proud to be an Associate College of the National Institute of Teaching, chosen for our expertise and our reputation for excellence across the West Midlands. This demonstrates our core value of Excellence and our commitment to implementing Set Plays—the proven, high-impact practices that deliver results. Our pioneering work supports the Research Igniter, which embeds a culture of evidence-informed improvement.

We listen carefully to staff feedback, using insights to shape our wellbeing offer and professional learning priorities. It’s all part of our mission to be an employer of choice, where colleagues feel valued, inspired, and equipped to make a difference. This reflects our value of Empowerment, entrusting people to lead and achieve.

This focus ensures our investment is in people, helping to build a vibrant culture and strengthening the foundations for us to co-create brighter futures for all.

From Interns to Inspiring Teachers We don’t just attract great teachers – we grow them.

Through our partnership with the National Institute of Teaching, we run a high-quality Initial Teacher Training programme across primary and secondary schools.

Whether someone’s a university graduate, a career changer, or brand new to teaching, we support them through training, mentoring, and development – from intern to Early Career Teacher, and beyond. It’s how we build a strong pipeline of future teachers, shaped by the Windsor Academy Trust values from the very beginning.

Applications for 2025–26 are now open. If you or someone you know is interested in training to teach, please get in touch at: teachertraining@windsoracademytrust.org.uk

The Windsor Academy Trust Talent Institute is our home for professional learning – and the driving force behind the outstanding teaching and leadership you’ll find in every WAT school.

Through coaching, collaborative learning, national programmes, and bespoke support, we ensure that every colleague has the opportunity to develop their practice and grow their impact. From teaching assistants to senior leaders, our goal is the same: to create a culture where people thrive.

The Windsor Academy Trust Talent Institute also shares best practice with schools beyond our family, supporting the wider education community and helping raise standards across the system.

You can now follow the Windsor Academy Trust Talent Institute on:

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WAT Conference 2025 What happens when you bring 1,200 staff members from 15 schools together under one roof? You create energy, you spark new ideas, and you remind everyone of the most important thing of all: our students.

On Friday 5th December, staff from across the WAT family gathered at The ICC in Birmingham for our 2025 Conference. The theme for the day was ‘Connected’. For us, being connected isn't just a word. It is about how our primary and secondary schools work together to share expertise, resources, and opportunities. It is about ensuring that whether your child is in Walsall or Stoke, Halesowen or South Staffordshire, they benefit from the collective strength of our whole family.

Stealing the Show While the day was designed for our staff to learn and grow, there was no doubt about who the real stars were.

We believe in unlocking personal potential, and there is no better way to show that than letting our students shine on a professional stage.

The day exploded into life with a high-energy performance of We’re All In This Together from High School Musical. This wasn't just one school putting on a show; it was a massive collaboration involving 134 students from nine of our schools across Dudley, Walsall, and South Staffordshire. Seeing them perform as one team was a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we work together.

Later, the atmosphere turned soulful with a stunning performance of Joyful Joyful. This massed choir brought together 108 performers, including students from six of our schools in Stoke, North Staffordshire, and Sandwell, alongside our wonderful community choirs. It was a moment of pure joy that raised the roof.

To close the day, we enjoyed a moving and elegant dance finale, reminding us all of the poise and confidence that the arts develop in young people.

All In This Together

Joyful Joyful

Dancing On The Stars

Turbo Booster Three: Society

At Windsor Academy Trust, we believe that schools are more than places of learning— they are anchors in their communities, driving social justice and public benefit. Turbo Booster 3: Society is about delivering education for the greater public good. It’s about making sure that the impact of our schools reaches beyond the school gates— supporting families, strengthening local partnerships, and helping every student understand the power they have to make a difference in the world around them.

Our approach to civic leadership is intentional and embedded, aligning with the "Co-creating Brighter Futures for All" Game Plan. This strategic focus ensures that the collective wisdom, resources, and power of the wider educational landscape are harnessed for the benefit of all. We work alongside NHS trusts, local authorities, community organisations, and businesses to tackle the challenges that matter. This commitment to the system contribution ensures we are continually building a brighter future for all children in expanded learning communities.

At the heart of this work is a belief in inclusion and empowerment. We want our students to feel a deep sense of belonging in their communities—and a sense of responsibility to lead and serve, becoming all and more than they ever thought they could be.

In this section, you’ll see how we’re turning that vision into reality through partnerships, purpose, and people, ensuring we are boosting civic action to empower our communities to thrive.

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Brushing for Brighter Smiles: Windsor Academy Trust Tackles Health Inequality We are delighted to announce the launch of our new 'Brighter Smiles' supervised toothbrushing campaign!

This vital initiative, which directly tackles health inequality, is now running at: Colley Lane Primary Academy Greenways Primary Academy Manor Way Primary Academy Tenterfields Primary Academy Milton Primary Academy Removing Barriers to Learning Tooth decay is a leading cause of hospital admissions in young children. By partnering with the NHS, Windsor Academy Trust is taking action to tackle this health challenge directly and ensure our children are healthy and ready to learn. This project is a perfect example of how we work with our community to remove barriers to learning for all students.

Becky Anderson, Headteacher at Colley Lane Primary Academy, said: "Brushing their teeth after lunch is becoming a natural and positive part of our daily routine, and the children are really enthusiastic about it."

It is wonderful to see the children embrace this new routine with such enthusiasm, demonstrating our commitment to unlocking the personal potential of every child, starting with a healthy smile.

Empowering Our Communities: The Vital Role of our Local Community Committees At Windsor Academy Trust, we want our schools to be strongly connected to the people who live nearby. We want to be a helpful partner in the neighbourhood.

To do this, we have created new Local Community Committees. These groups play a very important job: they help us listen, understand, and work together to make things better for our children and the whole community.

What is the Committee’s Job? The Local Community Committees are made up of local parents and partners. They are the local experts!

They help the school understand what the community needs.

They help us make our local plans useful and helpful.

They make sure our ideas are a good fit for the neighbourhood.

The Community Action Plan To make sure we are doing the right work, every school will have a simple Community Action Plan.

Our staff write the first idea for the plan, but the Local Community Committees help to make it better. This means our plans are made with the community, not just for them.

The plans are very simple 3-point plans.

The first thing we will focus on is working with local health partners to help keep our children healthy.

By working together, we are helping our schools and communities to thrive. This is how we make sure we are 'co-creating brighter futures for all' and unlocking the personal potential of every child at Windsor Academy Trust.

Two Windsor Academy Trust Primary Schools Win Top National Awards for Working with Families!

Building strong partnerships with our families is a cornerstone of our mission to unlock the academic and personal potential of every child. This half-term, we are celebrating the incredible progress being made across our Trust to make this partnership as strong as possible.

National Recognition for Parental Engagement We are incredibly proud to announce that two of our primary schools have received top national recognition at the 2025 Edurio Awards for their outstanding work with families. This is a huge achievement, celebrating the very best performing schools in the country based on national survey data from parents across the 2024/25 academic year.

A massive well done to our award-winning schools!

Tenterfields Primary Academy won the prestigious National Parent Choice Award.

Goldsmith Primary Academy won both the National and Regional Listening & Acting Award for Parental Feedback.

These special awards are a true testament to the hard work and dedication of the school teams in building trust and making sure that all parents feel valued, heard, and respected. It proves that working together with our families helps us all unlock the personal potential of every child at Windsor Academy Trust.

Well done to everyone involved!

Turbo Booster Four Sustainability At Windsor Academy Trust, we believe education has a vital role in shaping a better future—not just for our students, but for the planet they’ll inherit. Turbo Booster 4: Sustainability is our commitment to embedding environmental responsibility into everything we do. From reducing our carbon footprint to weaving climate education into our curriculum, we aim to empower every student to lead change in their communities.

Our ambition is bold: to become one of the most sustainable school trusts in the country and achieve net carbon zero by 2030. We back this goal with clear strategy, practical action, and student-led initiatives.

This objective directly supports the Resources Igniter within our Trust's strategy, ensuring long-term operational efficiency and stability.

Ultimately, this is about delivering on our shared moral purpose. By giving young people the knowledge, skills, and sense of responsibility, we prepare them to create a greener, fairer world for all.

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Our Students Lead the Way at WAT COP 2025 Summit The energy was electric at Windsor Olympus Academy on Thursday 20th November! We welcomed over 130 students from across the Windsor Academy Trust family for our fourth annual WAT COP 2025 event.

Inspired by the big global meeting on climate change happening in Brazil, our student-led summit is all about empowering young people to become leaders in protecting our planet. This year’s theme—Inspiration, Empowerment, and Community—was clear throughout the day.

Expert Insights and Powerful Ideas The students heard a powerful keynote from Heena Dave (Climate Adapted Pathways for Education), who spoke about the vital role of finding your climate voice and developing leadership skills.

Later, Professor Jerry Pritchard from the University of Birmingham fascinated students with his knowledge about nature and future forests. These experts showed our students that they have the power to make a real difference.

Hands-On Action The real magic happened in the workshops, where students got hands-on with practical learning: Primary students got their hands dirty planting tiny vegetables called microgreens with Warm Earth. They also explored how the water cycle works with our partners at Severn Trent.

Secondary students stepped into the shoes of global decision-makers in an exciting climate emergency simulation. They had to work as a team to make important decisions, just like world leaders do!

We were proud to work with incredible partners, including the BBC Wildlife Trust, Greenpeace, and the National Education Nature Park.

Ambassadors for a Net Zero Future This event is more than just one day of learning. It is about equipping our student Climate Ambassadors with the knowledge and confidence to go back to their schools and drive real change.

It is a huge step forward in our journey to becoming a Net Zero Trust. By creating opportunities like this, Windsor Academy Trust is unlocking the personal potential of every child and empowering them to be the leaders who create a brighter future for all.

Read more about COP 30 here.

Click to watch the highlights

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Goldsmith Primary Academy: Our Student-Led Sustainability Journey Goldsmith Primary Academy is leading the charge on our Trust-wide ambition to be one of the most sustainable school trusts in the country. This amazing journey, driven by our student Eco-Warriors, is helping to save energy, increase nature, and grow responsible, greener citizens for the future.

Digital and Energy Saving We have made big changes to reduce our environmental impact: Going Paperless: We have adopted digital learning (devices for every child), dramatically reducing our paper use and waste.

Powering Up: We have installed solar panels and our student Eco-Warriors check that lights and screens are off when not needed. These small actions have contributed to over £200,000 in energy savings across Windsor Academy Trust!

Growing and Community Action We are bringing our learning to life outdoors and building local partnerships: Biodiversity: Using resources from the National Education Nature Park, we have planted an orchard, hedges, and created a school allotment. Every class tends their own planter, making science lessons hands-on.

Community Support: We run a popular Sustainability Swap Shop for uniform re-use, saving families money.

We have also had incredible local support, including a generous donation of soil for our planting efforts.

By embedding sustainable practice in all we do, we are empowering our children to leave school knowing how to make the right choices for our community and our planet.

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Turbo Booster 5 System Turbo Booster Five: System is a core part of our Co-creating Brighter Futures for All strategy. It is all about sharing the expertise we have developed, reaching more students, and actively shaping a stronger future for the entire education system.

At Windsor Academy Trust, we firmly believe that the most effective way to serve our students and our moral purpose is to grow thoughtfully, collaborate widely, and contribute meaningfully to the wider sector. We do this by responsibly welcoming new schools into the Windsor Academy Trust family. We also actively support vital local partnerships and take a leading role in national conversations across education. Through these efforts, we are helping to unlock academic and personal potential in communities far beyond our own classrooms.

We are truly proud to influence the wider system. This is visible in the work of our CEO with the Confederation of School Trusts and various local partnership boards. It is also evident through our leadership of national learning events. We are deeply committed to helping define what great education looks like — not just for Windsor Academy Trust, but for the entire education community.

The fantastic stories that follow beautifully demonstrate how this essential Turbo Booster is coming to life in practice.

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Leading the National Conversation: Windsor Academy Trust Launches Major Schools and Health Plan at the Palace of Westminster On Thursday 20th November, we had a very proud moment for Windsor Academy Trust in the historic Palace of Westminster!

We officially launched our new report: 'Co-creating Healthy Futures - Schools and Health - A Framework’.

This is a powerful plan for how schools can work with health partners to support our children.

The event, hosted by Gurinder Singh Josan CBE, MP, saw top leaders from the NHS, schools, and government all come together. While the setting was grand, the atmosphere was warm and focused on collaboration.

The Stars of the Day Our CEO, Dawn Haywood, led a brilliant discussion, championing the idea of schools being civic leaders in their local areas. It was also a moment to celebrate the tireless work of our Director of Communications, Claire Gething, who drove this project from a bright idea to a national launch.

But the real stars were the stories from our schools. It was your work that inspired the room! We shared examples such as: The student ‘Asthma Ambassadors’ at Windsor Olympus Academy.

The community health hub at Goldsmith Primary Academy.

This national launch cements Windsor Academy Trust as a system leader, proving that when we unlock the potential of our community, we unlock the academic and personal potential of our students.

Contributing to the National Conversation at the Confederation of School Trusts Conference

In October, Windsor Academy Trust was honoured to contribute to the Confederation of School Trusts (CST) Annual Conference at the ICC in Birmingham. This is the most significant event in the school trust calendar, and having three of our senior leaders invited to present alongside national figures was a wonderful opportunity to share our innovative work and learn from others.

The conference theme was "flourishing", exploring how our education system can deliver excellence, inclusion, and fairness for every child.

Leadership on the National Stage Our CEO, Dawn Haywood, hosted an inspiring keynote session titled "The Game Changer - flourishing in sport and leadership." In a discussion with Baroness Sue Campbell, Dawn championed the values-driven leadership required to make a real difference for children and families. This conversation drew on the key insights and principles from our own work across the Trust.

Sharing Best Practice We were privileged to share our work in two key workshops, demonstrating our commitment to civic leadership and innovation: The Power of Pupil Voice: Leanne Bridgwood, Director of Primary, co-presented a session on how we make sure our students are genuinely heard and empowered in their learning and across their schools.

Co-creating Healthy Futures: Claire Gething, Director of Commications, Community and HR, officially unveiled our new national framework, showcasing how Windsor Academy Trust is working to build strong partnerships between schools and healthcare to improve the well-being of our young people.

Our Students Shine Adding to the wonderful atmosphere, the conference dinner featured a fantastic performance by talented students from across our family of schools. Their performance was a brilliant showcase of the personal potential we champion within our Trust, and they truly embodied the conference’s spirit of 'flourishing'.

Sharing our work and showcasing our students' talents was a privilege. It reflects the innovative work happening every day across our family of schools and strengthens our commitment to unlocking the academic and personal potential of every child.

Turbo Booster One: Students Christmas Around the WAT Family Spreading Joy and Festive Cheer As we reach the end of a busy and successful term, our schools have been filled with the joy and magic of the festive season.

It has been heartwarming to see our school communities coming together to celebrate, perform and give back. From traditional nativities and carol concerts to community appeals and festive fun days, the spirit of connection has shone brightly in every classroom and hall.

Here is a look at just some of the magical moments taking place across the Windsor Academy Trust family.

Festive Fun at Tenterfields Primary Academy The festive season is in full swing at Tenterfields Primary Academy, where students and staff have been embracing the Christmas spirit with a packed calendar of events.

The celebrations kicked off with a heartwarming Key Stage 1 Nativity, followed by a special moment of collaboration as Year 5 students joined the wider Halesowen Teaching Learning Community for a Carol Service at St John's Church.

The excitement continues this week with an 'Elf Service Day', Christmas Jumper Day, and a highly anticipated visit from Santa himself!

The term will conclude with a cosy film morning filled with carols, ensuring a joyful and memorable end to the year for every child.

Spreading Cheer and Staging Spectacles at Windsor High School and Sixth Form It has been a busy and magical few weeks at Windsor High School and Sixth Form, with students showcasing their talents on stage and in the community.

On Wednesday 26th November, the school hosted its spectacular winter dance production, The Nutcracker. Over 140 talented dancers from Years 7 to 13 took to the stage, captivating a packed auditorium with their skill, passion and energy. It was a magical evening that truly showcased the hard work and dedication of everyone involved.

The festive spirit continued on Monday 1st December, when the Music Department took the Windsor Carol Singers on a special community tour. The students performed Christmas favourites for residents at Lapal Care Home and The Grange, spreading joy and festive cheer to our local community.

A huge well done to all the students who took part – we are incredibly proud of you!

Christmas Concert Celebration at Sir Thomas Boughey Academy Our annual Christmas Concert was a truly magical evening, filled with festive cheer and an incredible showcase of talent from across our school community.

From classic Christmas favourites to contemporary hits, every performance highlighted the dedication, creativity, and confidence of our students.

Whilst arriving, guests enjoyed a delightful welcome of delicious refreshments baked and served by our wonderful Key Stage 4 catering students – a perfect way to pause and savour the festive atmosphere. They were also treated to an amazing showcase of artwork from previous students, celebrating creativity and talent that continues to inspire our school community.

The performances began with the Boughey Band rocking the stage with Jingle Bell Rock, followed by standout solo performances including Harley K on drums with Believer and Amelia G’s beautiful piano rendition of Wonderful Christmas Time. The energy continued with George H, Darragh H, and Isaac N delivering dynamic drum solos, while the Guitar Trio gave Jingle Bells a rock twist. Vocals from Leon D and Mia H brought festive favourites to life, and Lexi O enchanted us with her flute performance.

A truly special moment came when The Twelve performed Joyful Joyful, with the lyrics beautifully expressed in sign language by Mia H, showcasing inclusivity and talent in perfect harmony.

The second half was equally spectacular, featuring the Show Choir with All I Want For Christmas Is You and Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree. Dannii P charmed with Winter Wonderland, while TJ B, Matty M, and Ben L showcased their instrumental skills. Amandya A and Alex W delivered stunning piano pieces, and Reeve S captivated the audience with Easy On Me. The evening closed with the Piano Ensemble performing Carol of the Bells – a perfect finale to a night of joy and celebration.

A huge thank you to all our performers and staff who made this event possible. Your talent and teamwork truly embody the spirit of Christmas and STB!

Community at the Heart of Christmas at Windsor Olympus Academy The festive spirit has truly arrived at Windsor Olympus Academy, centred around a magnificent new 12ft Christmas tree that is lighting up the school.

Students are looking forward to sitting down together for their traditional family dining Christmas lunch next week, but the celebrations extend far beyond the school day.

On Sunday 14th December, the academy will host its Olympus Community Christmas Dinner. In partnership with the community hub and the local Lodge Road Church, the school will be welcoming around 100 members of the local community for a special festive meal.

It is a wonderful example of the school acting as a true civic anchor, ensuring that the joy and connection of the season are shared with neighbours and friends across the community.

Goldsmith Primary Academy: A Spectacular End to the Term!

The final two weeks of the year at Goldsmith Primary Academy were a brilliant showcase of talent, generosity, and community collaboration, embodying the mission of Windsor Academy Trust.

The packed calendar celebrated student success and strengthened our ties with the local community: Performances Shine: Students across all year groups demonstrated fantastic talent and confidence during the Year 3 Nativity Concert and two unforgettable Christmas Carol Concerts, supporting their personal potential.

Community Connection: The academy hosted a highly successful Goldsmith's Christmas Market!, bringing families and neighbours together for a festive afternoon.

Festive Fun: Staff and students wore their cheerful knits for Christmas Jumper Day 2025 to raise funds for Save the Children. The school also celebrated with the traditional Christmas Dinner Day! and special Christmas Treats with Santa sessions.

Wider Engagement: Students participated in numerous activities, from the Rock Steady Concert and Glow in the Dark Dodgeball to a trip for Reception to the Sealife Centre to see Santa.

A huge well done to the whole Goldsmith Primary Academy family for closing the year with such success and spirit!

Community Success: Milton Primary Academy’s Festive Market!

The final weeks of the year at Milton Primary Academy were a brilliant showcase of talent, collaboration, and community spirit, embodying the mission of Windsor Academy Trust to unlock the academic and personal potential of every child.

The busy calendar culminated in the highly successful Milton Christmas Market, which was not only a fantastic community event but also provided a vital stage for student success: Live on the Stage 2025: Performances Shine!

Our students demonstrated fantastic confidence and creativity during the market's main event. Acts like the Milton Rockers, the dynamic K-pop group, Jo Copeland, and the Singstars gave memorable performances that supported their personal potential and brought immense joy to the audience.

Festive Fun & Community Connection: The market successfully brought families and neighbours together for a wonderful evening of festive cheer. Highlights included the bustling stalls and, of course, a magical visit from Father Christmas himself, who stopped by to meet our excited students.

Collective Achievement: The support from the community means the funds raised will be reinvested directly into enhancing the children's experiences and resources at the academy.

A truly massive well done must go to every member of staff at Milton Primary Academy for their collective effort and dedication. Your collaborative spirit ensured the event ran seamlessly and provided a spectacular platform for our students to shine.

Manor Way Christmas Fayre: A Festive Celebration of Community and Talent The Manor Way Academy Christmas Fayre was a wonderful success, creating a memorable day of festive fun and collaboration for the whole community. The atmosphere at the academy was buzzing with energy, perfectly embodying our shared moral purpose to unlock academic and personal potential in every child.

Attendees were treated to a fantastic day filled with exciting live performances from our talented students. These performances were a key highlight, providing students with a brilliant platform to build their confidence and showcase their personal potential on stage for a supportive audience of family and friends.

Families had plenty to explore across the academy, with over 20 Christmas Stalls offering a brilliant variety of seasonal goods and a great selection of food and drinks available to keep everyone cheerful. Adding a unique, engaging element to the Fayre was The Manor Way Christmas Challenge—an activity included with entry that encouraged participation, problem-solving, and gave students a chance to win a prize.

Of course, no Christmas Fayre is complete without a special guest. The magic of the season was complete with a visit to Santa in his Grotto, bringing smiles to the faces of our youngest attendees. This truly successful community event is a testament to the dedication, organisation, and community spirit of the team at Manor Way Academy.

Rivers Primary Academy: Festive Spirit and Community Connections The season of giving was truly celebrated at Rivers Primary Academy with their highly anticipated Christmas Market, which successfully brought together the entire school community. The team’s fantastic effort ensured the market was an inclusive and unforgettable experience, featuring free entry and affordable activities to ensure every family could join the fun. Highlights of the day included magical moments for students meeting Santa in his grotto and the beautiful Peace Tree, which served as a wonderful symbol for reflection and kindness.

The celebrations continued with the school's resident elf spreading joy and a little mischief across the community.

In a heartwarming highlight, the elf and the talented school choir visited Anchor - Harden Hall Care Home to perform for residents, bringing smiles and festive spirit through the power of music and connection. Back at school, the elf delighted students with "Canteen Chaos" and a surprise delivery of Christmas tree ice creams. You can follow all of the elf's daily adventures and see more photos on the Rivers Primary Academy Facebook page.

These activities have created a vibrant, celebratory atmosphere that has truly brought the school community together.

Follow all of the elf's daily adventures here

Cheslyn Hay Academy's First Christmas Fayre: A Magical Success for the Community The air at Cheslyn Hay Academy was buzzing with festive energy last week as the academy hosted its very first Christmas Fayre. The event was a massive success, bringing together a huge number of community members and perfectly demonstrating the mission of Windsor Academy Trust to unlock the academic and personal potential of every child by fostering strong, collaborative community connections.

The dedicated staff team's effort ensured the Fayre was an engaging and memorable experience for all: Community Connection: As a debut event, the Fayre successfully welcomed countless members of the local community. The phenomenal turnout truly strengthened the vital connections between the academy and its neighbours, highlighting the value of local support.

Festive Fun for All: There was a fantastic range of activities and treats for everyone, including a great variety of craft stalls, festive fun games, delicious hotdogs, popcorn, and warming hot chocolate.

The Magic of Christmas: The highlight for our families was the visit to Santa’s Grotto, where the magic of the season came alive for our youngest visitors.

Christingle Service Delights Colley Lane Students The Christmas celebrations across the Trust have officially begun, and we were delighted to hear about the beautiful Christingle service that brought together the Year 3 and 4 pupils at Colley Lane Primary Academy. This meaningful event was a wonderful way to commence the festive season, focusing on hope and community, and truly supporting the development of our students' personal potential.

The pupils were clearly delighted to take part in the special service. The Christingle itself—with its light, ribbon, and fruit—is a powerful symbol of hope and the wider world, providing a unique and reflective opportunity for our students. Their engagement and participation ensured the service was a touching and memorable experience for everyone involved.

Great Wyrley Academy: Savouring the Success of a Festive Lunch The festive season has truly arrived, and the team at Great Wyrley Academy celebrated in magnificent style with their special Christmas Lunch! The energy and atmosphere in the academy were fantastic, embodying the spirit of community and collaboration that defines Windsor Academy Trust.

It is clear that this was more than just a meal; it was an absolutely amazing occasion that successfully brought the festive spirit to the whole academy. An incredible amount of planning and hard work goes into preparing a meal of this scale, and the food was described as simply delicious and thoroughly enjoyed by all students and staff who attended.

Shining Stars: Nursery and Reception Delight in Magical Nativity What a truly magical start to the festive week! We were delighted to witness our youngest stars—the Nursery and Reception children—shine in their heart-warming Nativity performance. This event perfectly embodies our shared moral purpose to unlock the personal potential of every single child.

The children were absolutely amazing, singing their hearts out and acting with immense confidence. Their enthusiasm, courage, and big smiles were infectious, successfully spreading Christmas joy to everyone in the room and making the performance unforgettable.

The success of the show is a testament to the dedication of the entire team. Miss Law and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) team, alongside all of the fantastic helpers, invested great effort in preparing the children. We share their pride in each and every one of the performers.

Well done, Nursery and Reception! You've reminded us all what this season is really about: joy, togetherness, and the wonderful sparkle you bring to the Windsor Academy Trust fam

Clayton Hall Academy: Creating Precious Memories at Grandparents’ Afternoon Tea On Friday 12th December Clayton Hall hosted its annual Year 7 Grandparent's Afternoon Tea. 25 Year 7 students accompanied their grandparents to Afternoon Tea in the Main Hall - the catering was provided by our Food students and the entertainment by our Treblemakers choir. A great time was had by all.

"Amelia’s Grandparents have asked me to pass on their thanks for this afternoon. They said the lunch was extremely nice and the entertainment provided was fabulous. They thought it was lovely that they got invited into school to spend a few hours with Amelia. My Dad has always wanted to visit the school as he always tells Amelia about Clayton Hall history as this was where his Dad was stationed in the war. Lots of precious memories have been made."

Kingswinford Academy Christmas Community Event Students from Kingswinford Academy brought festive joy to elderly residents this week as they performed at a special Christmas Community Event held to celebrate the season and strengthen local connections.

The event, organised in partnership with community groups such as Age UK and The Royal British Legion, as well as local care homes, welcomed elderly residents from across Kingswinford to enjoy an afternoon of entertainment, refreshments, and companionship. Students showcased their musical and performing arts talents, offering a heartwarming programme of Christmas carols, musical pieces, dramatic readings and some wonderful dance routines.

Staff and attendees alike praised the students for their confidence, professionalism, and kindness. Many residents expressed how meaningful it was to spend time with young people during the festive period, particularly those who may not have regular contact with family or friends.

Kingswinford Academy leaders highlighted the importance of nurturing community spirit and giving students opportunities to make a positive impact beyond the classroom. The event not only celebrated Christmas but also promoted intergenerational connection, empathy, and community engagement.

The afternoon concluded with warm conversations, festive treats, and smiles all around — a true reminder of what the Christmas season is all about.

Newcastle Academy Celebrates Festive Jumper Day On the 11th December we embraced the festive spirit by celebrating Festive Jumper Day! Students and staff proudly wore their favourite festive jumpers while coming together to support a wonderful cause.

We kindly welcomed donations of non-perishable food items, which are being added to our Christmas Tree of Kindness as we work towards building a tree made entirely of food. All donations will be passed on to our local food bank at the end of term, helping to support members of our community this Christmas.

To make the day even more memorable, students also enjoyed a delicious Christmas lunch together.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part and donated — your generosity truly makes a difference!