Big Move 1: High Performing Schools

Delivering impactful and sustainable school improvement to unlock the academic and personal potential of our students.

Our Approach to School Improvement

Our school improvement cycle begins with school-level self assessment. We have collaborated and developed a ‘School Transformation Model’ (STM) based on Sir David Carter’s four-stage school improvement model.

The STM is a key driver in developing high performing schools across the trust. It accurately diagnoses where each of our schools is in its improvement journey, categorising schools into the most appropriate phase - stabilise, build foundations, grow and synergise. Leaders in our schools self-evaluate using the STM and develop five focus areas for improvement, with associated action plans.

The WAT Way

The WAT Way is shaped by our codified approaches for school improvement. For example within our curriculum, assessment and teacher and learning effectiveness. Each codified approach is grounded in research and empowers leaders to implement a framework in an agile way, depending upon the phase of the school’s improvement journey.

Ofsted Success

Delivering great education means inspections take care of themselves. Our Ofsted outcomes continue to demonstrate the impact of WAT’s school improvement approaches and the improvement journey many of our schools have been on. In 2022, we celebrated fantastic Ofsted judgements at four of our schools, with all gaining a better grade than when they joined the WAT family.

• February 2022, Rivers Primary Academy achieved a ‘good’ judgement in all areas

• June 2022, Windsor High School and Sixth Form achieved a ‘good and improving’ judgement in their section 8 inspection. This suggested that the quality of education would have been ‘outstanding’ if a full section 5 inspection were undertaken

• November 2022, Cheslyn Hay Academy achieved ‘Good’ in all areas

• December 2022, Goldsmith Primary Academy achieved ‘Good’ with ‘Outstanding’ for Leadership and Personal Development

Primary Outcomes - Key Stage 2

In 2022, WAT’s primary schools demonstrated significant improvement from the 2019 published Key Stage 2 outcomes. The aggregate progress scores in reading, writing and mathematics were all positive and above the national average. In 2019, the combined attainment at the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics (RWM) was 18% behind the national average. In 2022, it was in line with the national average and above the regional average. This attainment was achieved with nearly twice the proportion of disadvantaged children than the national average. WAT aggregate scores can be seen in the table below.

Two of WAT’s primary school’s outcomes were exceptional. Goldsmith Primary Academy has 78% disadvantaged pupils but achieved combined attainment (RWM) above the national average, and progress scores in all three subjects were well above the national average. Manor Way Primary Academy’s combined attainment (RWM) was 21% above the national average at 80% and progress scores in all three subjects well above the national average.

Progress across secondary schools was positive and improved from 2019. Attainment in all schools improved compared to 2019, with considerable attainment increases seen at Great Wyrley Academy (joined WAT in September 2018 as an Ofsted rated ‘inadequate’ school) and Cheslyn Hay Academy (joined WAT in December 2018 as an Ofsted rated ‘requires improvement’ school) highlighting the long-term improvements to curriculum and teaching bearing fruit. Students’ progress at Kingswinford Academy was exceptional at +0.3.

Secondary Outcomes - Key Stage 5

This year, no progress data will be published nationally for post-16 students. This is because the Department for Education committed to not using any teacher or centre-assessed grades in accountability measures. We saw pleasing increases in the average-point score and average grades in 2022. Students’ attainment in vocational courses was exceptional.