WAT Annual Report 2022-2023

Windsor Academy Trust

Annual Report 2022/23

Welcome to Our Family

Established in 2011, with Windsor High School and Sixth Form, our family has grown to nine successful schools, collectively serving 7,000 students aged 2 to 18, driven by 1,000 committed, inspiring and talented staff.

Children are – and always have been – at the centre of everything we do. Our moral purpose is to unlock the academic and personal potential of young people - and it matters deeply to us that all children thrive, not just those in our schools.

At Windsor Academy Trust, we develop highperforming schools that raise aspirations, inspire learning, build character and cultural capital, power social mobility and enable all students to succeed and make a difference in their communities and the world.

Our 2022-25 strategy - Powering us into the Second Decade - details the five strategic ‘Big Moves’ that are driving school transformation, building staff talent, transforming communities, ensuring our family is an environmental force for good and extending our reach through our system contribution.

We are delighted to have you on the journey with us and wish you a very warm welcome to our family.

Introduction from our Chair of Trustees, Anne Haigh

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Windsor Academy Trust Annual Report for the year 2022/23. As the Chair of Trustees, I am both honoured and delighted to present this report, which provides a comprehensive overview of the remarkable journey our trust has undertaken over the past year.

Windsor Academy Trust is built on a strong foundation of commitment to excellence, a passion for education, and a dedication to nurturing the talents and potential of our students. The 2022/23 academic year has been no exception to this commitment, and I am proud to say that our trust has achieved notable successes, faced challenges head-on, and continued to grow and evolve in the pursuit of our mission to provide exceptional educational opportunities to the young people entrusted to our care.

In these pages, you will find a detailed account of the key initiatives, achievements and milestones that have marked our progress over the past year. We have not only upheld the standards of quality education but also expanded our reach, empowered our teachers, and inspired our students to dream bigger and reach higher.

This report is a testament to the tireless efforts of our dedicated staff, the unwavering support of our parents and the wider community, and the resilience and determination of our students. Together, we have created a learning environment that fosters growth, inclusivity and innovation.

I encourage you to explore the following pages, where you will discover the stories and the shared experiences that define our trust’s ongoing journey. Your interest and continued support are essential to our success, and we are excited to share our progress with you.

Thank you for being part of the Windsor Academy Trust family, and I look forward to the future as we continue to work together to make a positive impact on the lives of the young people we serve.

Anne Haigh Chair of Trustees, Windsor Academy Trust

Welcome from our CEO, Dawn Haywood

It is with great enthusiasm and gratitude that I extend a warm welcome to you as we present the Windsor Academy Trust Annual Report for the 2022/23 academic year. This report encapsulates the dedication, achievements and aspirations of our trust and the broader community that supports our mission.

The past year has been a testament to the extraordinary resilience and adaptability of our staff, students and parents. We have faced unique challenges, navigated uncharted territories, and found innovative solutions to ensure that our commitment to exceptional education remains unwavering.

As the CEO of Windsor Academy Trust, I am continuously inspired by the dedication of our staff and the remarkable potential of our students. Together, we have driven significant progress in teaching and learning, achieved strong outcomes for young people and continued to foster a culture of inclusion and collaboration.

Throughout this report, you will discover the stories of celebration, growth and transformation that have defined our trust’s journey. We have worked diligently to provide our students with the tools, knowledge and opportunities they need to thrive and make a positive impact on the world.

I invite you to immerse yourself in the pages that follow and reflect on the remarkable progress we have made as a community dedicated to educational excellence. Your continued support, feedback and partnership are invaluable as we move forward on this journey of continuous improvement and innovation.

I extend my gratitude to everyone who contributes to the Windsor Academy Trust family, from our talented educators and staff to the parents and the wider community that surrounds us. Together, we are unlocking the academic and personal potential of our young people and shaping the future leaders of tomorrow.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our family of schools, and I am delighted to share just some of our accomplishments with you.

Dawn Haywood CEO, Windsor Academy Trust

About Windsor Academy Trust

Our Moral Purpose

“To unlock the academic and personal potential of young people”

The mission of the WAT family remains the same as it was on our first day. We exist for one shared moral purpose to unlock academic and personal potential. We want our students to aspire and to become all and more than they ever thought they could be. Students who know who they are and the sort of person they want to be; students who have discovered their passions; students who have high hopes for their futures and a clear sense of purpose; students who want to make a difference in their communities and in the world, and therefore students who understand the importance and value of education as a powerful driver for the greater good. At Windsor Academy Trust, we put the compass in students’ one hand, empowering them to navigate their way to the summit of their ‘aspire’ mountain, and the world in the other.

Our Values

• Pride in excellence - we have high expectations and work hard

• Respect - we behave with integrity and honesty and foster equality

• Responsibility - we take personal and collective responsibility

• Collaboration - we purposefully collaborate for the benefit of all

• Bold and innovative - we shape the future

Our Strategy

Our 2022-25 strategy comprises five ‘Big Moves’ with clearly identified drivers that will help us unlock the academic and personal potential of our young people.

Our Schools

Unlocking Academic and Personal Potential

9 schools

7000 children

West Midlands

Goldsmith Primar y Academy

Rivers Primar y Academy

Windsor High School and Sixth Form

Colley Lane Primar y Academy

1000 staff

Manor Way Primar y Academy

Kingswinford Academy

Tenterfields Primar y Academy

Great Wyrley Academy

Cheslyn Hay Academy

Windsor Academy Trust

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 schoollevel 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 selfevaluate 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. This academic year, we celebrated fantastic Ofsted judgements at three of our schools, with each gaining a better grade than when they joined the WAT family.

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

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

• February 2023, Great Wyrley Academy achieved ‘Good’ in all areas

With the completion of Great Wyrley Academy’s Ofsted inspection, all schools in our family have now been inspected, achieving or maintaining a ‘Good’ or better judgement, since joining WAT.

School Improvement Impact

Primary OutcomesKey Stage 2

Windsor Academy Trust School Transformation Model

In 2022/23, Key Stage 2 outcomes for WAT primary schools were by far the strongest in our history. The proportion of pupils at the expected standard in reading, writing and maths was 67% versus a national average of 59% and the first time we’ve been above national for combined attainment.

1.

This was achieved with nearly twice the proportion of disadvantaged children than the national

average and is testament to the exceptional work taking place to improve the life chances of our disadvantaged pupils. Across Rivers Primary Academy and Goldsmith Primary Academy, which both serve one of the most deprived wards in the West Midlands, 77% of disadvantaged pupils achieved the expected standard in reading - this is 4% higher than the national average of all pupils.

WAT aggregate scores can be seen in the table below and these headline measures are likely to place WAT at least in the top 20% of MATs nationally, if not in the top 5-10%.

Secondary Outcomes - Key Stage 4

Overall progress (‘Progress 8’) was positive, improved from 2019 (which is the last comparable year) and improved from 2022 even given that the standards needed to gain grades were more stringent in 2023 compared to 2022. Overall Progress 8 was +0.08, 0.1 higher than 2019 (the last comparable year.)

Progress at three of our four secondary schools rose this year with Kingswinford Academy at +0.24, Cheslyn Hay Academy at +0.15 and Windsor High School at 0.13.

Secondary Outcomes - Key Stage 5

As was the case in 2022, no progress data will be published nationally for post-16 students in 2023. 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 attainment in many areas compared to 2019, the last comparable year.

At the time of writing this report the DfE is yet to release their validated multi-academy trust (MAT) outcomes information. Therefore, the data shared in this report may be subject to minor adjustments once the tables checking data is fully validated and the MAT information has been released.

Big Move 2: Staff Talent

At Windsor Academy Trust, we are proud to work with 1,000 dedicated and talented teaching and professional services staff. Our approach to staff learning, development and wellbeing is based on the belief that our people are our most precious resource. Our trust family continually strives to be an employer of choice, and our sector leading approach features as a case study in Sir David Carter and Laura McInerney’s book, ‘Leading Academy Trusts: Why some fail but most don’t’.

Here’s just some of the ways we have continued to invest in our people during 2022/23:

• Introduction of the WAT Talent Institute to provide a central hub for CPL opportunities and to accelerate staff talent

• CPL opportunities provided to over 800 exceptional teachers, leaders and professional services staff across our family

• Four staff enabled to take a sabbatical from their role to bring their talents to critical trust-wide developments through our WAT Associate programme

• 57 staff supported through our Practitioner Researcher programme, providing research-grounded and practice-informed professional learning across the WAT family

• Our Practitioner Researcher programme extended to include an optional pathway to gain a Chartered College of Teaching (CCT) Certificate in Education Research Inquiry

38 new WAT teachers supported as they embark on their teaching career through our Early Career Framework (ECF) as a delivery partner of University of Birmingham and Capita

18 new apprentices undertook training across the WAT family

• Our Instructional Coaching programme was successfully delivered to over 60% of teaching staff

• 450 staff attended the World Education Summit, with access to more than 400 speakers across eight virtual stages

• Our ‘What makes a WAT leader’ programme, aimed at powering up our senior leaders, successfully launched

• Learning and development of teaching professionals locally, regionally and nationally supported through our Talent Institute

• National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) delivered to over 280 staff regionally and nationally as a trusted partner of the Teacher Development Trust

• Launch of a WAT-wide staff wellbeing group created to share best practice and deliver the DfE Education Wellbeing Charter

• The WAT benefits package reviewed and updated in light of the cost of living crisis, and a new benefits provider put in place to offer food, leisure and technology savings for staff

• Our first-ever virtual recruitment event held, aimed at those aspiring to teach and for any teachers interested in learning more about a career at WAT

What our staff say:

“It has been great to participate in collaborative curriculum planning with other colleagues from the WAT family. There is real strength through collaboration”

- Staff member at Tenterfields Primary Academy

“There has been a great deal done to look at workload and this is appreciated. I love coming to work.”

- Staff member at Colley Lane Primary Academy

“I do love my job at Windsor High School. I feel extremely supported and often positively challenged in my role, whilst also having the opportunity to learn new skills and progress in my career. WAT has massively supported my journey into middle leadership and most recently, extended leadership, where I have been given the confidence, responsibility and the motivation to thrive at work. I very much enjoy coming to work every day and still continue to have the passion to support the young people in my care. It really is the best job!“

- Staff member at Windsor High School and Sixth Form

“I thoroughly enjoy working at Rivers Primary Academy and I‘m proud to be a part of the team. The opportunities for professional development are excellent and instructional coaching enables us to develop. It feels like a family working at Rivers.”

- Staff member at Rivers Primary Academy

“I love it here as everyone talks to everyone. My wellbeing is important to the school. I enjoy getting feedback and praise especially at our Feel Good Friday shout out. I wouldn‘t want to work in another school. There are lots of opportunities for me to develop my career with the trust opportunities.”

- Staff member at Great Wyrley Academy

“Cheslyn Hay holds a special place in my heart as it has been part of my life for over a decade, where my journey began as a PGCE student. Throughout these transformative years, I have been fortunate to learn and grow alongside incredible colleagues and seizing countless opportunities that have enriched both my professional and personal life. The school‘s ethos resonates deeply with my own values, and the students we have the privilege to teach inspire me daily, making each moment an indelible part of my soulful and fulfilling experience.”

- Staff member at Cheslyn Hay Academy

“I really enjoy working at Goldsmith because our staff work together and support each other as a family. Our children are unique and wonderful. We are relentless in our aim to give our children the best chance in life because everyone deserves a better tomorrow.”

- Staff member at Goldsmith Primary Academy

Big Move 3: Civic Leadership

At WAT, it matters to us deeply that all children thrive, not just those in the WAT family. We understand that schools and students thrive best when communities do and that is why we place great importance on establishing our schools as anchors in their communities.

In 2022/23, following a trust-wide project to get to know our communities better, civic leadership is now fully-embedded in each of our academies’ School Improvement Plans. To ensure civic action remains on schools’ agendas, civic leaders have been appointed in each school and meet half-termly to discuss and share best practice. The work carried out this academic year to further develop our role as a civic institution means we are now able to start codifying our approach to ensure we continue to make an even greater difference to the lives of the young people and the communities we serve.

The Windsor Academy Trust Community Foundation

This academic year, we are delighted to have established the Windsor Academy Trust Community Foundation in partnership with the Heart of England Community Foundation. The Foundation will enable us to support those in our communities who need it the most through trust-wide fundraising initiatives. It will prioritise organisations that work in innovative ways to create lasting change for young people and their families in the communities our schools serve. Funds will be distributed through a small grants programme, direct donations and a bursary, and used to develop trust-led civic projects.

WAT a Run, WAT a Triumph!

We held WAT a Run, our first fundraiser for the Windsor Academy Trust Community Foundation, in May. The event involved two marathons over two days, visiting each of our schools, with 40 staff running the main route, and participation by hundreds more, including students and their families, in a community fun run at Halesowen Athletics and Cycling Club. The event raised almost £10,000 for the Foundation and was a powerful demonstration of our community spirit.

Our 2023 Civic Highlights:

• Pupils at Manor Way Primary Academy hosted a special afternoon of entertainment and refreshments for members of the Halesowen community, including local care homes. The event served as a beautiful reminder of the power of community, kindness, and the unifying force of sharing stories over a cup of tea.

• The junior leadership team at Tenterfields Primary Academy has been developing its civic leadership skills through a range of initiatives including a Year 6 minimentors programme to support nursery and reception children at breaktime, and carolling at Christmas to raise money for charity.

• Pupils at Colley Lane Primary Academy have been doing their bit for the Black Country Food Bank with children participating in school non-uniform days in exchange for a contribution to the charity. This has proved hugely successful with a number of food donations made throughout the year. At Windsor High School and Sixth Form, Year 9 students have embarked on a reading programme with residents at Lapal Care Home. Students who attend the Art Club have also entered the Halesowen in Bloom plant pot competition, decorating over 25 plant pots for the town centre.

• Kingswinford Academy played host to the live broadcast of BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions in July. Panel guests included

Wes Streeting, Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, Ellie Chowns, Housing and Communities Spokesperson from the Green Party, and Ella Whelan, a renowned journalist and author.

• Coordinated by Goldsmith Primary Academy, a wonderful community project came into fruition as ‘The Plastic Migrant’ was performed in the Great Wyrley Academy Theatre in June. The thought provoking play highlighted our civic responsibilities to the local environment and to the world.

• In the summer term, Rivers Primary Academy secured a £5,000 grant from New Horizons Community Enterprise enabling the school to run affordable weekly day trips to the seaside for families over the six-week summer holiday. When Great Wyrley Academy was given 128 slow cookers for disadvantaged students, the school ran a cookery workshop inviting families to attend. Families cooked chilli con carne and were given a recipe book with some simple slow cooker recipes to try at home.

• As part of an annual tradition, students from Cheslyn Hay Academy rehearsed and prepared a performance for over 70 care home residents from the local area. Students performed a wonderful range of songsmany with audience participation - before serving guests a ‘strawberries and cream’ afternoon tea.

Big Move 4: Sustainability

Our ambition is to become one of the most sustainable school trusts in the country. We are deeply committed to leaving the world in a better place, to meet the needs of the present without compromising our ability to meet the needs of future generations. We have developed a dedicated sustainability strategy and 10 year decarbonisation plan, with an aspirational target of becoming net carbon neutral by 2030. Our sustainability strategy is closely aligned with the DfE Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the framework set out in the One Planet Living principles.

Investing in a Greener Future

We have already made significant investments to decarbonise our school estate. Through effective use of our School Condition Allocation funding and support from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, we have been able to deliver a range of projects to help reduce our carbon footprint, including;

• Upgrades to heating infrastructure

• Installation of solar PV panels and air source heat pumps

Double glazing and LED lighting upgrade programmes

• Commencement of phased implementation of EV charging points

• 1:1 devices (iPads) across Key Stages 2, 3, 4 & 5 New energy management dashboard

• Trustwide recycling and waste provider - 100% of waste not to landfill

Leaving the World in a Better Place

The positive changes we have made are improving our energy efficiency and reducing our reliance on non-renewable energy sources. In turn, we are reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. Over the last 12 months we have:

• Reduced our CO2 emissions by over 410 metric tonnes

• Generated 324,131 Kwh of sustainable clean energy for our schools (the equivalent of powering 70 homes for a year)

• Reduced our annual energy consumption by 768,406 Kwh (9%)

Celebrating Success

We were delighted to be awarded Environmental Trust of the Year at the MAT Excellence Awards in June. The judging panel, which was chaired by Leora Cruddas, the CEO of the Confederation of School Trusts, commented: “WAT’s commitment to a greener future is evident in their range of action around sustainability, in terms of curriculum, careers and estates management. The judges commended their holistic approach, as well as the progress made towards net zero goals.”

Our 2022-23 Highlights

• At Manor Way Primary Academy, the Junior Leadership Teams of the School Senate and the Eco Council joined together to focus on sustainability. Activity included workshops for every class from Reception to Year 6 with South Staffordshire Water focusing on reducing consumption and saving water; a new plan for the Eco garden, which is being renovated; and ‘Bring a Bulb Day’, where every child brought a bulb in on nonuniform day and planted it around the site to increase biodiversity

Throughout the year, every playtime at Tenterfields Primary Academy, teams of pupils from across the school walk the site and collect any litter that has blown into the school grounds to ensure it’s clean, tidy and safe for pupils, staff and wildlife

• To celebrate World Environment Day, Colley Lane Primary Academy welcomed a chef from Chartwells to discuss all-things-bees and why they are such an important part of our ecosystem. The day included bee workshops and planning a bee-friendly garden for the school

• Windsor High School and Sixth Form proudly celebrated its canteen going plasticfree earlier this year. Students said ‘goodbye’ to plastic bottled drinks and cutlery, and fruit and pasta pots are now fully compostable

• The Eco Club at Kingswinford Academy has also been proactive, carrying out regular litter picks in Kingswinford Park, creating an eco website for staff, parents and students, designing an eco garden, planting two new wild flower patches and introducing new recycling and plastic-free initiatives around school

• Goldsmith Primary Academy was proud to achieve a ‘Distinction’ in its Eco-Schools

Green Flag this year. This included the development of school recycling, planting an orchard, implementation of a swap shop, and completion of the journey through ‘My School My Planet’

• At Rivers Primary Academy, sustainability has been a core theme across Design Technology, Music and Art lessons. In DT, children designed and made their own sustainable iPad covers and bags-for-life. In Music, pupils created a soundtrack to an animation promoting the end of single-use plastic and in Art, each year group created a junk sculpture of an endangered marine animal, which were then installed as a ‘sculpture trail’ around the school site

• Students at Great Wyrley Academy planted a fruit orchard at the front of the school including apple, pear, plum and cherry trees. The school was also gifted a greenhouse and over the last year has grown potatoes, peas, strawberries, tomatoes and cucumbers. The fruit and veg grown on the school site is now being harvested to use in Food Technology lessons and in the school canteen. In addition, students have renovated the pond and built raised beds with local business donations and planted them with the help of local supermarkets and members of the community

• Cheslyn Hay Academy has spent the last year taking positive action for nature in its school grounds. They have written letters to their MP, made bird boxes, bug hotels, maintained the pond, planted flowers and grown their own produce. This has culminated in the hard work of students being recognised with a ‘Schools for Nature’ award as part of Sir David Attenborough‘s national Save our Wild Isles project

Big Move 5: WAT Reach

To deliver on our moral purpose of unlocking students’ academic and personal potential, and to make a difference to the lives of more students, the trust is expanding its reach and the number of students and schools in the WAT family in a sustainable way.

Free Schools

Progress of our new free school - Windsor Olympus Academy in Winson Green - has continued at pace. A proactive admissions process has ensured the school is full ahead of opening, with a waiting list in operation. Following a successful pre-registration inspection in July and the build nearing completion, the school is preparing to open to its first cohort of Year 7 students in September 2023, under the leadership of headteacher designate, Sally-Jo Wilkinson.

Support for Schools and Growth

In line with our commitment to provide support to Local Authority maintained schools and single academy trusts, over the last 12 months we have provided school improvement support to Learning Village Trust (LVT) in Stoke-on-Trent, comprising two schools, Greenways Primary Academy and Milton Primary Academy, United Endeavour Trust (UET) in Newcastle-under-Lyme, comprising three secondary schools, Clayton Hall Academy, Newcastle Academy and Sir Thomas Boughey Academy, and Brook Primary School in Stourbridge. The outcomes of these partnerships has enabled the trust to establish a WAT School Partnership model to help inform future collaborations outside of the WAT family. Furthermore, the support provided to LVT and UET has proved hugely successful and has been the catalyst for transfer applications being submitted by LVT and UET to the DfE. As a result, Greenways Primary Academy and Milton Primary Academy will be joining Windsor Academy Trust in September 2023 and UET schools are expected to transfer in early 2024. Through a process of strategic mapping and engagement, active discussions also took place and are still ongoing with numerous schools across Dudley, Staffordshire, Sandwell, Birmingham and Worcestershire as we look to grow and develop the different learning communities within our family of schools.

System Contribution

Amongst many contributions to the wider education system during this academic year, Windsor Academy Trust’s CEO, Dawn Haywood, has been engaged by DfE ministers and officials in relation to the Schools White Paper and to help inform the Regulatory and Commissioning Review. Furthermore, Ms Haywood sits on Priority Education Investment Areas Local Partnership Boards for both Walsall and Sandwell, to support the DfE with improving education in these areas, and is a member of the ASCL Trust Leaders Advisory Group and the Confederation of School Trust’s inquiry into sector-led trust improvement.

Powering our Big Moves: Our Enablers

Resource Allocation

A key component of the successful delivery of the trust’s Powering into the Second Decade strategy is ensuring that financial and human resources are made available to enable the Big Moves to be accomplished. Our approach to resource allocation through an effective budget setting cycle integrating curriculum and financial planning and investment of the trust’s Strategic Deployment Fund (SDF), then under pinned by effective financial monitoring, has delivered strong results. The achievement of significant non-pay efficiency savings and repurposing the school/trust budget successfully mitigated and offset the impact of in-year unplanned cost increases in pay, energy and general inflation. A healthy reserves balance was maintained during the year and increased in a planned way making longer term use of additional funding awarded mid year. This will continue to mitigate ongoing cost increases and facilitate the delivery of the Big Moves, whilst providing sufficient reserves to demonstrate a strong and sustainable financial position.

Statement of Financial Activities for the 12 months to 31 August 2023

Balance Sheet at 31 August 2023

There is a FRS102 (non-cash) actuarial gain of £5.5m that together with the net deficit above explains the total movement in funds of £5.4m in the year.

The graph below takes the key numbers from the statutory accounts and shows where WAT spends £42.7m of expenditure. The figures exclude £1.9m of expenditure spent on capital improvements to the Trust’s buildings including IT infrastructure - which is funded by capital grants (shown in the first income line above).

% of £42.7m revenue cash expenditure on different categories.

Source: WAT 2022/23 Statutory Accounts

Technology costs - 1,31%

Staff costs - 78,59%

Premises costs - 7,17%

PFI charges - 1,67%

Legal /

costs - 0,27%

Digital Technology

1:1 Device Programme

Building on the successful launch of iPads for Learning in 2020-21, our 1:1 digital learning approach expanded this academic year to ensure every child in years 4-10 has a personal iPad to power up their learning at school and at home. This strategy embeds our drive to reduce the need for materials, textbooks, education resources and equipment, printing/photocopying devices, whilst also facilitating the divestment of legacy IT kit (servers, desktops, etc) and supporting a reduction in the number of IT classrooms (and IT cabinets) required. It is helping to embed our sustainability goals and support a reduction in energy consumption from fixed IT equipment. As we approach phase 4 in September 2023, there will be a total of 5,100 students in years 3 to 11 (including 1,400 students who are disadvantaged) benefiting from having their own device, which will build greater breadth and depth to our Digital Technology Strategy.

IT and Digital Infrastructure

This academic year we have undertaken a situational analysis of the IT infrastructure across our school estate. This piece of work is helping in the development of a cloud-based IT infrastructure and ecosystem that enhances the digital technology and 1:1 device strategy. A strategic move to cloud computing will also help to reduce on site energy consumption and physical infrastructure impacts.

Due to the age and condition of the wired and wireless network infrastructure at Great Wyrley Academy and the need to ensure strong and consistent infrastructure capabilities to deliver the Digital Technology strategy and 1:1 device programme, a wired and wireless refresh of cabling and networking infrastructure across the school has been carried out. Furthermore, Rivers and Goldsmith Primary Academies have been included in the DfE Connect the Classrooms programme. This DfE funded capital infrastructure programme is enhancing wired and wireless technology in both schools, to support curriculum delivery through digital devices.

Research and Innovation

Consumers and Generators of Research

We continue to build a culture where all staff have the confidence to innovate and become consumers and generators of research. This year, the WAT Practitioner Research programme was expanded and included 30 participants completing classroom-based research to provide our wider staff team indications of ‘what works’ for our students within the key areas of High Challenge for All, Effective Reading in the Classroom and Beyond, Digital Technology for Education, and Sustainability and Wellbeing. Their findings were shared with all WAT teaching staff in a virtual Research Celebration Event in July. We’ve also increased opportunities for staff to engage in research through Masters degrees with the University of Worcester and the University of Birmingham.

Academic Partnerships

We’re pleased to share that a joint bid is in development between WAT and the University of Oxford to secure funds from the Esmee Fairbairn Trust for research around the unique journey of our new free school, Windsor Olympus Academy. Furthermore, we have also formalised a partnership with University of Worcester, with a number of initiatives in train around sport, art and mental health.

Governance

Windsor Academy Trust is proud of its strong and effective governance. The WAT Governance Structure consists of Members, the Board of Directors/ Trustees and Committees of the Board including the school level Local Advisory Bodies (LABs). Board members are highly skilled and influential people who take responsibility for the strategic governance of the whole family. The WAT Scheme of Delegation clearly sets out the role and remit of all levels of governance. This is complemented by the WAT Scheme of Financial

Delegation. A Governance Working Group was established in 2022/23 in order to undertake a full governance review. Substantial progress has been made including the adoption of new Articles of Association, a revised Scheme of Delegation, and revised Terms of Reference for all governance committees. Furthermore, the trust welcomed four new trustees to the Board in autumn 2022.

Marketing and Communications

Aligned to our Powering into the Second Decade strategy, a new and detailed three-year marketing and communications strategy and plan to support delivery of each of WAT’s five Big Moves and communicate our successes was put into action. Proactive marketing campaigns ensured strong primary and secondary admission applications, including for our new free school, Windsor Olympus Academy. We launched our first annual report and increased our efforts to extend our reach, through speaking engagements, events and published articles. We were delighted to be shortlisted in two categories in the Optimus Education MAT Excellence Awards, in partnership with the Confederation of School Trusts, for ‘Trust Executive Team of the Year’ and ‘Environmental Trust of the Year’, and were incredibly proud to win the latter.

As our WAT family prepares for growth, we have also enhanced our internal communication channels. We developed LaunchPad, a new staff site that connects our entire WAT family, providing a space to share news and updates, best practice and resources that drive our collective success, and we’ve launched an internal monthly newsletter, the WAT Family Bulletin.

Collaboratively Unlocking Potential

Windsor Academy Trust is a family of 1,000 staff collectively serving 7,000 young people across the West Midlands. We are currently nine schools: four secondary and five primary schools in close geographic proximity allowing for strong and meaningful collaboration. In September 2023, Windsor Olympus Academy, our brand new secondary free school in Winson Green will open, and Greenways Primary Academy and Milton Primary Academy in Stoke-on-Trent will join WAT, taking us to 12 schools. We are incredibly proud of each and every school in the WAT family. Each brings something unique and each is supported to improve, including the very best.

Academic and Personal Potential

All students in the WAT Family get a great education that unlocks their academic and personal potential. This comes from a deeply collaborative, researchbased and innovative approach to the quality of education. Students also have many opportunities to come together across the WAT family to engage in activities that develop them academically and personally. Over the last 12 months, this has included student leadership events, sustainability summits, sports, arts, dance and cultural capital building events, ‘Operation Smash It’ for Year 11, subject challenges, debates and events and national and international visits.

WAT Primary Games

In September, 120 children from across Windsor Academy Trust’s five primary schools came together to compete in the WAT Primary Games at Aldersley Stadium in Wolverhampton. Children took part in hockey and tag rugby throughout the morning, before an afternoon of athletics. The sports chosen were inspired by the Commonwealth Games, reflecting the way the Birmingham Games had captured imaginations earlier in the summer. Year 9 sports leaders from Cheslyn Hay Academy supported the primary school pupils throughout the day in refereeing, score keeping, judging, and presenting medals. Colley Lane Primary Academy finished the day on top, fighting off the challenge from our Walsall schools, Rivers Primary Academy and Goldsmith Primary Academy, who finished in second and third respectively.

WAT Athletics Championships

The WAT Athletics Championships in June marked the highly anticipated secondary school edition of this prestigious event. Students from Cheslyn Hay Academy, Great Wyrley Academy, Kingswinford Academy, and Windsor High School and Sixth Form gathered at WV Active Aldersley Stadium in Wolverhampton for a day of athletic competition and camaraderie.

After brilliant performances from all participating schools, Cheslyn Hay Academy emerged the victors, showcasing their exceptional talent and sporting flair. Kingswinford Academy, as strong runners-up, displayed remarkable athleticism and sportsmanship throughout the competition. Great Wyrley Academy and Windsor High School and Sixth Form also exhibited their skills and determination, contributing to the excitement and intensity of the event.

The championships epitomised the WAT Family values of collaboration, respect, responsibility, and pride in excellence and highlighted the incredible talent and passion of our students, further strengthening our collective commitment to fostering excellence in sports and education.

WAT Musical Celebration at Walsall Arts Centre

In June, the Walsall Arena and Arts Centre became the backdrop for Windsor Academy Trust’s Musical Celebration, bringing together over 500 students from across the WAT family to showcase their talent and hard work. Working in partnership with Arts Connect, a team of singer/songwriters worked with students across each trust school throughout the academic year to compose and perform their original songs. The day was filled with diverse original performances from each of our nine schools orchestrated by our Trust Curriculum Leads for Dance and the Arts. A particularly poignant moment was when all 500 students came together to perform the WAT Family Anthem, ‘Aspire’.

Celebrating Passionate Young Scientists

The bright young minds that emerged victorious from science fairs held across WAT primary schools during the academic year were rewarded with an unforgettable experience at Great Wyrley Academy in July. Students took part in a physics workshop conducted by Dr Jenny Watson before embarking on a fascinating journey into the realm of chemistry, exploring topics such as the Hindenburg and combustion. Adding to the enriching experience, Great Wyrley Academy students were present to lend support throughout the day and the collaboration created a dynamic atmosphere and offered numerous memorable moments.

Student Senate and Student Leadership

Our Student Senate is made up of 100 student leaders from second and third year upwards across our family of schools. The Senate was created to further our mission of unlocking academic and personal potential by empowering students to become self-regulating, taking responsibility for themselves and others as contributing citizens.

The Senate provides extraordinary enrichment experiences that help students become the best learners and best people they can be. It is a place for students to express their voice, to take action and through their leadership to positively impact the Windsor Academy Trust family, the wider community and the planet.

Student engagement opportunities, such as the Senate, empower our students to speak about issues that are important to them and influence decision making. Our Student Senate demonstrates to students that their voices and opinions matter and that they can help shape the future. For example, the Senate is playing a critical role in sustainability development across our family of schools.

The WAT Pledge

The WAT Pledge was developed by our Student Senate. It is our promise to students that they will gain key personal development experiences and accomplishments before leaving school. We have 11 pledges in primary and 12 pledges in secondary. Alongside a huge range of extra-curricular activities, the pledge expands learning beyond the classroom, builds cultural capital and helps students unlock their academic and personal potential.

Manor Way Primary Academy Dudley

“Creating happy and successful learners”

Manor Way Primary Academy is a one-form entry primary school catering for children aged two to 11 years old. Our small, friendly and welcoming school has high expectations and we are committed to excellence. Our aim is for children to be the best they can be in all areas of their life. Children experience a broad and exciting curriculum, they learn, laugh, get muddy and make friends. We expect children to leave Manor Way confident, prepared and ready to excel and succeed at secondary school.

Unlocking Potential

Find a child’s passion and you find their purpose. At Manor Way, we make it our mission to help our young people identify and develop one special talent or interest they’re keen to explore further before they leave our school. To help achieve this, we have developed a three tier approach that allows us to spot talent, develop links with local clubs and signpost opportunities to our young people. In addition, we ask all pupils and their parents to complete a talent questionnaire to understand what their interests are outside of school and what opportunities they would like us to plan into the curriculum and our after schools programme so we can best support emerging talent.

Our 2022/23 Highlights:

• Earning our #WATaSpeller badges as part of the #WATaSpeller challenge

• Celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III with a very Royal picnic

• Showing tremendous aptitude, resilience and team spirit at our annual sports day A special tea party to spoil our mums on Mother’s Day

• A Dads & Doughnuts event to say thank you on Father’s Day

• Enjoying a dance lesson at Pineapple Dance Studios in London

• Exploring Roman times with Humph’s Histories

• Learning how science works around us at ‘The Big Bang’

• Celebrating our pupils at our Manor Way’s Got Talent show

• Saying goodbye to Year 6 with a graduation assembly, sleepover and even a water fight!

Tenterfields Primary Academy Dudley

“Learning together, growing together”

Tenterfields Primary Academy is a one-form entry primary school catering for children from two to 11 years old. Dating back to 1909, Tenterfields Primary Academy prides itself on being a family-orientated, community school. We work closely with our parents, families and community to provide the finest, all-round education possible for our children, sharing in our statement of learning together, growing together.

Unlocking Potential

Each week at Tenterfields, we hold a Praise Assembly. As part of the assembly, we take time to celebrate personal potential, showcasing the achievements of all of our children, in football, swimming, dancing, running, scouting, performing, girl-guiding, brownies, cubs, first aid, and music, to name but some of them. This weekly celebration helps demonstrate to every child that we are all capable of achieving anything we set our minds to when we are passionate about doing so.

Our 2022/23 Highlights:

• Our Harvest Festival scarecrow competition Operation Christmas gets into full swing

• Saying thank you at our Mother’s Day tea party

• Celebrating our heroes at our Dads & Doughnuts Day

• A fantastic Summer Fayre organised by the PFTA

• An incredible trip to London to see Wicked

• Our Year 3 and 4 Artsmark celebration day

• Going for gold at our annual EYFS and Key Stage 1 and 2 sports day

• There was not a dry eye in the house at our nursery and reception graduation

• Pupils raise the roof during Tenterfield’s Got Talent

• It’s the end of an era at our Year 6 leavers’ performance and graduation

“The best thing about Tenterfields Primary Academy is how happy my daughter is. I genuinely feel that staff take the children under their wings and help them to flourish. The school allows my daughter to be part of a nurturing and safe environment where she can grow with confidence, independence and be the best she can be.”

-Tenterfields Academy parent

“I’ve loved everything about school but I’ve really enjoyed the school trips, particularly the one to the Pioneer Centre in Year 6. The activities were great and it was lovely to be in groups with my friends from Tenterfields and Manor Way.”

- Tenterfields Academy pupil

Dudley

Colley Lane Primary Academy

“Never settle for less than your best”

Colley Lane is a two-form entry primary school in Cradley catering for children from three to 11 years old. The school has been serving families of the Cradley community for over 100 years. It has the highest aspirations for all children and strives to ensure pupils leave Colley Lane as lifelong learners who are polite, confident, resilient and able to thrive academically and personally. The school is proud of its academic, creative and sporting achievements. It has a strong family approach to school and works closely with parents, families and the community to provide the very best education in a safe, nurturing environment.

Unlocking Potential

At Colley Lane, we’re incredibly proud of the breadth of opportunities we offer our pupils to help them discover their passions, particularly in sport. Outside the curriculum, we operate before and after school clubs in cross country, multisports, athletics, netball, football, dodgeball, cricket, rounders, badminton, dance and gymnastics, to name a few. Our sports teams excel, this year finishing third in cricket and winning the Halesowen Netball League Champions. In athletics, Colley Lane won the WAT Primary Games and secured 12 medals in track and field, including six gold medals, at the inter-school athletics competition held at Halesowen Athletics Club.

Our 2022/23 Highlights:

• Support for our school: The Friends of Colley Lane is established

• A fantastic residential and activity week for our Year 6 pupils

• Developing links with the local library and Yemeni Cultural Centre

Interactive visitor experiences for our children, from history workshops to the Animal Man

• Our Hive link launched with Dudley Inclusive Pathways

• An indoor street party to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III

Year 6 mini-market raises almost £700 for local charities

• More sporting successes for Colley Lane

• The Colley Lane Summer Fayre returns!

“As another school year is ending we just wanted to send our appreciation to every member of staff that has had a positive impact on our son. Words cannot express how much we enjoyed this afternoon’s performance of Super Stan. What a talented Year 6 you and your colleagues have put together. They were outstanding and so confident. A lot of praise must go to Year 6 teachers and leaders, you are all true professionals.”

- Colley Lane Academy parent

Windsor High School and Sixth Form Dudley

“Excellence for all”

Windsor High School and Sixth Form is an 11 to 18 comprehensive school in Halesowen - and Windsor Academy Trust’s founding school. We are committed to delivering the very best education for all of our students. We are a school built on traditional values and our ethos and beliefs are evident in “The Windsor Way”, which celebrates the twin tenets of respect and responsibility. We strive for our students to have a love of learning, and gain the knowledge, skills and attributes to be successful in the world of work. Equally, we endeavour for our students to be good human beings, with a sense of purpose and character, enabling them to flourish in life.

Unlocking Potential

At Windsor High School and Sixth Form, we do all that we can to support our young people to unlock their full potential. This year, we delivered 4,000 hours of extra academic support for our Year 11 students, in the form of revision sessions and holiday schools, to help consolidate learning and build confidence. We host regular Careers Evenings for Years nine to 13 to help inspire and engage our young people in their futures. Furthermore, we aim to expand students’ horizons, offering opportunities

“My daughter has excelled academically whilst also being given the opportunity to do the most fantastic extra curricular activities and trips abroad. The staff are friendly and approachable and she’s always had teachers that she can go to for support no matter the reasons and she knows they will guide her in the right direction. She has truly transformed from a shy 11 year old into a 15 year old with both confidence and optimism about what the future holds for her.”

- Windsor High School and Sixth Form parent

to embark on international trips and visits across Europe, to practise language skills, soak up different cultures and enjoy new experiences. In the last year alone, we offered 350 trips, visits and fixtures for our students.

Our 2022/23 Highlights:

Windsor Under 15 football team wins the West Midlands CSFA trophy, our first win since 1995!

• The Sixth Form football team wins the league for a second year in a row

• Students take to the slopes during our annual ski trip to France

Year 10 mathematicians triumph in the Maths Feast

• Hosting the WAT poetry symposium led by renowned expert, Dr Gary Wade

• Meeting Windsor High School alumni, published author, Morgan Owen, and professional dancer, Sophie Stone

• Head Girl, Farida, talks about sustainability to 40,000 people at the World Education Summit

• Links with the PASCH Initiative are deepended with an Intercultural Awareness workshop and online learning research programme

• Art Club students enter the Halesowen in Bloom plant pot competition

• Sixth Form students enjoy a cultural trip to Rome

“My journey at Windsor High School has been one of personal growth; it has allowed me to progress both academically and socially. All of the teachers have nurtured my curiosity and have directed me in ways that developed my learning. Furthermore, all of the opportunities I’ve had for student leadership have allowed me to gain confidence and feel more willing to accept responsibility.” - Windsor High School and Sixth Form student

Kingswinford Academy Dudley

“Aspire to Excellence”

Kingswinford Academy is an 11 to 16 comprehensive school that aims for all young people to ‘Aspire to Excellence’. We pride ourselves on being one of the very best schools in our area whilst remaining very much at the heart of our community. Since joining Windsor Academy Trust in November 2016, our school has gone from strength to strength. Exam results have been strong each year, the range of extracurricular activities has grown significantly and our site and facilities have been revamped, developed and expanded. We are rightly proud of the incredible work of our students, staff and whole community in making this a truly exceptional place for young people to learn, grow and develop.

Unlocking Potential

At Kingswinford Academy, students in all year groups have the chance to take part in a huge range of extracurricular and enrichment activities. Activities take place before, during and after school, and enable students to learn and develop a wide range of skills outside of the classroom. All activities are centred around developing students’ personal potential and ensuring they become valuable and respectable citizens as they grow up. Our Character 50 challenge gives students the opportunity to learn new skills as part of a house competition with students taking responsibility for their own progress and completing activities at home.

Our 2022/23 Highlights:

• Students enjoy a day of sporting fun at the annual WAT Secondary Games

• Our Summer Showcase, bringing together 40 students from years seven to 11 for an incredible celebration of dance

• Local MP, Mike Wood, visits Kingswinford to celebrate the fantastic creative writing efforts of students to mark King Charles III’s coronation

• Our annual school production, Disco Inferno, is a sell out

• Kingswinford student, Finley, receives the Child of Courage accolade at the ‘Pride of Birmingham’ awards

• Kingswinford students take to the slopes on a ski trip to Andorra

• Students embark on a range of exciting day and residential trips as part of Active Learning Week Student, Sam, wins Bronze at the International Mathematical Olympiad in Turkey

• Our Living History students experience life in the cockpit

• Students deliver the largest donation ever received by Black Country Food Bank

“Kingswinford is a brilliant school. The students are well mannered, the school is always there if you need help or support and all the staff are welcoming, polite and helpful.” - Kingswinford Academy parent

“Being at Kingswinford has helped me to grow as a person and develop my confidence, and find out who I really am.” - Kingswinford Academy student

Rivers Primary Academy Walsall

“Inspire to aspire”

Rivers Primary Academy is a two-form entry primary school in Walsall catering for children aged two to 11 years old. The school offers children a happy, supportive and inspiring environment to develop both their academic and personal potential. All of our staff work hard to ensure every child thrives and has the best possible learning journey. We seek to develop independent learners who are equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to enable them to progress to secondary school and cope with an ever-changing world. We are committed to working in partnership with parents/carers and the wider community to achieve the very best for our children.

Unlocking Potential

At Rivers, we strive to give our children as many opportunities as possible to discover their passions and try new experiences. This year, we have ensured that every child has been on at least three trips, from meeting animals at farms and zoos to experiencing the magic of The Lion King live at The Lyceum. Our children have also travelled back in time at the Black Country Museum and travelled into space at the Planetarium at Birmingham Think Tank.

Our 2022/23 Highlights:

• Becky Anderson is appointed as the new headteacher of Rivers Primary Academy

• Families discover new ways to support learning at home through our parent workshop programme

• Our new House System (named after famous environmentalists Attenborough, Goodall, Kahumbu and Maathai) is introduced

Helping pupils find their passion with over 40 after school clubs and activities on offer

• Rivers helps 14 post-16 students complete Access to the Workplace training and NCFE Level 3 Diploma in Health Care courses through workbased learning placements

• Year 6 perform at Walsall Carnival as part of the Carnival Project with Arts Council England

• Our new Forest School area is helping children learn new skills and build confidence

• Attenborough House is crowned the winner at our annual sports day

• Champion Teaching at Rivers is recognised by Doug Lemov

• Three weeks of Holiday Activity Fun (HAF) at Rivers provides a fantastic base for our children over the summer

“The teachers and all the staff strive to ensure the children work towards achieving their highest potential. The school is very engaged with the whole community and listens and acts swiftly to accommodate feedback.” - Rivers Primary Academy parent

“At Rivers I can be me! We have the best teachers who care about us and make sure that we are always happy. Our teachers believe in us and help us to be bold and brilliant in our learning.” - Rivers Primary Academy pupil

Goldsmith Primary Academy Walsall

“Dream. Rise. ASPIRE”

Goldsmith is a two-form entry primary school in Walsall catering for children from two to 11 years old. The happiness, personal growth and academic achievement of all children is the school’s top priority. It is the our mission to ensure all pupils dream big, rise academically and aspire to their next chapter in life. It is intrinsic to everything we do, from dreaming big in future career aspirations to dreaming big on the sports field.

Unlocking Potential

Expansion of our Junior Leadership Team has been a real privilege to watch this year at Goldsmith. Our Student Senate has coordinated the expansion of leadership roles in school so that more children can take part in opportunities to unlock more of their personal potential. The Senate provides extraordinary enrichment experiences that help students become the best learners and best people they can be. It is a place for students to express their voice, to take action and through their leadership to positively impact the Goldsmith family, the wider community and the planet.`

Our 2022/23 Highlights:

• Goldsmith achieves ‘Good’ with ‘Outstanding’ personal development and leadership in its Ofsted inspection

• 157 different children represented the school in multiple sports activities during the academic year; 60% of children from disadvantaged backgrounds and 15% with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

• Completion of our Artsmark and a brilliant celebration event held at Walsall Arena highlighted our enjoyment of the arts

• 11 before 11 activities included our Year 3 Sleepover at school; Year 5 residential to Whitemoor Lakes; and our Year 6 overnight stay in London.

• A fantastic result as our Year 1 Phonics results improved 8% on last year to 78%

• Goldsmith achieves the Bronze Award for Trauma Informed and Attachment Aware Schools

• Attendance at the Young Voices event at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham gave our children an experience to remember Our commitment to sport was acknowledged by the School Games Organisation

• A special writing week resulted in a Polar Express experience for children across the school

“All of the teachers are just so kind and caring. They really do their best all of the time for my children and for everybody else’s children too. Nothing is too much trouble.” - Goldsmith Primary Academy parent

“I like our school because the teachers are very helpful in our lessons and if we need support. We are active in our learning and the trips are really fun. I like working together with other children and our lunchtime clubs are fun too.” - Goldsmith Primary Academy pupil

South Staffordshire

Cheslyn Hay Academy

“High expectation, high achievement”

Cheslyn Hay Academy is an 11 to 18 comprehensive school and sixth form in South Staffordshire. We have a strong reputation for enabling the young people in our care to flourish. For a number of years the school has been oversubscribed. Annually, our examination results are above the national average. We believe that high expectations lead to high levels of achievement therefore we set high standards for our staff and students. Cheslyn Hay Academy offers an academically broad education supported by an incredibly rich extracurricular programme based around our student pledge.

Unlocking Potential

We are always looking for opportunities to expand our students’ horizons and this year, for the first time, Cheslyn Hay has partnered with Camps International to provide students with the opportunity to visit the rainforest in Borneo. We are proud to have sixteen students who have all raised the money through fundraising events to support the experience, which includes trekking through the rainforest, engaging in conservation projects, protecting orangutan habitats and working alongside local communities.

Our 2022/23 Highlights:

• Our first annual Talent Show was held in July. Ten top acts were picked from open auditions and performed live on the night for four judges, from magic to tap to singers and instrumentalists

• Cheslyn Hay Academy emerge the victors at the WAT Athletics Championships

• An amazing opening performance of High School Musical

• Almost £3000 raised by students taking part in Race for Life at the school

• More than 14 students attended the launch or graduation events at Oxford University and Manchester University respectively to support them in their future aspirations

• An incredible display of over 70 science and sustainability projects at the Cheslyn Hay Science Fair

• Maths students in Year 12 took part in the annual UKMT Senior Maths Challenge 2023 achieving eight Bronze, two Silver and two Gold awards

• Staff and students get into the swing of things on World Book Day

• Cheslyn Hay Academy achieves ‘Good’ in all areas in its Ofsted inspection

• Year 13 student Katie Rowley in Year 13 is offered a place at Cambridge University to study History following fantastic A-level results

“Thank you for giving my son these opportunities in school. It has made a massive impact on his enjoyment of school to have such involvement in music.” - Cheslyn Hay Academy parent

“I have really enjoyed my time at Cheslyn Hay Academy so far, not only for learning, but for the friendships I have made and my personal growth. I am looking forward to the next two years and working towards my GCSEs.” - Cheslyn Hay Academy student

Great Wyrley Academy South Staffordshire

“Relentlessly pursuing excellence”

Great Wyrley Academy is an 11 to 18 comprehensive school and sixth form in South Staffordshire. We endeavour to ensure that each and every student in our care fulfils their potential - both academically and personally. Students leave our school with fantastic qualifications but also having had opportunities and life experiences that great schools should afford them.

Unlocking Potential

Through our innovative Century Tech apps, students at Great Wyrley Academy have fully embraced the use of digital technology at home. Over 200,000 exam questions have been answered by students in Year 11 at Great Wyrley this academic year outside of lesson time in preparation for their exams. This is a huge achievement. Furthermore, all our students participate in Activity Week, attending residentials abroad and trips at home including to Go Ape, Weston Super Mare and Drayton Manor. Some of the in-school activities include Forest School, football tournaments, water polo, a Leadership Skills day delivered by Pioneer Leadership, Enterprise Activities, Maths Challenges, Craft and Art activities and more.

“My favourite thing about Great Wyrley Academy is the sense of community in the school. I’ve been given opportunity after opportunity to pursue my passions. Being here has really allowed me to learn more about myself and set me up to be my best self as a young adult.” - Great Wyrley Academy student

Our 2022/23 Highlights:

• Great Wyrley is awarded the Arts Mark Silver award

• Getting active during Move Around May to raise funds for the WAT Community Foundation

• Students demonstrate fantastic leadership skills to support primary schools at the Moat Hall Trust Sports Day

• The Adams Family school show is a huge success with four sell-out performances

• Great Wyrley Academy achieves ‘Good’ in all areas in its Ofsted inspection

• Students triumph in Warwick University’s ‘Design and Make’ competition

• Year 10 students attend a fascinating STEM event at RAF Cosford

• Students take part in a careers-centred Aspire for Life day with talks from employers including the NHS, The British Army, Rodbaston Animal Care, Taylor Wimpey construction, INCOMM Engineering and Bentley Motorsport

• Broadening our horizons during residential trips to Andorra, Belgium and Paris

• Students find out more about novel ways to produce green energy at the Salters Science Festival at Aston University

• Performing an hour of festive music for residents at local care home, Oak House Care

“The teachers and support staff at Great Wyrley have helped my daughter gain confidence and have given her the choice to explore interests and activities during and after school. The individual nurturing from all staff at Great Wyrley has been outstanding during her first year. We can’t wait to see the achievements and successes she makes during her time at the school.” - Great Wyrley Academy parent

Sandwell - Opening September 2023

Windsor Olympus Academy

“Thriving together”

We are delighted to be opening our first free school in 2023. Windsor Olympus Academy will be a nonselective, non-denominational 11-16 secondary school and is currently in the pre-opening phase, with a planned opening date of September 2023.

Windsor Olympus Academy will be much more than a school. It will be at the heart of the community, supporting families and transforming lives through the power of education.

Our purpose is simple. We want our students to thrive and our community to thrive. We want our students to unlock both their academic and personal potential. We will do this by inspiring students to follow their passions, providing them with the skills and experiences to thrive in learning and life. Students will learn in brilliant facilities, be taught by inspiring teachers and be part of a welcoming and inclusive community.

In short, Windsor Olympus Academy will provide students with everything they need to succeed. The school will be part of Windsor Academy Trust, alongside 11 other successful schools in the West Midlands, and will be built on a decade of excellence and putting children first.

We believe in delivering education for the greater good, positively impacting the local community and the world. For us, this means providing students with opportunities to make a difference in their community and more widely. As such, Windsor Olympus Academy will be at the heart of the community, with students becoming civic actors. Furthermore, the school will be a welcoming place for all, with local residents, community groups

and sports clubs able to use our excellent facilities. Students will also play a critical role in driving sustainability across the school - including the development of an eco hub - to support our vision of leaving the world in a better place for future generations.

We want all students to be excited to attend school and generate a love of learning that stayswith them throughout their life. With this in mind, our teaching and learning will engage, enthuse and inspire students in every lesson, every day. Our curriculum will provide students with the knowledge, character virtues and learning skills to thrive. Through our oneto-one iPad strategy, we will power up students’ learning, developing the digital skills they need to succeed in the future.

Once at our school, each child will experience a welcoming and inclusive community with excellent pastoral care. Our house system will provide further support and opportunities for each child, which will build students’ confidence and allow them to enjoy school life to the fullest.

Students with opportunities to extend learning beyond the classroom is crucial to supporting their development. At our school, students will be able to take part in a huge range of extracurricular activities allowing them to follow their passions and develop new skills. As part of our ‘WAT Pledge’, all students will achieve 12 experiences and accomplishments before leaving our school that will inspire them and boost their development.

Olympus Academy

Windsor

Notes