School Improvement

We fully endorse the national agenda of ‘system led’ school improvement. It is inevitable that all schools within the Trust will have both strengths and weaknesses. As such, it is expected that all schools will both give and receive support. The trust schools will work collaboratively under the guidance of a nominated practitioner who will have relevant school improvement experience.

We expect academies within the trust to demand ambitious standards for all pupils. We expect schools to be outward facing organisations who will work together to champion best practice and secure excellence.

Staff will gain advantage from a dedicated training programme and work between the primary and secondary sectors is ongoing. Schools benefit from transition work for both Year 6 and Year 7 teachers with a greater understanding of the challenges in each of the year groups. It is hoped that primary colleagues will benefit from the specialist teaching and facilities available at Macmillan Academy. In turn Macmillan Academy will look to draw heavily on primary expertise to further develop Key Stage 3.

The intention is to draw from the strengths of all the partner schools in order to enhance practice across the trust. Opportunities will be available for staff to experience career development routes in the area of school improvement.

TEACHING & LEARNING

Endeavour Academies will use the OPTIC teaching and learning model (see link below) to drive its teaching and learning strategy over the next three years. The model draws heavily on research and supports Endeavour’s intention to become an evidence informed organisation. The CPD accompanying the model has three parts:

1. An introduction to the model for all teachers
2. A two day immersion training course
3. The delivery of individual modules of the model.

CROSS CURRICULAR

We see there being a great opportunity for cross-phase collaboration over the curriculum. Ofsted's new focus on the 'quality of education' has placed great emphasis on curriculum design and as both schools re-evaluate their curriculum, there is huge potential in ensuring that there is greater progression between Key Stage 2 and 3 than there ever has been.

ACADEMIC EXTENSION

More able pupils in Key Stage 2 will have the breadth and depth of their curriculum expanded by secondary based programmes in maths, MFL and possibly English. Examples of this include:

Maths – Year 6 Greater Depth Project – 10 sessions delivered by a secondary school maths teacher, aimed at enriching the existing Year 6 maths curriculum and helping the pupils to work at 'greater depth'.

Modern Foreign Languages – Year 5 Languages Project – 15 sessions delivered by a secondary MFL teacher. The sessions will be split into three short courses in French, Spanish and Italian. These intend to create an enthusiasm and excitement for learning about the languages and culture of other countries.