While we cannot know the future, the purpose of the CLF Strategy 2030 is to ensure the CLF is prepared and focused on meeting the challenges of this decade, while also providing hope and opportunities to our learners, our people and our communities; it is against the ideals of this narrative that work of the trust is monitored and its future success judged.

Steve Taylor, CEO - Cabot Learning Federation

Our Core Strategy

Equity Through Education is underpinned by three core strategies central to all trust activity. They guide decisions around development and improvement, while adhering to our commitment to create equity of opportunity, promote inclusion, remove disadvantage and reject discrimination.

  • Through the Lens of Disadvantage

    • Strategic emphasis on delivering excellence for disadvantaged learners even over other groups.
    • Benchmarking our impact through the lens of disadvantaged learners.
    • Developing best practice among CLF People to deliver for disadvantaged learners.
    • Working in tandem with others via CLF Partnerships to support our most disadvantaged families.
  • Investing in People

    • Sector-leading support, learning and professional development.
    • A welcoming, diverse and inclusive environment.
    • Resilient, empowered teams, with leaders at all levels.
    • Meaningful commitment to wellbeing and career progression.
    • High standards and ambitions for learners and their families.
  • Investing in Partnerships

    • Deep and collaborative connections throughout our communities.
    • Clear understanding of community issues and opportunities, and enthusiasm to engage.
    • Strong relationships with learners, parents, carers, volunteers and alumni.
    • Contribute to the educational and social landscape – locally, regionally and nationally.
    • Partner with other civic agencies to be a force for good in our local area

Our Sub-Strategies

Designed as enablers of our core pillars, these seven sub-strategies transcend teams and departments to resonate throughout the CLF. Driven by senior members of staff and reviewed annually, these ambitions will contribute to the sustainable development of the trust.

EDI
Wellbeing
Digital
Voice
Leadership
Operating at Scale
Environment
  • Unwavering commitment to advancing equal opportunities for all, eliminating discrimination, and upholding CLF values of equity, equality, diversity and inclusion.
  • Ensure the Trust remains a place where everyone feels they belong and supported to succeed.
  • Support the drive to diversify the CLF workforce to reflect the diverse communities we serve.
  • Grow EDI Networks which create safe spaces for children and adults to be themselves.
  • Provide resources to help staff and students positively and proactively manage their wellbeing.
  • Ensure support is signposted and easily available if people are struggling.
  • Further evolve a wellbeing curriculum which aligns with our goal of self-agency.
  • Play an active role in communities which supports equitable access to mental health services for all – particularly those experiencing disadvantage.
  • Enable all staff and pupils to safely and effectively work and learn anytime, anywhere.
  • Be future-seekers, equipped and ready to adopt technology which has ‘crossed the chasm’.
  • Give people the right tools to support their work, and train them to excel.
  • Embrace technology which supports partnership ambitions within the community and across clusters and wider education system.
  • Be a listening organisation which puts its people at the heart of strategic choices.
  • Nurture cohesive and coherent systems which gather and understand stakeholder views.
  • Maintain strong understanding of our trust and its impact through the eyes of our communities.
  • Be a model for CLF students, staff, families and communities to use to enact societal change
  • Utilise Trust experience to develop leadership to meet the challenges of this decade.
  • Raise standards by investing in capacity and expertise across the Trust.
  • Nurture a leadership culture which sustains a high-performing Trust which improves as it grows.
  • Empower leaders to take ownership of improvements which raise standards
  • Deploy the right resource at the right time to deliver maximum impact.
  • Establish efficient and effective systems which add value and support core priorities.
  • Build a scalable model which enables both standardised and empowered future growth.
  • Develop a new financial operating model, shaped by the above outputs, which delivers successful outcomes.
  • A shared commitment to reducing environmental impact which will see all schools hold Eco Schools Green Flag status.
  • An annual environmental conference where green champions can showcase positive action in schools.
  • Deep pupil engagement in environmental matters, supported by the CLF curriculum.
  • Provide data to help schools understand and reduce their impact through behaviour and technical change.

Strategy In Action

16
Jan

‘Ambitious’ Winterstoke Hundred Academy Earns ‘GOOD’ rating in first Ofsted inspection

Winterstoke Hundred Academy’s ‘detailed and ambitious’ curriculum and the ‘sense of belonging’ it creates for students have earned the school a ‘good’ rating in its first ever Ofsted inspection.

The Weston-super-Mare school – which opened in Beaufighter Road in 2020 and this month expanded to a second site at Locking Parklands – was visited by an Ofsted team for a two-day inspection.

Inspectors spoke with school leaders, pupils and parents, and scrutinised the curriculum, observed lessons and analysed students’ work.

They concluded that Winterstoke Hundred – part of the Cabot Learning Federation – is ‘good’ in all areas.

Lead inspector Rachel Hesketh said in her report: “Since opening in September 2020 with one year group, the pupil population has increased and so the school has changed significantly year-on-year. Pupils have adapted to the changes and are well supported by staff, both for their well-being and academically.

“Pupils’ behaviour in lessons is calm and orderly. All pupils know the routines for learning.

“The school creates a sense of belonging for pupils. For example, the innovative breakfast club makes it attractive to come to school. As a result, many pupils arrive early and attend well.

“The trust works with teachers to develop a well-organised and ambitious curriculum. As a result, teachers know how the curriculum builds over time. They adapt and structure learning to be relevant for pupils. Teachers’ curriculum thinking is detailed and specific.

“Pupils learn about fundamental British values, tolerance and respect throughout the curriculum.”

And on Winterstoke Hundred’s Sixth Form, inspectors added: “The sixth form has rapidly expanded since the school opened. The sixth-form curriculum has adapted and changed as numbers have increased.

“The school ensures there is a broad and ambitious offer for students that prepares them for their chosen pathways. Students select from a range of A-level and vocational courses. These lead to university entrance, apprenticeships and training for future careers.”

Inspectors were also complimentary about Winterstoke Hundred’s ‘effective’ safeguarding, ‘robust’ policies for students with additional needs, and its ‘wide variety’ of extracurricular clubs enabling students to engage in new activities and passions.

The overall grading means that all Cabot Learning Federation schools in the Weston-super-Mare area – including sister academies Hans Price and Broadoak, and the primary academies of Herons’ Moor, Haywood Village, and Uphill Village – are now all rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding.’

School leaders have welcomed Ofsted’s findings, which they say is testament to the hard work of staff since Winterstoke Hundred opened three years ago.

Matthew Randle, newly-appointed Principal at Winterstoke Hundred Academy, said:

“I am extremely excited about taking over the reins at Winterstoke Hundred at a time coinciding with the publication of the school’s first Ofsted report, which is good in all areas, and at the moment we extend into our second site. The foundations have been laid in every sense, and we will now really fly!”

Tony Searle, Executive Principal at Winterstoke Hundred Academy, said:

“It has been an honour to work closely with colleagues at Winterstoke as we continue to build a fantastic academy for the communities we serve.

“We are delighted with the recognition of our current strengths in safeguarding, curriculum and behaviour, but also our ambition for even more as we grow our academy.

“Our sixth form offer goes from strength to strength, and we look forward to excellent recruitment for the 2024/25 academic year.”

Steve Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of the Cabot Learning Federation, said:

“This is great news for the community in Weston-super-Mare, which now has a range of strong secondary school provision from which to choose.

“I am delighted the report is so positive about the experience of learners in the sixth form – clear validation for students who would choose a school-based sixth form, that a strong offer is on their doorstep.”

Picture caption: Principal Matthew Randle at Winterstoke Hundred Academy’s newly-opened Locking Parklands campus.

 

 

 

 

 

15
Jan

Ofsted praises ‘Aspirational’ Broadoak as attainment and attendance rise

Positive relationships, an ambitious curriculum and a culture of mutual respect have earned Weston’s Broadoak Academy a rating of ‘Good’ from Ofsted inspectors.

In a first inspection since Broadoak joined the Cabot Learning Federation – and a first since Covid restrictions were lifted – the watchdog’s inspection team spent two days speaking with school staff, pupils and parents, while also scrutinising lessons and student work.

Inspectors heaped praise on a school ethos which enables pupils to feel confident and safe, engage in a wide range of activities linked to their talents and interests, and be proud to be part of the Broadoak community.

Leaders were heralded as ‘approachable’, with inspectors noting the efforts they have made to improve student attendance and attainment, as well as their focus on staff development and wellbeing.

Overall, Broadoak was rated as ‘Good’ in all inspection areas.

In her report, lead Ofsted inspector Kelly Olive, HMI, said: “Pupils feel a sense of belonging at Broadoak Academy. This gives them confidence and they feel safe. Pupils are proud to attend this school.

“Staff are aspirational for what pupils can achieve and the type of young person they can become.

“Most pupils exhibit a strong work ethic and are keen to do well. Pupils are passionate advocates against any form of discrimination.

“The school has a broad and ambitious curriculum, based on the shared vision of the multi-academy trust. Subject leaders have adapted the curriculum thoughtfully to suit the needs of pupils. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Parents of pupils with SEND are overwhelmingly positive about the progress their child makes and how well the school communicates with them.

“Strong, positive relationships between staff and pupils are characteristic of the school. Most pupils demonstrate a clear understanding of what is right and wrong and behave sensibly in social times. They are respectful towards each other and the environment around them.”

Inspectors were also positive about Broadoak’s careers education, which is ‘embedded within the curriculum’ and enables students to make ‘informed decisions’ about their future, and the school’s work to ‘grow pupils’ understanding of the fundamental British values’.

School leaders say they are thrilled with Ofsted’s positive verdict, and praised the hard work of staff which made the ‘Good’ judgement possible.

Danny McGilloway, Principal at Broadoak Academy, said:

“This is great news for the whole community. Our parents/carers, staff and students deserve this, and can feel proud that this community has a school that serves them brilliantly.

“I am delighted by this outcome, which is only possible due to the dedication of our wonderful staff, the unrivalled support of our loyal parent/carer body, and of course, the hard work of our fantastic young people – the students. Thank you, all, for the way in which you have contributed to making Broadoak Academy a very special place to work and learn.”

Steve Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of the Cabot Learning Federation, said:

“Due to the period of the pandemic, Broadoak has had to wait a long time for this validation from Ofsted of the quality of provision at the school. Thank you to the staff and students who have worked so hard over recent times. This outcome is great news for the school and also the town; I am delighted for the local community.”

Picture caption: Broadoak Academy Principal Danny McGilloway and pupils celebrate the school’s ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted.

 

 

 

11
Jan

Summerhill Academy welcomes new school dog

Staff and pupils at Summerhill Academy have welcomed Becks – who is a 12-week-old English show cocker spaniel – to the academy as their school dog.

Owned by Kirstie Coombes, Summerhill’s Assistant Principal, Becks will start his academy life by spending the first few months on the Kennel Club’s good citizen dog scheme training programme, before embarking on the Bark and Read programme.

This is a national project designed to help forge a love of reading in school children by utilising dogs as listening companions. Becks will be used to support students who have behaved in a positive way and if all goes well, Becks will be a qualified reading dog, spending some of his time in the library with students and will sit calmly while students read to him. The initiative will carry the motto ‘Books with Becks’.

There is a proven track record of benefits to having a dog in school. Students get a greater enjoyment from the school environment, their attendance improves, and they show a greater willingness to learn and participate. It also improves behaviour and social interaction, develops empathy skills, and gives students a sense of responsibility in the classroom.

Kirstie Coombes said: “Becks has settled in well to our school community despite only being here for such a short period of time; there is a positive buzz of energy and enthusiasm circulating around the building, and in the school playground at the beginning and end of the school day.

“He is naturally a very sociable and loveable dog and enjoys all the attention he is receiving, which is not only supporting the wellbeing of our students, but our staff members too. We have partnered up with Dogs Trust, who will be delivering workshops over the next month to educate children on how to stay safe around dogs.”

08
Jan

Winterstoke Hundred Academy opens £30.5M net zero school and confirms new Principal appointment

Weston’s Winterstoke Hundred Academy has marked the new year by throwing open the doors to North Somerset’s first net zero school – while also confirming the appointment of a new Principal.

Winterstoke Hundred first opened in Beaufighter Road in 2020, but work has been taking place over the past two years to build a 900-pupil second campus at Locking Parklands.

That work – carried out by contractor Kier, to specifications set out by North Somerset Council and the Cabot Learning Federation, which Winterstoke Hundred is part of – is now complete, with students moving into their new classrooms this week.

The three-storey building has been carefully designed to meet rigorous environmental standards – making it the first fully carbon neutral school in the area.

Solar panels covering the roof will generate electricity inside classrooms and send power to the national grid, providing green energy for the school, as well as the wider community.

The 80,000sqm building also boasts a much-sought BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating for energy efficiency and 10% biodiversity net gain, which will protect and promote plants and wildlife.

 

Heidi Clement, Cabot Learning Federation Head of Projects and Estates, said:

“The expansion of Winterstoke Hundred Academy is a major development and a huge financial investment that further enables our trust to meet the educational needs of young people and provide them with a fantastic environment to learn in.

“This project has been a four-year partnership between Keir, North Somerset Council and AtkinsRéalis, and I would like to thank them for their dedication and hard work throughout.

“The buildings and finish look amazing and will leave a lasting legacy for all those involved.”

Tony Searle, Executive Principal with the Cabot Learning Federation, said:

“We have worked tirelessly alongside our North Somerset Council partners to deliver an exceptional building on behalf of our community.

“With pupils now moving into the new buildings, we are excited about the educational opportunities that we will be able to afford our current cohort, and those who join the academy for decades to come.

“This investment in high-quality facilities and appointments reinforces our commitment to deliver the best possible education for our students.”

Councillor Catherine Gibbons, Deputy Leader of North Somerset Council and Executive Member for Children’s Services, Families and Life Long Learning, said:

“Winterstoke Hundred Academy’s new building is designed to achieve some of the highest standards of sustainability, raising the bar for what can be delivered in our region. The quality of construction is clear just from looking at the school and we’re immensely proud of what we have been able to accomplish alongside our partners at CLF and Kier.

“Funded through Homes England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, the Winterstoke Hundred Academy expansion provides new school places and facilities, meeting the needs of growing local communities. We look forward to celebrating the completed school building alongside pupils at a grand opening event later in the term.”

However, the new term marked a fresh start in more ways that one for Winterstoke Hundred Academy, with a new Principal taking up the reins.

Matthew Randle (pictured above) has previously taught at large secondary schools in Leicestershire, Somerset and Bristol.

Most recently, he held the position of Vice Principal with CLF Post 16 in Bristol, where he built significant experience in safeguarding and leading the quality of education.

Executive Principal Tony Searle added:

“Matthew Randle has been appointed following a rigorous national recruitment process. He was the standout candidate from a strong field of internal and external applicants.

“He excelled throughout the process, and the decision to appoint him was unanimous after he impressed panels with his technical expertise, strong moral purpose and commitment to ensuring a strong educational experience for all within the Winterstoke Hundred community.”

Matthew Randle, new Principal at Winterstoke Hundred Academy, said:

“I’m very excited to be starting my role as Principal of Winterstoke Hundred Academy. I’ve been really looking forward to welcoming our students into the new building and starting to work with the local community.

“It’s an incredible building and we feel very lucky to be moving in to our second site. This is a significant investment in education in North Somerset which will enable us to build on our curriculum and really excel in many specialist areas as we work towards a full capacity in September. Our existing site on Beaufighter Road has only been in operation since 2016, so

all students from Year 7 to Year 13 will be able to experience excellent learning in state-of-the art facilities.

“We’re really looking forward to growing our links with the community over the next few years, and if people would like to come and see what we do at Winterstoke, and how we do it, they will be very welcome to visit our buildings and see the school in action.”

 

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CEO: Mr Steve Taylor
Federation House
King's Oak Academy
Brook Road, Bristol
BS15 4JT
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Registered Company: Cabot Learning Federation
Company No: 06207590