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

08
Jun

CLF Academies in this month’s Voice Newspapers

CLF academies feature in the June edition of the Voice Newspapers, including a front page! Scroll down the page to find out more.

 

Bristol Metropolitan Academy’s under 16 girls basketball team are officially second best in the country!

 

A group of 30 green-fingered student volunteers from across all year groups and a member of staff at Bristol Metropolitan Academy are making a real difference with their Eco Club, adding wildlife, flora, and greenery to their bustling school community.

Students and pupils from all years at King’s Oak Academy (KOA) took part in a British Values-themed day to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. Students were encouraged to wear red, white, or blue clothing, and joined lessons about British values and participated in Big Help Out activities.

 

 

Students from Bristol’s Summerhill Academy came face to face with some of their literary heroes this week, before meeting a surprise royal visitor – newly-crowned Queen Camilla.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

05
Jun

CLF to expand, with five new schools set to join

The Cabot Learning Federation will expand into two new areas this year, after five further schools secured Department for Education approval to join the trust.

Traditionally, the CLF has run its 22 schools in three distinct clusters operating in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.

However, this will change to a five-cluster model after five additional schools were given a formal green light to become part of the trust.

Tewkesbury School will become the founding academy of a fourth cluster area in Gloucestershire when it joins the CLF on July 1.

The fifth cluster area will be in Somerset, and will see Heathfield Community School in Taunton join this autumn.

In addition, three schools from the Learn@ MAT will also join when that group is disbanded this summer. The Sky Academy in Taunton, Brook Academy in Gloucestershire and Lansdown Park Academy in Bristol will all become part of the CLF on August 1.

All three of these schools offer specialist or alternative provision, and will help to reinforce the CLF’s long-term focus on overcoming disadvantage.

CLF CEO Steve Taylor said: “The DfE has been encouraging the CLF to grow in our region for some time, and now it is starting to become a reality.

“The move towards a five-cluster model is exciting for everyone involved and will help us to build on the fantastic work which already takes place across our schools by opening the door to new collaboration and expertise.

“These five schools’ ethos of investing in people, building community partnerships and providing truly equitable opportunities for all pupils is firmly in line with our own values and ambitions.

“However, our growth will not end here. Over the coming weeks and months we will take the opportunity to further grow and improve, while holding close to the values and commitments we make through our HEART values and our CLF Strategy 2030, Equity Through Education.”

23
May

Evergreen Primary Academy on BBC Points West

With the cost of living crisis not getting easier for families, our academies across our Federation are doing what they can to help out. Fiona Lambdin social affairs correspondent for BBC Points West visited Evergreen Primary Academy to find out how this works in practice.

19
May

Summerhill students meet Queen Camilla

Summerhill pupils pictured with His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant in Bristol, Peaches Golding.

 

Students from Bristol’s Summerhill Academy came face to face with some of their literary heroes this week, before meeting a surprise royal visitor – newly-crowned Queen Camilla.

As part of ongoing work to improve reading provision across the school, Summerhill Academy has been working with the National Literacy Trust to provide training and resources for the school library.

The programme saw children from Summerhill invited to a special celebration event in Bristol on Thursday. The children engaged with texts and created their own illustrations for famous books by Malorie Blackman OBE (Children’s Laureate 2013-2015) and Cressida Cowell (author of How to Train a Dragon).

Little did they know that the authors themselves were in attendance to lend a hand.

But an even bigger surprise lay ahead to add to the Summerhill pupils’ amazing day.

The teachers accompanying them had been given last-minute training on the correct etiquette to greet a member of the royal family. After much anticipation, Her Majesty Queen Camilla, patron of the National Literacy Trust, also arrived and spoke to teachers and children about their experiences of reading and libraries.

Summerhill Vice Principal, Kirsty McLeod-Hughes, who attended the event, said: “As always, I couldn’t have been more proud of our fabulous Summerhill children for the way they represented our community during the event.

“They spoke with respect and confidence and put to good use all of the skills that we teach them every day in school.”

Also in attendance was His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant in Bristol, Peaches Golding, who has visited Summerhill a number of times, and commented on how well the children presented themselves to the Queen.

Due to security considerations, parents weren’t able to be informed who the special guest was going to be in advance and couldn’t believe it when their children arrived back and informed them! An amazing day was had by all involved.

18
May

CLF teams raise thousands at Big Walk and Big Run

More than 200 colleagues from across the Cabot Learning Federation took on a series of challenges this week to raise money in support of the trust’s most vulnerable pupils.

Staff and teachers from the trust’s 22 schools completed the CLF’s annual Big Run and Big Walk events on Sunday.

More than 60 team members put months of preparation and training to good use by tackling running events, with groups competing in the 10k and half marathon at the Great Bristol Run, and others completing the scenic 13 miles of the Weston Super Half.

Meanwhile, some 140 walkers took a trip to Wales to climb Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, a four-mile walk and 2,906ft ascent amid stunning scenery.

Behind each of these challenges was an important cause, as the runners and walkers combined to raise money for a trust initiative to support disadvantaged students.

The CLF Big Trip is an action-packed summer adventure in Abergavenny for 72 of the trust’s most vulnerable pupils.

It’s an opportunity for pupils to enjoy a range of outdoor activities they have not previously experienced – all paid for by the efforts of the CLF team.

CLF Executive Principal Kate Richardson, who leads the trust’s Big Events, said: “We were thrilled to see a record number of people taking part in the CLF’s Big Walk and Big Run this year, which is testament to the wonderful spirit and camaraderie within our trust.

“The efforts of our runners and walkers will help to provide a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience for dozens of our most vulnerable students this summer.

“So huge congratulations to all those who made it to the finish line in Bristol or Weston, or to the top of Pen y Fan. It was a terrific achievement, and we are immensely proud of every one of them.”

18
May

Bristol Met on ITV West Country News

Exam season is back, which is an extremely stressful time for students. But what can be done to ease that stress? ITV West Country News went to Bristol Metropolitan Academy to find more.

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CEO: Mr Steve Taylor
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King's Oak Academy
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