Redefining Success

Wistaston Church Lane Academy

Wistaston Church Lane Academy joined The Learning for Life Partnership as a school requiring improvement. In their next Ofsted inspection, the school was judged to be good in all areas.  It was commented that the trust “supports the school well on matters relating to staffing and resources and has worked closely with senior leaders to improve the school buildings and premises.” It was also recognised that the head teacher reports to the MAT’s standards board and is “held to account for all aspects of the school’s provision.”

You can read the latest OFSTED report here.

With the support from the trust the school has moved from strength to strength, continuing to focus on the areas identified for development. Resources have been funded to improve standards in writing and maths and CPD has been put in place to develop middle leaders in their subject co-ordination. Principal, James Bancroft says, “It is a privilege to lead a school in the Learning For Life Partnership. This is a trust where collaboration is really strong at all levels and the support that schools offer each other is appreciated by colleagues. There is a culture of sustained, continual improvement in all schools due to the constructive challenge offered by trust leaders.”

Daven Primary School

In 2019 Daven Primary joined The Learning For Life Partnership as a school requiring improvement. Since joining, there has been considerable development around the curriculum and pedagogy. Standards have significantly improved, numbers on roll are increasing and attendance is the highest in the trust even with the impact of Covid.  Staffing is stable and a new principal has been recruited who specialises in SEND following the promotion and redeployment of the previous Principal within the Trust.  The trust are confident that this is now a ‘good’ school with strengths that are being shared across all the Trusts academies.

Leighton Academy

In 2018 Leighton Academy joined The Learning for Life Partnership as a school requiring improvement. In May 2021 the monitoring inspection reported that: “Leaders and those responsible for governance are taking effective action in order for the school to become a good school.”

Key statements from that report include:

"Pupils enjoy coming to school. It is a warm and caring place where pupils feel valued by staff. Relationships are strong."

"Leaders have high expectations. They want the very best for all pupils."

"Pupils' personal development is promoted well."

"Pupils with SEND achieve well."

"The school has worked tirelessly to improve attendance. This has paid dividends and attendance at the school is above average."

"Staff morale is high. Leaders have instilled a strong sense of teamwork across the school."

"The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. School leaders and governors have established a culture in which the safety and well-being of pupils are the responsibility of all staff."

Leighton offers an ambitious curriculum and standards have improved. SEND provision is very strong (as evidenced by an external NLE). The trust are confident Leighton will be a ‘good’ school at the next full inspection.