Thrilled staff and children at Warberry C of E Academy are celebrating after receiving a glowing report in their recent Church School Inspection. The inspection, (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS), the first since becoming an academy and joining the Learning Academy Partnership, acknowledged the significant positive changes that have taken place for children, staff and the local community.
The SIAMS report praised staff, recognising the necessary and positive changes that have taken place since joining the Learning Academy Partnership multi academy trust. Improvements to both standards and the church school ethos, were recognised since the becoming an academy in 2015.
‘Standards have risen sharply with the children now consistently achieving above national expectations in core areas.’
Leadership, in particular, was acknowledged as a strength.
The inspector stated: “Leaders are passionate and dedicated to the work of a church school. They bring considerable expertise and enthusiasm.
Leadership is extensively shared, so staff use their talents to enrich the work of a church school. A cohesive staff team share this vision and take responsibility for developing this. A clear ‘Trust’ vision is established, ‘Together We Empower Excellence’.”
Mrs Bone, Executive Head, commented: “I am delighted with the report which so strongly recognises the ethos of Warberry and the collective nature of our Trust.
There is an overwhelming sense of being a community which stands out. Our children feel they are part of a caring family. This includes others from the Multi Academy Trust with whom they share experiences. Staff share this rich sense of family. There are impressive examples where the school’s Christian character influences children’s and staff well-being.
I am extremely proud and privileged to lead a team of exceptional staff and I would like to thank the dedicated staff teams, both in Warberry and across the Trust, who work together for working for the benefit of the children at Warberry. I would like to thank the parents and community for the trust and overwhelming support over the past three years. We are delighted that this report fully recognises the hard work and commitment of that team and what a very special place Warberry C of E Academy is.”
Mrs Bone also acknowledged the partnership that Warberry shares with the church and members of the church team and how the school works within its local community:
‘The church makes extensive contributions to school life through worship experiences in church and school and through governance.’
The report also spoke very strongly of the relationship with parents as being fundamental:
‘Parents celebrate the work of the school and the difference this makes to their children.’
Behaviour was also singled out for praise. The inspector stated that during the inspection, children spoke with overwhelming positivity about their academy and articulated very clearly that they felt safe, were proud of and happy in their academy, and knew that grown-ups looked after them and kept them safe.
‘The standard of behaviour is impressive and bullying extremely rare. Older pupils naturally support younger peers and see themselves as role models of values. They attribute this to the school’s Christian character.’
Mrs Atkinson, Chief Executive of the Learning Academy Partnership, said: “This report recognises the excellent quality of provision that Warberry C of E Academy now provides and the excellent progress made, since joining the Trust. This is testament to the exceptional staff and children at the academy and the support from parents and the family of schools across the Trust, working together to empower excellence, so that every child across our academies can shine. Warberry truly is a happy place where children and staff thrive and I am delighted that this has been recognised in the report. I am extremely proud of what Warberry is now achieving and this recognition from SIAMS is very well deserved. Warberry is now genuinely well placed to continue to go from strength to strength in the future.”