OFSTED rates Old Ford Outstanding once again!
Last month, Old Ford Primary Academy received an Ofsted inspection, and we are delighted to announce they have rated Old Ford Outstanding across all five strands! It had been 14 years since their last inspection, so it is really pleasing that Old Ford was able to retain the Outstanding rating over all these years, especially at a time when hundreds of schools across the country are being inspected and downgraded.
A huge well done to all the staff and pupils, we couldn’t be prouder! #Integrity #Community #Excellence
Changes in leadership at Paradigm schools
Paradigm Trust has a significant track record of delivering high-quality initial teaching training, professional/leadership development and school-to-school support. To that end, we are letting you know about two leadership changes in our schools.
At Ipswich Academy, Samuel Fox has been appointed Interim Principal while current Principal, Abbie Thorrington, is on maternity leave. Samuel is a very experienced leader who has worked as an Assistant Principal for many years at Ipswich Academy, and formerly held the positions of Head of Maths and Head of Year. To support Samuel in taking up his responsibilities, Samuel will work closely with our Director of School Improvement, Ben Carter.
Ben has had a joint role as Principal of Culloden Primary Academy and Director of School Improvement across the whole of Paradigm Trust. As Ben’s school improvement role is increasing, he will have less capacity to effectively manage Culloden. So we are pleased to announce that, after a rigorous recruitment process, Thareena Ward has been appointed Principal of Culloden.
Tahreena is a very experienced leader who has worked as an Assistant Principal for many years at our other Trust London schools and is currently the Assistant Principal of our Nursery and Reception year groups at Culloden.
Please visit our careers section if you aspire to become part of the Paradigm family.
Coronavirus update
Our schools will be open to all pupils as planned from September 2021. Following the government guidelines, Paradigm Trust revised its arrangements again in May 2022. Our arrangements are available here.
Piper’s Vale Primary Academy celebrates ‘GOOD’ Ofsted rating
Piper’s Vale Primary Academy in Ipswich, part of Paradigm Trust, has achieved a ‘GOOD’ Ofsted rating across the board for the first time since 2007.
The report summarises the school as having ‘a sense of ambition and belonging’ where ‘pupils behave well’. The report also describes the school as ‘a hive of activity with music, singing and physical education activities going on’.
Kimberly Morton, Principal, comments:
“We are all absolutely delighted with the results. Our staff and pupils have worked tirelessly, despite the pandemic, to continuously raise standards across the school. We have provision from nursery to year six with fantastic facilities here at Piper’s Vale and now our community also has the reassurance that pupils are receiving a good education. There will be celebrations all round.”
Having achieved an overall effectiveness of ‘GOOD’ the school is praised in the report for the strength of its teaching of reading. Leaders are described as having high expectations and ensure all pupils in school are able to read fluently – with a vast majority of pupils reaching this attainment by the end of key stage 1.
The report also outlines how pupils in the Specialist Education Unit have a personalised curriculum that all adults take responsibility for implementing. It comments that the complex needs of these pupils are well understood by the adults that care for them; leaders ensure staff know how to adapt their teaching, so pupils access the same ambitious curriculum as their peers.
Piper’s Vale became part of Paradigm Trust in September 2017 and the principal joined soon afterwards in January 2018. The Ofsted report recognises that the trust has focused on the right priorities and has effectively supported leaders to improve the quality of education at the school. It says the trust, alongside leaders from the other schools in the trust, have supported the staff well.
Paradigm Trust ensures all its schools offer a fantastic education in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. This is supported by enrichment opportunities that enable children to have the best opportunity to reach their potential and achieve more through education.
Parent Director role (London)
The Board of Directors is seeking to recruit a Parent Director in London to join the Board.
What does the Board of Directors do?
The Board of Directors is responsible for both the conduct of the Trust and for promoting the high standards that we expect for, and from, our pupils. The Board carries out its role by setting the vision for the Trust and then ensuring that the schools across the Trust work efficiently and effectively towards achieving its vision. It does this by both supporting and constructively challenging each of the schools within the Trust and by ensuring accountability and compliance.
The Board is permitted to exercise all the powers of the Trust. The Board is responsible for the appointment, removal and remuneration of the CEO. The Board will delegate to the CEO responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Trust. The directors can determine whether to delegate any governance functions.
Who are the Directors?
Currently the Board is made up of eleven Directors who have been elected by Members, co-opted by other Directors or are a Parent Director. The CEO is a Director of the Board.
Why become a Parent Director?
Being a Parent Director is a challenging but hugely rewarding role. It will give you the chance to make a real difference to young people, give something back to the local community and to use and develop your skills in a board-level environment.
What qualifications do I need to have?
There are no formal qualifications needed, however, the one essential requirement is an interest in, and commitment to, the education of our pupils.
How much time will I have to commit?
A Director serves for a term of four years. In each academic year the Board of Directors currently meets nine times, with meetings starting at 18:00 and usually lasting for two hours. There is also a commitment to complete training particularly in the area of safeguarding and child protection. The Company Secretary will provide you with a structured induction and will support and guide you through the first few months.
Finally….
Parent Directors must be prepared to adopt the Trust Directors code of conduct and the Nolan principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. The role of a Director is voluntary and is not paid.
Interested?
All parents/carers are able to nominate themselves for the role providing that they have a child currently attending one of the London schools in the Trust. If you would like to find out more about the role of the Parent Director and/or request a nomination form, please feel free to contact Emma Vehit, Company Secretary by email: emma.vehit@paradigmtrust.org. Nomination forms should be returned no later than Monday 25 April 2022.
Admissions Consultation
Paradigm Trust is consulting on the admissions arrangements for all the schools across the Trust for the academy year 2023/24 in line with the School Admissions Code 2021.
The consultation is taking place for a period of six weeks, between 17 December 2021 and 28 January 2022.
Why are we consulting?
The Trust must set (‘determine’) admission arrangements annually. Where changes are proposed to admission arrangements, the Trust must first publicly consult on those arrangements. If no changes are made to admission arrangements, they must be consulted at least once every 7 years.
We have a statutory duty to consult on admission arrangements if we intend to make a change.
The changes being proposed are as follows:
Solebay Primary Academy – Nursery admissions to be coordinated by the school and no longer by the Local Authority as part of the nursery coordinated admissions process.
You are invited to review the admission arrangements (linked below) and any questions or responses should be sent to consultation@paradigmtrust.org
On conclusion of the consultation on Friday 28 January 2022, all responses will be collated and presented to the Trust Education Committee for full consideration.
The outcome of the Consultation will be posted on the Academy’s website along with the final admissions policies for 2023.