Latest News
-
A bright start to 2022: Belgrave St Peter’s CofE Primary School celebrates joining Rise Multi-Academy Trust
Thu 13 Jan 2022Marking a bright start to 2022, pupils and staff at Belgrave St Peter’s CofE Primary School have been celebrating joining a local multi-academy trust.
The school, which officially joined Rise Multi-Academy Trust on 1st January 2022, is a very welcome addition to the Trust community.
A close-knit family of 14 Church of England primary schools across Leicestershire, every school across Rise Multi-Academy Trust is graded ‘Good’ or better by Ofsted. The Trust also prides itself on bringing together schools with a like-minded Christian ethos and a commitment to providing the best possible opportunities for every child to flourish and succeed.
Mark Cole, CEO of Rise Multi-Academy Trust, said: “We are delighted to welcome Belgrave St Peter’s to the Rise Multi-Academy Trust family.
“With our shared Christian values and an unwavering commitment to providing the best for every pupil, we look forward to working in partnership with colleagues, sharing ideas and best practice, and getting to know the children and their families."
Dave Ellison-Lee, Director of Education at Rise Multi-Academy Trust, added: “Having worked with Belgrave St Peter’s during the transition to joining our Trust, I’m really happy they are now part of the family. I look forward to working with the team to bring out the best in the school over the coming months."
Vikki Kenney, Headteacher at Belgrave St Peter’s CofE Primary School, said: “At Belgrave St Peter’s we are a multi-ethnic, multi-faith and multi-cultural school that applies Christian values to our mission. We are proud to serve our local community, for the benefit of people of all faiths and of none.
"We are committed to supporting our pupils to be the best they can be, in a safe, respectful and caring environment which prepares them to be confident, happy citizens of the future.
“We are so pleased that the next stage on our journey has begun with Rise Multi-Academy Trust, we believe that working alongside like-minded schools from across our local area will bring many incredible benefits for our school community."
-
St Luke’s CofE Primary School celebrates ‘Good’ Ofsted rating
Wed 12 Jan 2022St Luke’s CofE Primary School, part of Rise Multi-Academy Trust, has once again been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted following a recent visit by the education watchdog.
During their visit to the primary school, based in Thurnby, Leicestershire, inspectors remarked that “Pupils at this school are very happy. They enjoy their learning and work hard during lessons.”
Inspectors added that “Pupils say that the school values motivate them to learn and behave well. They positively demonstrate the values of kindness, thankfulness, forgiveness, aspiration and perseverance.”
In addition, the report noted that “Leaders have high expectations for all pupils. They want pupils to achieve well [and] have ensured there is breadth and quality in what pupils learn.”
Other highlights included:
- Leaders are ambitious about pupils’ development as confident and independent readers. Children start to learn phonics straight away in the Reception Year…Pupils enjoy reading. They talk about their favourite books and authors with enthusiasm.
- In mathematics, there is a well-planned programme of learning across all year groups…As with reading, leaders have made sure that children learn well in mathematics right from the start in early years.
- Leaders ensure that through the curriculum, pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is promoted effectively. Pupils understand the importance of having respect for each other.
- Leaders promote pupils’ understanding of diversity. Pupils have a broad knowledge of different faiths and cultures. They understand the principles of fairness of voting and democracy.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. Staff are trained to understand pupils’ needs…Teachers skilfully adapt their teaching, if required, to ensure that these pupils have access to the same learning opportunities as others.
- Leaders work with other partners to enrich the wider curriculum, which pupils enjoy accessing.
Louisa Morris, Executive Headteacher at St Luke’s CofE Primary School, said: “I am incredibly proud of the staff and pupils at our wonderful school. Our children are an inspiration to us all and St Luke’s is a happy place to learn and work, so I am delighted that Ofsted have recognised this.”
In further feedback from inspectors, leaders were praised for showing “a deep commitment to the well-being of pupils and staff." The report went on to state that "Teachers, in turn, have confidence in their leadership. All staff feel fully supported by the multi-academy trust and the governing body.”
Mark Cole, CEO of Rise Multi-Academy Trust, added: "Many congratulations to the whole team at St Luke’s CofE Primary School for this latest Ofsted 'Good' rating, which is a testament to their dedication and hard work.
"As a Trust, we work tirelessly in order to enable children to flourish and succeed. Through close collaboration and a commitment to doing all we can for our communities, we provide our very best for our pupils, every day."
-
Rise’s partnership with Swannington CE Primary School celebrated after glowing Ofsted report
Fri 07 Jan 2022Pupils and staff at Swannington CE Primary School celebrated after receiving a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating from the education watchdog.
The school, which is currently part of a different multi-academy trust but has been working closely with Rise over 2021, received glowing praise for pupils and staff from the inspectors. In their opening remarks, inspectors noted that: “Pupils believe that their school’s slogan, ‘Happy Children, Successful Learners’, sums up Swannington perfectly. They enjoy coming to school each day and feel very safe there.”
They added “Behaviour is good at the school. Pupils follow the Calm Code, which they helped to write…They move around the school in a calm way. They pay attention in class and do their best.”
Swannington currently benefits from a member of the Rise team acting as interim Executive Headteacher, as well as accessing educational and operational support.
Inspectors praised leaders for “ensuring that the quality of education at Swannington is good.” They noted that “The interim executive headteacher, well supported by the head of school, is very ambitious for the school and for every pupil. Her message of ever-higher expectations, combined with wise actions, has had a positive impact across the board” and that “staff are unanimous in their acclaim for the school’s senior leadership.”
Jo Westaby, Executive Headteacher, said: “Our pupils are the shining stars of our school, and it is wonderful to see so many incredible comments about them throughout this report.
“This school is about community, and being linked to Rise has only echoed and strengthened everything that makes this school special and unique.”
Focusing on the education provided at the school, inspectors also found that:
- The education pupils receive is good. Staff make sure that pupils learn to read well. Children begin learning their phonics from their very first week in school. Pupils told us how ‘every lesson is amazing!’ and that lessons help them to learn lots of things.
- Mathematics is a strength of the school…Teachers give pupils demanding work. However, because it is interesting, pupils want to pay attention. They know that if they do, they can be successful.
- Pupils also learn important things about relationships, and the need to respect everyone.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. Staff help them to learn and remember important knowledge within the curriculum. This means that these pupils achieve well.”
Jo added: “This outcome has been achieved through a real sense of partnership. Parents, pupils, staff, governors and senior leaders have all needed to work collectively and collaboratively.
“This is a very special day for our school.”
-
Waltham-on-the-Wolds CE Primary School rated ‘Good’ during church schools inspection
Mon 03 Jan 2022Staff and pupils at Waltham-on-the-Wolds CE Primary School are celebrating after receiving confirmation of their ‘Good’ rating following their recent Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) report.
The school was found to be ‘Good’ across all categories, including a particular focus on the impact of collective worship and the effectiveness of religious education (RE).
In their key findings, inspectors reported that “The whole school community shares a clear and Christian vision for the school. This vision, and associated values, underpin the whole life of the school and inform every decision that is made.”
Inspectors also remarked that “Waltham-on-the-Wolds is a highly inclusive and caring community where every pupil is valued, nurtured and challenged as the unique person God created them to be.”
The report continued "Collective worship, springing from the Christian vision is valued, biblical and affirming. It is developed and enriched by strong opportunities for pupil leadership. Collective worship influences the lives of both pupils and staff, enabling them to flourish.”
Within their report, inspectors also found that:
- At Waltham-on-the-Wolds, the Christian vision, ‘let your light shine’, is clearly attributed to the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:16. This vision enables all to flourish because it is inclusive, aspirational and deeply rooted in the school’s local context.
- Distinctively Christian values of friendship, love, perseverance, respect and compassion flow naturally from the vision. These values are given life and relevance through key Bible verses and stories, and impact strongly on the whole life and work of the school.
- Committed engagement with diocesan and academy trust support has contributed to the exceptional clarity with which leaders and governors articulate and live out the Christian vision and foundation of the school. This informs exceptionally close and mutually supportive relationships between church and school.
- The school and trust vision for enabling every child to flourish and succeed has raised expectations across the school. All pupils are nurtured and challenged to be the best they can be and ‘let their light shine.’
- Through a social justice focus that runs across the curriculum and collective worship, pupils share a passion for tackling inequality. They are keen to talk about, ‘changing the world by our actions’, and are motivated to make a positive difference to the lives of others both locally and globally.
- Pupils care for each other with kindness and respect. As noted by a pupil, ‘We let our light shine to others by showing kindness.’
- As put by a parent, 'each individual feels part of a big family because everyone is valued and welcomed.'
During their report, inspectors also highlighted the mental health and wellbeing provision at the village primary school. They noted that “Mental health and wellbeing are championed for pupils and adults across the school... High levels of nurture continued through lockdowns and a recently appointed emotional literacy support assistant (ELSA) now works tirelessly to support children and families.”
The report continued: “Well-targeted and compassionate support is helping children to noticeably grow in their self-esteem. A school wide initiative in character development, linking values and achievements, supports children in using ‘character muscles’ to develop resilience.”
Julie Hopkins, Executive Headteacher at Waltham-on-the-Wolds CE Primary School, said: “We are proud of our Christian vision at Waltham-on-the-Wolds CE Primary, it is centered around maximising the potential of all pupils and ensuring that all children are confident and happy individuals who love life and love learning with their friends. I am incredibly pleased that all of our hard work has been recognised by the inspectors.”
Dave Ellison-Lee, Director of Education at Rise Multi-Academy Trust, of which Waltham-on-the-Wolds CE Primary School is a part, said: “As a Church of England Primary School, every part of life at Waltham-on-the-Wolds is underpinned by its Christian vision and values.
"This is an ethos that is shared with schools across our Trust, and as the report highlights, through a clear sense of purpose and collaboration, its influence and impact can be seen not only in collective worship and across the curriculum, but in the way that pupils develop as kind, caring and thoughtful individuals."