The Ramsey Academy, Halstead From Special Measures to Good

Context…

School working informally with NHS&BSF

Context… School working informally with NHS&BSF May 2012School inspected and judged as requiring Special Measures

Context… School working informally with NHS&BSF May 2012School inspected and judged as requiring Special Measures June 2012NHS&BSF requested by the Local Authority to support the school and develop an Academy sponsorship model

Context… School working informally with NHS&BSF May 2012School inspected and judged as requiring Special Measures June 2012NHS&BSF requested by the Local Authority to support the school and develop an Academy sponsorship model September 2012Dan Gee seconded as Headteacher and Simon Thompson as Executive Headteacher. Strategic Management Board established with Nicola Pruden as Chair.

Context… School working informally with NHS&BSF May 2012School inspected and judged as requiring Special Measures June 2012NHS&BSF requested by the Local Authority to support the school and develop an Academy sponsorship model September 2012Dan Gee seconded as Headteacher and Simon Thompson as Executive Headteacher. Strategic Management Board established with Nicola Pruden as Chair. June 2013Special Measures removed and school judged as ‘Good’ (Leadership judged as ‘Outstanding’)

Context… School working informally with NHS&BSF May 2012School inspected and judged as requiring Special Measures June 2012NHS&BSF requested by the Local Authority to support the school and develop an Academy sponsorship model September 2012Dan Gee seconded as Headteacher and Simon Thompson as Executive Headteacher. Strategic Management Board established with Nicola Pruden as Chair. June 2013Special Measures removed and school judged as ‘Good’ (Leadership judged as ‘Outstanding’) September 2013School converts as a sponsored academy as part of the North Essex Multi-Academy Trust (NEMAT)

The situation in May 2012 “…students make slow progress as a result of unimaginative learning activities and lesson planning that fails to consider their different needs. Teachers do not always check that all students understand the work, or insist on high enough standards of presentation, effort and behaviour.” Ofsted, May 2012

A glimmer of hope… “In contrast to the problems seen in some lessons students were orderly and polite around the school at break and lunchtimes.” Ofsted, May 2012

Impact…

Teaching- the data

The impact of staffing changes…

End of the autumn term Three long term supply teachers replaced…two with permanent members of staff, one with a better long term supply option

The impact of staffing changes… End of the spring term Leadership of Mathematics and Science Faculties temporarily moved to Senior Team One member of staff left on a compromise agreement and replaced with a new permanent member of staff Overstaffing used in the Mathematics faculty (with limited impact) Lead teacher re-training in Maths

The impact of staffing changes… January % of the teaching staff signed-off

The impact of staffing changes… June % teaching staff turnover

Non-staffing factors… Innovation or execution…an apology

The change ‘lever’… Change must happen Blitz spirit Accountability (and support) Forget exam results It’s more than Ofsted

Teaching, teaching, teaching… Priority over the other three Ofsted strands Headteacher leadership SLT restructure and the embryonic teaching group No ‘flash in the pan’ In classrooms, talking about teaching Propaganda- staff briefings to classroom walls Who are the critical mass?

Vision and values… The Chafford 10

Vision and values… The Chafford Ramsey 10 “What we expect of each other; what we use to hold each other to account” Two training days- what do we value, how do we do it? Focused twilight and staff meeting within two weeks. Published everywhere ABSOLUTELY underpins everything that followed

The ‘Ramsey 10’ and R Learning… 1.Learning objectives 2.High expectations 3.Success criteria 4.Independent and collaborative learning 5.Assessment opportunities 6.Differentiation and challenge 7.Questioning 8.Varied and imaginative learning activities 9.Effective homework 10.Celebrating success

The ‘Ramsey 10’ and R Learning… R amsey Points L earning Objectives E quipment A sk/answer Questions R ecord your Homework N ever Give Up I ndependent Work N ext Steps G roup Work

Staff engagement…the critical mass Assistant Headteachers Developing Excellence in Teaching Coordinators (DETs) The Core Teaching Group The Extended Teaching Group Learning Walk and observation training ‘invitations’ Faculty Leaders Staff as trainers

Training opportunities… Teaching focus Linked to key targets (and evaluated) Sharing good practice (R10 related) The Developing Teacher Programme Support plans Faculty meetings

Evaluation… Regular, externally validated observation training for SLT All observations paired (and usually externally validated) Benchmarking- whole staff observations (and follow-up as required) Regular work scrutiny (and follow-up) Learning Walks…formative

Support and accountability… Fortnightly support monitoring and evaluation meetings Informal support and ‘Support Plans’ ‘Support Plans’- intensive support and re-observation ‘Support Plans’- robust External support- vital both for support and accountability

Letting go…the final push Faculty Leader ‘Twinning’ Planning time Shared responsibility for delivery and evaluation Plans launched and evaluated at SLT meetings

Support within the Trust Lesson observations Faculty Evaluation Lead AST Targeted AST support Subject support Joint adverts Executive Headteacher support

Support from the LA ‘The Pruden’ English staffing support Science consultant support Maths overstaffing funding HR

Agreed visionClear expectations CPDEvaluationGenuine support Robust accountability

Agreed visionClear expectations CPDEvaluationGenuine support Robust accountability THE CHANGE LEVER

Teaching…May 2012 “…students make slow progress as a result of unimaginative learning activities and lesson planning that fails to consider their different needs. Teachers do not always check that all students understand the work, or insist on high enough standards of presentation, effort and behaviour.” Ofsted, May 2012

Teaching…June 2013 “The improvement in teaching secured since September 2012 is the primary reason behind the good progress now made by students.” Ofsted, June 2013

…moving forward 1.More DETs 2.Developing Teacher Programme for all teaching staff (every year?) 3.Refocused Core Teaching Group 4.R Scribbler 5.Sofsted 6.Teaching & Learning Handbook 7.Show My Homework 8.Abandoning Ofsted lesson observation criteria 9.R Learning reward cards 10.Teaching briefings

The Ramsey Academy, Halstead From Special Measures to Good