Leadership in the development of a new primary Academy (Orchard Meadow Primary School, Oxford)

Through the Academy, it is hoped that all three primary schools will benefit from working with each other and the sponsors to develop and improve their own teaching and to encourage pupils to reach their full potential. The Dragon School is looking to create productive relationships between all four schools with staff and children learning with and from each other. The Academy schools retain their individual identities and the Dragon will enhance the links between them extending the range of opportunities in science, music, the arts and sport.

Aims

To enhance teaching and learning and raise aspirations.

Background

Since 2007, pupils from the Dragon School and Pegasus School had been sharing 'Partners in Learning projects', and both the schools developed a trust and a creative working relationship. The children and staff got to know each other and enjoyed working together. When we were asked by the then Head Teacher of Pegasus, Jill Hudson, if we could extend the projects we were happy to do so. The Blackbird Academy grew out of these initial conversations.

Resources

Good governance, collaboration between management teams, support for staff initiatives.

Our school facilities are used.

We use teaching and non teaching staff who are engaged for different but defined periods of time and offered transport.

We are able to support some projects financially through external funds.

Impact

Establishing the metrics for evaluating outcomes is under review.

Pupil Involvement

Pupils between the ages of 8 and 13 work together with the majority of the projects covering the primary age range.

We organise several 'Partners in Learning' projects each year covering, the Arts, Science, Music, Philanthropy , Enterprise and Sport.

Frequency

Projects are ongoing and developing each year.

We do not have an end date.