School Performance and Improvement

The quality of teaching and learning in our schools is the key driver of school improvement.

Underpinning that is a well-sequenced and ambitious curriculum, good attendance and behaviour and a positive culture which motivates pupils to feel valued and individual.

Our approach to school improvement and performance balances challenge and support, whilst recognising the context and culture of each individual school. Each school benefits from regular visits from an assigned Regional Director and specialist subject advisors. We operate a High Priority Programme for schools on a journey of rapid improvement, which supports leaders to make sustained change in a short period of time.

We have a common curriculum as well as a library of high-quality curriculum resources for our schools to draw upon. We also provide common assessments to enable schools to benchmark themselves against other schools in the Trust. All schools also have access to pupil, staff and parent surveys; subject networks; excellence visits; common frameworks; and support with safeguarding, attendance, policies and procurement. Each school is supported by a Team Around the School that includes an HR Business Partner, Finance Business Partner and Educational Technologist, plus support from other central functions as required.

Read our summary Annual Report

Key Statistics

Academies

Key Stage 2 (Primary)

Our academies’ performance in reading, writing and maths improved by more than the national average between 2022 and 2023

GCSE - Academies

Academies: Our academies exceeded national average performance in all headline measures in 2023. 49% of our pupils achieved at least a grade 5 in both English and maths, compared to 45% nationally

A Level - Academies

Academies: 53% of A Level entries across our academies were graded at A*-B in 2023, matching the national average

Independent schools

GCSE – Independent Schools

All subjects achieved positive value-added across our independent schools in 2023

A Level – Independent Schools

Independent Schools: 75% of A Level entries across our independent schools were graded at A*-B in 2023

Case studies

Orchard Meadow SEND Provision

The predecessor school was last inspected in 2016 and was judged to be in special measures. Orchard Meadow Primary Academy opened as part of United Learning in 2018. The outcomes for pupils with SEND were historically poor, with both weak teaching and inadequate behaviour cited as casual effects. Since 2018, the Trust has supported the school to improve outcomes for pupils with SEND through: securing stable and effective leadership; improved identification of need; and carefully planned and effectively delivered provision.

Effective school leadership of SEND has been supported by trust advisors through a range of reviews, joint planning, supervision/coaching and quality assurance. Both the academic and pastoral outcomes of the school’s disadvantaged pupils are now met, something recognised in the school’s recent inspection.