One of the exciting developments this year for our academy has been our reaccreditation process for the ‘World Class Schools Quality Mark.’ In 2017, Ms Bradford and her team of exceptional students lead our academy to be recognised as one of the best schools in the UK. The assessment body are extremely passionate about this project being student lead. To prove that we are still world class two years on from our initial assessment, the body set us a range of tasks to prove our status; the new team have worked really hard to ensure the school maintains this.
Step 1 of the process started back in October. Miss Hart and her new team of students (Molly, Charlie and Daniel) were firstly given six specific pieces of criteria from the assessment body that they believe make a school world class. The students set out on their way through the academy to find evidence in these areas. Our criteria ranged from proving we provided students with adequate skills to equip them for the wider world, right through to evidencing how we provide students with an acute understanding of how maths and science shape our world. Molly, Charlie and Daniel interviewed a range of staff and students, as well as scanning the academy to find outstanding evidence in all of our areas. We submitted our form and patiently awaited for the next step of the process!
Step 2 of the process promoted student independence even more so. The assessment body paired us up with another school who were undergoing the same process. Our students were required to head over there and see how that particular school evidenced the criteria that they had been set. Miss Hart, Molly and Daniel headed over to The George Spencer Academy in Nottingham and spent the day collating photos, videos and interview notes to help determine if, in fact, this school was World Class. A week later, The Farnley Academy underwent the same process! Their team of staff and students came to us for the day and evaluated how well we had evidenced the criteria. Molly, Daniel and Charlie were exceptional role models for the academy; they truly embodied why we were initially granted the status.
The next (and final) step to securing that we successfully maintain this status requires us to get tech savvy! The assessment body have set us the brief to make a video of The George Spencer Academy’s evidence. Charlie assures us that her skills in editing are of an excellent standard, so I’m confident that the team will create something brilliant! Our final half-term will dedicate time towards this.
I am confident that in a few months time, we will be able to share the exciting news that we have secured the status. Watch this space!
Miss Hart (Curriculum Leader or Geography and Reaccreditation WCSQM Leader)