STRATEGIC AMBITIONS 2016-2019

YEAR 2

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DISCOVERY CONTEXT The Discovery Academy is part of the Alpha Academies Trust and follows the

service aims outlined in the trust objectives. The Discovery Academy is determined

to become an outstanding provider that serves and inspires the local community.

This document outlines the overarching strategy to reach this ambition by 2019.

STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

Headline Measures

1. Overall Progress 8 measures is above 0 - above national averages.

2. Progress 8 for all EBACC subjects is above 0 for all starting points (low/med/high).

3. Attainment continues to show a rapid improvement and reaches national averages.

4. All groups, including Pupil Premium (PP) and the most able, perform in line with national

performance measures.

5. Exclusion rate and attendance perform above national averages.

Students

1. Students are confident and resilient learners who take control of their learning and

future goals.

2. Students are interested, eager to succeed and want to continually improve.

3. Students demonstrate high levels of personal development and are thoughtful, caring

and active citizens in the Academy and wider society.

4. Students feel safe.

Educational Provision

1. Teachers are experts in their field of study which guides and inspires students to do

well.

2. Leaders promote an unwavering commitment to expect excellence in all aspects of

academy work.

3. Accurate evaluation drives continuous improvement.

4. Exemplary safeguarding procedures and welfare/pastoral support overcomes barriers.

5. Spiritual Moral Social and Cultural development (SMSC) and the promotion of British

values is at the heart of the Academy.

6. The Academy inspires the local community and promotes a positive perception.

Each year improvement priorities will be identified from self evaluation, with clear key

performance indicators that will build towards the standards for excellence.

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OUR GROWTH MINDSET Expect Excellence

Unwavering high expectations

Challenge Yourself

Ambition and confidence to exceed targets

Overcome Obstacles

Mental toughness and independence in finding solutions

Maximum effort

Motivated to use feedback to do your best

Expert Teaching and Feedback

Expert coaching provides the right feedback to improve

Inspire and be Inspired

Being part of the change

Pride and Respect

Proud to work as part of a team

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STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 2016-2019

1. Outcomes Students Achieve

2. Teaching, Learning and Assessment

3. Behaviour, Welfare and Personal Development

4. Leadership

5. Community Aspiration

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1 OUTCOMES STUDENTS ACHIEVE

Key Approaches

1. Ensure accurate tracking and assessment. Accurate assessment forms part of teachers’ appraisal so feedback is consistent and effective.

2. All subjects set challenging targets to ensure students exceed national expectations from different starting points.

3. Continuing professional development gives staff the tools to intervene so all students and groups of students, including PP, SEN and A+A, make good progress.

4. A clear numeracy and literacy strategy ensures all students are well equipped with the necessary functional skills.

5. Teaching approaches embed a Growth Mindset, allowing students to become resilient and independent learners.

6. High quality information, advice and guidance inspires students to develop the skills they need to fulfil their goals. Parents feel empowered by the information and support provided.

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2 TEACHING,LEARNING AND

ASSESSMENT

Key Approaches

1. A proactive approach to deliver ambitious outcomes and challenge through enhancing subject knowledge, pedagogy and curriculum design.

2. A language for learning around growth mindset is developed that ensures a climate of high expectation and positive engagement.

3. Use effective feedback to enhance personalisation that ensures all groups succeed.

4. Develop a climate of learning outside the classroom that prepares students and deepens understanding.

5. Communicate more regularly with parents and provide more opportunities that guide how they can support their child's progress.

6. Model excellence and encourage collaboration to develop others.

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3 BEHAVIOUR, WELFARE AND

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Key Approaches

1. Promote impeccable behaviour through the consistent and persistent application of simple systems.

2. Enhance personal development of all students by embedding growth mindset during pastoral time and through a wide range of extra-curricular activities.

3. Involve all students in some form of student leadership.

4. Enhance welfare provision to ensure all students feel safe, regularly attend and are equipped in overcoming barriers.

5. Develop a range of approaches to regularly celebrate the success of students past and present.

6. Regularly reinforce British values and the key Academy value of Pride and Respect.

7. Enhance Equality and Diversity knowledge, understanding and provision to enable access for all.

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4 LEADERSHIP

Key Approach

1. High quality CPD and simple systems of accountability develop all leaders

including governors.

2. Regular peer review from outstanding academies moderates judgements, shares best practice and continually reflects on teaching.

3. Develop an effective EBACC curriculum with robust transition arrangements at Key Stage 2/Key Stage 5 to ensure proper starting points.

4. Develop exemplary procedures around safeguarding.

5. Promote SMSC in all aspects of academy life.

6. Develop an effective strategy to retain and recruit outstanding teachers.

7. To become an outstanding provider within the Trust and work collaboratively.

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5 COMMUNITY ASPIRATION

Key Approaches

1. Develop a parent task force to become an active part of Academy self review that promotes effective parental voice in identifying improvement priorities.

2. The Academy to become part of educating the community with a comprehensive extended learning strategy.

3. The Academy to work with community leaders in developing a positive, aspirational culture within the community.

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THE DISCOVERY ACADEMY’S STRENGTHS

AND WEAKNESSES EVALUATION 2016-2017

Key Strengths

Standards of behaviour ensure students demonstrate the Academy mission

around expect excellence.

Improving progress trend.

Good teaching is typical with effective relationships supporting students to

improve.

More effective teaching has closed the gap for PP students.

Leadership has unwavering high expectations that expects excellence which

supports development and holds people to account.

Effective safeguarding.

Improvement Priorities

Curriculum challenge for all with an emphasis on improving grade 5, 6, 7+

Improve accuracy and impact of assessment.

Effective homework and study routines.

Enhance Behaviour for Learning and improve attendance to engage the

vulnerable 10%.

Community engagement.

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