Welcome from the CEO I am delighted to introduce you to Green Spring Education Trust. Our focus is on achieving excellence in everything we do, across all of the schools and academies we support. Our track record, as leaders of the hugely successful Green Spring Academy Shoreditch (formerly Bethnal Green Academy) in East London, demonstrates our dedication to raising student achievement and providing a wealth of opportunities to the young people in our care. The Trust was formed to further serve this purpose. We are passionate about sharing the vision, methods and best practices which have made Green Spring Academy Shoreditch (GSAS) so successful, and helping many more schools and academies maximise the potential of their young people. We are eagerly anticipating the continued growth of the Trust, and look forward to forming relationships with a wider network of schools and academies in England over the coming months and years. I hope you will join us on what promises to be a hugely rewarding journey. Mark Keary, Chief Executive Officer
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Our Vision The Trust will constantly aspire to: • Ensure our schools provide a learning environment where students are nurtured to develop their skills for future success. • Position students first in everything we do, providing a safe and vibrant environment in which all can achieve. • Provide opportunities for all students to explore their talents and broaden their horizons through innovative curriculums, outstanding teaching and learning and enrichment opportunities. • Support our teachers in continually raising standards to achieve maximum impact both inside and outside of the classroom, focusing on improving students’ life chances. • Grow the best teachers through developing excellence. • Share best educational practices across all schools to maintain high standards, enabling talent to flourish. • Live by our core values: equality, mutual respect, trust and tolerance for our students, parents, teachers and the wider communities we work within. • Relentlessly work to build and maintain strong relationships amongst the local communities we serve. • Use our knowledge and experience to ensure the greatest outcomes for our students through outstanding teaching and careers guidance, enabling all to access further education and future employment.
Our Ethos
Green Spring Education Trust is a charitable trust with origins in East London, committed to providing young people with the education and guidance they need to succeed, regardless of their ability or background. We were established as a Trust in 2011, becoming the sponsor for Green Spring Academy Shoreditch (GSAS) at the time of its conversion to academy status in January 2012. Since our formation, we have established a proven track record for success with the academy, building on its previous progress and helping cement its reputation as one of the country’s most improved schools. In January 2014 we formally became a multi-academy trust. Our ongoing mission is to help develop excellence in other schools and academies across London and beyond, sharing the educational practices which have been so successful at GSAS. Through the provision of an innovative curriculum and outstanding teaching, we are passionate about ensuring the best possible outcomes for young people, maximising their potential and equipping them with the skills they need for future success.
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Green Spring Academy Shoreditch About us Green Spring Academy Shoreditch is an extremely successful 11-19 academy located in East London, and is the first school in the Green Spring Education Trust. The academy’s Progress 8* score of 0.7 places us in the top 1% of schools nationally. In other areas, 83% of our students achieved A* to C grades in English and Maths, 24 percentage points above the national average, and 37% of our students achieved the English Baccalaureate (EBACC). Rising from being in ‘Special Measures’ in 2007 to being rated ‘Outstanding’ in all categories by 2012, students benefit from teaching of the highest quality, coupled with unrivalled opportunities for accessing higher education and successful careers. Student attendance has topped the tables and is recognised as one of the highest in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the fifth year running. *Key Stage 4 provisional schools results data published in October 2016
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Green Spring Sixth Form Shoreditch Established in September 2012, the academy also offers outstanding post-16 provision at Sixth Form. Offering a diverse and varied curriculum through three distinct pathways designed to develop students’ key areas of strength, it provides young people with a tailored learning experience and exceptional opportunities to access university, apprenticeships and full-time employment. In 2016, the Sixth Form examination results reflected the academy’s overall trend for high achievement, with over 90% of students successfully securing their places at university where they will face their next educational challenge. An impressive 40% of students from the class of 2016 secured the coveted A*-B grades; qualifications that will undoubtedly support their future employability. This, combined with an overall pass rate of 99.7%, demonstrates the Sixth Form’s success.
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Other notable successes, awards Inclusion In recognition of the performance of students and the quality of teaching, Green Spring Academy Shoreditch was designated an Inclusion Quality Mark school in July 2014, being one of the very few schools which holds this prestigious mark. The assessors commented: “The staff at all levels give above and beyond what one can reasonably expect of them…Nobody is left out, child or adult…All are valued for their unique gifts and talents.”
Pupil Premium Awards In March 2015, the academy secured a £100,000 prize at the 2015 Pupil Premium Awards, after being named as the London finalist in the Key Stage 4 category. The accolade was awarded in recognition of the exceptional outcomes GSAS continues to provide for its students, and the outstanding progress they make between Years 7 and 11. “This is an extraordinary achievement. The judges, Sir John Dunford, Sir William Atkinson and Jane Lees tell me that your school excels in educating disadvantaged pupils and improving their outcomes. It is clear that you, your staff and governors are equipping your pupils with the skills for future success.” David Laws MP, Minister of State for Schools
The Prince’s Teaching Institute Leadership Mark Green Spring Academy Shoreditch achieved the PTI Leadership Mark through an action-based research project, focusing on arts, culture, sports and social action. As part of this project, students have been involved in a series of workshops, fundraising events and volunteering activities, allowing them to develop a range of skills and take part in challenging opportunities. The PTI’s Schools Leadership Programme aims to encourage schools to consider whole-school approaches to leadership, staffing and the curriculum.
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and accolades Artsmark Gold Status
leaders at the Trust and GSAS to assess how well they are promoting the professional development of staff, as well as devising ways of improving the provision even further. The Quality Mark helps to ensure that all staff are on a clear path of progression, and that the well-being of students remains central to their mindset.
Green Spring Academy Shoreditch was awarded the Artsmark Gold status in October 2014. This is in recognition of GSAS’s efforts to develop strong arts and cultural links with local primary schools and other providers.
London Schools Gold Club Green Spring Academy Shoreditch is part of the exclusive London Schools Gold Club. This scheme is a Mayor-led programme which shares and celebrates outstanding practices in London schools, with membership reserved for schools that have succeeded in improving student achievement against all odds. This accreditation demonstrates how GSAS has become a shining example of excellence in teaching and learning, and further underlines the academy’s reputation for exceptional achievement and aspiration.
Teach First The Trust and Green Spring Academy Shoreditch are proud partners of Teach First. The academy has a track record of employing young, passionate teachers through the programme, many of whom have progressed into middle and senior leadership roles in a short space of time. The quality of GSAS’s support and collaboration with Teach First can be seen in the case study Against the Odds – Five lessons in how to achieve the impossible: the story of Teach First.
Professional Development Quality Mark The Trust and Green Spring Academy Shoreditch are
passionate about the development of all staff and the positive effect this has on student achievement, and pursue the Professional Development Quality Mark for this purpose. Being part of this programme allows
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Bespoke Support Services As a Trust with a track record in delivering an outstanding quality of education, we have the knowledge, experience and skills required to bring about rapid school improvement. We know that, in order to improve, schools require excellent services. Whatever your school improvement needs, Green Spring Education Trust is here to help. We are constantly evolving and innovating our core school improvement services to reflect the changes, needs and demands within the education sector. Our core offer comprises services to support with: • Teaching and learning and the achievement of students • Recruitment and retention of students and staff • Growth of middle and senior leaders • Investment of the pupil premium • Intervention strategies We are committed to sharing best practice with schools across the country and would welcome the opportunity to talk to you about our impressive track record and outcomes.
A selection of projects and school improvement services Ipswich Academy (part of Paradigm Trust) In January and September 2016 monitoring reports, Amanda Phillips, Executive Principal of Paradigm Trust acknowledged that the contribution of Green Spring Academy Shoreditch’s school improvement work (formerly Bethnal Green Academy) at Ipswich Academy is clearly apparent. “Partnerships have been forged with a local secondary school, and another academy based in London. Experienced and effective leaders from these schools are providing regular training and support in a range of subjects, as well as one-toone support for middle leaders, and are assisting the Executive Principal in raising the achievement of Key Stage 4 pupils.”
Greenwich Free School Green Spring Academy Shoreditch was commissioned by the Headteacher at Greenwich Free School to conduct a whole school learning and teaching review following an Ofsted inspection that placed the school into ‘Requires Improvement.’ Members of GSAS’s senior leadership team completed lesson observations of all members of staff and provided feedback in terms of areas for development. In addition, internal data was scrutinised, as well as the school’s tracking for student progress and attainment. The subsequent Ofsted monitoring report (July 2014) commented that “the partnership formed with an Outstanding academy [Green Spring Academy Shoreditch] would benefit school leadership and improve the day-to-day quality of provision, as well as evaluating it.”
“We are lucky to benefit from good relationships and shared experiences for our students. In the past year pupils at Columbia have visited the school to take part in a number of activities. It is great to have such an accessible resource available to us offering high quality workshop and performance opportunities.” Oliver Woodward Headteacher, Columbia Primary School Primary Champions
Ofsted Monitoring Inspection Report January 2016
Green Spring Academy Shoreditch’s internal team of highly experienced ‘Primary Champions’ deliver a range of educational projects in primary schools with an emphasis on sharing best practice. The team includes teachers of English, Maths and Science as well as Music, Drama and Physical Education. The projects have been extremely successful, and have helped form close links with a range of local primary schools. Examples of previous projects include:
“Good use is made of the trust’s links with other schools in London to train and support teachers.”
• Weekly Level 6 literacy sessions with Year 6 pupils
Ofsted Monitoring Inspection Report September 2016
• Weekly Level 6 numeracy sessions with Year 6 pupils
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• Exciting science sessions for primary pupils • A workshop to coach staff from four primary schools in helping their pupils achieve Level 6 in literacy and numeracy • Sports festivals involving tournaments for primary school pupils, managed by Year 9 and 10 Sports Leaders from GSAS
Global Literacy Networks The Key to Integration With funding from the London Schools Excellence Fund, Green Spring Academy Shoreditch developed an exciting London initiative to help primary and secondary schools to develop levels of literacy of English as an Additional Language (EAL) students. Geared towards students at Key Stage 2 and those developing academic English at Key Stage 4, the training, materials and resources developed for this project will have a lasting impact on academic performance.
Plans for the future The GSET brand is set to grow with our recent application to open a free school being given the green light in February 2016. Green Spring New School, a fully inclusive, state-funded school for children aged 11-19, will offer an education focused on academic excellence, artistic expression, cultural enrichment and social responsibility. We are keen to share our best practice and create additional professional development opportunities for our staff via the expansion of GSET. The Trust is currently working with a broad range of partner organisations, engaging in a variety of activities to enrich students’ experiences, raise their ambitions and deepen their understanding of the curriculum. These partnerships are crucial in providing staff with the opportunity to broaden their skill set and engage in a wider range of projects. This work ranges from non-commercial arrangements such as networking and sharing of best practices to more complex (and commercial) interactions such as school improvement services, exploring sponsorship and setting up additional new schools.
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Green Spring Education Trust, Gosset Street, London, E2 6NW Tel: 020 7920 7900, Email: info@greenspringeducationtrust.org.uk www.greenspringeducationtrust.org.uk Green Spring Education Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (Company No. 07856680). Company’s registered ofďŹ ce: Green Spring Education Trust, Gosset Street, London E2 6NW.