2024 - 2026 Community Plan
Community within the Trust
The Marches Academy Trust’s vison is ‘Achievement Through Caring’. We believe that our children are part of our community of learners and as such we work hard to create a sense of belonging and connection in our family of schools. Our staff across the Trust work hard to form effective partnerships within each of our communities; it is this work that makes each school unique as each community has its own character
I have put together examples of how each of our schools are building strong foundations in their communities that will help the school community to evolve and best serve the children. We also do all that we can to support all our children and young people to contribute and strengthen their own communities.
The Trust has strengthened Local Governing Bodies (LGB) and built upon the lines of communication so that our Governors from all schools in the Trust feel connected and more importantly an integral part of the journey of the Trust.
Our Trust has connected with Health, Police and Social Services in Shropshire to ensure that our children and communities are getting the support they need to thrive.
The Trust has a successful partnership with Shrewsbury school. We are sharing good practice in maths, careers, Sixth Form, ExpertEd and the development of talented sports people.
All schools are looking at ways to connect with their communities from open days at Longlands Primary School where the community were invited in to spend time in the social farm to the Marches School holding a kindness week, where they took cards with messages of gratitude to members of the Oswestry community.
We are fortunate that the Rotarians based in each of the areas that our schools are located in are proactively involved in supporting our schools through mock interviews, mentoring and fundraising to support special projects
Our schools continue to play a vital role in collecting and distributing food parcels to their communities.
The Trust has setup a connected charity, the 4 All Foundation to support our communities.
Sarah
Sarah Finch CEO, The Marches Academy Trust
At Lower Heath CE Primary, our school values of ‘love’ and ‘fellowship’ ensure that community is at the heart of all that we do. Through working with our families, the Trust, local businesses and charities, and wider organisations; we develop our pupils’ understanding of collaboration and partnership
Our curriculum, which is personalised to the interests of our children and the rural community around us, enables all children to reach their God-given potential and to be the very best that they can be. Pupils are given a range of opportunities to engage in sporting events, church community experiences, educational visits and workshops, and fundraisers These links and experiences shape the behaviour of our pupils towards others, and inspire our children to consider their own future pathways
Helen Helen Reynolds Headteacher, Lower Heath C of E Primary School
Working today to protect tomorrow
Marches Academy Trust is committed to creating schools of the future that promotes learning for life by ensuring we deliver our Trust core values of excellence, equality, integrity, empathy and creativity in everything that we do. An important part of this pivotal role includes the way we engage with our communities to ensure a sustainable, ethical and inclusive future.
Our Trust recognise it is critical to deliver inclusive education, sustainable environments and healthy spaces for all of our children and young people, staff and communities whilst minimising our impact on the environment and protecting the future of our planet.
We embrace our social obligation and recognise that as global citizens, we have a moral responsibility to contribute to the wellbeing of our environment and wider society. As such our Trust seeks to actively make socially responsible decisions in all it does so that together we can grow.
Our Community Plan
Action / Aim Time Frame
Build community contacts through Lower Heath Courageous Advocacy projects
Embed class and whole school courageous advocacy projects so pupils are inspired to make change and support local charities and organisations.
Termly activities led by children
Work with Holy Immanuel Church and the Parochial Church Council to establish a culture of volunteering at Lower Heath
Continue with termly volunteering activities involving parents and the wider community to develop our school site.
Establish a voluntary calendar where KS2 children take part in some form of volunteering to support their local community.
Termly activities
Begin in September 2024
Continue to develop our wrap around care, Stay and Play facilities and workshops to enable Lower Heath to engage with more families
Investigate different ways to offer stay and play to appeal to the wider community.
Extend the availability of wraparound care to accommodate parents’ needs allowing flexibility of drop-off and pick-up times
Organise workshops for parents on topics such as sleep, child development and internet safety.
Review in September 2024
Review in December 2024
Termly activities relevant to need
Establish collaboration with Nishkam Primary School, Wolverhampton
Arrange virtual exchanges between children from Lower Heathand Nishkam to share cultural experiences and collaborative projects Through 2024
Set up a pen pal programme where students exchange letters or emails with their peers to foster cultural understanding and friendship. Spring 2024
Arrange a visit to Nishkam for some children do develop their understanding of a multicultural school.
Summer 2025
Build community contacts through Futures Focus and Enterprise days
Invite local employers in to inspire future careers for our children.
Facilitate an Enterprise Week to inspire entrepreneurship in children, inviting in local businesses.
Bi annually 2024 and 2026
Bi annually 2025 and 2027
4 All Foundation
The Marches Academy Trust set up an independent, registered charity, 4 All Foundation in July 2023.
The Foundation is dedicated to delivering local, accessible activities, projects and initiatives to support the needs and aspirations of communities across Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin. As a multi-academy sponsor in Shropshire, the Marches Academy Trust is committed to empowering individuals within its network and neighbouring communities, fostering values of Achievement Through Caring to help everyone realise their full potential.
Supporting the local community
The 4 All Foundation began operating as a community organisation in 2022 and registered with the Charity Commission, as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), in June 2023 (Registered Charity number 1203479). The 4 All Foundation was founded by the Marches Academy Trust, with the aim of supporting those living in the communities where the Trust schools are located.
The 4 All Foundation carries out its charitable purposes supporting children, young people, adults, and older residents in Shropshire and the surrounding counties, to reach their full potential.
The Foundation responds to the needs of those in the community by working in partnership with local councils (Shropshire Council and Telford and Wrekin Council), other charities, and education providers, and by communicating directly with the local community.
The work of the charity is delivered through local community hubs, in partnership with local councils and through outreach work within the community, in high need areas.
Casestudy
At Lower Heath, our children are inspired by their curriculum learning and current affairs to create positive change both in school and in their local community through termly courageous advocacy projects. This generous spirit led our children to organise a sponsored cross-country colour run, a joyful, community event that not only supported physical and mental health but also raised funds for local charities. Over £500 was raised to share between The Lingen Davies Cancer Charity, Shropshire Mental Health Support and school funds to benefit positive mental health.
But the impact didn’t end there. With school’s share of the proceeds, children’s designs of a serene spiritual garden came to fruition. The local community rallied together, clearing the ground and planting seeds of hope. A local landscape gardener lent his expertise, while the Parochial Church Council and Parish Council generously contributed plants and furniture as finishing touches. Everyone involved in the spiritual garden project were invited to the opening worship led by Reverend Armstrong from Holy Immanuel Church in Fauls. A special community moment of gratitude and shared purpose. Our courageous advocacy projects will provide prolonged community benefit as our children continue to sow seeds of change.
