Stuart Anderson MP has welcomed a package of measures to help level up opportunities for the most disadvantaged pupils across the country, including in the City of Wolverhampton. It includes plans to expand the number of academy schools and to move struggling schools into strong multi-academy trusts (MATS), thereby transforming outcomes in lower performing areas. As part of the plans, Tettenhall Wood School will become an academy, while The King's Church of England School will become a sponsored academy within the Three Spires Trust.
The academies programme has grown considerably since 2010, improving outcomes for children and unlocking the hard-earned expertise of teachers and school leaders. Over the past 10 years, school standards have improved rapidly – 86% of schools are now rated Good or Outstanding, compared to 68% in 2010. More than 7 out of 10 sponsored academies are now rated Good or Outstanding compared to around 1 in 10 of the local authoritymaintained schools they replaced. What started off as reforms designed to turn around a small number of the most challenging schools in England has grown to the point where multi academy trusts (MATs) are now spreading excellence across every type of school, in every type of community. Stuart has welcomed the plans for the two schools in Wolverhampton, which will help to build on the successes academisation over the last decade - boosting outcomes for those pupils who most need our help as we level up opportunity across the country.
A year ago, the Government set out its ambitions in the White Paper - ‘Opportunity for all’ - to drive up educational standards by ensuring all schools can benefit from the support of a high-quality multi academy trust (MAT) - a strong family of schools in which they can from the support of the best in the group and the resilience that comes from being part of a larger group of schools. The best MATs deliver a great education and results for pupils, particularly for the most disadvantaged and those with Special Education Needs or Disabilities. They also help teachers to manage workload and create career opportunities by working as a family of schools. They spread their impact beyond their schools to the wider education system through initiatives such as teaching school hubs, sharing a curriculum, and optimising the use of resources so they reinvest in their pupils.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “Every child deserves a high quality education no matter where they grow up. Academies are at the heart of our ambition to drive sustained improvements in all schools and transform children’s educational outcomes for the better. They enable the strongest leaders to take responsibility for supporting more schools and ensure that children benefit from a strong, supportive family of schools that can deliver a broad and ambitious curriculum. That’s why I am delighted that Wolverhampton King's Church of England and Tettenhall Wood School will both benefit from this. I look forward to continuing to work with them both as they benefit from the new status.”
Schools Systems Minister Baroness Barran said: “We know the best multi academy trusts deliver a great education and results for pupils, particularly the most disadvantaged and those with Special Education Needs or Disabilities… We are delighted with this package which will scale up the impact of high-quality multi academy trusts and support the most disadvantaged pupils in the country, levelling up opportunities for all.”