Welcome to The Olympus Academy Trust, a federation launched on 1st January 2012 to manage Bradley Stoke Community School (BSCS).

The Trust's mission and shared vision are clear that collaborative working is a fundamental part of the way we choose to operate, to ensure that students achieve their potential whilst promoting efficient use of our collective resources and specialist facilities.  This has never been more important than now due to the fast pace of change in the education sector.  Through its Education White Paper, the government has set out its  national educational priorities and clearly, the governance team will need to maintain their high levels of strategic awareness and leadership by anticipating, debating and making informed decisions based on the associated challenges and opportunities within the local context. 

The revised governance structure has been designed to be fit for purpose but also fit for future; organised to ensure the delivery of its vision and education aims and objectives set out in the 3 year strategic business plan and supported by the BSCS Vision Implementation Plan.  The Trust recognised that as an independent education establishment it's governance arrangements, already deemed 'outstanding' by Ofsted in the last inspection, would benefit from further strengthening.  Therefore the membership of all the new boards and committees was based on the outcomes of a skills audit to ensure that collectively, members of each board and committee were able to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to fulfil its roles and statutory obligations.  I am delighted to advise that following a robust recruitment and selection process, five new members joined us; ensuring that The Trust's governance team role models its commitment to diversity and inclusion and is equipped to manage its additional responsibilities as employers of staff.  Overall, it is a smaller more professionalised body but as before, its composition includes representation from parents, staff, community and the local authority.  Each individual contributes a particular area of strength and, through their commitment in time, participation in meetings and training, enables the provision of effective strategic leadership and governance; ensuring accountability for performance through appropriate levels of challenge and support in order to enhance and sustain high standards and student outcomes.

All committees report into the Group Board to ensure teaching and learning and progress for ALL students is in line with expectations and offers value for money.  There are a number of nominated leads within the team, for example, I am the link for all special educational needs and disability (SEND) students and undertake regular visits to focus on the progress and achievement of some of the more vulnerable members of our community.  I am very proud of our students and the way in which they strive to live up to the high expectations set around attendance, behaviour and attitudes to learning.  I am equally proud of our staff who dedicate so much of their time, above and beyond their usual roles and responsibilities, to ensure that ALL students have access to an enriched learning experience in an environment which supports a culture of inclusion so that students are stretched but feel supported and safe.  The last set of data showed BSCS had the highest record of student attendance and lowest record of exclusions within the authority and the impact of teaching at BSCS is evident in the last two years' GCSE exam results.  Plus I must pass on our congratulations to one of our first cohort of students who has been accepted into Oxford University!

Despite being the first secondary school in the country to be awarded a 'gold'  Engaging Parents Quality Award, the shared vision includes an aim to enage further with our parents and the local community.  As such, your feedback and input is always welcome as we try to encourage school, parents and students to work together to support learning at home and for students to be outward facing within the community.  There are a variety of different ways to make a difference depending on your interests and time commitments so please do get in touch to tell us your ideas. 

Together we can help drive school improvement;  ensuring each child fulfils their potential and is equipped to make the right choices as they move into adulthood and becoming an integral part of the local community.

Kind regards,

Claire Emery
Chair of Directors

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