Hinckley Times

Improvemen­ts at Heath Lane school in latest key measures

Students at the academy improved by two-thirds of a grade

- NICHOLAS DAWSON nicholas.dawson@reachplc.com

A SCHOOL in Earl Shilton has been rated the most improved secondary school in Leicesters­hire.

According to the Government’s key measure of student progress, ‘Progress 8’, Heath Lane Academy has shown the most progress in 2019.

This year, students at the academy improved by twothirds of a grade more than in 2018.

Other Midlands Trust academies’ scores are improving rapidly too, with the Nuneaton Academy the second most improved school in Warwickshi­re for this measure, and the George Eliot School also in the top ten.

Marion Plant, CEO of the trust, said: “We’re really proud of the progress that our schools have made since the formation of the Midland Academies Trust.

“We recognise that there is more to do, and we are working hard to address the challenges within our schools through changes of leadership, re-structurin­g of resources and a reorganisa­tion of the curriculum.

“Our plans are now starting to make an impact with better results and increasing school rolls.

“We have introduced

ashared knowledge-rich, fiveyear curriculum across all four schools with common teaching methods, collaborat­ive planning and continuous profession­al developmen­t opportunit­ies for staff.

“These changes have already seen a significan­t transforma­tion in, for example, student behaviour, and, this year, the impact on academic performanc­e is starting to be felt.”

In 2019, three out of four of the MAT schools saw improvemen­ts in academic performanc­e at Key Stage 4, according to Department for Education league tables.

Megan Morris, principal of

Heath Lane Academy, said: “We were delighted to be commended by Ofsted following its inspection earlier this year for the progress the school has made in improving pupils’ behaviour and the quality of teaching.

“The report school as Good graded the overall highlighti­ng the strengthen­ing of the curriculum and the way the school has given careful thought to how pupils build up knowledge over time.

“We’re pleased at this endorsemen­t of the way we are implementi­ng new teaching and learning strategies.”

The MAT schools have overcome significan­t challenges in recruiting specialist staff.

We are really proud of the progress that our schools have made since the formation of the academy

 ??  ?? Heath Lane Academy. Picture: Google Street View
Heath Lane Academy. Picture: Google Street View

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