Primary schools which have been taken over by Ambitions Academies Trust (AAT) have made marked progress at key stage 2, according to the latest performance tables.
Manorside Academy in Poole – taken on by AAT in April 2015 – has reached the government required standards in reading, writing and maths for the first time in five years.
While King’s Park Academy – which had serious weaknesses in teaching, learning and behaviour when it joined AAT in 2014 – is now the top performing school in Bournemouth for progress in English and maths.
Ambitions Academies Trust Director of Primary Education Alex Prout pictured with pupils and Associate Principals Sarah Rempel of Manorside Academy, Sarah Simmons of Queens Park Academy and Lauren Dean of Kings Park Academy
Manorside Academy, in Evering Avenue, Poole, was previously run by the local authority.
Since joining AAT its pupil numbers have grown by a third.
The academy has also become a top performer in Early Years Development with an 83 per cent Good Level of Development (GLD) score – the second highest score in Poole.
Alex Prout, the Director of Early Years and Primary Education at Ambitions Academies Trust, said: “The progress made by both Manorside and King’s Park is testament to the success of the Ambitions Rapid Improvement Model.
“Our leadership teams set outstanding standards in teaching, behaviour and pupil attainment, with the goal of making every academy, regardless of its history, outstanding.”
She continued: “Manorside had been classed as bottom of the table for too long. Our leadership team headed by Sarah Rempel, has achieved significant results in a very short time and will not stop until it is an outstanding school.
“King’s Park meanwhile, will undergo an Ofsted inspection this year and I am confident that associate principal Lauren Dean will lead it to the outstanding grade it deserves.”
AAT also operates Queen’s Park Academy in East Way, Bournemouth.
Queen’s Park was in special measures when AAT took over and is now graded outstanding.
It has now been awarded National Support School status and has assisted improvements at Manorside Academy, King’s Park Academy and other local schools outside of the Trust.
Sian Thomas interim chief executive of Ambitions Academies Trust, said: “These results are extremely encouraging and show how the Ambitions Improvement Model is raising standards across our primary academies.”
She continued: “Our recent Progress 8 results for our secondary academy St Aldhelm’s, though disappointing, will also improve steadily as the improvement model takes effect. The academy was recently removed from special measures and is moving forward as a Good school.”
Places are available at both Manorside and King’s Park academies, for more information visit: www.manorside-academy.co.uk/ or www.kingspark-academy.co.uk/
Media information – Debbie Granville, account director at Deep South Media, on 01202 534487 mobile: 07884 657782 or email: debbie.granville@deepsouthmedia.co.uk
Picture captions: Ambitions Academies Trust Director of Primary Education Alex Prout (front) pictured with pupils and Associate Principals Sarah Rempel of Manorside Academy, Sarah Simmons of Queens Park Academy and Lauren Dean of Kings Park Academy.
Notes for editors
Ambitions Academies Trust (AAT), formerly Tregonwell Multi-Academy Trust, comprises schools from all sectors – mainstream (primary and secondary) and special. These are: Queen’s Park Academy, Longspee Special School, King’s Park Academy, Little Ambers Nursery, Manorside Academy, St Aldhelm’s Academy and Ambitions Teaching School.
