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School Priorities

“Our vision is to create a school where every young person thrives academically, develops confidence and character, and is empowered to achieve their full potential. We believe that all students, regardless of background or starting point, deserve an exceptional education that inspires curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning.

We will foster a culture of high expectations, mutual respect, and inclusion, where students feel safe, valued, and challenged to be their best. Through outstanding teaching, a rich curriculum, and meaningful enrichment opportunities, we will equip our students with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to succeed in an ever-changing world. The school has four key values at the heart of its approach of knowledge, respect, resilience and kindness, that fosters a sense of belonging.

Working in partnership with families, staff, and the wider community, we will nurture responsible, compassionate, and ambitious young people who make a positive contribution to society and are prepared for the opportunities and challenges of the future.”

Values

THREE YEAR STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN 

Cecil Jones Academy's three year Strategic Development Plan focuses on the same seven areas as within the Ofsted Inspection Toolkit.
 

INCLUSION INTENT

Our intent is to create a genuinely inclusive secondary school where every student feels seen, valued, and able to achieve. Inclusion is not a separate strategy but the foundation of school improvement. We will ensure that barriers to learning are identified and removed, enabling all students—including those with SEND, disadvantaged backgrounds, EAL learners, and vulnerable groups—to access a rich and ambitious curriculum alongside their peers.
 

CURRICULUM AND TEACHING INTENT

Our intent is to provide a broad, ambitious, and knowledge-rich curriculum that enables every student to succeed, regardless of background, starting point, or need. We believe that all young people are entitled to an education that opens doors, broadens horizons, and prepares them for successful futures.

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure that students develop deep knowledge, understanding, and skills over time. It reflects both the national curriculum and the needs of our community, promoting academic excellence alongside creativity, critical thinking, and personal development. Through a culture of high expectations and inclusion, we will ensure that every student can access and succeed within an ambitious curriculum.

Teaching will be evidence-informed, adaptive, and rooted in strong subject expertise. We will create classrooms where students are engaged, challenged, and supported through clear explanations, effective questioning, purposeful practice, and responsive feedback. Literacy, oracy, numeracy, and digital competence will be developed across the curriculum to enable students to access learning and thrive beyond school.

By fostering curiosity, resilience, and a love of learning, we will equip students with the knowledge, confidence, and character required to contribute positively to society and succeed in an ever-changing world.
 

ACHIEVEMENT INTENT

Our curriculum is designed to provide all students with a broad, balanced, and ambitious education that enables them to acquire the knowledge, skills, and cultural capital they need to succeed in learning and in life. We aim for every student to achieve highly, regardless of their starting point, through a carefully sequenced curriculum that develops deep subject knowledge, critical thinking, resilience, and independence.

We are committed to ensuring that students build secure understanding over time, make meaningful connections between concepts, and develop the confidence to apply their learning in a range of contexts. Through high expectations and inclusive practice, we support all learners to fulfil their potential and be well prepared for the next stage of education, employment, and active participation in modern British society.
 

ATTENDANCE AND BEHAVIOUR INTENT

Our intent is to create a school culture where attendance is recognised as fundamental to achievement, wellbeing, and future success. We will foster a strong sense of belonging so that every student wants to attend, feels valued when they are here, and understands the importance of being present every day.

Through high expectations, robust systems, and strong partnerships with families, we will identify barriers to attendance early and provide timely support. We will use attendance information intelligently to secure equitable outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged, vulnerable, and persistently absent students. Attendance is everyone’s responsibility, and our aim is for every student to access the full richness of school life, enabling them to thrive academically, socially, and personally.

 

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND WELLBEING INTENT

Our intent is to develop confident, resilient, and compassionate young people who are equipped to thrive in education, employment, and life. We believe that personal development and wellbeing are fundamental to academic success and that every student should feel safe, valued, respected, and empowered to achieve their potential.

We will provide a rich and inclusive personal development curriculum that broadens horizons, celebrates diversity, and promotes active citizenship. Through meaningful opportunities for leadership, enrichment, service, and personal reflection, students will develop the knowledge, skills, and character needed to contribute positively to their communities and wider society.

We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging where positive relationships, student voice, and emotional wellbeing are prioritised. Through effective pastoral support, high-quality personal, social, health and economic education, and strong partnerships with families and external agencies, we will ensure that students develop the confidence, self-awareness, and resilience required to navigate an increasingly complex world.

By placing wellbeing at the heart of our school culture, we will create an environment where every young person can flourish academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.
 

LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE INTENT

Our intent is to provide principled, values-driven leadership that creates a culture of excellence, inclusion, and continuous improvement. We believe that effective leadership at all levels is fundamental to securing outstanding outcomes for young people and ensuring that every member of our school community can thrive.

We will foster a culture of high expectations, professional trust, and collective responsibility, where staff are empowered to lead, innovate, and develop their expertise. Through clear strategic direction, evidence-informed decision-making, and rigorous self-evaluation, we will ensure that school improvement remains focused on what matters most: the achievement, wellbeing, and personal development of every student.

Governance will provide both support and challenge, ensuring accountability, financial sustainability, and a relentless focus on educational quality. Governors and trustees will work collaboratively with school leaders to uphold the school’s vision, champion inclusion, and ensure that resources are directed towards improving outcomes and opportunities for all learners.

Together, leadership and governance will create a school where students experience an ambitious education, staff feel valued and supported, and the wider community has confidence in the school’s ability to deliver excellence now and in the future.
 

POST-16 INTENT

Our intent is to provide an ambitious and inclusive Post-16 education that enables every student to achieve excellence, develop independence, and successfully transition to their chosen next steps. We will create a culture of high expectations, academic curiosity, and personal responsibility, ensuring that all students are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and character required for higher education, employment, apprenticeships, and lifelong learning.

Through a broad and carefully planned curriculum, expert teaching, and high-quality pastoral support, we will ensure that students deepen their subject knowledge while developing critical thinking, communication, leadership, and self-management skills. Our Post-16 provision will foster intellectual confidence, encourage aspiration, and prepare students to navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.

We are committed to ensuring that every student is known, supported, and challenged. By providing meaningful enrichment opportunities, strong careers education, employer engagement, and personalised guidance, we will help students make informed decisions and secure ambitious destinations that reflect their talents, interests, and aspirations.

Our Post-16 will be a community where students thrive academically, contribute positively to school life, and develop into confident, responsible, and socially aware young adults.