Grateful to Simon French, CEO of Alpha Academy Trust, for meeting me yesterday alongside Mr Bishop (Principal of Excel Academy) and Ms Lee (Principal of Sneyd Academy).
Exciting to see how the trust wants to provide high quality alternative provision across the Trust whilst ensuring a big focus on standards.
The tour of The Excel Academy showed a calm atmosphere with students engaged in their learning and staff displaying the passion for their subject.
A particular highlight was the change over between lessons where The Excel Academy has driven for calm and quiet corridors, exactly as Gavin Williamson (Secretary of State for Education) wants to see more of.
The progress of maths, currently at +0.4, over the last two examination years is also pleasing.
I have offered, as I will every school across Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke, a Friday where I will come in and be supply, in order to stay in touch with the classroom and witness the challenges teachers and pupils may face.
Education is the single biggest driver of social mobility. Better educations means better opportunities to access better quality post-16 that can lead to higher wage and higher skilled jobs.