Why did you enter The Investors in People Awards 2020? 

We were encouraged to enter the awards by Investors in People themselves as we were identified as a Top 20 Employer within our category following on from our recent accreditation.   In addition we felt our school fully met the award criteria and our staff and children in the school deserved to be recognised for all their great efforts.  We are very proud of how far our school has travelled since opening. 

You’ve been announced as a Finalist – what does that mean to you and your people? 

Being announced as a finalist means a huge amount to us as an employer, but also to our employees who have gone considerably above and beyond to help make our school a success. We have all worked tirelessly since opening the school to offer our pupils a high-quality learning experience and build the reputation of the school. 

We are a fresh start school, having taken over the site of a school which was forced to close in 2015 due to serious financial weaknesses and an unsatisfactory OFSTED and other external inspections.  Despite the significant investment necessary and associated reputational risks it was agreed to forge ahead and create the school to meet our local children’s needs.  We have achieved a huge amount in a very short space of time since we opened in 2017.   We are now at pupil capacity,  this has led us to secure additional premises that better meet our staffing and pupil needs.   Having clear direction, investing and valuing  our staff with assistance from Investors in People  has led to a “positive can do team working culture” 

What would you say is the stand out point in your entry? 

 We believe that what sets us apart from other Investors in People organisations, is the unique school family inclusive and collaborative approach that we have created ensuring our staff feel valued, have a voice and able to grow as individuals.  This whole organisational approach positively impacts staff thinking and more widely within the local community that the school serves. 

What would it mean to win? 

To win would be amazing and a great boost for the school as a whole, especially the staff, pupils, parents and carers who are proud of their school.   It would just be the icing on the cake, to be announced a finalist is a huge achievement in itself, but to win would just be phenomenal and the perfect end to what has been a particularly challenging year for all.