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About Coombe Academy Trust
Coombe Academy Trust is a well-established, respected multi academy trust (MAT) which comprises three Nursery and Primary Schools, two Secondary Schools and a joint Sixth Form, with over 3450 children and young people. In addition, within our schools we have five Specialist Resource Provisions from nursery through to Key Stage Four for pupils with Autism, severe learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, hearing loss and speech and language and communication needs.
Coombe Trust has a balance of academies at different starting points in their journey of improvement, therefore creating effective capacity for sponsorship. We ensure that we have high performing academies in primary and secondary phases as part of our family and that all schools are on the journey to high performance. We work as one entity to improve and maintain a high standard across the Trust. As a Trust we are seeking to expand the areas that we support. We are well placed to support any phase of education from Nursery through to Sixth Form, including settings providing SEND support. Full details can be seen within our Growth Strategy.
Trust Leaflet - 2024/25
Our History of School Improvement
The Coombe Academy Trust was founded in 2012 from the federation of Coombe Boys’ School (Good with Outstanding leadership) and Coombe Girls’ School (Good with Outstanding features).The newly formed Multi-Academy Trust built on an already very strong partnership between the two schools’ leadership teams. As a Sponsor, Knollmead Primary School joined the Trust in April 2014 (now Good with Outstanding features), Green Lane Primary & Nursery School in September 2018 (now Good 2023) and Robin Hood Primary & Nursery School in September 2019 (Good 2024).
What makes Coombe Academy Trust unique?
Our Specialist Resource Provisions
The Coombe Academy Trust is proud to have a total of 5 Specialist Resource Provisions (SRPs), two have been opened in the last two years. The SRPs are integral to the Coombe Academy Trust community and each SRP has specialist staff who deliver high quality teaching and provision to children with identified needs.Inclusion is a key driver behind our vision and is supported by our CEO, an experienced Special Educational Needs leader.
Inclusion is a key driver behind our Preparing you for a world of opportunity vision and is supported by our CEO, an experienced Special Educational Needs leader.
Nursery to Sixth Form Curriculum Collaboration
Coombe Trust Schools benefit from a collaborative advantage; they have a strong history of mutual support and reciprocity. Trust curricula are built around common principles of Strong Foundations, Aspirations for all, Broad and Balanced, Enriched Experiences and Challenge and Depth. Leaders and practitioners from across Trust schools work together through an evidenced based approach across a range of trust research groups. This year the curriculum research groups are focusing on Oracy skills and feedback.
Our School Improvement Support
CEO
Our CEO leads the School-to-School improvement team and has extensive experience supporting schools identified as Inadequate and Requiring Improvement at primary school level and Requiring Improvement at secondary levels. She previously opened a newly built primary school, achieving Outstanding in its first inspection and is experienced in working in areas of 40-65% Pupil Premium. As a SEND specialist, she previously tutored on the SENDco accreditation course; worked as a Whole School SEND lead, including providing support to some Local Authorities. She currently facilitates the NPQSEND, works as an Area SEND Inspector for Ofsted and leads on THRIVE well being practice across the Trust.
The CEO is chair of the Schools Forum High Needs group and a member of Wandle Teaching School Hub Partnership and Strategic Board.
Senior Leaders Working Collaboratively
All Headteachers contribute to school improvement across the Trust through termly Reflective Practice Reviews. These reviews, conducted by specialist staff from across the Trust, act as a catalyst for subsequent training and tailored team support in the following terms. They also enhance the expertise and capacity of the practitioners involved. Additionally, schools benefit from Trust-led SEND reviews, DSL supervision, and governance support.
A range of external partners, including universities and specialist staff from other Trusts, support these reviews, ensuring that we remain an outward-facing Trust continually striving for further improvement.
Within CAT, an increasing number of teachers and staff collaborate across both the primary and secondary phases.
Headteachers and senior leaders across the Trust work closely with the Wandle Teaching School Hub to deliver the NPQH, NPQSEND, and NPQSL programmes. The growing alignment of our curriculum has led all schools within the Trust to adopt the Mathematics Mastery approach and collaborate with the Mathematics Hubs. One of our Mathematics Leaders, an NCETM Accredited Professional Development Lead, further enhances this work.
Our Central Team Support
Our Central Team ensures the smooth running of the Trust and includes:
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Operations Support - admissions, compliance, marketing, websites, procurement and data protection
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Human Resource (HR) Team led by our Director of HR - including supporting non CAT schools
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IT Services Team led by our Director of IT
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Health and Safety and Premises led by our Director of Estates
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Finance Support Team led by our Director of Finance
Please do get in touch for any enquiries:
[email protected]
Collaboration.
Ambition.
Trust.