Reflection on the Academic Year

As we near the end of our final term and start to look forward to the summer holidays, it is important to reflect on the 24/25 academic year and all of the success it has brought us. Our success is due to the fantastic staff who work tirelessly in our schools for the good of the students and their families. 

Ofsted Reflection 

All schools at Cheviot Learning Trust are rated Good by Ofsted, with many of them identified with outstanding aspects in key areas. Our approach to supporting schools through collaboration has allowed for rapid response for the schools most in need, meaning children can thrive in their environments. This approach has also seen school staff contributing to educational projects, working together on a shared curriculum and exploring the importance of staff wellbeing. 

SEND 

In January, we welcomed a new SEND lead to the Trust, and have been able to support schools with key SEND challenges, as well as bringing SENDCOs together to explore shared solutions and innovative ways of working. Through the collaborative approach between schools, there has been a development of shared approaches to paperwork, taking the best ideas and circulating them throughout the Trust. 

A pilot SEND peer review was trialled and was seen as a great success and efficient practice, so it will be rolled out across schools. It helps the school think about its strengths and areas for improvement, encouraging professionals to respectfully challenge each other to work as effectively as possible towards excellent outcomes for pupils with SEND.

This year, we’ve worked closely with a range of outside organisations to strengthen support for pupils. We were proud to be asked to lead a SEND working group for Trusts across Northumberland, helping schools collaborate more effectively. We're also working with the Local Authority, NHS, and social care teams to find better ways to support SEND pupils in the west of the county.

Student Wellbeing

Over this year, we have continued our relationship with Still Human, focusing on the importance of good wellbeing in schools. 

To have higher quality meals to feed our children, we have outsourced the catering function for 12 schools to Hutchinson Catering. This change intends on supporting out staff, as well as feeding the children some amazing food!

Infrastructure

There has been £8.465m investment in buildings, including a new sports hall and synthetic pitch at KEVI. Thanks to a successful grant application, the heating systems have been replaced in Dr Thomlinson Middle School and Whittonstall First School.

In addition, most Trust schools now benefit from LED lighting and solar panels that produce in excess of 40% of their electricity needs. The Trust electricity supplier provides power solely from renewable power. This is a great effort for one of our core values of supporting sustainability efforts.

The Trust Board

The board appointed three new trustees this year, following a recruitment process. In three areas, we made changes to how schools are governed by bringing some local boards together where schools share leadership. This new approach has worked well so far, and the new boards are continuing to strengthen how they monitor schools and make sure they’re delivering the best possible outcomes for pupils.

We have also been able to offer a suite of training to governors, helping them explore key aspects of their role, as well as helping them work collaboratively with governors from other parts of the Trust. 

Staff training

Alongside Still Human, we have provided training surrounding staff wellbeing, ultimately benefiting the wellbeing, learning and development of all our students. We have encouraged collaborative training, encouraging respectful, supportive relationships so that every staff member feels valued and can continue to grow. This helps build strong relationships and ensures everyone is working in a consistent way, which makes transitions between schools smoother for students.

Many of our staff have been funded to develop their skills and knowledge via apprenticeships, including a business management degree, business management level 4s, as well as accountancy and teaching assistant qualifications.

Our Three Rivers Teaching School Hub has also gone from strength to strength, leading the way in teacher training and development across the region. Over 1,200 teachers have taken part in our programmes this year. A key highlight has been the launch of the Associate College, in partnership with the National Institute of Teaching. This means even more teachers across the region will have access to high-quality training.

We’ve also made great progress in training new teachers, with the launch of Northumberland Teacher Training to help schools in our local area recruit and retain passionate, skilled staff. We’re proud to have record numbers of new primary teacher trainees starting in September 2025.

Looking towards the future

Although we have faced some challenges this year, we are proud of the achievements in the Trust, and are grateful for everyone’s hard work and support. It has been wonderful to work with so many dedicated staff and see the power of collaboration in action to benefit the children. 

We look forward to watching the development of the Trust, staff, and particularly pupils across the Cheviot Learning trust in 2025/ 26.