Ruth Robinson
@RuthKRobinson
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Now retired, former executive principal of @NovaHreodUL and @SwindonAcademy1 .
Swindon
Joined August 2012
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A thread about Isolation and Booths...
We have almost 900 students at our school. We serve the two most deprived wards in our town. Over 50% of the school population are eligible for Pupil Premium. Our cohorts are predominantly white British.
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So our big behaviour reset happened last week. Thank you to everyone for your good wishes. Lots of folk have asked how it went, so here goes.
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Many colleagues are talking about the challenges we face with behaviour post-lockdown. Truancy, lateness to lessons and defiance can eat away at a school’s culture. The impact on pupils, staff and achievement can ultimately ruin the life chances of the most disadvantaged.
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Over years our pupils gain immeasurably in terms of learning, confidence and qualifications. We offer them the potential of a bright future. It is for this reason that we won’t ever think about banning the booths. FIN
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Here’s my two-penneth on ‘pen-gate’. Teachers who work in deprived areas know only too well how a lack of equipment can waste time and de-rail the start of a lesson.
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This system is strict but it isn’t draconian. It works because it’s fair and because everyone understands it. The worst thing you can do in a challenging school is to back down on behaviour. We owe it to all of our pupils, but definitely to the most challenging, to hold the line.
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Well yesterday was very emotional. As of 1st September I retired after 40 years as a teacher. We had a champagne breakfast at our lakeside camping pitch, a ferry trip to Bardolino, a lovely retirement lunch, a sunset swim and supper by the lake.
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Hoping to bring some balance to the argument about removal rooms. It’s important that Headteachers who run challenging schools are heard. We also need to bear in mind the rights of all pupils to learn in disruption free classrooms. Who’s with me?
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There had been some discussion of the Teach Like A Champion technique SLANT this weekend, with it being described by
@PhilBeadle
as a ‘crude technique of coercion’.
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The impact of this approach is that every single lesson taught at the school is disruption free. No teacher is ever talked over. Pupils are not rude. Pupils don’t refuse to work.
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We initiate interventions and plan reasonable adjustments. We provide support and training for staff who may need it. What we don’t do is to lower our classroom expectations.
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There’s still more to do, and a long way to go but we’re pleased with how it’s going. I hope you’ve all had a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend. Back to it tomorrow!
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No matter how many days they might spend in The R Zone, every day and every lesson that pupils can spend in disruption free classrooms is worth it.
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There are some pupils who are ‘repeat offenders’, who spend more time than is ideal in The R Zone. We monitor the register closely and intervene with these pupils. We analyse and assess the triggers. We check for undiagnosed SEN.
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We have developed this system with staff and students over eight years. Over time, it has become more rigorous and consistent. Our pupils benefit from lessons where teachers can teach without disruption, and where every pupil is expected to contribute.
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Don’t believe the detractors. Listen to the leaders in tough schools who take on the challenge of making sure that disadvantaged pupils get the education and the future they deserve.
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@s_hall_teach
This is why we’re working with
@NIFDI
to introduce a DI programme in our Nursery 4 and Reception classes. Over 250 children will benefit. We believe the Language for Learning programme, alongside rich opportunities for play and reading will make a huge difference.
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It was my mom’s funeral today. I was so proud when my daughter and niece stepped up and insisted that two of the male pall bearers should stand aside so that they could carry their Nan’s coffin. It was a fitting tribute to my fierce mom who stood no nonsense from the men. 💕
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Next week is the big behaviour re-set. Don’t be in any doubt - this is hard. It is easier to blame external factors like the impact of lockdown and do nothing. But leaders in challenging schools have to be brave. We have to act to ensure that the vulnerable are not let down.
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If any of this type of behaviour occurs, there is one warning. If there is a second incident of poor behaviour, then the pupil is sent to The R Zone.
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An unexpected and wonderful thing happened tonight. What a way to end a career that has enriched my life. I owe so much to those who have supported me over the past 20 years. Thank you to every colleague I have met and worked with and to my lovely Twitter family x
Join us in congratulating Ruth Robinson from Swindon Academy, the winner of the Secondary Lifetime Achievement Award!
🌟 Well done!
#BiEAwards2023
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1/2 “Hi all. On behalf of our team, I would like to thank you for all of your hard work around behaviour. Me personally, I have had the first day in around a Year where my lesson was not disrupted and the climate for learning was calm.
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As if speaking at ResearchEd Rugby wasn’t nerve racking enough, I’ve been invited onto the Today programme tomorrow morning to talk about how we’ve raised achievement for white working class pupils
@SwindonAcademy1
. Tune in at around 07.30am.
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Here’s what the site looked like on Wednesday morning as the late bell for period 1 rang:
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@tombennett71
I went on the Jeremy Vine show today to defend this approach. You can listen on BBC Sounds. It’s just over 1hour into the programme and I make a small contribution at 1h 19min. Leaders who serve disadvantaged communities know that prioritising attendance is vital.
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We also introduced much stricter rules in class. Pupils would receive two verbal warning on class and if they continued to disrupt learning, they would be removed to the Reflection Room. We had carefully planned work ready for them to do.
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@alwayswright73
We have used the Old Gym and have exam desks there. We expect numbers to reduce over time and have a smaller space ready. This table shows the amount of time spent in Reflection:
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We teach six 1 hour lessons each day. That means that there are 5,400 opportunities for pupils to be sent to the R Zone each day. (The R Zone is our name for Isolation). On average, 10 – 15 pupils will spend the day in The R Zone. They remain in The R Zone until 5.00pm.
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And that’s why we do it. We promised to reduce lateness and truancy and provide disruption free learning so that pupils could make the most of every minute of every lesson, thrive and achieve.
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So this is my take: we *should* expect pupils to bring the right equipment to school, but first, make sure you have the right whole-school systems in place to ensure it happens every day, every lesson.
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Robinson’s Retreats: because I work 4 days a week now, we’ve made it up to Barnard Castle this evening for a week of rest, relaxation and walking. The compulsory log burner has a modern twist!
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A note about this thread. It doesn’t relate to Swindon Academy where I have been Principal for 11 yrs. I was asked to join Nuneaton Academy for the last 6 months of my career. The SLT and staff at the school have been incredible - we’re working together to reset expectations.
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It is tough on pastoral leaders and senior leaders. We need to hold the line lesson after lesson, day after day. But it’s worth it.
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Using SLANT helps to get consistency. It supports ECTs, trainees and supply teachers. Fair enough, charismatic characters like
@PhilBeadle
might not need it, but there are plenty of teachers in challenging schools that do. Our staff all use it in solidarity with those that do.
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By the time the Late Bell rang the site was deserted. We looked at each other in amazement. There were still about 20 pupils late - they protested loudly at being sent to the Reflection Room for being a couple of minutes late - but we held the line.
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Frontline School: sorted. Live Teaching: sorted. Chrome Books:sorted. Free School Meal Vouchers: sorted. Staff and pupil weekly testing: sorted. Wireless routers for pupils with no internet: sorted. What an amazing Cluster team!
@SwindonAcademy1
@NovaHreodUL
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Following adult instruction is key. Too many pupils were ignoring requests from staff and this was sometimes turning to defiance. Our ‘instructions’ are requests that are delivered with warmth and with a ‘please’ - but we expect pupils to comply.
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Robinson’s Retreats: After 40 years in teaching, School’s Out Forever. I had the most wonderful send-off from friends and colleagues
@SwindonAcademy1
. Farewell to my comrade Karen - after 20 years working together, the school is in safe hands. Retirement, here I come!
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Here’s my first amigurumi crochet project - my new hobby. It’s reminded me of the importance of direct instruction and guided practice (thanks to YouTube) and then deliberate practice and hours of patience. It certainly takes my mind off remote learning and lateral flow tests!
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The same thing happened at every lesson crossover. Pupils moved to lessons with more purpose. They went straight there - and didn’t hand around to have conversations. By Thursday morning, the number of lates had reduced again - and the same on Friday.
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On Tuesday, the Education Select Committee will hear the views of school leaders regarding outcomes for white working class pupils. I’m pleased to have been asked to contribute and glad that MPs will hear the views of serving Headteachers.
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I disagree. If you have ever spent time in classrooms in challenging schools, you will sometimes see pupils slouching, heads on desks, earphones in, feet on chairs, turning around, ignoring the teacher and learning very little.
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Each removal will involve the loss of social time (break, lunch or home-time). This is a deterrent to help pupils make the right decision, regulate their behaviour and remain in lessons.
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As difficult as it can be, leaders in challenging schools sometimes have to bite the bullet and RE-SET expectations.
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@HeyMissSmith
I’d like to respectfully disagree. I’ve watched ECTs struggle to control challenging pupils in disadvantaged schools. Training new staff in TLaC techniques gives them a toolkit to become quickly efficient in behaviour management so they can build relationships and thrive.
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We’re really proud of the fantastic GCSE results achieved by Y11
@SwindonAcademy1
. Despite serving two of the most deprived wards in Swindon, and with over 50% of pupils eligible for the Pupil Premium, both attainment and progress were well above the national average.
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Robinson’s Retreats: We’ll, it won’t be the gentle journey to retirement I’d planned! I’ve agreed to be the Executive Principal at Nuneaton Academy, which is in special measures. So my wonderful and husband agreed we could move back to Solihull for 6 months. Love a challenge!
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@HeyMissSmith
We’ve used the techniques for 10 years so we know it’s not a gimmick. Compared to the CPD offered in the first 30 years of my career, the guidance, strategies and shared language provided by TLaC is unparalleled in teaching. Take it away and what do you replace it with?
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We waited at the gates with baited breath on Wed morning. We were amazed. Pupils were earlier to school than ever. Large numbers of pupils who are usually late were on time. The first bell rang; SLT and pastoral leaders in high viz jackets marshalled pupils into registration.
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In lessons, pupils will be given two verbal reminders if their behaviour is disrupting learning. If the disruption continues, the pupils is removed so that the lesson can proceed without further disruption.
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A short thread about face masks.
Some folk seem bemused by the reluctance of schools that operate ‘warm-strict’ behaviour policies to introduce compulsory face masks. I’m happy to explain (from my own perspective) why this is the case.
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2/2 I have spoken with the team and they all feel the same. I know your end has been rough but I just wanted to let you know the impact you are having.”
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@amymayforrester
It’s my 60th birthday today. Plans for a family celebration have changed over time - from New York, to London to New Forest to Marlborough. When that was finally cancelled, my hubby brought me some disco lights, and we’re dancing the New Year in - in the kitchen with Champagne.
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We’re away with 165 Year 8 students and 22 staff from
@NovaHreodUL
camping in the grounds of
@AshburnhamPlace
. Last night was the Night Walk. Tonight it’s the legendary staff vs students water fight!
@UnitedLearning
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We have identified 25 of our most prolific truanters. They have been put on our Truancy Response Plan. We will work with the pupils & families to identify issues with lessons, friendships or home and plan effective support to get these pupils back into lessons and learning.
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I’m thrilled to be presenting at researchED Rugby in May. I’ll be sharing how we’ve built our school culture over 8 years, focussing on excellent behaviour, a knowledge rich curriculum, exceptional pastoral care and a fantastic extra curricular programme.
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5 years ago, there were 584 pupils on roll in the secondary phase
@SwindonAcademy1
. This week, we topped 1,000 pupils for the first time. We are oversubscribed with waiting lists in every year. Parents love our promise of disruption free learning.
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And another one:
1/2 “Evening. I need to echo this message. In what was undoubtably my best day at TNA since I started in Sept, ALL lessons were calm, my learning walks showed lessons were controlled well, the scripts were being followed AND students were responding well.
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Back in 2014 at
@SwindonAcademy1
we started to tackle this culture of lesson disruption. We closed early in the Summer and spent 3 days training staff in TLaC. Among the techniques we use is SLANT. It really means, sit up, face the front and focus. Listen to your teacher.
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After a week introducing our new rules and a ‘dry run’ week, last Wednesday we started for real. Senior leaders were rightly apprehensive. Would we be able to cope with the numbers in the Reflection Room? Would lateness and truancy reduce? Would behaviour in lessons improve?
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All credit is due to Karen Wright and her team in the secondary phase for these exceptional results. One of the reasons pupils achieve like this is because they learned to SLANT in Year 7 - to listen, to focus, to learn.
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Whilst we’re excited to be welcoming Y10 back to school on Monday, there’s something quite heartbreaking about the measures we’ve had to put in place, and way learning will be affected. Our leaders have worked exceptionally hard to make sure staff and students will be safe.
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Pupils who attend these schools often leave Year 11 with qualifications much worse than their peers in middle class schools. Even the pupils who want to learn have their lessons ruined by the constant disruption of the challenging pupils.
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Last Saturday I was privileged to speak at
#rEDRugby
. Click here to listen to the session and find out ‘How Tough Love and Evidence Informed Practice Can Transform White Working-Class Schools’.
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Really looking forward to sharing the story of
@SwindonAcademy1
at
#rEDRugby
tomorrow. I’ll be taking delegates on a 17 year journey of headship in some of the toughest schools in England and reflecting on behaviour, teaching, Ofsted and league tables.
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When this happens in every classroom in every lesson, pupils take in the explanation. New learning starts to make sense to them. They start to understand new concepts and procedures.
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We’ve been working flat out to contact our parents who work in key services so that we can open our ‘Frontline School’ on Monday. The Frontline School for
@UnitedLearning
schools in Swindon will be based
@SwindonAcademy1
. I’m so proud of the incredible response from staff.
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This week was ‘dry run’ week. All Pastoral Leaders and SLT were on duty in high viz jackets at every lesson change to move pupils on with warmth and cheery greetings. Already pupils are moving to lessons with more purpose. Heads are high and staff are noticing the difference.
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And over time, the calm and focus that SLANT provides makes a difference. At
@SwindonAcademy1
, 50% of pupils are eligible for PP and over 80% are White British. In 2022, 62% of Y11 achieved grade 5 in English and maths making it the top performing school in Swindon.
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If you’re interested in the arguments about discipline in schools, do have a listen. It’s rare to have an hour of quality time to discuss education. Trigger warning:
#SLANT
#Isolation
#Teach
Like A Champion. AntiSocial - Discipline in schools - BBC Sounds
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@debrakidd
@StevenNotMum
We are doing that too, Debra. We are meeting families to explore just this. We have two safeguarding leads, a full time counsellor and a family liaison officer. Some behaviour is a choice - we are working hard to identify where additional support is needed.
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How wonderful - our first ever
@SwindonAcademy1
ex- pupil to return and train as a teacher with
@United_Teaching
. Welcome back, Chiarna!
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I rarely tweet family stuff here, but yesterday we lost Molly, my wonderful MiL, and beloved Nan to Tom and Holly. A strong Irish matriarch who came penniless from Ireland in the 50s, she adored her grandchildren. Covid-19 has robbed us of the chance to come together in grief.
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So how did it go? Let the staff tell you themselves. On Thursday night, SLT received these unsolicited messages:
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@CParkinson535
@paulkhammond
@brianlightman
I have previously organised a ResearchEd event and I can categorically say that there was not a penny of funding from the DFE. Everything relied on the generosity of presenters speaking without payment. Attendees get some exceptional CPD. Hats off to the ResearchEd21 team!
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A lovely message from one of our
@SwindonAcademy1
parents that brought a tear to my eye. I’d like to dedicate it to all the teachers, TAs, support staff and headteachers busting a gut to educate the nation’s children in such difficult circumstances.
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Robinson’s Retreats: my mom is 90 today, so it’s been a weekend of celebrations. As a child my mom took us to our small local library in Handsworth Wood every week. When we’d read all the books there she took us on the bus to the big library in Handsworth. I owe her so much.
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@MrsSDalton75
@PhilBeadle
They didn’t leave with nothing, Sarah. Many got grade 4s in their core subjects. And our results are well above average for similar schools, so I think you’ll find it does work. But we’re always looking for ways to get even better. What do you suggest?
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Break time was an absolute dream in the H block, and we all recognise the effort you have all put in today.”
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A photo taken by my fierce, brilliant and angry daughter,
@holbolrob
at the Clapham Common vigil last night. The calm dignity of this moment so different to the violence and disrespect that followed. RIP Sarah Everard.
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@sally_birch
We work hard with these pupils to make the day as positive as possible. Pastoral staff take time to talk to them, and if they struggle,we offer time-out and walking-talking therapies. Importantly, their day-to-day experience in lessons is immeasurably better thanks to the policy.
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Robinson’s Retreats: in Les Orres with a group of 38 wonderful students from
@NovaHreodUL
. They are a joy - they are embracing the challenge of skiing, and they are great company. We’ve had so many compliments about their manners and behaviour.
@NSMWells
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Behold - just the most amazing group of senior leaders - totally dedicated to the pupils in their care. They bring high expectations and calm learning environments along with joy and laughter. Raise a glass to the SLT
@SwindonAcademy1
.
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Added up over time, this is significant. It can be a source of stress and frustration for teachers and lead to confrontations with some of the most difficult pupils.
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Thrilled that
@SwindonAcademy1
is top of the Swindon league tables for the fourth year in a row. Huge shout out to the most incredible staff team, to our wonderful hard working students and to their families who give us such great support.
@UnitedLearning
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So, rather than being ‘anti-mask’, I’m in favour of making sure that the compulsory wearing of masks is introduced properly and in a manner that guarantees that even the most difficult, wilful and challenging pupils comply. FIN
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What about lateness and truancy? A minority of pupils were choosing to be up to 10 mins late to lessons. Often, this turned to truancy. We walked the site with a stopwatch and two difficult pupils. We found that it took 3.5 minutes to walk across the farthest parts of the site.
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It was the top performing school for both attainment and progress with a P8 score on 0.69.
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It works. Coming to school fully equipped is now part of our culture. Just like they don’t leave home without their mobile phone, pupils (99%of them) come to school with pens.
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My incredible neighbours and residents of Tadpole Garden Village clubbed together and made up 20 hampers packed with food and treats for some of the most needy families at Swindon Academy. Next week our premises team will deliver them to homes. The true spirit of Christmas...
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Here’s Roll Call in the Sports Hall and the umpire chair which means that
@EmDrinkwater77
has eyes 👀 on every pupil.
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What a wonderful message to send to the staff
@SwindonAcademy1
on the last day of term. Our pupils are wonderful, and seven years of building our culture is paying off.
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We reminded them how much we care about them. We told them that improved behaviour will benefit every member of our school family.
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It was a pleasure to speak to
@gabyhinsliff
and explain our warm-strict approach. Disadvantaged pupils returning to school this term need ‘strict’ routines *and* pastoral teams that go the extra mile to support those who struggled in lockdown.
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We teach our expectations and pupils rise to them. The start of lessons is smooth and stress free. Pupils learn to take responsibility and teachers appreciate the support of a visible SLT.
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We consulted with parents via a survey and 200 families responded. We read every submission and answered every question and suggestion.
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