On the 23rd and 24th January 2025, over 70 colleagues from across the country gathered at Delta Academies Trust for an inspiring and dynamic two-day event. Hosted at The Education Exchange Centre in Knottingley and followed by visit to Delta schools, this event fostered collaboration, shared expertise, and celebrated the power of working together to drive school improvement.
A Day of Insight and Exploration
The event started with an engaging tour of The Education Exchange Centre, providing a unique opportunity for delegates to explore innovative educational spaces and resources. Following the tour, attendees participated in a series of hands-on workshops led by Delta’s own CEO Paul Tarn, Deputy CEO Andy Barnett, Associate CEO Gillian Wiles, and their teams. The sessions covered a range of vital topics, including:
Integrated Curriculum & Financial Planning (ICFP) Leadership & Governance Developing Leaders Non-Negotiable Primary Strategies Driving Attainment through the RAG
These workshops gave participants practical strategies to further strengthen their leadership and educational practices and ultimately, take this input back to their schools and academies in The West Midlands and beyond.
Inspiring School Improvement at Hanson Academy, England Lane Academy and Simpsons Lane Academy
Day 2 was dedicated to exploring school improvement strategies firsthand, with visits to Hanson Academy in Bradford for secondary colleagues, where staff members had an inspiring story to tell around having the most improved attendance in the country. Primary colleagues visited England Lane Academy and Simpsons Lane Academy in Knottingley. The delegates gained valuable insights into how effective leadership and innovative approaches can transform outcomes, driving improvements in attendance and overall student success.
The atmosphere throughout the two days was one of excitement and professional growth as attendees shared their knowledge and best practice. The collaborative environment allowed educators to engage in meaningful discussions and walk away with impactful ideas that could have an immediate effect in their own schools.
A Celebration of Collaboration and Excellence
As the event concluded, it was clear that this collaborative effort was just the beginning. The sharing of resources, expertise, and ideas has laid the foundation for continued growth and development across the education sector in the region.
The Education Exchange West Midlands would like to extend a huge thank you to Delta Academies Trust for hosting such a memorable and productive event. The learning and connections made here will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on all those who attended and further improve the provision on offer in educational establishments across the West Midlands and neighbouring regions.
“Our visit to The Education Exchange and Delta Academies Trust was intellectually stimulating and thought provoking. Their approach to systems and curriculum were simple, yet innovative and enabled me to think about how these could be used at Lyndon School to improve educational outcomes.” Michael Szwaba, Vice Principal, Lyndon School
“Our trip to The Education Exchange was inspiring, providing the perfect blend of sharing strong practice and generating ideas through discussion and academy visits.” Josie O’Gorman, Vice Principal, The Oaklands Primary School
“Visiting The Education Exchange and Delta Academies Trust was a truly thought-provoking experience. It gave me a fresh perspective on best practice, innovative teaching strategies and ways to enhance student support. Seeing firsthand how another school operates has inspired me to bring back new ideas that will benefit the learners and staff and Cockshut Hill School.” Gemma Sheerman, Vice Principal, Cockshut Hill School
“Visiting Delta Academies Trust was truly inspiring – their insights and vision ignited a renewed sense of purpose and ambition across our own leadership team at Ninestiles, An Academy, motivating us to continue to strive for excellence in every aspect of our own provision. Thank you to Paul Tarn and the rest of the Delta team for their warm welcome.” Dafydd Francis, Vice Principal, Ninestiles, an Academy
