Tag: Mayfield School

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NEWS: Wilson Stuart School Headteacher wins ‘Outstanding Contribution to SEND’ award

Words by Ed King

Simon Harris presented with ‘Outstanding Contribution to SEND’ at University of Wolverhampton / Image supplied by Wilson Stuart School

Wilson Start School Stuart Executive Headteacher, Simon Harris, has been presented with the inaugural ‘Outstanding Contribution to SEND’ award from the University of Wolverhampton.

Established to recognise individuals who have made a significant impact on SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) provision, the award was presented to Mr Harris during a lecture he was delivering at the university – with the Wilson Stuart Headteacher completely unaware he was to be honoured.

After receiving the ‘Outstanding Contribution to SEND’ award, Mr Harris told Erdington Local: “It a complete shock, and I was not expecting this type of award. But it is also important to stress that everything we do at Wilson Stuart is a team effort, and it isn’t fair to spotlight one person. All of our roles work together for the good of the children we educate and care for on a daily basis.”

He added: “We have a seamless team of 182 people who help me every day to do my job, and this award is for each and every one of them.”

Simon Harris (left) joined at Wilson Stuart School by High Sheriff of the West Midlands, Douglas Wright MBE DL (right) / Image supplied by Wilson Stuart School

Wilson Stuart School began as an educational institution in 1902, originally called the Dean Street Cripple School and renamed after the prominent orthopaedic surgeon Francis Wilson Stuart in 1954.

Moving to Perry Common in 1956, Wilson Stuart School is now situated next to Dovedale School and The Hive College – all established for young people with SEND – and provides education for what Mr Harris previously described to Erdington Local as “pretty much the most complex children, physically and medically, in the city.”

Becoming part of the Education Impact Academy Trust (EIAT) in March 2012, alongside Queensbury School and Mayfield School, Wilson Stuart School currently has up to 270 school places for children aged between 2 and 19 years old.

Simon Harris (right) with student (left) and Gruffalo (centre) celebrating ‘The Book Project’ at Wilson Stuart School / Image supplied by Wilson Stuart School

Recognised as an exemplary educator, during his tenure as Executive Headteacher Mr Harris has taken Wilson Stuart through several Ofsted inspections, maintaining the highest rating from the education ombudsman.

In the school’s most recent inspection, in December 2024, Mr Harris was praised for “lead[ing] the school with high ambition and enthusiasm” as Wilson Stuart School was again awarded the ‘Outstanding’ grade – the seventh consecutive top mark from Ofsted, according to school staff.

The Wilson Stuart School staff, whom Mr Harris also previously described as being “fiercely committed [people who] work incredibly hard”, were also praised by Ofsted for giving their students “the highest level of care and expectations”.

Steve Hughes OBE, former EIAT Chief Executive, joined Mr Harris at the presentation and celebrated his ongoing achievements in SEND education, referring to him as a “pioneer” in the field.

Simon Harris (left) joined bt Steve Hughes OBE (right) during award presentation / Image supplied by Wilson Stuart School

Queensbury School Executive Headteacher, Chris Wilson, also spoke about how Mr Harris has and continues to “break disability barriers”, creating a more inclusive and balanced education system for all learners.

Mr Wilson continued to say: “Simon Harris has been a beacon of hope, an advocate for change, and tireless champion for students with special educational needs in any school.”

He added: “The words ‘I can’t’ are not in his vocabulary and his DNA is probably coded to say ‘Better Never Ends’”, referencing the Wilson Stuart School motto.

In a post made on the Wilson Stuart School website, a spokesperson for the Education Impact Academy Trust told how EIAT is “very proud to have Simon Harris working as part of the family of schools in the trust” and how his “dedication, passion and vision” have “changed lives of countless students, families and staff” for many schools that offer SEND provision.

For more on Wilson Stuart School visit www.wilsonstuart.co.uk

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NEWS: Queensbury School officially launches £2.3m new school site

Words by Ed King / Pics by Ed King & Nandini Gill

On Thursday 26 January, Queensbury School officially launched their new £2.3m school building – which has been operational for students since the latter part of the autumn term 2022.

Queensbury School – situated on Wood End Road, Erdington – received panning consent in September 2021 for the redevelopment of their existing school site, breaking ground later that year.

Now part of the Education Impact Academy Trust (EIAT), alongside Wilson Stuart School, Queensbury delivered their new build in November last year – only a few thousand pounds over budget, despite delays and supplier strangleholds due to Covid-19.

Welcoming school governors, academy members, and partners from the Local Authority, this week Queensbury School Executive Headteacher Chris Wilson introduced a “new beginning” for the Erdington Special Educational Needs (SEN) school – which had previously been rated ‘Inadequate’ in its last Ofsted report.

“It will allow a bit of time, and a bit of space,” continued Mr Wilson, explaining how the sensory concerns of their students had been pivotal in the project – with Queensbury’s School Council even designing the new play area between the school hall and new facility.

A special address was then given by Steve Hughes, the erstwhile CEO of Education Impact Academy Trust, who told how the Local Authority once asked him “has this school (Queensbury) got a future,” and how “this is now a school to be proud of.”

A presentation of artwork celebrating the Lunar New Year, short stories, and poems – all signifying “new beginnings” – was then made by Queensbury students, before the official ribbon cutting and tour of the new school site.

Housing seven new classrooms, the new build had further been “futureproofed” by extending floor space to allow more space and flexibility in the immediate teaching environment. National guidelines recommend a minimum of 52m² for up to 30 students, whilst the new classrooms at Queensbury School are 63m² for no more than 12 students.

Alongside enhanced facilities for direct teaching, there are three new ‘calm rooms’ where students can use music or sport therapy to work through overriding emotions – alongside an isolated ‘work room’ for those needing extra space to focus on their studies.

Each ‘calm room’ has special LED lighting to encourage emotional equilibrium, whilst all the classroom lights are on variable dimmers to allow for a variety of sensory responses from the students.

Queensbury now also had a dedicated ‘therapy room’, for more one to one attention, and a ‘confidentiality room’ where a team of eight mentors can engage with families, parents, and carers. In the previous school layout, all these pastoral activities had been conducted wherever there was available space, with the school’s mentoring team based “technically in a shed.”

Queensbury also now has extended areas for outside play, where children can get the benefits of an outdoor environment – a powerful positive to Mr Wison – and engage with the school’s three ‘therapy dogs’: Eddison, Henry, and Odie.

Queensbury School became part of the Education Impact Academy Trust (EIAT) in September 2021, after plotting a course towards becoming an academy several years earlier. Alongside Wilson Stuart School (Erdington), Hive Collage (Erdington), and Mayfield School (Lozells), Queensbury School is one of four SEN and SEND providers in the Multi Academy Trust portfolio.

With capacity for 276 students at the Wood Lane site, Queensbury School caters for young people from 11 to 19 – with plans to extend their 6th Form provision with a new site on Station Road, hoping to welcome 96 new students into further education in the next academic year.

Queensbury’s current Executive Headteacher, Chris Wilson, began working with the school in November 2018, “falling in love” with the Erdington SEN provider and eventually taking over the top spot.

Steering Queensbury through difficult waters, inducing the threat of closure and a damning Ofsted report, Mr Wilson is now confident in a bright future for the once troubled school – explaining how the new development quite simply “gives the staff the tools they need” to offer the best educational experience.

Mr Wilson continued: “The new building gives us the facilities and the resources for our students and staff to allow them to unleash their limitless potential and create further opportunities for many years to come.

“It’s opening the creativity of the teachers back up, because they’ve got more space to work with and an environment that’s right, and no doubt that will lead to better outcomes for the students – as well as our students being proud. It was very difficult to make them proud of the school when the building was in such a dilapidated state.

“They haven’t got that now, and that means when they take their place in society those preparation for adult skills are fostered within them and integral to their values as well.”

For more on Queensbury School visit www.queensburysch.com