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The Emmanuel Schools Foundation

Trinity Academy’s sponsor The Emmanuel Schools Foundation (ESF) has so far sponsored four schools in England. Beginning with Emmanuel College in Gateshead in 1990 (which remains a City Technology College) the Foundation sponsors the King’s Academy in Middlesbrough, which opened in 2003, and Trinity Academy in Thorne near Doncaster, which opened in 2005. The Foundation’s latest school, Bede Academy in Blyth, Northumberland, will open in September 2009. Trinity Academy was the main case study school in the research drawn upon in this article and replaced its pre decessor as the only secondary school serving the communities of Thorne and Moorends near Doncaster. In 2007, Trinity Academy was designated the ‘Most Improved Academy in England’ and the ‘Most Improved School in Yorkshire and Humberside’. After its first academic year in 2006, only 34 per cent of students gained 5+ A*–C grades at GCSE but by 2008, 74 per cent of students were enjoying this level of success. Raising attainment by 40 percentage points is a significant achievement and this article provides insights into key factors contributing to this success. A similar pattern of transformation is evident at the King’s Academy in Middlesbrough. The CVA (contextual value added) data put the King’s Academy in the top 25 per cent and Trinity Academy in the top 20 per cent of all schools nationally for ‘value added’. In this article Trinity Academy is the focus of attention. The achievement of these Academies cannot be properly understood without gaining some insight into the vision, values and expertise of their sponsor. Over the course of the research project, three interviews were given by Sir Peter Vardy, chairman of the ESF, who built Reg Vardy plc into the most profitable independent car retailer in Europe from a single garage in the North East of England. This background of success clearly influences approaches to the leadership and management of schools sponsored by the ESF. Sir Peter Vardy is a strong advocate of ‘business people getting involved and supporting outstanding educationalists’ (interview, 21 October 2008). Envisioning staff so that they believe dramatic improvement will be achieved rapidly is seen as an essential element of success: