Children and young people are at the heart of everything we do.
Our inspirational, committed staff go the extra mile to encourage our children to never give up and thrive in a safe, stimulating environment.
In 2016 our successful single academy, Benedict Biscop Church of England Academy, became the first school in our new multi-academy trust, the Northern Lights Learning Trust.
We now also operate a Teaching School Hub, one of just 87 centres for excellence for teacher training and development in the country.
Set up by the Department for Education, in 2023 we added the Early Years Stronger Practice Hub: North East to provide advice, share good practice, and offer evidence-based professional development for early years practitioners.
We are experienced, full of energy and drive and are constantly excited about making a positive difference to education in the North East.
Vision and Aspiration
Children are at the heart of everything we do and where our inspirational, committed staff go the extra mile to encourage our children to never give up and thrive in a safe, stimulating environment.
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The Trust is the starting point for everything. We will provide children and young people aged 3-16 years with a sense of belonging in an atmosphere of inclusion, trust, tolerance and mutual respect, based on shared values, made real in our everyday lives in all of our schools. We want to join with schools from across our region who share this same vision and work together to provide the very best we can for all our individual children. We want to increase our diversity and are seeking partners who can offer this to our Trust.
We are passionate about making a difference every day and believe that children should be active, confident, independent and resilient learners who are inspired by their environment and the curriculum we offer. We want them to aim high, achieve great things and embrace future challenges with the confidence to step out of their comfort zones. We are a Trust where children’s individual talents and dreams are nurtured and celebrated by all.
Challenge and Inspiration
We are proud of our innovative approach to education where teachers and teaching assistants plan lessons together, to ensure our children are excited and motivated to ask questions and challenge what they learn.
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We offer strong professional, successful practice based on proven outcomes, and we want to learn further from others and collaborate on shared research projects, continually learning from each other to strengthen our own practice, to improve outcomes for our children and those of other schools who join the Trust.
We have high expectations of our children and our staff go to considerable lengths to ensure that we consistently achieve the highest standards of teaching and learning. Through initiatives, which support individual learning needs, such as our writing curriculum and the development of a problem solving approach in mathematics across the whole school, children are excited to learn. Our focus on reading, writing, mathematics and IT is at the heart of our vision, recognising the importance for the future success of our children. We want to share this and improve our own practice further, through collaborating with like minded professionals.
Succession planning is central to our leadership success, developing bespoke programmes for teacher trainees and newly qualified teachers, through to middle and senior leadership programmes. We are able to offer this through our Teaching School, of which all members of our Trust will be able to benefit, playing a full role in supporting others, benefitting from our professional development programme which is available to all of our staff.
We recognise the need to strengthen our leadership and provide them with opportunities to grow. We are keen to talk to other leaders wishing to join the Trust, who are ambitious and possess proven skills to further develop the Northern Lights Learning Trust.
Individuality
From the first moment to the very last, we strive to make a difference and provide every one of our children with the best start in life.
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We believe this is about individuality of schools, celebrating established diverse communities and bringing those individuals together with a common purpose, but not with a uniformity which inhibits individuality. Our schools will have their own community, their own identity, their own uniform, school badge and logo.
Children within the Trust are proud of their schools, with exceptionally positive attitudes to learning. Behaviour and safety of our children is outstanding and whether it is on the playground or in lessons, children need to learn how to resolve conflict and restore friendships. Children in the school council and various other groups play an active and positive role in the life of our schools. Using the principles of Restorative Practice, children are encouraged to become responsible citizens and to make positive choices both in and out of schools. They are taught to care for themselves, each other and the environment. Our schools are places where spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding.
The Trust values all Faiths and beliefs, coming together allows us to deepen our understanding of our own faith and relish opportunities to learn from others.
Structure
The Trust Board has respected members of the North East community from different sectors, including education, business and faith.
The Board of Directors/trustees receive delegated responsibly on behalf on the Members to run the academies.
The Local Governing Body has delegated powers to focus on their own school, providing a context on their individual community needs and aspirations.
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Northern Lights Learning Trust is governed by a Board of Directors/Trustees.
Academy Trust Members:
The Trust Board has respected members of the North East community from different sectors, including education, business and faith.
- A charitable Limited Liability Company
- Responsible for the Objects of the Company
Board of Directors/Trustees:
Receive delegated responsibility on behalf of the Members to oversee and direct the trust.
This includes responsibility for: standards, policies, monitoring, finances, determination of committees with delegated powers, and for delegation of powers to the Local Governing Bodies.
The Board of Directors set strategic priorities and plans for the trust.
Local Governing Body:
The Local Governing Body has delegated powers to focus on their own school, providing a context on their individual community needs and aspirations.
They are committed to their individual schools and:
- Develop collaborative practices with responsibility and accountability
- Monitor standards and achievement within the school
- Ensure Trust policies are implemented and their own relevant policies are determined
- Engage with all stakeholders to provide outstanding opportunities, provision and improved outcomes for all children
- Support and challenge practices within the school
The current list of Members and Directors/Trustees can be accessed here
The Governance-Scheme of Delegation can be viewed on our Governance and Financial Information page
Staff development is important to us – motivated and enthusiastic people in our classrooms can only help improve outcomes. Find out more about staff development initiatives (more reasons to join our Trust) here.
