Building a Culture of Positive Behaviour

Written by Tom Martell, Director of Strategy and Operations The school improvement team started this year by focusing on three common priorities across our schools: positive behaviour, reading and activating hard thinking. Behaviour was a particular focus during the autumn term, to create a disruption-free learning environment, so here we share some reflections on this…

Thinking Hard: Giving Teachers the Tools to Develop their Lessons

Written by Matt Butler, Director of Primary Improvement and Professional Development Cumbria Education Trust has invested in teacher’s professional development in partnership with One World, an international education consultancy, working in multiple countries, as well as several of the UK’s largest school trusts. Our collaboration with One World has been focused on enhancing how teachers…

Collaboration is key!

Written by Sue Newstead, Director of Learning Provision Cumbria Education Trust has always believed that collaboration is the gateway to school improvement. Learning from each other, choosing all the best bits from schools and creating a framework of excellence together, brings about rich conversations and a better understanding of why we choose the practices and…

School Trust’s Attendance Strategy Delivers ‘Huge’ Learning Gains Amid National Crisis

School Trust’s Attendance Strategy Delivers ‘Huge’ Learning Gains Amid National Crisis Written by Des Bird, Director of Secondary Improvement The success of an innovative attendance strategy by Cumbria Education Trust (CET) shows how schools can effectively tackle attendance challenges at a time when national figures are causing serious concern for Ofsted. According to Ofsted’s annual…

Safe Spaces: The Importance of Dedicated Rooms for Children

Across Cumbria Education Trust, many primary schools have embraced their newly implemented Safe Spaces. These rooms are designed to offer a secure, nurturing environment for children affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and for those who just need a safe space temporarily while they learn strategies to self regulate their emotions. This initiative is central…

West Coast Sixth Form Celebrates Dream Placement Success

Nine students from West Coast Sixth Form (WCSF) are celebrating after successfully securing a place on the Dream Placement programme. Dream Placement is a 6 month leadership development programme, led by the Centre for Leadership Performance, for all 16-18 year olds across Cumbria, which for some young people will result in a week’s Dream Placement.…

Welcome QKS!

Joint statement from Cumbria Education Trust and The Queen Katherine School Cumbria Education Trust (CET) has further expanded their Trust, welcoming The Queen Katherine School (QKS), a secondary school based in Kendal. QKS is a strong school, with a Good Ofsted rating in 2022 and close-knit community links within the area. They become the fifth…

CET Hosts Senior Education Leaders from Australia

Cumbria Education Trust (CET) proudly welcomed senior Victorian and Tasmanian educational leaders for a knowledge-sharing visit focused on the operation and impact of groups of schools working together as a Trust. The Australian delegation came to learn from CET’s successful model and discover how a strong trust structure benefits both staff and children. The group…