Directors of a North Liverpool academy previously in special measures have explained how they want to bring about a school “the community can be proud of.”
Last September, Dixons Academies Trust began its first year operating what had been Fazakerley High School on Sherwood’s Lane. The West Yorkshire-based trust took over the running of the site from Liverpool Council following an Ofsted inspection that had deemed the high school inadequate and called for change in a number of areas.
The school educates around 830 pupils from age 11 to 16. Dixons also operate the former Broadgreen International school and has this year taken up the running of De La Salle in Croxteth after it was saved from closure at the 11th hour.
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The first term under new management in Fazakerley was pockmarked with controversies as the school was forced to defend an the use of an “offensive” work sheet that claimed young people who skip lessons are more likely to have 'early sex.' The sheet said “young people who are truant are more likely to use alcohol or drugs.”
The document handed out to learners also said those who skip school are more likely to get involved in anti-social behaviour and as a result “more likely to become young parents.” As the second full term under Dixons’ control gets into full swing, leaders have set out how they intend to turn the school’s fortunes around.
Mark Harrison, executive director for Manchester and Liverpool, explained how the Trust was keen to build around “the most vulnerable child”. Every morning, children enter through the same door and are encountered by staff, who at this earliest opportunity, they can express any concerns or issues with regards to equipment or preparedness for the day, without repercussions.
He said: “We put in that safety net, so that nothing was stopped and having a positive start to the day, they're not going to be sitting there waiting to be told off for not having a pen, they're not going to be worried about getting a detention because they've left their planner, or they've forgotten their tie. Or, actually, they've only got one school shirt and if we can take all those worries away, they arrive at a positive start.”
Mr Harrison said the academy was “building as we’re flying” to implement a culture change and was taking an approach described as “warm strict” by outgoing chief executive, Sir Nick Weller. He said the trust was keen on “purpose not power” and ordering students around, but “that stricter environment does make the vast majority of students feel safer, and happier in school.”
Dixons was caught up in a storm during the last academic year when a letter from principal Chris Wilson said children would not be allowed to leave lessons for a toilet break without a medical pass. Sir Nick said while children at the school should not need to go to the toilet during lessons, “maybe the whole thing could have been better.”
He said “the vast majority” of parents were on board with the trust’s approach since taking over in Fazakerley. Mr Harrison said the school was “on step one of about 10,000 we need to take, culture is changing, but in terms of really making a difference for this community so they have an academy they can be proud of.
“We’re not here for the short term and for us, this needs to be a school the community can be proud of, not just in the short term.”
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