Our Vision

Our vision centres on the child.

The way we ensure everything centres on the child is through our core values:

Collaboration; Diversity; Responsibility, Enrichment, Inclusion and willingness to question perceived norms.

We believe that this enables children to excel in whatever they do.

Our Values

Avocet Multi Academy Trust is based on a set of values that determine all actions and decisions made throughout the Trust. All of these values are centred around the child to ensure that they have the perfect platform from which to grow.

With all decisions and actions based around these core values we are able to deliver an education which takes into account the needs of the different pupils, schools and communities in which they serve.

Equality statement 

Throughout Avocet Academy schools we are committed to ensuring equality for all pupils, staff and families irrespective of race, religion, gender, language, sexual orientation, disability or family background. Equality has to be at the heart of good educational and working practice and is key to achieving our values and our vision of every child having the ability to excel in whatever they do.

We have set objectives which will be reviewed annually. All personnel are responsible for ensuring that the statement is followed at all times.

Objectives 2020 - 2023

• To ensure that all pupils have equal access to the curriculum
• Model and teach British values of respect and tolerance at every opportunity
• Celebrate the richness and diversity of British society and prepare children for their part in this

Avocet Academy Trust Modern Slavery Statement  

This statement is made pursuant to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.  

Introduction 

Avocet Academy Trust (the Trust) aims to maintain and enhance the position of schools at the heart of our communities across East Anglia. As of March 2022, it comprised of 5 primary schools within Suffolk, 110 employees.  

The Schools are: 

• Aldeburgh Primary School, Park Road, Aldeburgh IP15 5EU
• Easton Primary School, The Street, Easton IP13 0FA
• Leiston Primary School, King Georges Avenue, Leiston IP16 4JQ
• Saxmundham Primary School, Brook Farm Road, Saxmundham IP17 1XQ
• Wickham Market Primary School, Dallinghoo Road, Wickham Market IP13 0RP

The Trust Board is the legal governing body of all schools within the Trust and remains accountable in law and to OFSTED and the Education Skills Funding Agency for the exercise of its functions. Its Trustees, who are appointed on a voluntary basis, are drawn from the public and private sector, and bring significant educational and other professional expertise. It procures services and goods from third party providers predominantly based within the UK.  

In line with our values, the Trust is committed to ensuring there is no modern slavery or human trafficking within any part of its business or supply chain.  

Our policies to counter modern slavery and human trafficking.  

We have reviewed our existing policies and procedures in light of the Act. We are confident that our policies promote good behaviour among our colleagues at work and within our Trust. Our policies and procedures are kept under review to make sure that they reflect the changing needs of the Trust and of the staff, students/pupils and the communities it serves.   

Among the policies that we consider give us strength in avoiding modern slavery or human trafficking under the Act in the Trust are: 

• Equality Statement; 
• Pay Policy 
• Procurement Policy 
• Recruitment & Selection Policy; 
• Safer Recruitment policy and Procedures 
• Staff Code of Conduct 
• Whistleblowing Policy  

The Trust employs people solely within England. Our recruitment processes are set out in our Recruitment & Selection Policy and ensure that all prospective employees are legally entitled to work in the UK. A copy of the policy is on our website here.  

Each school has an annual safeguarding audit.  

The Trust’s Financial Regulations include reference to the Modern Slavery Act in relation to procurement. We are determined that there shall be no modern slavery or human trafficking in Avocet Academy Trust. Our policies evidence our commitment to act ethically and with integrity throughout our organisation. All tenders for supply of services and or goods include a requirement for the supplier to report on their ethical trading including ensuring they also comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.  

Focus in our schools on slavery & human trafficking 

All our schools work towards raising awareness of slavery & human trafficking through: 

• Educating colleagues, pupils & students, and parents/carers 
• Child protection/family support work, where human trafficking has been highlighted as a risk in a school. 
• Training and continuing vigilance 
• We have discussed the Act, its purpose and the Trust's attitude to it at a Trust Board meeting and will continue to do this at least annually.  
• We have alerted the Executive Leadership Team to it and challenged them to continue to consider where the risk of modern slavery or human trafficking may arise in the Trust.  
• We have provided guidance to our procurement team members on the need to avoid those risks and on possible indicators of them during procurement.  
• We will continue to enhance the assurances we seek from suppliers as to their avoidance of modern slavery and human trafficking.    

Planned activities 

Over the next 12 months we will build on the work already done to further develop our anti modern slavery policies and procedures.  

Planned activities include: 

• Continuously updating our procurement and key policies across the Trust. 
• Ensuring that modern slavery is addressed throughout the procurement process by implementing new due diligence and risk checks that evaluate potential suppliers in relation to modern slavery and identify improvements before they enter the supply chain. 
• Providing specific Modern Slavery Act training to key individuals and teams across the Trust who are responsible for managing contractual relationships.