Vision and Values
Our Vision and Values
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
Objective | To ensure that all pupils have equal access to a rich, broad and balanced curriculum |
Why? | To enable all children to progress and attain as well as possible. To ensure that any barriers to learning are overcome by the right provision and support in school and outside of school for those children who need it. To enable children to take up all opportunities to support their learning. |
How? | Budgets allocated according to the needs of the pupils in the school. Support staff allocated according to pupil need. To ensure the charging and remissions policy supports equal opportunities for all in a sustainable way. To have flexibility in the timetable and teaching to meet the individual needs of pupils. |
Objective | Model and teach British values of respect and tolerance at every opportunity. |
Why? | To enable our pupils to thrive in school and beyond So that all pupils can communicate effectively with all people and understand that there are different ways to achieve this. To support pupils to be able to listen to opinions as well as voice their own To understand that people have views that differ from their own and that this does not make one party right or wrong |
How? | PSHE teaching across the school with an emphasis on debate through the JIGSAW scheme and beyond. To support pupils in taking school opportunities through an effective charging and remissions policy To model and demonstrate respect at all times in school life To give children opportunities to engage with the wider community including older and younger people |
Objective | Celebrate the richness and diversity of British society and prepare children for their part in this |
Why? | To enable pupils to be successful in school and beyond To broaden their view of society beyond the one they live in To increase their understanding of cultures and faiths beyond the ones they predominantly are exposed to |
How? | Continue our RE scheme in place in all schools Assemblies that reflect different cultures in our societies Visits and visitors that expand the experiences of our children PSHE work around difference and freedom of expressions |
Objective | To eliminate any discrimination, harrassment and victimisation. |
Why? | To ensure that no-one is unfairly or illegally disadvantaged as a consequence of their age, disability, gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, colour, race, ethnic or national origin, disability or religious beliefs |
How? | Ensure that expectations and consequences are clear to the whole school community Behaviour modelled by all adult members of the school community Ensure that pupils have access to a broad representation of resources that celebrate diversity in race, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation Provide opportunities in the curriculum to enable pupils to understand the impact of these behaviours |
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.