Gold Award
Praise has been heaped on staff and pupils at Pilgrim Academy after it was handed a highly sought after gold award.
The highest National SMSC Quality Mark followed a verification visit which highlighted the "excellent” work to support pupils' Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development.
Principal Rachel Clarke was thrilled and said the award recognised the huge efforts by staff to ensure its SMSC learning was at the heart of its curriculum.
"Everybody in our school community is rightly proud of the gold award," said Mrs Clarke.
"Children, parents and governors, as well as staff, have all contributed to this fantastic recognition of our learning.
"I'd particularly like to pay tribute to our SMSC lead Mrs Portlock who has been relentless in her efforts to ensure the school met the gold standard."
The verifier John Rees for the National SMSC Quality Mark scheme gave glowing feedback to Mrs Clarke.
Its SMSC learning made "a significant contribution to the school's culture, ethos, and high expectations, which are greatly valued by children, staff and the wider school community."
"We would particularly like to thank the pupils, Isabella, Jacob, and Viktoria, who all spoke so well, enthusiastically, and knowledgeable about the school and the excellent work that you are all doing,” Mr Rees said.
"It is testimony to your values that you chose such capable pupils as guides; they were a credit to themselves, their families, and the school.
"It was also delightful to hear from the staff, parents, and Governors, all of whom work with professional dedication, based on a strong, shared sense of moral purpose.
"There is such a lovely balance of calm but determined enthusiasm to promote SMSC development, but also, of course, pupil's personal development and their behaviour and attitudes.
"It is clear from the compassionate relationships observed and the pride throughout the Academy that you have developed an ethos of warmth and care, in which pupils and staff can flourish.
"We would especially like to congratulate Mrs Portlock, who, in a relatively short space of time, has led the development of SMSC with an inclusive, ‘can-do' vision, commitment and professionalism.
"The document she provided about ‘SMSC and promoting British Values at Pilgrim Academy' is excellent.
"Together, you have enabled staff to develop an increasingly positive ethos for learning, which enables pupils to flourish in every aspect of their lives.
"It also supports staff wellbeing, without which it is hard to provide such educational opportunities.”
They listed a range of strengths at Pilgrim, a member of Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust. Examples included:
- Children's learning and the school values are shared and celebrated throughout the school.
- Excellent use is made of the extensive grounds.
- Great, interactive learning spaces - indoors and out - for Early Years / Key Stage 1.
- High expectations in teachers' planning, pedagogical awareness, and the active participation of all staff.
- The curriculum is ambitious and inclusive, and provides children with opportunities to encourage academic progress, but also their SMSC development.
- Parents, staff, and Governors praised the school and the excellent support for children's academic, social, cultural and emotional wellbeing development.
Mr Rees added: "These brief notes cannot do full justice to the depth and range of thought and provision to support children's SMSC and academic development.
"We would like to reiterate our congratulations to all members of the Pilgrim Academy on achieving the Gold standard of SMSC development and wish you all very success in the future.”
LGAT's Executive Principal (Primary) Andy Clark congratulated Mrs Clarke, Mrs Portlock and the staff team.
"We're delighted the efforts of the whole academy community has been recognised with the highly sought after gold award,” he said.
"We're particularly proud of the teaching and learning at Pilgrim Academy. The academy knows what it is doing well and what it needs to do to improve even further.”
Captions
Mrs Clarke (left) and Mrs Portlock with Year 6 pupils (left to right) Isabella Hyke, Jacob Clark and Viktoria Parashkevova.
Pupils (left to right) Isabella Hyke, Jacob Clark and Viktoria Parashkevova, praised by the verifier in their report, with the gold award.
