The Dean Academy

The Dean Academy is located on the edge of Lydney, a small river-side town in the Royal Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. The school currently sits adjoining the Lydney Park Estate on Church Road near Bathurst Park, St. Mary's Church and Lydney Town Hall.[3]

Whitecross School prior to 1 November 2012 was a foundation school administered by Gloucestershire County Council, Whitecross School converted to academy status on 1 November 2012 and was renamed The Dean Academy. It joined the Prospects Academy Trust but continued to coordinate with Gloucestershire County Council for admissions. In May 2014 it was announced that the trust was to cease operations,[4] and The Dean Academy formally joined the Athelstan Academy Trust in March 2015.[5] which also contains Malmesbury School and Bradon Forest School in Wiltshire.[6]

In November 2015, the Dean Academy was put into special measures after a critical Ofsted report,[7] and the headteacher David Gaston resigned.[8] Following the resignation of David Gaston, the academy transferred control temporarily to John Barrett throughout the 2015–2016 school year. In September 2016 the new permanent head of school Tom Beveridge took post and continues to be at the helm of the school.[9]

Leadership had been a severe problem. Following the departure of David Gaston, John Barrett took the role of Acting Head teacher from November 2015 until July 2016. John Barrett introduced new action plans to aid the school in improving to a better standard. In September 2016, the new head of school Tom Beveridge was hired to build the required strategies with John Barrett taking a new role as Executive Head Teacher.[9]

After years of under performing the trust and the head teacher have added focus to the school. The school now is attempting to create and deliver a challenging curriculum which ensures all students acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in qualifications and to become responsible and respectful individuals, leading to happy and successful lives.[10] The Ofsted Report 2017, while saying the school 'Required Improvement', rated Effectiveness of leadership and management as Good,[11]

The headteacher has a clear vision for the future of the school. He is supported well by the chief executive officer of the trust. The head teacher has successfully communicated a message of high expectations and hope,which has renewed the confidence of pupils, parents and staff in the school. A culture of aspiration has now been established. Senior leaders continually focus on improving the quality of teaching, learning and assessment,and this has led to significant improvement in pupils' behaviour and in pupils' outcomes. Senior leaders form a cohesive team. Staff value the stability they have brought to the school.[11]

The Head of School and Executive Head Teacher are supported by a large infrastructure of Senior Leadership and Faculty Leadership staff. There is currently one Acting Deputy Head Teacher, Declan Mooney. There are also two Assistant Head Teachers, Matt Ball and Emily Smith who work closely with the Deputy Head and the Head of School.[12]

At the next level down, Directors of Faculty and Assistant Directors of Faculty run each department including resources, teaching and learning and other duties. There are seven faculties that build up the school, each having their own leadership staff to direct teachers to achieve better standards of teaching and learning.[12]

The Dean Academy offers GCSEs, BTECs, OCR Nationals and ASDAN courses programmes of study for pupils.[13] The school also offers hair and beauty courses.

Key Stage 3 is a preparation for Key Stage 4, and emphasis is on consolidating numeracy and literacy and study skills. All students in Key Stage 3 study three or four lessons of English, Maths and Science per week, one or two lessons of Geography, History, French, Spanish, DT, PE and one lesson per week of Drama, Art, Music, Values & Society. Attention is paid the sequence of knowledge to take into account the pupils base line skills and experiences. Key Stage 3 is years 7, 8 and 9.[10]

It is believed that Lydney year 9 students have not got a clear idea of their futures so the subject offered at Key Stage 4 should be broad and balanced. After discussion within the school, students will choose four options which they study for two to three lessons a week, and core lessons of English, Maths and Science for 4 to 5 with two lessons of PE a week.[10] Modern language achievement, an Humanities is acknowledged to be strong. This is an improving school and weaknesses in the students previous schooling depresses the results.[11]

• The Dean Academy