News
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Welcoming Dr. Louise Ceska as a Trustee
Mar 18 2025
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Louise Ceska has joined The Keys Academy Trust as a trustee. With an extensive background in education, leadership, and coaching, Dr. Ceska brings a wealth of expertise and a deep commitment to ensuring the highest standards of teaching, pastoral care, and pupil development across our schools. Dr. Ceska has had a distinguished career in secondary education, serving as Headteacher of Newlands Girls’ School, where she successfully led the school to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating. Her leadership extended beyond the school gates, as she played an active role in educational governance and advisory groups, including representing the Berkshire Association of Secondary Heads (BASH) at SACRE.
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Biggest Ever Football Session
Mar 10 2025
The Keys Academy Trust was proud to take part in The English Football Association’s ‘Biggest Ever Football Session’ on Friday 7th March, a nationwide initiative to celebrate and encourage girls’ participation in football. The event, held at Alder Grove CofE Primary School, saw 80 girls from Year 3 & 4 across the Trust come together for an unforgettable day of sport, teamwork, and inspiration. The session was supported by the Reading FC Community Trust, whose coaches delivered engaging activities designed to develop skills and build confidence. Adding to the excitement, players from the Reading FC Women’s Team made a special appearance, offering advice, encouragement, and sharing their own experiences of playing football, as well as getting involved in matches with the girls as well.
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Supporting Young Minds
Feb 24 2025
Our Schools Unite for Children's Mental Health As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the communities we serve, all of our schools proudly came together to raise awareness and funds for Young Minds, a charity dedicated to improving children’s mental health. Through a range of creative and engaging activities, our pupils are not only contributing to an important cause, but also learning valuable lessons about wellbeing, resilience, and the power of community. Across our schools, events took place to support Young Minds included: St Sebastian’s C of E Primary School hosting a ‘Happy Monday’, where pupils wore bright colours to spread positivity. Uplands Primary School and Nursery having a fun-filled day of fundraising.
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St Nicholas CE Primary School Praised in SIAMS Inspection
Feb 13 2025
We are delighted to share that St Nicholas Church of England Primary School has received an excellent report in its recent Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS). The inspection highlighted the school’s commitment to its Christian vision - ‘Laying firm foundations to believe and achieve’, which is deeply embedded in all aspects of school life. The report praised the school for its strong values of respect, honesty, courage, and kindness, which underpin daily interactions and support pupils' learning, wellbeing, and personal growth. Collective worship was identified as a key strength, bringing the school community together in meaningful reflection and spiritual development.
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Celebrating the Success of the 2025 Annual Leadership Conference
Feb 10 2025
The Keys Academy Trust’s Annual Leadership Conference 2025 was a resounding success, bringing together over 40 school leaders from across Wokingham and Bracknell for a day of collaboration, reflection, and professional development. Held at The Crowne Plaza Reading East Hotel, the event provided an invaluable opportunity for leaders to connect, share best practices, and gain new insights to strengthen their leadership. Inspiring Speakers and Meaningful Discussions Julie Sherrington’s session, Specialist Knowledge for Leaders: Unlocking Outstanding Early Years Provision , provided deep insights into the essential aspects of early years education. She emphasised the importance of the prime areas of learning, highlighting their role in building strong foundations for children’s cognitive and emotional development.
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STEM Sparks Curiosity
Jan 23 2025
On Wednesday, 22nd January 2025, Alder Grove CofE Primary School hosted an exciting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) Workshop, welcoming six schools from both the Trust and the local community. The event was organised in partnership with Playing STEAM, a local company known for running engaging after-school and holiday clubs. The workshop provided an inspiring hands-on experience for Year 3 and 4 pupils, who explored a range of STEM-based challenges. Activities included: Engineering – Building sturdy structures like budding architects Technology – Programming robots to complete tasks Science & Discovery – Unearthing gemstones in a simulated archaeological dig The afternoon was buzzing with excitement, as pupils worked together in school teams to problem-solve, create, and experiment.
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Promoting Staff Wellbeing
Jan 20 2025
The Keys Academy Trust is proud to announce the successful conclusion of our Staff Wellbeing Festival 2025 , a week-long event dedicated to supporting and enhancing staff wellbeing. Held from Monday, 13 January, the festival offered a diverse array of sessions and activities designed to promote physical health, mental clarity, and overall happiness among our team. With sessions ranging from dynamic Zumba classes and watercolour painting workshops to mindfulness practices and practical wellbeing talks, the festival catered to a wide variety of interests. The festival also fostered a sense of community and connection, bringing staff together to share experiences and ideas in a supportive environment.
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Glowing SIAMS Outcome for Earley St Peter's CE Primary School
Dec 11 2024
We are delighted to announce that Earley St Peter’s Church of England Primary School has achieved a glowing outcome in its recent Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) inspection. The report highlights the school’s commitment to its vision, "Building Strong Foundations for the Future," and praises the community for creating an inclusive and nurturing environment where pupils and staff thrive. The inspectors noted several key strengths, including: Inspirational Leadership: Leaders driven by the school’s vision ensure every member of the community has the opportunity to flourish. Inclusion and Diversity: The school fosters a strong sense of inclusion, celebrating diversity and ensuring all feel valued.
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Polehampton CE Junior School Celebrates Successful Ofsted Inspection
Dec 10 2024
The Keys Academy Trust is delighted to announce the outcomes of the recent Ofsted inspection at Polehampton Church of England Junior School, held on 5 and 6 November 2024. The school achieved a "Good" rating across all four key areas: Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, and Leadership and Management. The report highlighted the warm, friendly, and values-driven ethos of the school, where pupils thrive academically and personally. Inspectors commended the school’s ambition for every pupil to achieve their best, as well as the positive learning environment fostered by staff and supported by strong leadership.
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Inclusion Innovation Funding Secured
Nov 26 2024
We are thrilled to announce that The Keys Academy Trust has secured a £25,000 grant from Wokingham Borough Council’s Inclusion Innovation Fund (IIF). This funding will enable the creation of dedicated spaces in seven of our schools, tailored to support pupils with SEMH or SEND needs. This initiative is a significant step forward in promoting inclusivity and mental wellbeing within our school community. The Trust’s project aligns with the IIF’s theme, which focuses on developing inclusive education provisions to support pupils experiencing emotional or social challenges that may affect their ability to thrive in a traditional classroom setting.
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- 24th Supporting Young Minds
- 13th St Nicholas CE Primary School Praised in SIAMS Inspection
- 10th Celebrating the Success of the 2025 Annual Leadership Conference
- 11th Glowing SIAMS Outcome for Earley St Peter's CE Primary School
- 10th Polehampton CE Junior School Celebrates Successful Ofsted Inspection
- 25th Digital Parenting Support for Families
- 18th Celebrating Community Partnership
- 2nd Successful Governor Conference
- 1st Working Together for Harvest
- 18th Wellness Journey
- 4th Empowering Start
