Article by Louis Everett

I am delighted to share that I will be the new co-headteacher of Reach Academy Hanworth Park, alongside Matilda (Tilly) Browne, who will divide her time between Reach Academy Feltham, where she is currently co-headteacher, and Reach Academy Hanworth Park.

Reach Academy Hanworth Park (RAHP) is a new all-through school in South West London, situated adjacent to Reach Academy Feltham and will be the second school in the Reach Schools Multi-Academy Trust.

It, and we, stand on the shoulders of educational giants who, over the past 15 years, both nationally and internationally, have proved the impossible to be possible and achieved remarkable outcomes for children, particularly in areas where previously this was not the case. We will continue to listen, reflect, distil and learn from these people and organisations as our school grows.

Our approach allows us to build a community where every child is truly known and supported to be their absolute best. Every student, and their family, will be visited at home before they start. Students will be known by name and will use their teachers’ first names. RAHP will grow into a community of care, kindness and excellent learning built on genuine mutual respect.

At Reach Academy Hanworth Park:

Community Matters

We believe in our community. We commit to working in partnership with our school community; identifying, celebrating and harnessing what’s great about where we live to improve outcomes for all of our children. We do this through listening intently, displaying humility constantly and working in partnership with others, who are experts in their fields.

Reach Schools is already deeply embedded in the local community through its work with the Reach Children’s Hub, the Feltham Convening Partnership and work with other local partners and schools. RAHP will continue to build on these mutually beneficial relationships.

Relationships Matter

We believe in the transformational power of relationships. We commit to establishing, nurturing and valuing strong, trusting relationships throughout our school community. We start every journey into our school with a home visit and recognise parents as vital partners in their child’s education. We enjoy getting to know our families and creating life-long memories with them.

Our systematised approach to relationships provides opportunities for relationships to shine. Our teachers are equipped with training and shared language to form and model strong, lasting and deeply impactful relationships. Our ‘morning meets’ and family dining give students an opportunity to engage in conversation, speak in public, show appreciation, care for others and grow in confidence. Our extensive enrichment curriculum provides further opportunities for students to grow and for relationships to thrive.

Coherence Matters

We believe in the power of ‘all-through’ education. We commit to providing a coherent educational experience for every child—securing a clear pathway to a life of choice and opportunity. We carefully plan curricula and experiences backwards from success beyond school so that all children at RAHP will emerge from school ready to enjoy a fulfilled life. For staff, the ability to work with and learn from colleagues across the full range of ages creates a unique breeding ground for innovation and excellence.

Our students are taught how to form the habits of lifelong learners from their first moment with us so that they are kind and sociable, they maximise lesson time, they read fluently and independently, they manage their time, they memorise essential information, organise themselves and much more. They will all leave RAHP capable of making their mark on the world.

Rigour Matters

We strive for excellence in everything we do. We commit to always reflecting critically, seeking feedback, thinking creatively and acting intentionally in our pursuit of excellence. We recognise the power in consistency and the power in adaptability. We have strongly held beliefs, but are not rigid in our thinking. We teach pupils to engage with the world in a similarly robust and open manner.

We believe the bedrock of school improvement is a staff culture built upon kindness and honesty. Our staff culture and strong personal relationships develop a staff community where feedback and challenge are normal in the pursuit of our vision: a community where all staff want to support one another to be the best they can be. Our instructional coaching framework, set within our culture of honesty and kindness, supports us all to fulfil our potential as leaders and as teachers. We will be outward-looking, drawing upon the wealth of expertise within the education sector to drive improvement at RAHP.

Leadership Matters

We embrace our role as community leaders and school leaders. We commit to advocating for all of the children in our care—doing whatever it takes to secure a life of choice and opportunity for all. We empower our children by actively teaching them how to speak up and advocate for themselves and others. We value and develop our staff knowing that the best thing we can do for our children is put great teachers and other adults in front of them every lesson every day.

We know that teaching is joyous and that part of its value is in its challenge. It is a fulfilling career because it is difficult and worthwhile. Our evidence-informed approach ensures the work of teachers is meaningful and impactful. We will relentlessly pursue the highest of impacts, whilst avoiding ineffective strategies that waste the precious time of students and teachers.

We want everyone who works at RAHP to deeply believe in our vision. We all must believe that every child deserves a life of choice and opportunity in order to make it a reality. This vision, and our values, will help us to sustain a joyous school where staff and students achieve extraordinary things