Headteacher’s Welcome

I am proud to be the Principal of Stamford Welland Academy where every child is known, valued, and supported to achieve above and beyond their potential. SWA has grown significantly in the last few years into the ‘school of choice’ for Stamford and the surrounding areas. We have a reputation for genuinely caring for the young people we teach and nurturing them to become the best version of themselves. Parents recognise the exceptional pastoral care that we provide and combined with superb teaching; we offer a truly ‘whole’ education for young people. This approach has resulted in not only fantastic GCSE results, but perhaps more importantly, young people who feel confident, happy, safe, members of our school family.

Our curriculum in each subject is carefully crafted and sequenced to ensure all students make progress regardless of starting points. Our subject leaders are experts and enthusiasts bursting to take our students on exciting journeys through each curriculum area. As part of Meridian Trust, we also have access to the expertise of Curriculum Area Directors for each subject, in addition to the support from subject specialists in 13 other Trust secondary schools. As an inclusive school, there is superb support for those with additional needs and as a result, they achieve excellent outcomes. 

Our parallel curriculum offer is exceptional, and this is due to the emphasis we place on it being as important as the taught curriculum. We can teach young people all the facts, figures, and information they will ever need to pass exams, but the life skills that are acquired by participating in additional activities, are the skills which shape and define young people’s characters and give them the resilience and confidence to face the wider world.

We have a significant focus on developing character at SWA and we see this as fundamental to students leaving us as fully rounded members of society. Every half term we focus on two different character attributes, where students are overtly taught what they are and how they might demonstrate them. Each half term culminates in a PLEDGE afternoon related to the character attributes we have been focusing on, where students work towards achieving their gold, silver and bronze PLEDGE awards.

Relationships between staff and students at SWA are extremely strong and positive, and there is a genuine feeling of us all being part of a team. Without exception, every visitor who walks through the doors of SWA comments on the fantastic atmosphere which feels positive, purposeful, and welcoming. Our strength in this area has been recognised locally and nationally, and we have been asked to share our excellent practice with other schools.

My own values are firmly rooted in a child centered, relationship and ‘whole child’ approach to education and I am passionate about modelling this in everything we do at Stamford Welland Academy. I want SWA to be a place where students feel like they belong and where they thrive – both academically and emotionally. Fundamentally, I want students to want to come to school and we are constantly looking at ways to make school a positive experience for all students. My vision for the future development of the school reflects these firmly held values and beliefs:

• A school which offers the very best standard of teaching, across a wide range of subjects, to children of all abilities and backgrounds
• A school where all children, regardless of ability, achieve above and beyond their potential
• A school where young people are proud to attend, and staff are proud to work at
• A school where every child is valued – regardless of their background or ability
• A school where all talents are nurtured and valued – every child has something to offer the world, it’s our job to discover and nurture whatever that may be
• A school which prepares young people for life beyond Stamford – not just academically, but as ‘whole’ people ready to contribute to society
• A school where positive character traits are explicitly taught, recognised and rewarded, and given equal status as the academic curriculum
• A school which is so much more than an ‘exams factory’
• A school where the parallel curriculum contributes extensively to the students’ education and experience
• Ultimately, a school where young people feel happy and safe, feel like they belong, achieve beyond their potential and leave as confident, well-educated and well-rounded members of society

These are exciting times for Stamford Welland Academy, and we are looking forward to the next part of our journey with eager anticipation. The improvement to the learning environment over the last few years, coupled with our rich and varied curriculum, superb teaching and exceptional pastoral care, all ensure that we are the ‘school of choice’ for Stamford and the surrounding areas. We are constantly looking at opportunities to link with local community groups and clubs, and it is our desire to continually develop as the hub of our local community whilst providing the very best education for local children.

Vicky Lloyd, Headteacher