We are delighted to receive the Gold quality mark from Anchored Schools in our recent safeguarding audit. Staff are unwavering in their commitment to safeguarding and it is wonderful to see this recognised by such a reputable organisation. We are immensely proud, particularly given that, outside of Olive Academies, only two other schools in the country have received Gold so far this year, demonstrating just how difficult it is to achieve.
Corrie Fielding, Education Consultant at Anchored Schools, said:
There is a strong and secure culture of safeguarding embedded at Olive AP Academy – Havering. Their policies, practices and protocols are excellent and it is clear that the safety and wellbeing of pupils drives all aspects of school life.
We’re proud that among the many positive areas featured in the report, leadership and management was seen as a strength: ‘Leaders are knowledgeable and decisive. They understand that safeguarding underpins all aspects of academy life and they model the behaviours that they wish to see in others.’
Our PSHE programme also received praise for being ‘impactful and relevant for all pupils’, noting the flexibility in place to ‘quickly ensure the programme of study is adapted to address arising [safeguarding] issues.’
The auditing process is incredibly intensive. Using their own software, recognised by Ofsted to be exemplary, Anchored Schools reviewed our processes, systems, policies and procedures to evidence all aspects of safeguarding, with a score of at least 90% required to receive the quality assurance award. This threshold is incredibly high, ensuring that only settings with the very best safeguarding practices receive the quality mark.
Michelle Simmonite, Olive Academies Trust Safeguarding Lead, said:
Anchored Schools provide a high-quality personalised service, taking the time to build solid relationships with staff across all of our academies. Their tailored approach ensures they understand the context in order to make achievable recommendations. We are delighted to have been awarded the Anchored Schools Gold award.
Anchored Schools is a nationally-recognised organisation that works with hundreds of schools and academies across the country at both primary and secondary level and across the spectrum of mainstream, alternative provision and SEND settings. They bring a wealth of expertise and are highly regarded for their thorough approach. It is great to see our hard work acknowledged by such an esteemed external specialist. Well done to all staff at Olive AP Academy – Havering on this fantastic achievement and for ensuring we have effective safeguarding practices in place to keep our academy community safe.
21 March 2023