The Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) finds itself in 2012-13 as the provider of education for 6500 students with a workforce and talent pool of over 900 staff. Ten open academies and an 11^th starting in September 2013 sees the CLF as the largest multi academy sponsor in the South West. The vision outlined by the Executive Principal David Carter in 2007 when the federation first formed was to create a family of schools that provided outstanding education for children in the Bristol, Bath and Weston super Mare and from the ages of 3 to 19, and this has become a reality.

The support of the CLF sponsors, the University of the West of England and Rolls Royce PLC underpins this work and has created a platform for our secondary academies to accelerate their improvement. Hans Price Academy in Weston super Mare saw 46% of the students achieve 5 A*-C grades including English and Maths having been the 13^th lowest performing school in England a year earlier in 2011 when only 23% attained at this level. King’s Oak Academy in South Gloucestershire saw their results rise from 32% to 52% in one year. At the same time John Cabot Academy, Bristol Brunel and Bristol Metropolitan Academies sustained the performance we have seen since they joined. Our newest secondary Academy Bath Community Academy joined in September 2012 having seen the predecessor school close in special measures. In February 2013 we were delighted that the school was removed from this category and is on the journey to rapid improvement.

September 2012 was also significant in that four new Primary Academies in East Bristol, Minerva Academy, Frome Vale Academy, Begbrook Primary Academy and Summerhill Academy all joined. Our understanding of the learning journey from reception to post 16 has been enhanced by these new partners..

Our goal and mission is  ”Collaboration for Outstanding Achievement”  and this is embodied in the work of our national teaching school, where this structure enables staff to participate in secondments between the academies, undertake leadership training, best practice sharing, teach in our collaborative post 16 and move between our Academies to enable more children to benefit from the skills and talents of our staff. The confidence this gives to our schools and the communities that they serve is immeasurable and our culture will support our academies as they improve from strength to strength. Therefore it is against this background that the CLF moves forward as a confident organisation, with a genuine collaborative spirit enshrined within our ethos, looking forward to continuing to give our children, staff & parents the best opportunities for success we can.

David Carter

Executive Principal

Cabot Learning Federation