At SUAT, our vision is to provide outstanding learning experiences for our pupils so that they leave our academies with the ambition and confidence to face challenges that they will encounter.
To achieve this, it is important to promote Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and we encourage all of the staff in the Trust to take time away from their desks to study for qualifications which will help to further their careers, and in turn, inspire our young learners.
We are proud to exceed the public sector apprenticeship target significantly and this runs alongside our own internal CPD programme which is managed through the expertise that we have within the Trust. We support both the education and business staff by offering a wide variety of topics, using a combined approach of online and in-person training.
Recently, Laura Sharratt, Finance Administrator at John Wheeldon Primary Academy, Stafford completed a Business Administrator level 3 qualification, achieving a much-deserved Distinction.
As part of Laura’s CPD, she was offered the chance to complete a Business Administrator Level 3 Apprenticeship Course via Skills Training UK, alongside her role at John Wheeldon Primary Academy.
Laura said: “My CPD training has allowed me to expand my knowledge within the school and improve my confidence, which will positively help the school too.
“To complete the level 3 course, I needed to take part in a project which would allow me to produce a portfolio of evidence for assessment.
“A challenge the school faced was to bring the catering service in-house. My role in this project was to manage communication between the school, parents and caterers to ensure a smooth transition.”
Laura managed the changeover of catering staff from January to July 2021, which ended early due to the catering contract being withdrawn by the caterers. This gave Laura a challenge to overcome, which she handled with professionalism.
John Wheeldon Primary Academy provide hot lunches for around 250 of their 513 pupils each day, as well as offering sandwiches and cold options. Due to the pandemic, only one year group can eat in the hall at once, and the school is hoping to re-introduce offering snacks at break time soon.
On completion of the course, Laura commented: “I really enjoyed being involved in other aspects of the Academy’s day-to-day running and being trusted with managing this essential project has meant a lot to me.
“I joined John Wheeldon Primary Academy in 2019 after a significant career change from a Sales Manager. As a result of achieving this qualification, I have been offered the responsibility to line manage the catering team, further inspiring my confidence and drive to help the academy succeed.”
Dave Kerr, Office Manager at John Wheeldon Primary Academy said: “I am massively proud of Laura and what she has achieved in a short period of time. Despite the ongoing uncertainty, she has gone above and beyond to stay focussed to complete her qualification, take on new responsibility whilst continuing to excel in her current role.”
Currently, we have 33 members of staff across the Trust undertaking apprenticeship training from Teaching Assistants and Business Administration level 2, all the way up to Operations Manager level 5 and Professional Accounting level 7.
Rachel Bailye, Interim CEO and Accounting Officer at SUAT said:
“We will continue to support our members of staff to develop their skills in order to secure high quality learning, effective use of resources and the highest standards of progress and achievement for all learners.”
If you are interested in joining Staffordshire University Academies Trust, then please get in touch to discuss our services and all the options available to you. Working together we will raise standards. Alternatively, contact us via email office@suatrust.co.uk or call 01782 987120.
