Rise Multi-Academy Trust are delighted to be welcoming Three Trees Infant Academy and Three Trees Junior CofE Academy to their family of 23 schools. The schools, formally known as the Woodville Schools Federation have been supported by Rise since January 2023, having both had weak Ofsted inspections.

The new school leadership and Rise staff have wasted no time in improving the school. Ofsted came back to visit the junior site, just before the end of the summer holidays. Inspectors noted the ‘significant improvements in pupils’ behaviour’, Rises’ ‘extensive coaching programme for teachers’, which has led to  improvements in teachers’ confidence and the quality of teaching and the effectiveness of safeguarding.

Jo Westaby, Executive Headteacher, ‘Staff have felt part of the Rise family since the spring but it is wonderful to formally be part of the Trust. We thought carefully about the rebranding of the schools because we want the schools to proudly serve the Woodville community. However, we wanted to have a clear identity and vision for both schools.  Our vision of Aspire, Belong, Achieve is based on the folktale of The Three Trees.  This well known story details how three trees all have hopes and dreams but in the end up achieving something far greater.’

The schools have undergone extensive refurbishments over the summer. Pupils look fantastic in their new uniforms, provided by the Trust. Substantial re-decoration of corridors and classrooms have taken place and there is funding to finally replace the school roofs in the next 12 months.

Mark Cole, Rise CEO, said ‘We are thrilled that these schools are now officially part of the Trust. The staff at Three Trees have been fantastic to work with. They have never hidden their desire to be part of a strong family of schools and we have been unerringly clear about our ambitions for their schools to be excellent places for adults to work and pupils’ to learn’.

Parents at The Three Trees Academies, have been delighted with the changes they have seen in recent months. One said, ‘there is a noticeable difference in the expectations of behaviour and there is a buzz around the school again’. Another parent of child who has just joined the school said, ‘this is a lovely school, my child has settled very quickly and can’t wait to come to school everyday’.