Category: News

Our Trust’s primary schools have been informing parents that there will be a delay to our Year 6 children receiving their SATs results this summer.

The results were due on Tuesday 7 July 2026. However, Pearson Education Limited, the provider responsible for administering, marking, and returning Key Stage 2 results to schools has informed the Department for Education of a delay affecting the national system used to make results available to schools.

The SATs results will now be available on Thursday 16 July 2026. This will result in primary school staff working through the first weeks of the holiday to review outcomes, evaluate potential re-marks, and complete administrational duties.

Mark Wilkes, Deputy CEO, said: “We have been told by the Department for Education that the delay is not related to the quality of the tests or the accuracy of pupils’ results. Test papers have been marked in line with usual processes. This will not impact your child’s transition to secondary school and no action is required from parents or pupils. We will share results with you as quickly as possible after we receive them on 16 July. “

We are delighted to report that Holly Grove Primary Academy had a very successful OFSTED visit – reaching the elusive ‘Strong’ categories in Personal Development & Well-Being and Attendance & Behaviour – and then ‘Expected’ across the board.

These judgements were not a surprise for school or Trust leaders – on the back of successive years of impressive results, excellent attendance, curriculum awards, extensive community engagement, and a buzzing, daily atmosphere that makes any visit a pleasure.

Amongst many highlights in the report, the inspectors identified that:

• Pupils’ behaviour is calm, purposeful and consistently positive. Pupils demonstrate respectful attitudes towards one another and understand the importance of treating others fairly.
• Pupils benefit from a wide range of opportunities that support their broader development. These include clubs, leadership roles and experiences that extend beyond the classroom. Pupils develop confidence and are encouraged to take responsibility.
• Pupils demonstrate maturity when discussing their emotional wellbeing, relationships and sense of belonging.
• Reading and phonics are clear strengths. Pupils across the school achieve highly in these areas.
• Teaching is typically clear and well structured. This enables pupils to understand what they are learning and how this builds on prior knowledge. Pupils engage well in lessons and respond positively to questioning.
• Children in the early years receive a positive start to their education. The early years is well led and highly inclusive.
• Staff are proud to work here, and rightly so. They feel well supported and listened to by leaders. Staff describe the school as a positive place in which to work.
• The trust and local governors are knowledgeable and highly supportive of the school. They provide quality training, support and appropriate challenge.

Matt Allman, Chief Education Officer, said: “Leaders, staff, children and parents at the school can be hugely proud of the plaudits they received in the visit. Already there is a huge drive in the school to keep their momentum rolling, and families can be wholly confident that if their child signs up at Holly Grove, then then they are already on a pathway to personal success.”

The full report can be read here.

Queen’s Croft High School students joined students from across the region to develop life-saving skills as part of a training programme.

The Stop the Bleed sessions – given by Lichfield District Council’s community safety team, colleagues from partner agencies and the CitizenAID charity – focused on teaching participants how to respond to serious bleeding emergencies, including the use of pressure, dressings, torniquets and trauma kits.

Cllr Richard Cox, Lichfield District Council’s cabinet member for community and public protection, said: “This training is an invaluable investment in the safety of our community. “By equipping 580 young people and 50 adults with these essential skills, we are empowering them to potentially save lives. It’s inspiring to see our schools embracing such practical and meaningful education, and I’d like to thank everyone involved in delivering this important programme.”

Matt Allman, Chief Education Officer (CEdO), added: “The staff at Queen’s Croft High School have high expectations in their students and go all out to equip them to contribute and thrive in the adult world. This training course is just part of the life skills the school develops in their students and benefits not just the children, but their families and the wider community as well.”

Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday was celebrated on Friday 8 May and schools’ across our Trust joined in the celebrations with special assemblies, classes, and projects.

The Friary School based one of their Focus Weeks around the event and there was a House Competition on his life and contribution, as well as special assemblies and tutor time activities.

Elsewhere, students at Henry Chadwick primary School dressed as animals and undertook related lessons and activities to raise awareness of his work to support endangered species and the wider planet. Also, there was bird-watching and a party lunch with a birthday cake and candles.

You can learn more about Sir David Attenborough’s birthday and wider contribution to our world here.

Matt Allman, Chief Education Officer, said: “This really was a national event and we wanted our Trust’s children to be part of the celebrations. The work of Sir David reflects the best our country can offer and sets a wonderful example in terms of a lasting commitment and environmental awareness and even on his 100th birthday he remains a role model to children as young as those at pour primary schools. ‘Happy Birthday’ to Sir David from everyone in the Primitas family.”

Students from Queen’s Croft High School have been enjoying a six-week fitness programme at Jetts Gym as part of developing their sports and community experience.

The students were invited to take part in the scheme at Jetts Gym and the opportunity to use the equipment, take specialist advance and develop their all-round fitness and confidence has proved a wonderful gesture.

Callum Huckfield, from Queen’s Croft High School, said: “At Queen’s Croft, we’re committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of all our pupils – and opportunities like this are so important in helping us do that. Regular physical activity brings real benefits, including improved fitness, better mental health and increased confidence. Just as importantly, taking part in a community gym setting gives our pupils valuable life skills and experience that will stay with them as they grow into adulthood, helping them to make healthy, active choices throughout their lives.

Matt Allman, Chef Education Officer (CEdO), added: “We are hugely grateful to the staff at Jetts Gym were eager to accommodate the pupils, offering tailored support throughout their fitness journey. It is this sort of local community partnership that our local MAT works to foster and develop. Our students and our staff are all part of our local community, and so projects like this only add to how our city can come together to make life better for one another.”

Our Trust Behaviour Lead, Nathan Smith, led a parents’ session at Highfields Primary Academy focusing on ‘Managing Challenging Behaviour – Understanding Emotions in Our Children’.

The session built on the ‘ADHD’ parent workshop, run by out Trust SEND Lead, Laura Gray, and provided explanation, theory and practical ideas to supprot parent in facing the challenges that all families deal with at one time or another.

The parent feedback was very sportive and include:

“The workshop yesterday was really useful and it was helpful to have a reminder and encouragement to use those parenting skills. I learnt a lot from the examples of children’s perspectives and especially liked the comparison of empathy and sympathy.”

Matt Allman, Chief Education Officer(CEdO), said: “This session reflects our Trust’s commitment to supporting both our schools and our families in helping their children to thrive. All of us as parents know there are challenges to face, but by sharing ideas and approaches we can make the tougher times more straight-forward and support the children in thriving both at home and at school.”

On Friday 22 May we’re bringing together colleagues from across the region at The Friary School, Lichfield, for a full day focused on what matters most – building schools where every learner with SEND can genuinely thrive. As always, the event is completely free and lunch is included.

We’re thrilled to have Dr Pooky Knightsmith back with us, this time exploring how to create neurodivergent-friendly schools and what it really means to make inclusive practice part of everyday life.

Alongside her, we’re welcoming Paul Dix, whose work on relational practice and belonging has inspired schools across the world and we’re confident he’ll do the same for us.

The day runs from 9:00am to 3:00pm and has been planned so that each session connects and builds on the last. We think you’ll leave with plenty to think about – and plenty to take back to your school.

Spaces are limited, so please do secure your place as soon as you can.

Click here to book your free place

Matt Allman, Primitas Chief Education Officer (CEdO), said: “Last year went superbly well and we are thrilled at the uptake in this second year. The last spaces are available for this free event and we would encourage colleagues to come together to listen to fantastic speakers on the SEND issues that we face in our daily practice.”

Queen’s Croft High School – our secondary special school – is ambitious and creative for every child in their school and recently this was demonstrated when they – alongside other SEND schools and Disability groups – took part in Music Share at Lichfield Cathedral.

The wonderful event saw partnership work with Kemball School (Stoke-on-Trent), Rocklands School (Lichfield), Friends 2 Friends and Liberty Jamboree.

Schools benefitted from the support of the MusicShare Lead, Cathy Lamb, and produced a fantastic event.

Laura Gray, Trust SEND Lead Professional, said “As a Trust we are resolute in ensuring that every child – no matter what their ability or staring point – has the opportunity to experience a diverse and engaging curriculum so that they are inspired, encouraged, and can grow. The MusicShare event was a tremendous success and we were delighted for all of the participants.”

The Nest is Ridgeway’s specialist resource provision, made up of 4 different classrooms: Doves, Robins, Ravens and Starlings.

A varying range of needs are met by a strong team of Learning Support Assistants and superb facilities even stretching to a ball pit !”

Recently, Ravens and Starlings have been focusing on the topic of ‘Food Detectives’ have been sampling some different fruits from our snack shop! This has been an academic, sensory and communication activity and the students have tremendously enjoyed it.

Elsewhere., the Robins class have been focusing hard on developing their Phonics and Maths skills – alongside playing appropriately with friends, managing our emotions and independence.

Finally, Doves, our KS2 class, have received high-level support on their Maths and English through high staffing ratios and appropriate pace and pitch so that they are accessible and embedded.

Lara Gray, Headteacher, said: “Our Nest is a specialist provision that excels in supporting more vulnerable children. Each of the child in the programme are talented and demonstrate huge potential, and our active support only helps them to realise this and to make great tides forward.”

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an important opportunity to reflect and celebrate progress. It is a chance to recognise the strengths, insight and value that neurodivergent people bring, while also encouraging organisations to think more carefully about the environments they create.

Across our Trust, our schools have bene sharing the best practice to support students with neurodiversity.

This celebration has been to raise awareness, learn from one another, breed confidence in all of us facing the challenges of neurodiversity, and our wider Trust aim of doing the best we can for every child who is learning in our school..

Matt Allman, Chief Education Officer, said: “This was a focus week we were very passionate about as our inclusive approach means we leave no stone unturned to enable each child to grow to be the best they can be. For some children this can only be achieved with an element of support, but once this support is in place, then these children can fly just as high as any.”