Kirk Hallam Academy Ilkeston prepares for positive 2021

Mr Belshaw: Kirk Hallam has been changing rapidly and we are going into the New Year with a real confidence about the direction the school is heading in

Kirk Hallam Community Academy has gone through a period of transformation since it joined the Nova Education Trust in 2018.

And headteacher Damian Belshaw, who took over the role in May this year, is confident that his team has built a strong foundation for a very positive future.

Mr Belshaw said: “After a period of high staff turnover we have hired the best teachers possible because that’s what our kids deserve.

The school has undergone a transformation, and provides a positive, nurturing space for pupils

“We are creating a school with high expectations, and the school will be calm, quiet and consistent.

“I’m really keen to enable kids to have choice over their future, by providing an excellent school, providing choice, and – importantly in an uncertain world – giving them certainty about what they can expect day in day out at the Academy.

“Kirk Hallam has been changing rapidly and we are going into the New Year with a real confidence about the direction the school is heading in.”

And this spirit of positivity will, says Mr Belshaw, extend into the exam results for Y11 and Y13s.

The school, in Kirk Hallam, Ilkeston, caters for students from aged 11 to 19 years, providing an all-round curriculum offering students choice no matter which direction they want their education to take them.

Mr Belshaw’s positivity has helped continue the dramatic change in the school’s ethos and performance since it joined the education trust. Speaking when he arrived in May, he said: “Every encounter I have had—be it parent, carer or child—has reinforced my belief that this community deserves an excellent school. I want to build upon the strengths that exist to ensure that, together, we can deliver a high quality provision.

“This journey is one that we must make collectively as teachers, students and the wider community if we are to be successful. For my part, I promise to leave no stone unturned in my pursuit of educational excellence for your children and I know that all staff have bought into this vision.”

His vision falls into three sectors – creating a safe, kind learning environment for pupils, using strong professional training to develop teachers, and working to ensure excellent exam results.

If you are a current parent, or are considering Kirk Hallam for your child, visit www.kirkhallamacademy.co.uk for more information.