NACE Challenge Award Accreditation 2018 - 2025

The National Association for More Able Children in Education (NACE) has reaccredited The Leys Primary and Nursery School with the NACE Challenge Award (in May 2022). The award is given in recognition of school-wide commitment to high-quality provision for more able learners, within the context of challenge for all.

Here is what our Accreditor, Barbara Firth, said about our school:

‘I was very impressed by the school’s ambition to provide challenge through rigorous planning and getting students to think and be independent in their learning. You have clearly made good progress in addressing the needs of more able and talented students, and this whole school commitment was strongly reflected by your staff and students’.

The award is based on the NACE Challenge Framework, which sets out criteria for high-quality provision for more able learners within a wider ethos of challenge for all. The framework is available as part of the NACE Challenge Development Programme – a suite of resources developed by NACE to help schools evaluate and improve their provision for more able learners.

Improving provision for the more able remains a high priority for many schools and has been highlighted by Ofsted as a key focus. The experience and evidence gathered by Challenge Award-accredited schools also shows that effective strategies to improve provision for the more able are likely to have a positive impact on the achievement of all learners.

To attain the Challenge Award, schools must complete a detailed self-evaluation using the NACE Challenge Framework, submit a portfolio of supporting evidence, and undertake assessment by a NACE associate. The assessment process includes examination of school data and key documents; lesson observations; and interviews with school leaders, learners, parents and governors.

Barbara Firth continued..

“The leadership of The Leys Nursery and Primary School is ambitious and aspirational for every child. Staff know the pupils and their families very well including both their strengths and barriers to success. As a result, they are able to provide a curriculum that both meets individual needs and stretches pupils as far as they can go. As a consequence, attainment and progress continue to ensure that pupils are very well prepared for secondary transfer at the end of Year 6. Equally, success in sporting, and cultural activities is as highly prized and celebrated. Pupils are articulate and eager learners who are extremely well-supported and celebrated. The leadership of the school encourages all staff to develop their pedagogy through professional development opportunities and, as a consequence, the school is a reflective learning community with the capacity and determination to innovate and develop”.


The Leys Primary & Nursery School Reaccreditation Report:
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The Leys Primary & Nursery School

Ripon Road, Stevenage, Herts, SG1 4QZ.
01438 314148
admin@leys.herts.sch.uk

Copyright © 2024 - The Leys Primary & Nursery School
Headteacher:  Mrs D Khangura
Chair of Governors:  Mrs Marina Stone