Headteacher's Welcome

As Head Teacher at Templars Academy, I would to share our whole-school commitment to continually improving academic standards, behaviour and creativity. Having joined Templars nearly two years ago, I have seen it develop into a school with high aspirations for our pupils and with our Nursery, provide high quality and nurturing education from 2 years old to 11 years, and for those pupils in our alternative provision, Manor House. Our pupils are very familiar with our school environment and expectations, and this certainly supports their transition through primary school. I want all of our pupils to have the skills for life they will need, and this includes a strong emphasis on oracy and communication skills. 

We are extremely lucky to have large grounds with lots of classroom space inside our school. Within this environment, we aim to allow every child to reach their own potential within a safe, secure and inspiring space, which emphasises the important values of individual responsibility, social awareness and understanding of diversity. We aim to achieve excellence, for pupils to develop an understanding of the significance of education and know what success feels like. 

Victoria Gooding, Headteacher

We hope that you enjoy your visit to our website, and that you find the information you are looking for. Please feel free to contact the school direct with any queries you may have.

Templars Academy is part of the Connected Learning Multi-academy Trust, a primary-only multi-academy trust with 5 schools forming the MAT. Please see the Connected learning MAT website for further details.

Our School is located on the Cressing Road in Witham, Essex. Our large fenced site benefits from excellent facilities.  This includes two school buildings, each with disabled access and toilets, a disabled car parking space close by, and their own halls.  We have extensive landscaped grounds, a fully air-conditioned ICT suite and a well stocked library.  The staff and children thoroughly enjoy working together across the school sites.  We are constantly seeking to improve the learning experiences for children and have created a curriculum which captures their interest inline with the current national curriculum. 

Our vision has recently changed to reflect the way our 5 schools in the MAT work together and are connected. 'Together we are greater' encapsulates the spirit of togetherness.  We know that together we are stronger and, with your support, strive to provide the very best education for the children in our care, within a nurturing and caring environment.

We are a two form entry school, with a maximum number on roll of 420.  We also benefit from a large nursery class for 3-4 year olds (up to 39 places) and a 12 place nursery class for 2-3 year olds. 

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Trust Strategy-ethos and values summary

Children first in an active environment

Connected, collaborative learning across all its schools

We know what outstanding teaching looks like and we also know what outstanding leadership looks like.

All school to school support is based on creating partnerships, developing mutual respect whilst still challenging underperformance at all levels of teaching and learning. We also believe that, in order to have an outstanding school, all aspects of the school must be outstanding including the governance, financial structure, catering and premises management

Strategy of Connected Learning is:

• To provide a MAT-led school improvement system
• To develop an outstanding leadership team
• To be a community
• For each academy yet to be judged as Good to have a designated leadership team from the MAT that will have responsibility and accountability for school improvement
• For Connected Learning to continue to work closely and positively with the Local Authority
• To ensure continuous attention to the need for effective succession management across the MAT
• To develop the MAT premises to ensure their fitness for purpose
• In return, the MAT will offer the following:-
  • Career pathways, promotion and research opportunities
  • Continuous professional development
  • Staff recruitment and retention
  • Staff mobility
  • Education adviser services
  • Innovative technological links
  • Shared resources providing economies of scale
  • Collaborative procurement

Trust Mission & Aims

The Trust Mission:  Children first in an active environment

Connected Learning Aims are:-

Collaborative, meaningful partnerships
Outstanding leadership
Nurturing environments where children feel safe to learn
Networks across the communities
Equality of opportunities in inclusive schools
Culture of continuous professional development for all
Tolerance and respect for everyone
Effective teaching and learning
Dedicated professionalism

Life skills to prepare children for their future
Every child matters
Aspirational, active learners enjoying and achieving
Resilience, reciprocity, reflectiveness, resourcefulness, research
Negotiated behaviour improvement, respecting all
Interacting with technology
Next steps learning
Golden goals, gifts and talents