A Proud Moment for The Mallard Academy

Yesterday, members of our Board of Directors joined members of our Executive Leadership team for a visit to The Mallard Academy, where they were given a fantastic tour of the academy by the Pupil Leadership team.

The visit provided an opportunity for Directors to see first-hand the significant progress being made at the academy as it continues its transformation journey and enters an exciting new phase with £3.6 million of Department for Education capital investment, which will be spent directly at The Mallard Academy to further enhance facilities and learning environments for pupils.

The event began with an insightful presentation from Executive Principal Davina Sumner and Principal David Richardson, who shared the academy's improvement journey, the challenges overcome and the impact being achieved for pupils and the wider community. Their presentation highlighted not only the progress made so far, but also the ambitious vision for the future.

Directors also had the opportunity to engage in a thoughtful Q&A session with the Pupil Leadership team. The pupils spoke with confidence, honesty and pride about their experiences at the academy, the opportunities available to them and the changes they have seen over the last year. They were exceptional ambassadors for the academy.

As Directors toured the academy, they were able to see the evidence behind the story:

📅 234 school days since Mallard joined Exceed
📈 Attendance improved from 91% to 93.5%
📉 Persistent Absenteeism reduced from 35.7% to 16.8%
📉 Suspension days reduced from 41 to 6.5
🌟 After-school clubs increased from 2 to 12 each week
🛡️ 100% Green rating on the latest External Safeguarding Audit

These figures represent more than data points. They reflect children attending school more regularly, stronger relationships, improved behaviour, greater opportunities beyond the classroom and a culture where safeguarding and pupil wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do.

School improvement is never achieved overnight, nor is it the work of one person. It is the collective effort of dedicated colleagues, supportive governors, engaged families, ambitious leaders and remarkable young people. Seeing this dedication in action perfectly highlights our ongoing commitment to empowering excellence, one of our core strategic goals that drives everything we do.

Thank you to Davina, David, the team at Mallard and their fantastic Pupil Leadership team for hosting such a memorable visit. It was a powerful reminder of how far The Mallard Academy has come and the exciting future that lies ahead.