Inside the brilliant ‘turnaround’ Handsworth school that wraps children and families in love

“We live, love and learn together as a family and as a community.” It’s a simple mantra, but it’s at the heart of how a ‘reputationally damaged’ and underperforming school in the heart of Handsworth is celebrating an important day today.

St Michael’s Church of England Primary Academy has received the coveted ‘Outstanding’ rating from school regulator Ofsted, marking the culmination of a fierce collective determination to give the area’s young people the best possible start in life.

Humble head Philip Hynan and his Handsworth-raised deputy Daniel Martin point to others when asked how they did it. “It’s a collective achievement,” says Philip, who praises not only his staff and families, but also the input from community groups, local residents, places of worship and charities. “It is a collaborative effort that is fundamentally motivated and inspired by love and people.”

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The opening lines of the Ofsted report for the school would warm the heart of any parent or teacher. ‘There is an abundance of love, care and ambition evident at this school.

“The school changes the lives of families and students. Many students come to school at different times during the year. Some stay for a while, others stay longer. But what is consistent is the school’s determination that every student will, and does it well. There is a high level of care for every child.

“This includes family support, education and mentoring. Students new to school benefit from the exceptional care that all students receive. Home visits ensure that these students and their families get the help they need to adapt quickly. The behavior is extremely commendable. Not a moment of learning is wasted. All students achieve highly across the curriculum.”

They also praise the ‘many extra options on offer’ – from cycling to ballet, sailing to supper club, the city farm to the food cupboard; nothing is too much trouble for the school.” “They successfully spot, source and support so many people in so many ways.”

There has been praise for the way the curriculum celebrates the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Handsworth and Birmingham, with the history, geography, arts and culture of Black and South Asian Brummies and Britons at its heart. The content is high, with topics such as Latin and debating included.

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The speed of the school’s turnaround has been impressive. In September 2021, the school was rated as ‘requires improvement’, the second lowest rating given by Ofsted. However, the head and his deputy, who started together that month, have overseen a complete transformation.

“The school suffered reputational damage, declining student numbers, high staff turnover and a worrying lack of trust within the community,” Mr Hynan said. He united the staff behind a new vision, opened the school to the local community and revamped the curriculum.

Governor Shuranjeet Singh said some staff who had worked at the school for more than 30 years were surprised by the change and that the impact on and with the community had been influential. For Deputy Mr Martin, overseeing the turnaround was more than a job: “Born and raised in Handsworth, St Michael’s is on a personal mission to provide an excellent quality of education to a community that means so much to me.”

He said the staff is driven by a determination to make sure “it’s good enough for my own”. “Many staff are parents and they recognize the importance of providing our families with the level of education and pastoral support they demand for their own children.”

Many students and families at the school are on the brink of or facing significant financial hardship, the school says. They are helped to thrive through a range of options. It has a community dedication, free rural retreats, a monthly supper club for families and friends, with over 100 members of the local community attending to break bread together.

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The message from the headteacher is clear: “We are passionate in our belief that Handsworth is not a community of deficit. It is often labeled as disadvantaged or deprived. Yet it thrives in many ways – fundamentally it is rich in culture, languages, beliefs. , lived experiences, travel and spirituality This is our Handsworth.”

He added: “The community of Handsworth has played a huge role in our improvement over the last 30 months, with local places of worship, community groups, charities and neighbors all contributing. This outstanding judgment is a collective achievement involving stakeholders from the school, the Trust. and the community.”

St Michael’s is a Church of England primary school, part of the Birmingham Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust (BDMAT), which has 19 schools in Birmingham, Solihull and Warwickshire. It is built on four core values: Community, Aspiration, Learning and Love. Children come from multiple religions, with the majority being Christian, Muslim or Sikh.

It recently won the 2023 Birmingham Church of England Bishop’s Award and has been a National Talk for Writing Showcase school since last year. The school hopes to grow student numbers, create a new community center on the school grounds and work with other schools to share their experiences.