We Champion Learning
At Red Kite Learning Trust, our core purpose is to ensure every learner thrives. Learning drives everything we do, and our goal is to provide children with an environment where they can learn together creatively through a rich and broad curriculum.
Our Focus
This year, we deepened our commitment to high-quality education by focusing on raising standards, fostering collaboration, and using data more intelligently to drive improvement across all our schools.
We prioritised targeted support for our schools, where the need was greatest, using Trust-wide expertise to accelerate their improvement journeys. At the same time, we strengthened our culture of collaboration, sharing best practice and holding leaders to account with compassion and clarity.
Highlights
Helping Schools Thrive
This year, our School Improvement Team worked hand-in-hand with leadership teams in schools that needed extra support. Together, we created tailored plans focusing on curriculum, teaching, and helping every pupil succeed.
Rossett School has undergone rapid improvement, within 20 months of joining our Trust, the school has progressed from a double 'Requires Improvement' Ofsted rated school to a one that is now 'Good' in all areas. Also, this year, Oatlands Junior School has progressed from an Ofsted rated 'Good' school to one that is now 'Outstanding' in four out of five areas, remaining 'Good' in one.
Learning More Together
We’ve further increased opportunities for collaboration and peer learning across our Trust. Our Primary Headteachers Network and Subject Leaders continue to meet regularly to share knowledge and good practice. This year, we launched a new Secondary Deputy Headteacher Network.
Alongside our half-termly Executive Board meetings, these networks help strengthen connections and cohesive practice. Colleagues have also benefited from the professional generosity within our Trust and through our wider partnerships including including Red Kite Alliance and Red Kite Connect.
Supportive Leadership Conversations
All our school leaders took part in regular check-ins with Trust leaders. These were honest, supportive conversations that combined high standards with coaching and a real sense of shared purpose.
Using Data to Make a Real Difference
We’ve got better at using data in a smart, practical way. It’s helping teachers and leaders spot what’s working, see where pupils might need extra help, and tweak teaching so every child can make progress.
Starting Strong in the Early Years
Both Coppice Valley and Whitkirk Primary schools were successful in securing £150,000 worth of funding to introduce or extend their nursery provision. One of just seven schools in Leeds selected for this funding, Whitkirk Primary School will offer 26 nursery places for three-year-olds from this September, expanding its high-quality early years provision and further supporting families in the local community.
Ensuring Every Teacher is a Teacher of SEND
Like most schools across the country, our schools have seen a rise in pupils with special educational needs. Our Executive Group of Headteachers met in December and following input from ASCL’s SEND expert, Margaret Mulholland, decided that we needed to do more to support our most vulnerable pupils.
We’ve strengthened our approach to SEND and Inclusion, appointing an experienced Trust Inclusion Lead, starting in September 2025, to focus on helping every teacher to be a SEND teacher and to ensure every learner receives the support they need to thrive.
Developing Great Teachers
Through our Red Kite Education team, we are helping teachers to succeed and thrive by providing professional develop opportunities at each career stage.
From Red Kite Teacher Training who are growing the next generation of brilliant teachers, to the Teaching School Hub and Red Kite Connect, we’re proud to support high-quality training at every step of a teacher’s journey.
Across our Red Kite Alliance network, we collaborate and share best practice to become stronger together as a Trust and a wider community of schools.
