Schools from across the Midlands, including Waseley Hills High School in Rubery, have come together to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Central Region Schools Trust.
The Trust organised the event to recognise the achievements of its schools throughout the decade. 750 members of staff and students from across its 12 schools gathered at The International Convention Centre in Birmingham to discuss their journey so far and establish a joint vision for the future.
In celebrating the anniversary, the Trust was keen to involve students by showcasing their wide variety of talents. This included a choir from Waseley Hills High School which wowed the audience with its rendition of Flashlight by Jessie J. Other performances included spoken poetry and a song from the hit West End show ‘Matilda’.
During the event, attendees heard from sector expert and bestselling author Alistair Smith about the importance of looking after one another and how schools can create a kind and caring culture. Additionally, Bonita Norris, the youngest person to reach both the summit of Everest and the North Pole, delivered an impactful speech about determination and aspiration.
Attendees also heard the Trust’s headteachers discuss generating their own positive school culture, which has enabled them to support staff and students. Central Region Schools Trust was initially founded by The Royal Society of Arts in 2012, with a vision of promoting social justice through exceptional schools.
This core mission has underpinned everything the Trust has done and has been a key driver for it to develop a thriving culture in each of its schools. Following the success of the event, the Trust is looking forward to moving ahead with pace and purpose as it continues equipping young people across the region with the skills and knowledge, they need to reach their full potential.
Guy Shears, CEO of Central Region Schools Trust, said: “It was really great to bring everyone together to celebrate our achievements as a Trust over the past ten years.
“Our staff were able to share ideas around instilling an aspirational culture in each of our schools and discuss our plans for the future, while also enjoying the fantastic performances from inspiring students. As we look forward, we are committed to pursuing our Trust’s core mission of supporting social justice through exceptional schools.”