What makes North Mead distinctive

At North Mead, we are proud of the things that make our school different.

Our Area of Excellence is not a single initiative or short-term project. It is the combination of strong teaching, ambitious inclusion, exceptional opportunities and a clear belief that every child should be able to succeed.

Our approach is built around one simple commitment: Every Child. Every Lesson. Every Day.

Excellence through equity

For us, excellence means more than high academic standards.

It means making sure that children:

• achieve well
• feel safe and known
• experience ambitious teaching
• access a broad curriculum
• receive support when they need it
• participate fully in school life
• benefit from rich opportunities
• develop confidence and independence
• leave North Mead ready for what comes next

Our aim is to reduce the impact of disadvantage, additional need and circumstance on a child’s experience of school.

High achievement

North Mead has strong academic outcomes.

In 2026:

• 92% of pupils achieved the expected standard in Reading
• 83% in Writing
• 88% in Mathematics
• 81% achieved the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Mathematics combined
• 54% achieved the higher standard in Reading
• 44% achieved the higher standard in Mathematics

These outcomes sit alongside a wider commitment to inclusion, attendance, personal development and enrichment.

For more information, visit Academy Performance.

Attendance transformation

Attendance is a significant area of strength.

North Mead’s attendance improved from: 93.2% in 2022 → 95.8% in 2026

Persistent absence reduced from: 24.8% in 2022 → 8.2% in 2026

This improvement reflects a whole-school approach combining:

• clear expectations
• early identification
• pastoral support
• attendance intervention
• family support
• SEND adjustments
• safeguarding
• strong relationships

We are proud of this progress, while remaining ambitious for every child.

For more information, visit Attendance.

Inclusion at the heart

One of North Mead’s strongest features is the way inclusion is woven through the school.

We do not ask: “Can this child fit our school?” We ask: “What does this child need in order to succeed?”

Our graduated response includes:

• Universal provision
• Targeted support
• Targeted Plus support (also Pheasants)
• Specialist support (also Bumblebees)

Support is based on need rather than diagnosis.

Our aim is always: Belong. Participate. Succeed.

For more information, visit Inclusion and SEND.

Exceptional opportunities

We believe children should experience more than the statutory curriculum alone.

Our wider offer includes:

• the Fantastic Fifty
• free curriculum trips
• free enrichment
• sport
• music
• arts
• cultural experiences
• outdoor learning
• leadership
• visitors
• performances
• community experiences

We are especially proud that opportunity should never depend on a family’s ability to pay.

For more information, visit Enrichment.

 

Free wraparound opportunities

Our wider school offer helps children and families access additional support and opportunity beyond the classroom.

This includes:

• breakfast provision
• after-school opportunities
• clubs
• enrichment
• wider experiences

These opportunities support children’s:

• attendance
• wellbeing
• confidence
• relationships
• interests
• engagement

Pastoral and family support

Our pastoral offer is another important part of what makes North Mead distinctive.

Support includes:

• ELSA
• Family Support Worker
• Behaviour Mentor
• attendance support
• emotional regulation
• trusted-adult support
• family meetings
• referrals
• external-agency liaison

We believe children learn best when they feel safe, supported and ready to learn.

For more information, visit Pastoral Support.

 

A curriculum with a clear identity

Our curriculum is designed to help children: know more, remember more and do more.

The North Mead Learning Loop supports consistent teaching through:

Retrieve → Teach & Model → Practise → Apply → Reflect

Our curriculum also includes:

• disciplinary thinking
• sticky knowledge
• strong vocabulary development
• reading at the heart
• memorable experiences
• inclusive adaptation
• Fantastic Fifty links
• strong subject leadership

For more information, visit Our Curriculum.

Personal development

We want children to leave North Mead with strong academic foundations and strong personal development.

Our wider approach includes:

DR TIMP

• Democracy
• Rule of Law
• Tolerance
• Individual Liberty
• Mutual Respect
• Protected Characteristics

Team Tactics

• Ready
• Respectful
• Responsible
• Reflective
• Resilient
• Reciprocity

These ideas are reinforced through:

• assemblies
• PSHCE
• curriculum
• leadership
• behaviour
• enrichment
• pupil voice
• wider school life

Specialist provision within a mainstream community

Pheasants and Bumblebees are important parts of North Mead.

What makes these provisions distinctive is not simply that additional support is available.

It is that we continue to think carefully about:

• belonging
• mainstream participation
• personalised learning
• communication
• regulation
• independence
• wider opportunities
• pupil movement and review

Additional provision should help children access more, not become unnecessarily separated from school life.

Support for families

We know that strong schools work closely with families.

North Mead supports families through:

• bilingual communication
• family support
• SEND advice
• attendance support
• referrals
• professional meetings
• signposting
• transition
• pastoral support

Our aim is to make school systems understandable, accessible and supportive.

Leadership and improvement

Our ambition is not to be satisfied with what is already working well.

We continue to improve through:

• learning visits
• work scrutiny
• pupil voice
• teacher voice
• assessment
• attendance analysis
• SEND review
• subject leadership
• safeguarding monitoring
• Trust quality assurance
• professional development

Our improvement model is based on: Evidence → Diagnosis → Action → Implementation → Impact

What makes North Mead exceptional?

If we had to summarise our Area of Excellence, it would be this:

• Strong outcomes

Children achieve well.

• Strong inclusion

Children are supported to belong and participate.

• Strong attendance

Children are increasingly in school and learning.

• Strong enrichment

Children experience opportunities beyond the classroom.

• Strong pastoral support

Children and families receive help when they need it.

• Strong curriculum

Children learn an ambitious, carefully sequenced curriculum.

• Strong equity

Opportunity is not limited by family income or additional need.

Our ambition

We are proud of North Mead, but our focus is always on what comes next.

Our aim is not simply to be a successful school.

It is to be a school where: achievement, opportunity and belonging come together.

A school where children receive an excellent education and a rich childhood.

A school where every child is known.

A school where every child is challenged.

A school where every child has the chance to succeed.

 

Every Child. Every Lesson. Every Day.

Together We Make a Positive Difference.

Related North Mead Pages

• Results
• Attendance
• Inclusion
• SEND
• Pastoral Support
• Enrichment
• Our Curriculum
• Safeguarding