View from the Classroom


View from the classroom I


n this, the first in a new series, Education Today goes through the school gates to talk to the most important people in UK education – the teachers. This month, we speak to Sharon Milner, head teacher at Brooke Hill Academy in Rutland, to find out about life as an academy head, and to hear about the collaboration between her school and another local school, Edith Weston Primary.


Tell us a little about Brooke Hill Academy Brooke Hill Academy is a busy, popular and thriving school in Oakham, Rutland. There are presently 286 pupils on roll in school and a further 46 in the Nursery. We are fortunate to have woodland next door so we are a Forest School, offering Forest School courses/sessions two afternoons each week. We provide our pupils with a creative curriculum that they have helped to develop and our standards are high. We have ICT Mark, Gold Arts mark and the Green Flag award for our environmental activities.


How did you find the academy conversion process?


The academy conversion process was straightforward although there was a good deal of work involved. We chose to go through the process ourselves, using governor expertise and staff willingness in order to save money that could then benefit the children. It was hard work and time consuming but the process went smoothly.


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Where do you see the benefits of converting to an academy?


We have been able to direct our funds to meet the needs of our pupils. This has included employing a Dyslexic specialist to work one to one with pupils, additional SEN TA support and an enriching G & T programme. We have also been able to access grants for building refurbishment. This has been particularly important given that Rutland is a small LA, and very little is provided.


Have there been any downsides to the conversion?


Obviously there is the awareness of having complete responsibility for the school, but overall the benefits have far outweighed any concerns. We maintain a good relationship with the LA and colleagues in other schools.


Brooke Hill is now working collaboratively with Edith Weston Primary - tell us how that came about?


We have always enjoyed good collaborations with other schools and we were aware that as an


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