School Improvement Team

School Improvement

At Coombe Academy Trust, school improvement is driven through a collaborative, trust-wide model that harnesses the strengths of individual leaders to support progress across all schools. Every Headteacher holds a strategic trust-wide role, contributing expertise in areas such as digital innovation, AI, teaching and learning, and leadership development. This includes bespoke initiatives such as the Innovative Leaders programme - ten sessions designed to equip aspiring senior leaders with practical skills in areas from leading change to understanding school finance. The Trust also delivers the licensed THRIVE Practitioner course, supporting pupil wellbeing and staff development. Additional leadership capacity is built through cross-school teams, including a collaborative SENDCo peer review model, an EYFS Vocabulary Lead, and a dynamic Oracy Team, ensuring continuous, evidence-informed improvement at every level.

Executive Leaders

Mr D Smith - Digital and AI leader

Ms E Barns - Executive leader for Innovative leaders. 

A bespoke ten session course, held over the year covering:

  • Leading change  

  • Working with parents 

  • Supporting your team’s performance and developing your staff

  • Using data to inform next steps 

  • Understanding more about school finance 

  • Preparing for Senior Leadership 

  • SEND leadership

Mr D Tan - Primary Teaching and Learning Lead

Mrs S Berlemont - Leadership over two schools

THRIVE - Coombe Trust delivers the Licensed Practitioner THRIVE  course.

Thrive Licensed Practitioner Course

Extended School improvement team

  • Oracy Team

  • SENDCO Teams working collaboratively in a peer review model, overseen by the SENDCO Termly meeting and Trust SEND Lead

  • EYFS Vocabulary Lead

  • DSL Team lead by the Deputy Trust DSL Julie Morris

Courses coming in 2025-2026

Courses coming in 2025-2026 includes;

  • Innovative Leaders course - 10 sessions over the year to support and inspire innovative leaders in educational and Operational support staff roles 

  • Thrive Course- 12 week Licensed Practitioner Course

  • Supporting Neurodiversity in the classroom - Educational Support Staff  10 week course