During a recent three-day review, Dr. Jason Howard, Director of Education at the Creative Education Trust, and Gordon Farquhar, Principal of Milton Keynes Academy, were invited to experience first-hand the culture, learning and relationships at Weavers. What they found was deeply impressive.

GF: “We can’t talk about the school that we used to be, we just aren’t in the same place. To talk about that school that Weavers has come from is disrespectful to the journey that we are on. Recognise it as part of the history, but look at what we are doing and what we do next, and it’s about the trajectory.”

"Come and have a walk around my school"

One message came through clearly from both leaders: the Weavers of today needs to be seen to be believed.

JH: “If there are people out there in the community who don’t get where Weavers is at, and this school has come a massive way in the last 4 years, Mr Hunt should just invite them in, just say come in, have a walk around my school. And if you aren’t happy with anything, come and tell me what it is, because I think they will be pretty impressed personally.”

GF: “Ignore all of the history surrounding the school, go and look, and decide if your child is getting a good deal going there.”

Teaching and Learning: “Really strong and really good”

Throughout the visit, classroom practice stood out as a real strength of the school.

GF: “Going into the classrooms, you can see the 4 parts of the lesson and I described it as almost Pavlovian in its response… It was a conditioned response to learning which helped students transition from different parts of the lesson.”

Farquhar continued to praise the richness of questioning:

GF: “There was everything from cold calling… to deeper level thinking, higher-end questions, where students had been asked to properly explain or expand on their answers. There was no get out of jail card… That stuck out.”

And this wasn’t a one-off:

GF: “Every classroom I went into, and I went into a lot of classrooms on Monday, every classroom there was respectful interactions between students, between staff… Some really powerful stuff in the classroom. It was really strong and really good.”

Culture and Relationships: “The Weavers Way is a lived experience”

What impressed the visitors even more than structure and strategy was the school culture — one that’s deeply embedded in how people treat one another.

GF: “There are a lot of schools that have their version of the Weavers Way… what I’ve seen here is that the Weavers Way is actually a lived experience for everyone who comes here and that is massive. For every single one of you, from Mr Hunt right to the newest Year 7.”

JH: “When you meet pupils here… they are polite, welcoming, hold doors open for you, don’t say rude things, and they are really good representatives of their school. And that’s great and really comes across — that the values are being lived.”

Farquhar was especially moved by how students spoke of the staff:

GF: “The phrase that kept popping up is for students who describe members of staff as their Weavers mum or dad and it’s said in a way with genuine affection but with professional courtesy. This is the person who looks out for me when I’m here — and that was really powerful.”

Behaviour: Support, not punishment

One of the most striking observations was how staff at Weavers respond to behaviour challenges not with punishment alone, but with compassion, persistence and care.

JH: “There are some schools… where leaders say just suspend them or PEX them… but you don’t get any better necessarily just because you get punished a lot… The great thing here is that staff don’t give up on people and keep trying new things to try and support pupils who might find it hard to come to school, to behave well and work hard.”

The Only Thing That Needs Improving?

In a light-hearted moment — one that spoke volumes about the positive culture and warmth among staff — Farquhar joked:

GF: “Mr Hunt needs a hair cut every day!”

JH: “It’s being recorded!”

GF: “I know.”

JH: “You said a bad thing!”

GF: “You know what, there can be negative connotations to that question and I don’t think you mean it to be negative. It’s about developing and expanding some of it.”

Despite the joke, the message was serious: there wasn’t anything “wrong” with Weavers. There was simply greatness to build on.

GF: “I absolutely believe from what I have seen in school that the results will get better and will get better at an exponential rate because there are such good things happening in the classroom.”

A final word: “These things are good — make them great”

In closing, both leaders made it clear: Weavers is on a powerful path — and the best is yet to come.

GF: “It’s not about ‘things aren’t good, make them better,’ it’s about ‘these things are good and make them great.’”

JH: “The staff here are massively ambitious for the next thing, not because they have giant egos, but because they genuinely want to serve the pupils and the community even better than they are.”

 

Dr. Jason Howard: A Respected Authority in Educational Excellence Dr. Jason Howard serves as the Director of Education at the Creative Education Trust (CET), where he plays a pivotal role in shaping the educational strategies across the trust's network of schools. His extensive experience in educational leadership and quality assurance positions him as a key figure in driving school improvement initiatives. Prior to his current role, Dr. Howard was a Her Majesty's Inspector (HMI) with Ofsted, the UK's official body for inspecting schools. Appointed in 2013, he brought to the position 17 years of teaching experience in both the independent and maintained sectors, including serving as a secondary headteacher in Lincolnshire. His areas of expertise encompass leadership and management, post-16 education, and teaching and learning.  Dr. Howard's deep understanding of educational standards and his commitment to fostering excellence make his evaluations and insights into schools like Weavers Academy particularly valuable.

Gordon Farquhar: Transformational Leader at Milton Keynes Academy Gordon Farquhar serves as the Principal of The Milton Keynes Academy, a coeducational secondary school and sixth form in central Milton Keynes. Since joining the school in 2018, he has led a significant transformation, focusing on high expectations, community engagement, and a commitment to providing "Opportunities for Everyone." Under Farquhar's leadership, the academy has become a beacon of inclusivity and ambition. He emphasizes the importance of a broad and balanced curriculum, enriched with cultural capital, to ensure students are well-prepared for the wider world. His approach has fostered strong partnerships with local businesses and institutions, enhancing the employability and confidence of students.  Farquhar's dedication to student success is evident in his celebration of academic achievements and his commitment to continuous improvement. His leadership has not only improved academic outcomes but also strengthened the school's role within the community. His insights and experiences make his perspectives on educational practices and school improvement highly valuable.