Spencer Headlines

Yesterday, colleagues from across the Spencer Academies Trust - including principals, executive leaders, members of the Board of Directors and central colleagues - came together to bid farewell to our long-standing CEO, Paul West.

After eight and a half years of exceptional leadership, Paul moves on to exciting pastures new, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. Reflecting on his time at Spencer, Paul described the role as “the most professionally humbling and enriching experience of my career,” noting that the Trust has been “part of my identity” and “part of my sense of purpose.”

Pupil representatives from across Spencer Academies Trust came together this term for the first Pupil Parliament meeting of the 2025-26 academic year. The session marked an inspiring start to a new year of collaboration and pupil voice across the Trust.

The day opened with a lively and engaging question-and-answer session with Fiona Hallam, Trust Head of Safeguarding. Pupils were keen to learn more about Fiona’s role and her journey within the Spencer family, asking thoughtful questions about everything from her favourite foods and holiday destinations to her love of Formula One.

Ashwood Spencer Academy is delighted to announce that, following its most recent Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) Review, the academy has been awarded Flagship School Status - a prestigious recognition reserved for schools demonstrating the highest levels of inclusive practice. This achievement reflects the academy’s unwavering commitment to ensuring every child is supported and able to thrive. 

Heanor Gate Spencer Academy marked a major milestone last week with the official opening of its brand-new, state-of-the-art school building - an ambitious development set to transform learning experiences for current and future students. The school welcomed staff, leaders from the Spencer Academies Trust, local dignitaries, and a small group of student representatives to a special open event held on Friday, celebrating the culmination of a project many years in the making. The full building opened to all students on Monday 24th, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the academy.

Last term, IT colleagues from across the Spencer Academies Trust came together for our annual ITS Conference Day 2025 - a day to reflect on our incredible journey in IT transformation and to look ahead at the exciting innovations shaping the future of digital learning and support across our Trust.

Paul West, Chief Executive, opened the day with a powerful introduction, charting the evolution of our IT service from an outsourced managed provider to a fully in-house service. This shift has given us greater control, capability, and flexibility - enabling us to deliver smarter, more responsive IT services for both students and colleagues.

Leaders from across the Spencer Academies Trust gathered last Friday for the annual Trust Leadership Day. Over 70 members, including Academy Principals, Trustees, Senior Leaders and Central Support colleagues, came together for a day of collaboration and forward planning.