Work at Wigston Academies Trust

Select a school below to learn more or view jobs

Wigston Academy

Wigston, LE18 2DU

Wigston College

Wigston, LE18 2DS

Wigston Academies Trust brings together Wigston Academy and Wigston College: two schools serving one community and supporting young people from the beginning of secondary education through to their next steps beyond sixth form.

Why we exist

Our students are brilliant and deserve an excellent start in life. We want every young person to build self-esteem, self-belief and confidence in what is possible, so that they can live well and make a positive difference in the world.

How we achieve this

We create a climate in which it is safe for students to want to fulfil their potential. We help them to recognise that engaging fully and working hard can make a positive difference, both now and in their future. By making progress visible, we enable students to see the impact of their efforts and develop a growing sense of agency: the belief that they can shape their own lives.

What this looks like

Our shared commitment is to make learning Warm, Gripping and Seen.

Warm means creating positive relationships and learning environments in which students feel safe, respected and ready to learn.

Gripping means delivering an ambitious, carefully considered curriculum and lessons that capture interest, challenge thinking and make progress visible.

Seen means knowing our students well and ensuring that every young person, especially the most vulnerable, is included, supported and encouraged to succeed.

Our staff are central to making this a reality. We invest in professional learning, encourage collaboration and trust colleagues to use their expertise to make a genuine difference.

As our Trust develops, we want to build purposeful partnerships with others who share our commitment to improving young people’s life chances. We believe that by learning from one another, sharing expertise and remaining firmly connected to the communities we serve, we can achieve more together.

Christine Stansfield - C.E.O.

OUR STORY

Wigston Academies Trust is formed of two schools serving one community: an 11-16 Academy and a 16-18 College. Located on the border of Leicester City and Leicestershire County, our schools serve a community we are proud to be part of and deeply committed to serving. Our community is our greatest strength. 

More than 80% of our students come from White Working-Class backgrounds. Many face barriers to educational success, including material deprivation, cultural poverty and a range of social and economic challenges that extend far beyond the classroom. Like many schools across the country, we also continue to respond to increasing challenges surrounding attendance, additional needs, and educational disadvantage. These are realities that we recognise. They are also the reason we remain relentlessly ambitious for every young person we serve. 

A QUESTION WORTH ASKING

For many years, schools across the country have grappled with a difficult question:

Why do some groups of students continue to achieve significantly less than they are capable of?

National reports, educational research and government publications have repeatedly explores the challenges surrounding educational disadvantage, attendance, aspiration, engagement and outcomes. Despite considerable attention, many of these challenges remain stubbornly persistent.

As leaders, teachers and support staff, we recognise many of these issues within our own context. 

The publication of the Public First Inquiry into White Working-Class Educational Outcomes in 2025 brought renewed focus to challenges that many schools had long recognised. Its findings reflected much of what we already knew through our own experiences and observations, providing a powerful reminder that educational disadvantage remains one of the most significant challenges facing our profession. 

For us, however, the report did something else. It prompted a different question. "What can we do differently?" 

That question became the catalyst for a renewed sense of purpose across the Trust. Rather than waiting for national solutions, we chose to act. 

CHOOSING TO ACT

We began to examine our systems, our culture and our practices with fresh eyes. We simplified the way we discussed progress and attainment. We strengthened our focus on outcomes. We developed new approaches to communication with students and families. We invested in raising attainment strategies, attendance aspirations literacy and curriculum access.We created opportunities for staff to engage in Action Research and collaborative improvement.

Most importantly, we committed ourselves to learning continuously from what worked, and what did not. 

This work remains ongoing. 

We do not claim to have all the answers. What we do have is a commitment to asking the right questions, testing new ideas and remaining relentlessly focused on improving the life chances of the young people we serve. 

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

• Encouragingly, we are already seeing the impact of this approach.
• Outcomes have improved
• Our culture has strengthened 
• Expectations have risen
• Staff are increasingly engaged in Trust-wide improvement
• More students are experiencing success and beginning to see a wider range of possibilities for their future.

More recently, many of the themes that have shaped our work have begun to emerge within the national policy discussions, including attendance, belonging, inclusion, SEND, collaboration and the educational experience of White Working-Class students. 

For us, this has not been a validation of a finished journey.

It has been confirmation that the work matters.

OUR MISSION

Today, our mission remains unchanged:

• To create schools where every student is known, challenged and supported.
• To ensure that background does not determine destiny
• To work together in pursuit of better outcomes, greater opportunities, and brighter futures.

Wigston Academies Trust is made up a single large campus consiting of:

• 2 main school buildings
• a specialist autism centre
• a seperate alternative provsion facility
• multiple smaller outbuildings
• an All Weather Pitch
• large Tennis courts
• 3 sports halls
• a large sports field.
• 2 dance studios
• multipurpose theatre
• lecture theatre
• 2 large halls
• 2 catering facilities

Local amenities include a swimming pool and gym, two large chain supermarkets with a number of smaller local shops.

Staff Member:

"I came to Wigston on a maternity cover contract and quickly realised it was somewhere I wanted to stay. Nearly 10 years later, itʼs the longest Iʼve ever worked at one school. From the start, I felt like I belonged, and Iʼve grown in confidence and really developed as a teacher. Iʼve had opportunities to mentor ECTs and ITT trainees, as well as take part in a trial of instructional coaching, all of which have helped me continue to improve my practice. One of the things Iʼve valued most is feeling listened to and appreciated. Iʼve always felt that my ideas and contributions matter, and Iʼve been supported to take on new opportunities and progress in my career. Itʼs a warm, welcoming place to work and I am so happy I made the move here."

Wigston Academies Trust Student:

"Wigston Academy as well as the College always put their all into ensuring that their students succeed, making the school's community great for everyone."

Wigston Academies Trust Student:

"Wigston College has been the perfect place for me and has supported me fully throughout my lessons, particularly with teacher knowledge of individuals and the time taken to help me daily, enabling me to achieve my absolute best."

Wigston Academies Trust Student:

"Wigston College has been one of the best decisions i have made. Attending this college has made the transition from secondary school to college seem easier and more comfortable. The smaller class sizes give lessons a more targeted and enriching feel, a closeness not experienced in larger educational institutions. Each member of staff is kind, supportive and, in my opinion, one of the best in their field and the facilities have been so helpful in my courses so far. If you want to experience a productive and nurturing atmosphere in a college, one that is sympathetic to your studies in every way, then Wigston College is the right choice for you!"

Ofsted - Wigston College:

"Staff have high expectations of every student. Staff know about studentsʼ aspirations for the future. They know their strengths and the things that might get in their way. Staff work with students and their families to make sure that students aim high. They provide high levels of support for every student. Staff help students to find solutions for themselves."

Ofsted - Wigston College:

"Students benefit from a wide variety of experiences that develop their confidence and resilience. The college prepares them to make a meaningful contribution to society, now and in the future. Students vote for their student presidents. They join committees and organise charity events to support the college and the wider community."

Ofsted - Wigston Academy:

There are positive relationships between staff and pupils. Staff care about their pupilsʼ education and well-being. Pupils feel safe and say that they are happy at school. Leaders model the high expectations they have of pupils. There is a calm and positive atmosphere around the school site. Pupils concentrate well in their lessons.

Ofsted - Wigston Academy:

Pupils value the wide range of activities available to them. They can pursue interests or develop talents in sport, music, dance, yoga and STEM club. Pupils appreciate that the school is open early to allow pupils to attend a free breakfast club. Pupils value the range of leadership responsibilities available to them, including being on the school council, being ambassadors and being sports leaders. Pupils spoke about how these opportunities have given them confidence, resilience and a sense of responsibility. 

Our commitment to staff wellbeing extends beyond individual initiatives. A dedicated Wellbeing Team works alongside colleagues throughout the year, providing practical support, promoting positive wellbeing and helping to foster a culture where people feel valued, connected and supported.

We know that when colleagues feel trusted, respected and supported, they are better able to make the greatest difference to the young people they serve.

Creating that culture is not separate from school improvement, it is fundamental to it.