The Crypt School: Strategy 2024-2030 The School will remain committed to the outstanding grammar school vision, ethos and aspirations that were established upon the School’s founding in 1539. These principles enable all our students and our staff to flourish in all that they do. The School will continue to:

● provide an academically focused and knowledge-rich curriculum;

● offer academic challenge and support to all students, which enables them to achieve highly in their academic work;

● offer a welcoming, supportive and inclusive environment that enables all students to grow on their journey through school, developing the key skills and personal qualities that will prepare them for their future lives.

To sustain and progress our Founders’ vision of education excellence, the School will focus on the following strategic priorities over the next five year period:

1) Providing students with an outstanding educational experience. We intend to continue to operate as a successful Single Academy Trust, whilst maintaining a strong understanding of, and willingness to engage with, wider educational developments, including multi-academy trust development.

2) Strengthening our community engagement programme. Our aim is to encourage and facilitate the entry of more local Gloucester city children, and disadvantaged children from the city and surrounding areas, into the school in Year 7. To achieve this, the School will establish stronger links with local primary schools, mentor and support children in those schools, help prepare them for the entrance test and set a different pass mark for entry into Year 7 for pupil premium pupils from Gloucestershire postcodes.

3) Furthering academic excellence in the sixth form. As our sixth form is oversubscribed, we have the opportunity to drive improved academic standards and outcomes both within the school itself and in other 11-16 schools whose students aspire to study A Levels at The Crypt. The School will consult on raising the entry grades for the sixth form and work strongly to ensure that sixth form teaching, enrichment opportunities, careers advice and guidance, as well as facilities, meet the needs of all students who aspire to attend.

4) Supporting and developing our staff. We will ensure that the recruitment, training, professional development and welfare of school staff enables those in leadership, teaching and professional support roles to provide the best possible educational experience to all students; and that workforce planning supports the priorities of staff retention and welfare, and enables career development and succession planning into key staffing roles.

5) Strategic management of our financial resources. Align the school budget, estate planning and school improvement priorities to meet the School’s strategic priorities.

These strategic priorities will inform each year’s School Improvement Plan.

The Crypt School

January 2024.