Endeavour Academies provide an aspirational education, ensuring that every child can lead a life of choice and opportunity.

We believe our MAT is unique with two schools situated very close together and offering 2-18 education for over 2000 pupils, employing over 300 staff. We see our schools as the cornerstone of their communities, uniquely placed to develop the seamless cradle to career support that children and their families need if they are to enjoy the lives of choice and opportunity we believe they are entitled to.

The trust was formed around four priorities which underpin our vision.

1. Teaching and learning
2. Whole education
3. Health and wellbeing
4. Inspiring futures

We aim to ensure that our pupils develop the essential knowledge, skills and confidence to enable them to lead lives of choice and opportunity. We want our young people to aim high and be aspirational and optimistic about their futures. The destinations of our young people are important; our trust aims to be an agent of social mobility, challenging the under-representation of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds at the most competitive universities and employment sectors.

As an ‘all-through’ trust, supporting children from 2-18, Endeavour Academies is working to develop a ‘cradle-to-career’ model of support.  Our goal is to provide seamless, all‑through support that nurtures children from early years to successful post‑school pathways. Through deep partnerships with families, communities and other organisations, we want to create the stability and continuity needed for every child to thrive.

Our cradle to career work has three pathways: 1) educational coherence, 2) strong family relationships, 3) coherent community partnerships.

1. Educational coherence

Our trust has a strong commitment to all-through education trying to blend together primary and secondary provision so that pupils can make a smoother transition between Key Stage 2 and 3. We are committed to maximising the benefits of being all-through with opportunities for cross-phase teaching, training and development. Quality of education is supported by 3 School Improvement Partners, each with different skills and expertise covering teaching and learning, pastoral support and Ofsted preparation. The trust also has a safeguarding partner, ‘Safeguarding Matters’, who carry out regular training and safeguarding reviews.

Key features are as follows:

• Annual Teaching and Learning Conference for all trust teachers
• Trust Teaching and Learning Model
• Opportunities for cross-phase teaching
• Curriculum coherence between foundation subjects with regular opportunities for subject leaders to work together
• Cross-phase subject reviews
• Joint approach to personal development and the tracking of pupil participation.

2. Stronger family relationships

We see parents as key allies who we want to collaborate with, and we have really prioritised this. Archibald has excellent attendance at Parents’ Evenings, with each year group hosting family learning events which are again well supported. The trust employs 2 Family Support Workers and they make a very positive contribution in ensuring that there is strong rapport between families and schools. Both trust schools have committed to CPD during the next academic year on ‘enhancing family relationships’. This will be delivered by the Reach Foundation.

3. Coherent community partnerships

The trust operates as an anchor institution to try to support a greater sense of local systems coherence for our families. To facilitate the goodwill of our community partners we have set up The Endeavour Convening Partnership. This is a cross-sector, collective-impact partnership which allows schools and the community a way of collaborating easily. This takes the form of 3 groups consisting of local employers, health professionals and charities. We have over 30 community partners represented across these 3 groups and this has proved to be hugely supportive to both trust schools, ensuring that they have been able to draw on the experience and capacity from the assets in the community.

The trust’s community work is supported by The Endeavour Foundation, a charity which the trust has set up. While in its early stage, it has raised additional funding which has been able to support the work of the schools. Most recently, receiving a grant which has enabled the trust to appoint an additional Family Support Worker.

Read more about Endeavour Academies values and ethos here

Located in West/Central Middlesbrough, we are a two-form entry Primary School of 493 children on roll from 2 – 11 years old, with 31 different languages, and 66% of pupils are eligible for FSM. The school was first opened in 1913 and occupies two large buildings, each with a ground and first floor. Following refurbishment in 2003, the buildings are now joined on each floor. In summer 2010 a new kitchen and multi-use hall opened in a brand-new extension, carefully designed to blend with the existing buildings. At the same time the school grounds were extensively modified, and new play spaces and outdoor classrooms created. The 2-Year-old provision and School Nursery is in the main school building with its own soft play area. The Reception classes also have their own dedicated soft play area to the north of the main building.

In 2018, we joined Endeavour Academies Trust and have built a fantastic partnership to promote excellence for all our children.  Archibald’s culture of high expectations drives the consistently strong academic outcomes achieved by its pupils. Our end of KS2 outcomes for all pupils and particularly disadvantaged pupils are very strong.  We are incredibly proud to have recently received a letter of commendation from the Secretary of State for our KS2 2024/25 results.  We are looking for a Headteacher who will continue to build on our successes in helping our children to “Believe and Achieve” to the highest level.

Our Pupils

Archibald Primary School is proud to be an inclusive place for children to learn. Pupils in our school come from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures to share new experiences and learn from each other. Our aim is that all of our children feel welcomed, happy and fulfilled; recognising that they are all different and that these differences create opportunities for adults and children alike to learn more about themselves and each other.

Our pupils are enthusiastic and respectful. Pupil voice activities consistently show that children speak very positively about the school and their experiences here. Most pupils live within the school’s catchment area and walk to school each day.

Our Staffing Team

A distinguishing feature of both Archibald Primary and Endeavour Academies Trust is the longevity of our staff.

We have many long-serving staff with minimal staffing turnover.

Our Leadership team consists of our Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher, with our Deputy Head having a 0.5 FTE teaching commitment. The current Deputy is very experienced and has deep knowledge of the school and its community. The wider leadership team are talented, and each year group is well led. This wider leadership group has considerable potential and can provide additional leadership capacity. Each year leaders have TLRs for their responsibilities with some additional responsibilities. These year leaders, alongside our DSL and SENDCO, meet as part of a senior team.

2025/26 Teaching Structure:

• 25 FTE teachers, 26.78 FTE support staff (average for year)
• Class teachers are supported by teaching assistants
• Support staff include 2 x mentors, a family support worker, 1.2FTE senior administrator and 0.8FTE receptionist.

Our Governing Body and Trust Support

Our next Headteacher will benefit from a very supportive LGB and Trust Board and will meet weekly with the CEO and monthly with the other trust Headteacher.

Central services support the school through running operations in finance, estates, HR, payroll, ICT and governance. The trust has significant expertise and capacity in financial management, and this has proved to be a real source of support to Headteachers.

We are fortunate to have a highly experienced and fully engaged Governing Body that works tirelessly to support the school. Our governors bring a wide range of expertise and community insight, reflecting the diversity of our pupil population across the Middlesbrough area.  They meet regularly and play a crucial role in the effective running of the school. As ambassadors for Archibald within the local community, they provide vital oversight in safeguarding and offer rigorous scrutiny of educational quality and performance.

Learn more about our Local Governing Body here.

At Archibald Primary School, we are committed to recognising and responding to the needs of every child. We strive to create a happy, safe and stimulating environment where children are not only supported in reaching their full potential but are expected and encouraged to do so. We firmly believe that everyone can achieve their best and are committed to our ‘I can do it!’ culture.

We place great emphasis on personal achievement, motivating our pupils to always give their best.  In turn, we embrace a culture of continuous improvement in all aspects of school life, ensuring that children’s learning remains at the heart of everything we do.

Helping children develop good attitudes and values is a key feature of our work at Archibald. We want to offer our pupils the very best educational experience possible supported by high quality teaching and learning. We are very proud of our school, curriculum and results. We know the key to our success is continual improvement in our performance, through working closely with a range of partner organisations.

Learning at Archibald Primary School

Our Teaching and Learning strategy is based upon the core principles of the latest most relevant research into how we learn. All staff receive ongoing training on our Teaching and Learning framework, which is central to the culture and policies of the academy. As a school we refer to this framework as OPTIC (optimising teacher impact in the classroom). Our ongoing focus on embedding the OPTIC teaching and learning model has strengthened the connection between curriculum design and classroom practice, helping us deliver a more consistent and coherent curriculum across all subjects.

The trust’s work is guided by a clear understanding of what enables children to flourish:

1. Being safe and well supported
2. Being healthy
3. Achieving well academically
4. Building strong, trusting relationships

Read more about our cradle-to-career model here

Wellbeing of Staff and Pupils

Archibald Primary places a strong emphasis on supporting pupils’ mental health and wellbeing. The school promotes a calm, structured environment with clear behaviour expectations and provides targeted support for pupils experiencing mental health difficulties, working closely with external agencies when necessary.

All pupils are taught to understand and manage their emotions through the Zones of Regulation, helping them develop effective coping and self‑regulation strategies for both school and everyday life. This approach builds resilience, supports positive responses to challenge and helps prevent negative coping behaviours later in life.

We recognise that staff wellbeing is at the heart of creating a positive, collaborative and high‑performing school community. As part of Endeavour Academies, we benefit from a Trust‑wide commitment to supporting colleagues throughout their careers, ensuring staff feel valued, well supported and able to thrive. The Trust actively prioritises staff development, recognition and wellbeing as part of its ethos of being a caring employer.

Within our school, leaders place strong emphasis on creating a supportive, team‑centred environment. This culture is reflected across the Trust, where staff retention is exceptionally high and wellbeing is a priority for academy leaders. Colleagues consistently go the extra mile for one another and for the pupils we serve, contributing to a warm, stable and nurturing professional environment.

By investing in the wellbeing of our people through supportive leadership, opportunities for growth and a caring professional community, Archibald Primary creates the conditions for staff to excel and for pupils to benefit from motivated, confident and fulfilled adults every day.

Read more about Pupil wellbeing here

Wider networks

Endeavour Academies provides support in leadership with a central team of staff specialising in finance, estates, HR and governance to ensure that the Archibald Headteacher is well supported in their role leading the school.

Archibald Primary School is involved in several networks such as peer review and partnerships with PiXL Club, Royal Shakespeare Company and the Reach Foundation.

Ofsted

The last Ofsted report in September 2022 confirmed that the school, “continued to be GOOD.” The area for improvement related to the curriculum and the development of foundation subjects and the school have made significant progress against this.  While we are working to a new and very different Ofsted framework, the areas of achievement, inclusion, curriculum/teaching, look to be areas of strength. End of Key Stage 2 outcomes are consistently strong, and the school received a recent letter of commendation from the Secretary of State for their outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in 2025.  We are looking for our next Headteacher to lead the school confidently through its next Ofsted inspection and build upon its successes to secure a Strong Standard across the new Ofsted report card.

Read our last Ofsted report here

Pupil achievement, attainment and progress

Pupils at Archibald perform very well academically and consistently achieve KS2 SAT results above the national average. We are incredibly proud to have recently received a letter of commendation from the Secretary of State for our KS2 2024/25 results.

Our most recent Key Stage 2 outcomes demonstrate strong progress across Reading, Writing and Maths. In 2024/25:

• 73% of pupils achieved the Expected Standard (RWM combined).
• 8% achieved the Greater Depth Standard (RWM combined).

These results reflect a solid foundation on which our next Headteacher can continue to build.

Budget position

 The school is in a stable overall financial position, with healthy reserves in place. We are, however, experiencing the same challenges as other schools in Middlesbrough as the town is experiencing lower pupil numbers.

Our teaching staff are highly skilled and experienced, contributing significantly to positive outcomes for pupils. The average teaching size of groups is smaller than in most primary schools of a similar size and the schools operates a model of a TA being in each class.

The Headteacher has autonomy to staff the school as they see fit, subject to setting a balanced budget. The trust doesn’t GAG pool, and each school pays a % contribution towards the central trust.  We are seeking a Headteacher who can lead the school confidently through this evolving landscape, ensuring our staffing and resource model remains sustainable and aligned with our long‑term educational priorities.  The trust is very well supported on finance through both the Chief Finance Officer, Finance Team and Trustees who have considerable expertise in this area.

Our Trust is situated in Middlesbrough within the diverse Tees Valley in the North East. The Tees Valley is distinctive and encompasses both urban and rural landscapes, including the North Sea coast. It is characterised by a rich industrial heritage, scenic natural beauty, and a growing focus on innovation and regeneration.

Historically, Tees Valley was a powerhouse of the UK's industrial sector, particularly in steelmaking, chemical production, and shipbuilding. This legacy is still evident in the region’s landscape and economy, however there is significant aspiration for economic diversification, cultural vibrancy, and environmental sustainability. The region is undergoing significant economic transformation, shifting from traditional industries to sectors such as digital technology, advanced manufacturing, and green energy. The Teesworks (opens in a new tab) site, for example, is one of Europe’s largest industrial regeneration projects, focusing on clean energy and innovative industries.

Tees Valley boasts robust transport links, including the Teesport (opens in a new tab), one of the UK’s largest ports, and a network of rail and road connections that support its economic activities. The area is easy to reach by road or rail, and has the benefit of its own airport - Teesside International Airport provides both domestic and international flights. The area has the benefit of being able to provide a wide range of affordable and stylish housing, plus outstanding nurseries, schools, and colleges as well as good hospitals – making it an ideal place to base a family.

Tees Valley has a diverse population with vibrant communities that reflect a mix of urban and rural lifestyles. Middlesbrough, the largest town in the region, is known for its multicultural atmosphere. The region also offers a rich cultural landscape with numerous museums, art galleries, sports centres and historic sites, as well as public parks, nature reserves, and the scenic seaside towns of Saltburn (opens in a new tab) and Redcar. Slightly further afield, you are close to the historic city of Durham (opens in a new tab) and the picturesque North York Moors National Park (opens in a new tab).

You will be very pleasantly surprised by how much the area has to offer, there really is something for everybody. It is this diversity and context of our region which gives us the greatest scope as a Trust to enrich our community by providing inclusive education to improve life chances of our young people.

Short and Mid-term Priorities

• Preparing the school for inspection in the 2026/27 academic year, under Ofsted’s new inspection framework. While the inspection is not a reflection of the leadership of a new Headteacher, they will need to be confident in being able to manage the inspection and ensure that staff are well prepared. The trust and current Headteacher are working hard to ensure that the school will be as well prepared as they can be.
• Improving attendance in line with DfE targets.
• Managing the budget with the potential issue of falling pupil roles.
• Maintaining strong relationships with parents and finding the best way of communication with them will be critical.
• Maintain high performance with SATs results above the national average.

Long term Ambitions

Archibald Primary School aims to continue embedding the trust’s Cradle to Career ethos, ensuring that the school remains a high‑performing, inclusive, and community‑driven setting. Over the next five years, we will further strengthen its collaborative practice by developing robust partnerships, either within the Trust or through wider educational networks.

The school benefits from stable staffing and a highly talented team. The new Headteacher will inherit a committed workforce and will play a key role in nurturing and developing staff, ensuring that our strongest practitioners continue to grow and that excellence is sustained across the school.