ELAN Trust conversation with Steve John on Extend Learning

An experienced educator and specialist, Steve was part of the team that benchmarked the founding schools in the trust before launch. This meant that alongside Penny Boardman and Kerri McArdle, Steve was tasked with examining schools’ data, standards and performance against other schools with similar characteristics to support the journey into academisation and any subsequent school development, pupil progress and planning.

Steve has remained a part of ELAN since our official launch in October 2017 and his passion and dedication have not waned in that time! He tells us that what he loves about ELAN is how we structure our schools and form partnerships that allow our headteachers and senior leaders to have ownership and retain the individuality of their schools but it is also very clear that have support from their wider team of colleagues around the academy trust. Steve observes that the common thread running through those he meets in ELAN schools is that of passion for what they do, nurture for all and doing the right thing for not only the children in their schools but also for the greater good of all children.

One of the greatest things a school can provide is, in the words of Steve John, is to “know that they are loved and that you care. Every child must be acknowledged every day”. This is something our schools work very hard to achieve as best they can.

Steve has been taking the opportunity to visit schools to get to know them a bit better having decided that he hadn’t engaged enough with day-to-day school life ‘on the ground’ recently. He has watched colleagues grow into headteachers and senior leaders over the years and wanted to see for himself how far the schools had come in the past few years.

Steve recently had a busy day visiting Milton Park, Locking and Mead Vale primary schools. He observed classes being taught and met with children and staff. The one thing that shone brightest for Steve was seeing the evidence of the Opening Worlds curriculum – which he loved! He told us that the “quality of work is incredible’ and that the children were so engaged in what they were doing. Watching our Curriculum Implementation Partner Ali Duffy demonstrate the power of Opening Worlds at our recent AGM was a highlight for all who attended and for Steve, getting to see it in practice in the classroom was an honour.

Steve commented that there was a lovely feeling and atmosphere in the schools that he was privileged to visit. He noted that although each one is unique, he heard a common way of speaking in each school as a thread that runs through and that it was very apparent that ‘everyone understands the job that needs to be done’ as well as there being a clear understanding of how things are done to ensure continuity and high standards.

The majority of Steve’s career has been about schools, growing organisations and helping them in making a difference; whatever that difference is going to be. He explained what a privilege it has been to be with ELAN from the beginning alongside Adam (Matthews). Penny (Boardman), Kerri (McArdle) and many others who were an integral part in setting up the trust and see that they are still here, growing the educational offering to thousands of children. He has witnessed the change in the organisation for himself over time and being able to visit schools has really brought that to life for him. Steve is committed to visiting the rest of our schools and embracing the individuality of each one.

ELAN Trust Members are in effect the ‘guardians’ of the governance of the trust as they sit at the top of the governance structure. They hold the trust board to account for the effective governance of the trust and are tasked with assessing if the board of trustees is performing well, and that the purpose of the trust and its charitable objectives are being fulfilled.  

If you would like to find out more about the role of a member in the view to joining ELAN as one, please contact sarah.edwards@extendlearning.org