Principal takes pride in transforming formerly failing Dudley academy
A headteacher is a man with a mission that is dramatically transforming a formerly failing Black Country school.
Manny Kelay is the principal at Thorns Collegiate Academy, in Brierley Hill, and is determined to make the academy a beacon of educational excellence, while at the same time delivering pastoral care that nurtures students in an inclusive and engaging learning environment.
While the school, in Stockwell Avenue, is still rated as inadequate by Ofsted, inspectors acknowledged strides made forward during a November 2022 monitoring visit.
The report said: "Following the previous inspection, trust leaders have acted swiftly. They have strengthened leadership and increased the capacity to bring about change.
"This includes new appointments to the school leadership team, a new designated safeguarding leader and an experienced special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinator (SENCo)."
Mr Kelay's leadership appears to be working and those words will encourage parents and students alike.
Since joining in 2017, Mr Kelay' points out that despite the Ofsted rating, academic fortunes of the school have been turned around, to the point that 2022 saw its highest progress score in public examinations since joining Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust, including best results in the school’s history for its results in foundation subjects.
More than 90 per cent of students achieved their GCSEs in maths and English, with a handful of students receiving the top BTEC grade of Distinction*.
In additions many of the students take part in a range of extra-curricular activities like the Duke of Edinburgh Award which is offered to Year 9 students, with activities designed to develop and achieve set goals in the required categories (i.e. volunteering and skills).
