Windsor Academy Trust welcomes Ministerial Visit at Windsor Olympus Academy

18th March 2024

Last week, Windsor Olympus Academy, a proud member of the Windsor Academy Trust (WAT), had the privilege of hosting Baroness Barran MBE, the Minister for the School System and Student Finance, as part of a ministerial visit. 

Baroness Barran’s visit followed the opening of Windsor Olympus in September 2023 and included a tour of the school’s state-of-the-art learning facilities, an opportunity to meet our staff and students, and find out more about how our school is helping the local community to thrive. 

On arrival, the Minister was warmly greeted by Windsor Academy Trust CEO, Dawn Haywood and Windsor Olympus Academy Headteacher, Sally-Jo Wilkinson, along with students Dakota and Wojciech, setting the stage for a visit that was as informative as it was inspiring. 

The tour highlighted the school’s engaging classrooms and facilities, including its 3G football pitch, multi use games area, dance studio, learning resource centre, and eco hub, as well as its dedicated community hub, which provides a place of welcome and inclusion for the people of Winson Green, in partnership with Newbigin Community Trust.

The Minister spent time talking to Dawn Haywood and Sally-Jo Wilkinson to hear more about  the trust’s strong academic outcomes and track record in school improvement, how we’re striving to unlock the academic and personal potential of all our young people and our commitment to driving positive change for the greater public good.

The students, who are at the heart of everything WAT stands for, shared their journeys and their own Aspire sentences with the Minister, before the visit culminated in a heartwarming performance of the Windsor Academy Trust anthem, Aspire, sung by students and staff at the school. Finally students Dakota and Wojciech presented the Minister with a gift – a candle holder fashioned from a local blacksmith's forge, a community initiative driven by our wonderful community partners at Newbigin Community Trust.

This ministerial visit was a milestone not just for Windsor Olympus Academy but for Windsor Academy Trust as a whole. We are incredibly proud of our accomplishments and thankful for the recognition and support from Baroness Barran and the Department for Education. Together, we are shaping the future of education, building a brighter future for our students and beyond.