Regional education leaders have praised the leadership team at St Hild’s Church of England School for making significant progress in reducing student exclusions. Alison Sutherland, the Executive Director of Children’s Services at Hartlepool Borough Council, formally recognised the school for its commitment to inclusive practices. The school successfully reduced its permanent exclusions by 83% this year through early intervention and a focus on building stronger relationships with pupils.
The Durham Diocesan Board of Education also highlighted the positive journey the school is on following a recent presentation by NEAT Academy Trust leadership.
A Collective Team Effort
St Hild’s Headteacher Paul Martin welcomed the praise but noted that the achievement belongs to the entire school community. He emphasised that the turnaround is due to a collective effort from all staff members. In particular, school leaders Nina Johnson, Dave Richardson, and Claire Hornsby were recognised for driving these changes on the ground. The team managed to lower exclusion numbers while maintaining high behaviour standards and improving daily relationships across the school.
Making a Difference for Vulnerable Pupils
The work at St Hild’s aligns with the shared vision across Children’s Services to give every young person the opportunity to succeed. Trust CEO Steve Haigh called the recognition well deserved, noting that the school has navigated challenging times to deliver these positive results. The drop in exclusions is already having a meaningful impact on pupils, especially on some of the school’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable children.
The trust plans to share these good practices across all NEAT schools to continue learning from St Hild’s success.