Leading West Midlands academy trust celebrates triple award success

Greenheart Learning Partnership, a family of 10 schools across Birmingham and the West Midlands, earned the wins at the 2025 Edurio Awards, which celebrated schools which get the most positive feedback from parents, pupils and staff collected during the 2024/25 academic year. This year, Greenheart Learning Partnership schools were among the best in the country across several categories.

Woodhouse Primary Academy, in Quinton, won the Parent Choice Award at both a national and regional level, while The Orchards Primary Academy, in Northfield, won the national category for Parental Feedback. Pye Green Academy, in Cannock, won a national Staff Choice Award, as well as regional awards for both Listening and Acting on Staff Feedback and Staff Choice.

At The Orchards Primary Academy, fostering a deep sense of belonging has become the school’s mission – not only for pupils and staff, but also for parents and carers.

Half-termly coffee mornings offer a relaxed forum for parents to connect, while the school’s open-door approach ensures parents always feel welcome and supported. From parent ‘pancake flip’ competitions, to Christmas crafting sessions, to a vibrant Year 6 graduation festival with live music, The Orchards celebrates its families as an essential part of school life. The academy has also begun developing a community skills hub to provide parents with additional resources to help them succeed.

Respect and wellbeing underpin the approach at Pye Green Academy. The school has built a culture where staff and pupils alike feel valued, supported and heard – leading to recognition from Edurio in the form of a national Staff Choice Award and a regional Listening and Acting Award on Staff Feedback.

Regular staff forums, mental health wellbeing champions and trust-wide employee assistance scheme ensure that staff feel supported. The school’s ethos centres on its HEART values (Healthy, Eco-aware, Accepting, Respectful and Truthful), with every adult modelling consistency and care so that pupils can follow their example.

At Woodhouse Primary Academy, inclusion is treated as a daily practice. The school, which serves a diverse community, holds Flagship School status in the Inclusive School Quality Mark and ensures every pupil feels seen and supported. Its Rainbow Room autism base offers tailored provision, while promoting integration into mainstream learning wherever possible.

Opportunities for enrichment are at the forefront at Woodhouse Primary Academy, from Forest School and music tuition to encouraging pupils to take part in competitive sport, including the Birmingham School Games and the Panathlon Challenge for pupils with SEND. Parents are invited to weekly achievement assemblies and are at the heart of school events – so much so that this year’s harvest festival had to be held twice to accommodate everyone.

Beverley Walker-Gordon, Headteacher at The Orchards Primary Academy, said:

“We’re absolutely thrilled to receive this award. At The Orchards, we see our families as the heartbeat of the school – everything we do is about working together to help children thrive. Our parents are wonderfully loyal and supportive, always eager to get involved and lend a hand. This recognition is a real celebration of that partnership and the strength of our school community.”

Sarah Yates, Headteacher at Pye Green Academy, said:

“What’s important to us is building a collective sense of our mission as a school. We tell our team that we’re all on the same bus, going in the same direction. Wellbeing is at the forefront – you’ve got to be there for yourself in order to be there for others, and that’s something our whole community believes in. We know that by listening to and supporting our staff, not only are we creating a positive working environment, we are also leading by example for our pupils.”

Richard Parslow, Acting Headteacher at Woodhouse Primary Academy, said:

“Inclusion is just what we do. Our parents’ engagement is a huge part of what makes Woodhouse special, and we’re proud to work together as one community focused on opportunity for every child. This award is really about that shared commitment. It shows how, when staff and parents work hand in hand, children feel they truly belong and can achieve their very best.”

Professor Michelle Money, CEO of Greenheart Learning Partnership, said:

“These awards reflect the everyday excellence taking place across our schools. The Orchards Primary Academy, Pye Green Academy and Woodhouse Primary Academy each show how strong relationships, belonging and inclusion can transform outcomes for children and families. I am immensely proud of our staff, pupils and parents, and have no doubt that each of our schools will continue to build on these successes to ensure every child can thrive.”