student journey
The Salterns Student Journey
From confident beginnings to ambitious futures
At Salterns Academy Trust, every student’s journey is carefully designed to be inclusive, ambitious and future‑focused. From the transition into secondary education through to life beyond our schools, we ensure that every young person is supported to thrive academically, socially and personally.
Starting Secondary: Belonging, Aspiration and High Expectations
Students joining our secondary schools enter welcoming, inclusive communities where relationships sit at the heart of learning. Our schools are accredited UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools, ensuring that dignity, respect and inclusion underpin everyday practice.
From Year 7, students follow a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum that builds securely on primary learning and develops strong foundations in literacy, numeracy, oracy and digital skills. Teaching is rooted in trust‑wide principles that promote deep understanding, resilience and independence, enabling students to know more, remember more and apply their learning confidently.
Our curriculum is designed to be accessible to all learners, including those with SEND, through adaptive teaching, high‑quality interventions and personalised support — ensuring that every student can access the same ambitious curriculum.
An Exciting and Innovative Curriculum Experience
Across the Trust, students benefit from a curriculum that is knowledge‑rich and experience‑rich. Classroom learning is complemented by a strong co‑curriculum including enrichment activities, arts, sport, leadership opportunities, educational visits and employer engagement. [trafalgarschool.com]
Innovation is a defining feature of our schools. This includes:
- Strong emphasis on oracy and communication skills, preparing students for modern workplaces and civic life
- High‑quality careers education aligned to Gatsby Benchmarks, beginning early and becoming increasingly personalised through Key Stage 4
- A clear focus on personal development, wellbeing and character education, embedded through curriculum, enrichment and pastoral support
Inclusive Pathways Through Primary and All‑Through Provision
For our primary and all‑through learners at Mayfield School, inclusivity and aspiration begin from the earliest years. Mayfield’s curriculum is built around the core values of Ambition, Inclusion and Respect, offering carefully sequenced learning pathways that meet individual needs while preparing pupils for adulthood and independence.
Personalised pathways, real‑life learning experiences and a strong focus on communication, wellbeing and life skills ensure that pupils — including those with complex needs — are fully supported to make meaningful progress and successful transitions. [mayfield.eiat.org.uk]
Where Our Students Go Next
Our ultimate measure of success is where our students go next — and how well prepared they are for those next steps.
Nationally, 91.3% of pupils progress to sustained education, employment or training after Key Stage 4, with the vast majority remaining in education.
Salterns schools’ careers programmes, employer partnerships and post‑16 guidance are explicitly designed to align with and exceed these national expectations.
Our students progress to:
- Sixth forms and further education colleges
- Apprenticeships and vocational pathways
- Employment with training
- Importantly, destinations are aspirational, appropriate and inclusive, recognising that success looks different for every learner.
Preparing Students for Life, Not Just Exams
Across Salterns Academy Trust, we are clear: education is about more than outcomes at 16. Our schools develop confident individuals, responsible citizens and successful learners, equipped with the skills, values and experiences they need to thrive in modern Britain and beyond.