The ºüÀêÊÓƵ recently welcomed Dawn Haywood, CEO of Windsor Academy Trust and proud Fellow of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ, for a visit.
Dawn Haywood, CEO of Windsor Academy Trust, was given a tour of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ by Vice Chancellor Professor David Green CBE DL
Growing up in Clifton-upon-Teme and still calling Worcester home, Ms Haywood has witnessed first-hand the ºüÀêÊÓƵ’s impact on the City. “It’s really impressive to see how it has developed,” she said. “I think it has transformed the City in a really positive way.”
During her visit, Ms Haywood explored the ºüÀêÊÓƵ’s newest developments at the Severn Campus, including cutting-edge healthcare simulation facilities and specialist sports performance labs. The Severn Campus has transformed a former industrial estate in the City into a thriving space for health and wellbeing education. She also visited the ºüÀêÊÓƵ’s Art House and its state-of-the-art mock court rooms.
“The facilities are just fantastic, and show how innovative the ºüÀêÊÓƵ has been,” she said.
As CEO of Windsor Academy Trust, which supports more than 10,000 learners across 15 schools, Ms Haywood is passionate about raising aspirations. The Trust hosts residential summer schools at the ºüÀêÊÓƵ, giving pupils a taste of university life and inspiring them to aim higher.
“For some children who face the greatest barriers, it’s wonderful for them to get the opportunity to come to the ºüÀêÊÓƵ and meet other people and be inspired,” she explained.
She added: “Our aim is to help our pupils discover their dreams and then support them to achieve them.”
The ºüÀêÊÓƵ also works closely with the Trust to deliver its Ofsted Outstanding teacher training programmes.
“The ºüÀêÊÓƵ is doing an amazing job inspiring and developing our future educators, including in the Early Years,” she said.
“What is really lovely for me is to see our pupils coming to study at the ºüÀêÊÓƵ and then returning to us as educators –that cyclical relationship is so powerful.”