Dixons in situ: celebrating our communities

The transformative power of school-community relationships. 

At our trust conference last month, we took a look at the communities our academies serve, the barriers our young people face and at the partnerships available to us, to strengthen community ties. A month on from our trust conference, we have been exploring the journeys our academies are on to strengthen these partnerships. 

The power of opening our doors 

On 14 February, parents and community members spoke at Dixons Unity about how the school approach and the community hub has impacted them. One parent emphasised that Dixons have transformed relations between staff and parents. In a short time, Dixons Unity has worked to open its doors to families and now provides a safe space at the heart of their community that fosters a sense of partnership with the community. The Unity Community hub are at the forefront of bolstering the community, providing support where it is needed and providing opportunities to help it flourish.

Listen and the rest will follow 

The first step in fostering a positive relationship with our families is listening. With support from Citizens UK, listening campaigns are happening across our trust. At Dixons Brooklands Academy, staff are working to understand what the local community would benefit from. However, since the pandemic, research suggests it has become harder for schools to engage with. Staff at Dixons Brooklands Academy are conscious of this and are actively reaching out to parents to try understand what would be welcomed in a partnership approach. Read the research into post pandemic relationships with families here.

Tapping into community assets 

When schools form partnerships with community groups, businesses and parents, they can create better learning environments that positively affect student academic performance. At our conference, we explored the assets within our communities including the social, physical, technical and financial resources available to us. 

Through the power of collective thought, mapping our community needs and assets, our community hubs are setting up links with various organisations. Charitable organisations such as Neighbourly collections will provide the opportunity to replenish food and hygiene banks for our community, whilst national brands have seen what we are trying to achieve and are beginning to endorse the work that we are doing. 

Civic responsibility across our trust 

Another element of joy that we explored at our conference is how members of team Dixons can get involved in and support the existing work happening in our communities. Dixons City Academy are supporting local charity, Martin House Children’s Hospice by providing a venue and volunteers from our trust to host a day of much needed celebration in June. Whilst Better Start Bradford have offered our staff the opportunity to join them in their efforts to clean up our local playgrounds and green spaces.

Unique initiatives 

Academies across our trust are responding to emerging needs in their communities in ways that form meaningful connections. Unity Community’s “Freebie Friday” invites members of the community to take home items such as toys, books and clothes whilst surplus donations go back to local charities. Literacy interventions such as the parent / child reading group at Dixons Allerton Academy offer parents the chance to connect with their children in a supportive setting. Several academies welcomed staff, students and parents to a community Iftar, strengthening a belonging and connection for all. 

Challenging social and educational disadvantage is a collective effort between us and the communities that we serve, if you have any ideas, connections or thoughts, we want to hear them. 

To get involved in our journey towards putting our academies at the heart of our communities, contact our Centre for Growth via email: centreforgrowth@dixonsat.com.