St James School announced as Behaviour and Attendance Hub for prestigious national education programme

Two Ted Wragg Trust schools, St James School in Exeter and Marine Academy Primary in Plymouth, have been appointed as Lead Schools for the Department for Education’s new Attendance and Behaviour Hubs programme.

They are among the first 21 schools nationally to be selected for this prestigious role, leading the way in supporting schools across the country to improve attendance, strengthen behaviour cultures and create supportive environments where every child can thrive.

Both schools previously served as Behaviour Hub Leads between 2022-2024, in recognition of the exceptional behaviour culture in the schools. As part of this role they worked with a cohort of local schools, supporting them to develop good behaviour, routines, and structures, which in turn helped improve pupil engagement, mental health, and wellbeing. 

As part of this new role, the schools will:

• Deliver intensive, one-to-one support to schools every year, working directly with senior leaders to improve systems and culture
• Provide open days, best-practice events, and regional sharing opportunities for schools across the country
• Help schools develop safe, supportive cultures, robust attendance systems, strong leadership and evidence-informed strategies
• Use data intelligently to identify challenges and drive sustainable improvement.

The Government has said that over time, 500 schools in most need will receive intensive and targeted help, while 5,000 schools will have access to the hubs when they have all been opened.

Good school attendance matters hugely for children, impacting not just their learning but also their friendships and future opportunities.

This is the latest step in the Ted Wragg Trust’s work to transform lives and strengthen communities, working collaboratively to break down barriers to opportunity for children in Devon.

Emily Harper, Headteacher at St James School said: “We’re thrilled to be selected as a Behaviour and Attendance Hub, and to continue our work supporting schools across the region to develop strong and consistent approaches to attendance and behaviour, in line with our values of community and equity for all. A calm, safe and supportive environment is the foundation for student’s success, and we look forward to contributing to this important work across the South West.”

Siobhan Meredith, Executive Director for Education at the Ted Wragg Trust said: "We’re absolutely delighted that, having previously served as a Behaviour Hub, St James School has now been designated as a Lead School for the national Behaviour and Attendance Hubs programme. This recognition reflects the relentless commitment of our team, students and families to creating a culture of high expectations, compassion and belonging — and it’s thanks to them that we have this opportunity to support even more schools across the region."

St James is a secondary school in Exeter, rated Ofsted ‘Good’, with a thriving and diverse community and excellent educational outcomes. With an ambitious curriculum, they empower their students to use their education to become their best selves, to thrive in fulfilling careers and to lead happy and healthy lives.