Why Rushey Mead Academy Has Stayed with Challenge Partners for Over a Decade: Insights from Vicky Barwell and Rita Hindocha
Rushey Mead Academy in Leicester stands as a beacon of excellence, having been an integral part of Challenge Partners for over 13 years. The academy’s commitment to improvement, leadership development, and maintaining an outward-looking ethos has been central to its success. In this interview, we dive into the insights shared by current Principal, Vicky Barwell, and former Principal, Rita Hindocha, during a conversation reflecting on their experiences with Challenge Partners, and why they have remained dedicated to the partnership for so long.
The School’s Context and Community
Rushey Mead is the largest school in Leicester, serving nearly 1,800 students. Despite its size, it has maintained a strong community spirit, and its commitment to providing high-quality education for a richly diverse and often disadvantaged student population remains central to its ethos.
Vicky Barwell, Principal since 2022, explains, "Our students are fantastic and work incredibly hard, and our staff—teachers and support staff—are immense at what they do. We enable our young children, from all backgrounds and all prior attainments, to do really well."
Rita Hindocha, former Principal and now working at a new free school, reflects fondly on the enduring success of Rushey Mead: "What I love about Rushey Mead is that it has consistently been able to serve disadvantaged communities without being gentrified. The school has remained a place of high-quality education for all."
Why Challenge Partners?
The story of Rushey Mead's relationship with Challenge Partners began over a decade ago. Rita Hindocha, as Principal at the time, played a pivotal role in introducing the school to the network. She explains, "Carolyn Robson, one of the early heads involved, saw the potential for Rushey Mead to benefit from the London Challenge initiative, which later evolved into Challenge Partners. It was all about pushing us to keep improving, even though we were already an outstanding school."
For Rita, joining Challenge Partners was not about resting on laurels. "Although we were outstanding, Carolyn recognised that being involved in networks like this would allow us to continue to improve. We never saw ourselves as finished articles. Schools should always be looking to learn from others, and Challenge Partners offered that opportunity."
Continuous School Improvement: Never Complacent
For both Vicky and Rita, the key motivator for staying involved with Challenge Partners has been the network’s unwavering focus on continuous improvement. "The school has always attracted leaders who want to be better," Vicky says, "and being part of the Challenge Partners network has kept us restless in the best possible way."
Rita adds, "There’s always something to learn from others. No school is perfect, and even outstanding schools can improve. We never felt that we had cracked the code. We were always looking for the next step to improve the educational experience for our students."
This philosophy is embedded in the school’s culture. Even as an outstanding institution, Rushey Mead leaders have always welcomed external validation and critique. Vicky explains, "The Quality Assurance Review process through Challenge Partners is invaluable. It's not just an external audit—it’s a partnership where we can reflect together on where we can improve. We know that no school is the finished article."
The Value of Peer-to-Peer Learning
One of the most beneficial aspects of Challenge Partners has been the opportunity for Rushey Mead’s leaders to visit other schools, both locally and nationally. These visits, often as part of the Quality Assurance Review process, offer a fresh perspective and spark new ideas. Vicky recalls, "Before I became Principal, I used to go to other schools with senior leaders. It didn’t matter what Ofsted rating the school had—there was always something to learn. Seeing other approaches makes you pause and reflect on what you can do next."
Rita highlights the value of learning from London schools, particularly those that had undergone significant transformations. "When I first joined Challenge Partners, London schools were not desirable places. But through the London Challenge initiative, they were transformed, and the outcomes were amazing. Visiting those schools and learning from them was a game changer for us."
Leadership Development: Growing the Next Generation
Both Vicky and Rita have emphasized how the Challenge Partners network has contributed to leadership development at Rushey Mead. For Vicky, this has been particularly important in shaping the future of the school. "Leaders at all levels benefit from professional development opportunities through Challenge Partners," she explains. "It’s not just about the senior leadership team. Our staff members have had access to webinars, guest speakers, and networking opportunities that are invaluable."
For Rita, leadership development was key when she transitioned into her current role. "At my new free school, one of the greatest benefits of being part of Challenge Partners is the opportunity to grow leaders. I’ve been able to send staff out to Challenge Partners reviews, where they can see best practices in action and bring that knowledge back to our school."
A Commitment to Excellence
Through its long-standing partnership with Challenge Partners, Rushey Mead has not only maintained its outstanding status but continues to push the boundaries of educational excellence. "We’ve never been complacent," says Rita. "Our involvement with Challenge Partners has kept us focused on what comes next. What more can we do for our students? How can we ensure that we are still serving all communities, especially the most disadvantaged?"
Vicky agrees, noting, "We have always been committed to improving the outcomes for all our students, and Challenge Partners has helped us keep that focus. It’s a partnership that’s about mutual support and learning—what’s better than that?"
Conclusion
The story of Rushey Mead and its ongoing relationship with Challenge Partners is one of relentless pursuit of excellence. For both Vicky Barwell and Rita Hindocha, being part of this network has been an essential driver for school improvement, leadership development, and a commitment to serving every student.
As Vicky sums up, "Challenge Partners is a vehicle for continuous improvement, for both the school and the staff. No school has 'cracked it'—there’s always more to do, and we’re grateful to Challenge Partners for helping us on that journey."
It is this mentality—of always striving for better—that will ensure Rushey Mead Academy remains at the forefront of education in Leicester for years to come.