Ormiston Forge Academy

➡ Visual created using AI for illustration purposes.

Lisa Mason, Principal at Ormiston Forge Academy in Sandwell, West Midlands, shares how AV1 is helping her school create a sense of belonging and choice for students unable to attend in person  and how the staff overcame initial hesitancy to embed the robot successfully across different subjects.

Ormiston Forge Academy is a large, inclusive secondary school and sixth form in Cradley Heath, with around 1,700 pupils aged 11–19. As Principal, Lisa Mason leads a truly comprehensive setting that proudly serves a diverse local community.

“We have to cater for all needs, all cultures, all types of children, all types of backgrounds,” she explains. “Which I think actually makes the school really exciting and challenging, but at the same time, very, very welcoming and very accepting of difference.”

Their inclusive ethos was recognised in their most recent Ofsted inspection – and it’s an ethos that made AV1 a natural fit.

Overcoming hesitancy

Lisa is open about the fact that their AV1 journey began with some initial scepticism.

“In all honesty, we were a bit hesitant… there’s always this apprehension of new technology and something being in the classroom, potentially watching teachers,” she reflects.

What shifted staff mindsets was realising that AV1 wasn’t just a tool for learning, but a tool for belonging.

“It’s also an opportunity for the child to feel still immersed within their educational setting and still feel part of their learning… You can’t capture that through a Teams meeting or any other way, really.”

To help staff feel confident, Lisa worked directly with them to trial AV1 in classrooms. She carefully planned positioning, reassured staff about privacy safeguards, and even paired her phone with the robot to show teachers exactly what a student would see.

“That gave them a little bit of a surety of how it works… Overcame some of that paranoia.”

Freedom and belonging

Lisa believes one of the most meaningful benefits of AV1 is the freedom it gives students to choose how they engage, especially when they’re unwell or dealing with long-term medical issues.

“It’s helped in the fact that the child has got a choice… they will still feel part of their educational setting.”

Before AV1, she explains, students would often drag themselves into school while still unwell, anxious about falling behind. Now they feel more in control:

“It’s almost freeing them… They’re engaging more because they’re not so worried about missing school.”

Creativity in the Classroom

Some staff have embraced AV1 with creativity and flair. Lisa recalls one theatrical maths teacher who delighted his class with a nostalgic robot dance - “lost on the year group, but hilarious to us.”

Another AV1 user joined in on a live science experiment.

“The children were literally going up and saying, ‘Hello, how are you doing? We’re just doing this experiment. Do you want to have a quick look?’ Talking to him as if he was there. And that was just priceless.”

These moments, Lisa reflects, capture the sense of belonging that AV1 can generate.

Planning and Communication

A key part of Ormiston Forge’s success with AV1 has been careful planning and communication. Lisa worked closely with teachers to find the best camera angles, reduce disruption and address concerns from the wider school community.

“We’ve been very careful where the robot’s positioned… It’s focused on the board. It’s very much about the experience in the classroom.”

Staff were also reassured to know that AV1 cannot take screenshots or record sessions. This helped build trust and confidence, especially in a large school setting.

Advice for Other Leaders

Reflecting on their AV1 journey, Lisa’s advice to other school leaders is practical and honest:

“Really think about that forward planning. Get those teachers together… go into their classrooms, see how it’s going to work… Use it yourself to see what the child can see.”

And her final encouragement?

“Just be open-minded. It really is a good use of technology. Don’t get hung up on the finer details of the learning. It’s about that immersive experience of still being in the classroom.”

For Ormiston Forge, AV1 has become more than a piece of technology. It’s a bridge to belonging.