Welcome back to Spring Term. I hope this edition of the ‘Whistle’ finds you well and suitably rested.

In contrast, I reflect on the tragedies unfolding in Ukraine, Afghanistan and other locations around the world, I am reminded that one of WeST’s core values is compassion; that sense of recognising with empathy the need in another’s situation and being motivated to do something to improve their situation. Sometimes when faced with suffering on such a large scale it can feel hard to know how to act compassionately, in a way that makes a tangible difference for those directly involved. However, we can all play our part by being aware of others in our communities who may be affected by these global events and offering support. This could be by listening empathically to a colleague who has family caught up in conflict abroad or offering practical help to pupils and their families who have been forced to become refugees.

I am sure that across our schools there will be many acts of compassion in the coming days and weeks as these events unfold. Please remember that all of you can access confidential support from Care First, our employee assistance provider, 24 hours a day 7 days a week by calling, 0800 174319. Please do use this service yourself and sign-post it to colleagues whom you feel may be struggling.

Refocusing on the Spring Term, it is worth noting that, as I write, there are only 27 teaching days until we break for the later than usual Easter holiday on Friday 8 April.

Before looking further forward, I wish to take a moment at the half-year point to recognise some of our collective endeavours and achievements. Far from being exhaustive, but, a few highlights include

  • Welcoming and on-boarding Ermington Primary School, Manor Primary School & Ugborough Primary School.
  • Two very successful Ofsted inspections – extremely well done to everyone at Wembury Primary School and Morley Meadow Primary School!
  • Carefully structured Curriculum training for all WeST primary leaders and teachers. 
  • WeST secondary curriculum – established underlying principles, commitment to the WeST common curriculum.
  • Introduction of RWI as WeST’s approach to teaching phonics and developing fluent early reading
  • Successful external audit, secure financial position and well received Statutory Accounts.
  • Significant capital investment including new build at Plymstock School, Wembury Primary School and Morley Meadow Primary School.
  • Recruitment:
    • WeST SI Administrator – Chris Dickson (Starts Monday 7 March)
    • WeST Assistant Director of Education – Nathan Kemp (Starts Summer Term)
    • WeST Executive Director of History – Rebecca Bailey (Starts Sumer Term) 
  • Fantastic IT infrastructure investment – some £1.4m - through the ‘Connected Classrooms’ Government initiative.
  • Professional development opportunities for our support staff.
  • Last, but not least, business as usual whilst dealing with COVID!

I continue with the theme of the last bullet point. I return to the theme of COVID. I wish to reassure you that whilst many of the previous restrictions around COVID have now relaxed, we will continue to maintain aspects of our system of controls to mitigate the spread of infection. These include

  • Ensuring good hygiene for everyone.
  • Maintaining appropriate cleaning regimes.
  • Keeping occupied spaces well ventilated wherever possible. 
  • Follow public health advice on testing, self-isolation and managing confirmed cases of COVID-19. 

We recognise that the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test has been removed, although, adults and children who test positive will be strongly advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least 5 full days, and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received 2 negative test results on consecutive days. Otherwise, staff and pupils should attend their education settings as usual. This includes those who have been in close contact with a positive case within their household.

I take this opportunity to remind our secondary colleagues that our WeST secondary curriculum training INSET is Monday 4 July 2022.

I sign off by encouraging everyone to participate in the current WeST staff survey. It will only take a few minutes and your views are really important. Every response is carefully considered.

Best wishes, 

Rob Haring, CEO

 

To complete your survey visit: https://forms.office.com/r/xE4pjdRe5F

Or scan this QR code:

Only a few days left to share your feedback!

Thank you for those who have participated so far (18% across the Trust) and with only a few days left there is still time to have your say if you haven’t yet participated!

The survey also provides an opportunity to share your perspective and feedback on a full review of our appraisal process. You can access this link on any internet enabled device or use the QR code. Results will be anonymous and every entry will be reviewed centrally. A summary of the results will be published in future editions of the Wednesday Whistle.

Participation so far…. (in order of percentage of headcount)

Please take part and let us have your feedback!

Wellness Action Planning

We all know the popular phrase which goes along the lines of ‘if you fail to plan, you plan to fail’. But have you ever though about planning when it comes to your wellbeing and keeping well?

Materials from Mind suggest that having a wellness action plan can help to identify what your triggers and strategies may be for maintaining your whole wellbeing, in a physical and mental health sense. This gives more focus on a proactive and prevention approach.

Its different for everyone, but many like to prepare a personal plan on their own, they may then choose to liaise with their line manager / leadership team to explore what support at work may be useful. Others have been thinking about wellness as a whole team and sharing action plans for what strategies work for them as a collective team.

Take a look at the Wellbeing section on the Staff Portal for more details on this and other useful tools. A copy of the Wellness Action Plan template is available here and further details are available from Mind at: https://www.mind.org.uk/media-a/5760/mind-guide-for-employees-wellness-action-plans_final.pdf.

Mindful March 

Modern Slavery Statement of WeST

As a large organization WeST is required by the Modern Slavery Act to produce an annual statement; the 2021 statement is now available. The statement sets out our commitment and strategy to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking in education arms, business units, and supply chains. However, this requirement goes beyond a statutory requirement and is aligned to the ethical core values of the Trust.

What is Modern Slavery?

Modern Slavery is the illegal exploitation of people for personal or commercial gain. Modern Slavery can take many forms including the trafficking of people, forced labour, servitude and slavery.

Modern slavery is an international crime, affecting millions of people around the world.  The anti-slavery charity evidences that in the UK the number of people identified as victims of modern slavery has been rising year on year, with over 10,000 people referred to authorities in 2019. Slavery’s hidden nature means actual numbers are likely to be much higher.

Are there different forms of Modern Slavery?

The term Modern Slavery captures a whole range of types of exploitation, many of which occur together. These include but are not limited to; sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, forced labour, criminal exploitation, and other forms of exploitation.

What is WeST doing?

For several years WeST has published a statement to promote the Trust’s continued commitment and steps towards this issue. The 2021 statement sets out:

  • Steps towards due diligence in our supply chains
  • Steps towards our due diligence as an employer
  • Training and policies which will raise awareness
  • Further steps and objectives for the coming year

Please take moment to review the statement and consider the impact in daily operations you are involved in. If you would like to discuss further please liaise with the HR Team directly on email: hr@westst.org.uk.

Update your Personal Details and Download your Payslip 

In April 2022, the Trust are moving to one payroll provider, Midland HR (MHR).

Many staff members currently access payslips through employee self-service. Copies of payslips and P60s stored there will not be transferring across from your current provider to MHR. Access to old payroll systems via employee self-service will cease once we have gone live.

Therefore, please ensure that you have downloaded copies of your individual payslips and P60’s from your current payroll provider, prior to April 2022. You may wish to print these or retain an electronic copy, saved to your own area.

Updating your personal details is really important. If you are yet to update details about any change (such as full name, address, contact number and personal email address) please can you ensure your data is up to date at the earliest opportunity. This will include informing your local school administrator for local systems and informing payroll systems.

If you have any questions relating to this, please contact the HR Team on 01752 891754 ext 1765 or emailing hr@westst.org.uk.

Recruitment update:

We are delighted to inform you of the following exciting career opportunities within our Trust:- 

Manor Primary School are looking for a Caretaker to provide the appropriate level of custodial service and maintenance throughout the premises.  You will Maintain a clean, safe and secure school premises, which includes buildings and grounds. For more information, please go here. Closing date: Noon, Friday 11 March 2022.

Woodford Primary School are looking to appoint an inspirational classroom practitioner to join their school team to cover a fixed term maternity leave until 31st August 2023. The successful candidate will be expected to have excellent research-based practice in curriculum and curriculum delivery with a genuine drive to achieve the highest standards for all children. Closing date: Wednesday 23 March. 

Westcountry Schools Trust is seeking to appoint an exceptional individual with vision, energy and inspirational leadership to the position of Headteacher at Plymstock School. The new Headteacher of Plymstock School will lead the school through its next phase of development and improvement. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity since the conditions for further improvement are securely established. The school benefits from a surplus budget position, KS4 outcomes are positive and have strengthened, attendance has improved, governance is skilled and secure and the school has just completed a £2.5m new building project. For more information, please go here. Closing date: midday Monday 7 March 2022.

Chaddlewood Primary School are looking for a Mealtime Assistant. As a mealtime assistant you will assist and supervise children in the dining hall and playground. You will promote their welfare, health and safety and encourage good conduct and behaviour.  For more information, please go here. 

Callington Community College is seeking to appoint a full-time teacher of Classics and Spanish from September 2022 to join our successful Languages Department. Spanish has a strong tradition at the College and Callington are seeking to further strengthen and develop the presence of Languages within the College with the recent introduction of Latin to KS4. For more information, please go here. Closing date: Monday 7 March 2022. 

Hele's School are looking for the following vacancies: 

Cleaner - to Commence at Hele’s as soon as possible. Further details of the role are available here. Closing date: Friday 4th March 2022. 

Finance Officer - Hele's School are looking to appoint an exceptional candidate, who possesses energy and creativity and can provide effective and efficient cover to support colleagues in our Finance department.  We would welcome applications from suitably qualified persons. There may be an opportunity to extend to a permanent position. Closing date: 8am Monday 7th March 2022. 

For more information on the above vacancies, please go here. 

Ivybridge Community College are looking for the following vacancies: 

Casual Minibus Driver - The Minibus Driver represents the public face of Ivybridge Community College. It is important that the post holder therefore conducts themselves in a professional and knowledgeable manner. Closing date: 9am on Monday, 14 March 2022. 

Casual Examinations Invigilators - Hours of work by negotiation, to cover examination sessions throughout the year. Ability to work at least three days a week during the peak times in May and June. Full day, morning (start 8.30am) and afternoon sessions are offered. Closing date: 9am on Monday, 14 March 2022. 

Teacher of Maths - Ivybridge Community College is committed to providing an excellent education for ages 11-18 years old and is looking forward to appointing an exceptional, inspirational teacher of Mathematics to join a successful Mathematics Department which is highly valued by the Governors and Leadership Team. Students enjoy their Mathematics and consequently Post-16 uptake is very strong. Closing date: 9am on Monday, 14 March 2022. 

For more information on the above vacancies, please go here. 

South Dartmoor Community College are looking for the following vacancies:

Teacher of DT – Maternity Cover up to 1 year - This is a part-time, fixed term contract for up to one year with the possibility of 1.0 FTE to be negotiated. The successful candidate must be able to deliver the curriculum to a high level, across the subject, and will work closely with the Design & Technology team. Closing date: Monday 14 March 2022 at 8.00 am.

Head of Department – MFL - The successful candidate will work closely with the Senior team and fellow Heads of Departments to deliver high quality lessons and opportunities to Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 students. Closing Date: Monday 14 March 2022 at 8.00 am.

Teacher of Maths - The successful candidate must be able to deliver the curriculum to a high level, across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5, working closely with the Maths team. The successful candidate will be a hard-working individual; a teacher with high expectations and an unwavering determination to get the best outcomes for students. Closing Date: Wednesday 16 March 2022 at 8.00 am.

Teacher of English - The successful candidate must be able to deliver the curriculum to a high level, across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5, working closely with the English team. The successful candidate will be a hard-working individual; a teacher with high expectations and an unwavering determination to get the best outcomes for students. Closing Date: Tuesday 15 March 2022 at 8.00 am.

For more information on the above vacancies, please go here.