Welcome back to the Summer Term - with the hope of great weather and a sense of moving on from the pandemic! Without wishing time away, it is worth noting that there are only 19 teaching days until the May half term. I say this in that I know that between now and then there is so much to do and achieve.

I start, though, with a quick look back to thank everyone for their colossal, and determined efforts in delivering the ‘Payroll’ project. All WeST schools and staff are now remunerated through a common payroll provider – MHR. I appreciate that, to many, this sounds like a simple undertaking but I state here that I know how far from simple it has been. Thank you.

Another reminder that increased NI rates came into effect from April 2022 meaning most staff will have seen a slight fall in take-home pay this month. Please don’t blame the messenger!

The next few weeks see us pressing forward with

  • The key stage 2 tests are timetabled from Monday 9 May to Thursday 12 May 2022.
  • Year 11 students taking their first GCSE examinations on Monday.  16 May (Religious Studies). Science is on Tuesday 17 May and then English Language on Wednesday 18 May. So, 14 teaching days until the first exam!
  • Phonics screening check week – week commencing Monday 6 June 2022
  • Continuation of our Internal Curriculum Review process. 
  • Consideration of the implications of the White Paper, how we are positioned, and our Strategic Plan. 
  • Positioning of TLI with a strengthened provision of primary ITE in partnership with the University of Worcester. Morley Meadow (WeST HQ) is a center of face to face delivery.
  • Completion of our Governance review and planning for next academic year.
  • Continued staff recruitment at all levels.
  • Planned staff professional development. 
  • Setting of 2022-23 budgets for schools. 
  • Continued capital investment – SCA. 
  • IT infrastructure investment. 

The above list is far from exhaustive, rather an indication of how busy we are in the coming weeks. Have a great term.

Best wishes, 

Rob Haring, CEO 

Introduction to Mindfulness

(An Online Taster Session)

4.15 pm to 4.45pm, Tuesday 3 May, 2022

To be held via MS Teams

This is an opportunity to find out:

  • What mindfulness is
  • What mindfulness is not (!)
  • How mindfulness might be helpful in supporting your well-being
  • How you could begin a journey towards using mindfulness to support your pupils / colleagues
  • If the 8-week .B Foundations course might be for you

To join the taster session please click the Teams link below:

Click here to join the meeting

Eye Care Vouchers

The Eye Care Vouchers provided by both Specsavers and Vision Express will have a specified expiry date so please ensure that they are made use of before this date. Details surrounding each expiration date can be found on your voucher.

We are in the process of receiving more of such vouchers, so if you are interested in receiving your voucher, we would encourage contacting hr@westst.org.uk and they will distribute this to you as soon as they are in receipt of them. 

As you may recall, WeST have been working with Care First as an employee assistance provider for the last two terms. We are seeking your feedback on experiences of this service. This includes any feedback on the app, the website, and the telephone support service. We are due to meet with the provider in coming weeks to consider future arrangements and would like to ensure the voice of WeST colleagues in reflected in this. Please share any feedback with the HR Team on hr@westst.org.uk.

A big welcome to all of our new starters

The new term has brought new faces to the schools and business units across the Trust.  We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you all to WeST and hope you are beginning to settle in.

As part of the Trust aim of continual improvement, we would be interested to know about your experience of the selection process that led to your first day with us and your initial first couple of weeks.

We would therefore appreciate it if you would spend a few minutes completing the anonymous form that can be found here or via the QR code above by 31st May.  Please also look out for an email with the link in if it is easier for you to access from there.

If you would like to discuss this or encounter any problems opening the form please contact the HR Team at hr@westst.org.uk or on 01752 891754 Ext 1765.

HR Update 

Absences from work as a result of acute respiratory infections (including COVID-19)

On 1 April 2022, the government withdrew previous guidance and released new guidance on reducing the spread of acute respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace.  WeST has updated its practices in line with this guidance and the attached document provides advice on what staff should do if they have symptoms of acute respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, or they have evidence of a positive COVID-19 test.

Keep Your Stress in Check

As part of stress awareness month, Care First have shared the following information for colleagues of WeST.

Tips to help your work-life balance...

The daily grind can be overwhelming. Modern work is never-ending and at any moment you feel like you might run screaming from your office. Stress, headaches, tension, weight gain, and low mood are all signs of a work-life balance that is out of whack. We’ve all been there!

It’s really important to your physical and mental health to make the most of your downtime and keep balance in your life. So here are some tips for improving your work-life balance...

Proritise your tasks. Take a look at your to-do list (if you don't have one, make one), take a pencil and start trimming your task list. Separate your weekly tasks into must-dos and want-to-dos. Must-dos are things you absolutely have to get done. Want-to-dos are things you can work on later. Shave off the extras you don't really need to be doing to give yourself some breathing space.

Learn to delegate. Many people find it difficult to delegate. This is completely understandable; you want to maintain control over your activities. But you need to learn how and when to delegate. By identifying the tasks that can reasonably be given to someone else, you can free up your own time and get on with the important tasks.

Take some 'offline time'. For many people, the working day is spent in a flurry of emails, reports, phone calls and texts. If this sounds like you, you should make sure that you take some offline time. When you have finished work for the day, turn off the computer, turn off your smartphone, and ignore your emails. Concentrate on relaxing, and come back to the messages in the morning with a clear head.

Take time off. The value of time off really cannot be overstated. You can’t hope to be productive if you‘re constantly working – and, perhaps more importantly, it can be bad for your mental and physical health. Make sure that you maximise the weekends and school holidays. This also includes taking time in the evenings, and making sure that you get a proper reset from work.

Remember to exercise. Daily exercise is vitally important. Regular exercise will boost your mood and help you get in shape. Find at least 30 minutes a day to get up and move around. Half an hour walking round a park can be enough to get the oxygen flowing, and make sure that you’re able to focus. It will help minimise stress, boost your energy and allow you time to recharge while not staring at a computer screen! Proper cardiovascular exercise can also help you to sleep better – as well as helping you to keep fit.

Remember your achievements. In the struggle to get everything done, it’s very easy to forget what it is that you’ve already achieved. Set aside some time, perhaps once a month, to go back over your accomplishments. Remind yourself of the good things that have happened, rather than constantly focusing on the problems.

Disclaimer.  This article is for general information only.  We cannot be held responsible for any actions you might take as a result of it.  Please seek medical advice before making any significant change to your habits or lifestyle.

We also have a brilliant opportunity at WeST for colleagues to complete an Introduction on mindfulness Taster session which is led by Richard Woodland, Director of Inclusion. 

Active April 

My Foundation Degree and Teaching Journey - written by TLI graduate Tasha

My personal journey began with me being marched down to an introduction for the Foundation Degree by my line manager and the class teacher I worked with, with me saying “I don’t want to do it!” and “I can’t write an essay!”. And that is where it all began!

My work place was very supportive and encouraged me to do the course, even though I was very reluctant to begin with. I had been working there as a Nursery Nurse, however I had also been working as an unqualified teacher in the nursery for many years. So, it really was about time I achieved that ‘real qualification’ and become the teacher I wanted to be.

Before I knew it, I was enrolled and starting a university degree at the grand old age of 43! Although I have been told all my working career that I should be a teacher, I don’t think I had the belief I could go through the process of becoming one… by that I mean uni!

I had two teenage boys and my husband has to travel with his job, and as well as this I was working full time at Alec Reed Academy, where I supported in the reception classes. This therefore was going to be a challenge! Juggling work, home, family and now uni work was tough, and I would find myself beginning my uni work at 10.00pm, when I had finished running the boys to and from their swimming club every night. However, it soon became the ‘new norm’ and I adjusted very quickly.

I’ll never forget the first essay I wrote!! It was shocking! It was so bad I didn’t even recognise it as my own when it was sent back after being marked! I laughed then and I can still laugh now. The first year flew by, and slowly I was in the swing of researching, essay writing and referencing. And there was an improvement in my grades!

At the end of the first year, I had a very personal and sudden trauma to deal with. Somehow I continued to be strong and approach the second year knowing I had to do this - I owed it to myself and the person who had believed in me the most. Year two was important, and I needed to get through the foundation degree with a good pass, as this would then be my path into the top-up year. I put all I had into it and yes, there were some ups and downs, but I continued. The feeling of achievement when I went to graduation was overwhelming, and suddenly all this became real!

This spurred me onto the third and final year, which was going to be the hardest of all! Was I really going to be able to do this?? This year it mattered. All grades for any essay I wrote counted towards my overall degree. Also… I had the task of writing my dissertation - 9,000 words! I chose my topic for my dissertation, and I picked a topic that was of interest to me and of benefit to my work place. I ended up with a 2:1 for my degree, which for me was a huge achievement and something I didn’t believe I could do.

So! Yes, it was hard, and there were times I hit a brick wall! However, the support that each of my tutors gave me was phenomenal, and they really were there to encourage and guide me all the way. Also, the support from other students within the group was unconditional, and we were always there for each other as we were all literally in the same boat!

I would recommend this degree, and I would really encourage anyone to do this course, especially if you want to go into teaching. It may be daunting and scary to begin with, but the fulfilment and achievement you feel at the end is worth everything! You can look back and be so very proud of what has been achieved.

In between all of this, I also had to sit three GCSEs: maths, English and science. I found this more difficult than anything. This by far was my hardest challenge, and I was not successful in maths and science on my first attempt. I persevered and kept going as I knew I needed this to be able to teach. In the end I was successful and passed! Yay! And this really was the beginning of a new career for me.

So, this all began in September 2015, and in January 2022 I finally gained my qualified teacher status, and I am now embarking on my ECT year. Achieving the degree and my QTS has been a huge achievement for me, and I am now the teacher I always wanted to be!

Article at: https://www.learninginstitute.co.uk/tashas-story

Recruitment update:

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

Westcountry Schools Trust is seeking to appoint an exceptional individual with vision, energy and inspirational leadership to the position of Executive Director for Science. The Executive Director for Science is a key role that will promote and implement strategies for raising attainment and progress in science predominantly across all WeST secondary schools, but also promoting cross-phase alignment/approach. For more information, please go here. Closing date: 9am, Tuesday 3 May 2022. 

Morley Meadow Primary School are looking for an enthusiastic, inspiring and highly motivated teacher to join their dedicated and hardworking team at Morley Meadow Primary, rated good by Ofsted in January 2022. This is an exciting and unique opportunity for an experienced EYFS teacher to lead our EYFS phase and be fundamental in the design and set up of our new nursery. For more information, please go here. Closing date: Noon, Friday 6 May 2022. 

Coombe Dean School are looking for the following vacancies:

Cover Supervisor to facilitate students’ learning in the absence of teachers. Coombe Dean are looking to appoint a confident individual who can create and develop good relationships with students and who has a strong commitment to supporting student learning. The ability to work independently and as part of a team is essential. For more information, please go here. Closing date: 9am, Friday April 2022.

Coombe Dean are seeking to appoint a Media and Admin Assistant. You should be able to remain calm under pressure and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Experience of SIMS would also be an advantage. The successful candidate must have L2 English and Maths. For more information, please go here. Closing date: 9 May 2022. 

Plymstock School are looking for an Artist Technician (Ceramics Specialism) to join the Art Department team at Plymstock School. The successful candidate will ensure resources are ready and available, assist in lessons, giving technical demonstrations as required and ensure that the equipment used within the Department is well maintained. Ceramics expertise is essential for this role. For more information, please go here. Closing Date: 9am, Wednesday 11 May 2022. 

Hele’s School has a number of exciting opportunities for teaching and support staff available:

  • Cleaner – 15 Hours
  • Cleaner – 25 Hours
  • Cleaning Supervisor
  • Premises Caretaker
  • Teacher of Physical Education (2nd in Department)
  • Teacher of Science
  • Teacher of IT and Computing

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

Ivybridge Community College are looking for the following vacancies:  

  • Designated Safeguarding Lead (Non-Teaching) (Closing date: Tuesday, 3 May 2022). 
  • PACE Coordinator (Closing date: Tuesday, 10 May 2022) 
  • PACE Assistant (Closing date: Tuesday, 10 May 2022) 
  • Community Sports Duty Supervisor (Closing date: Wednesday, 4 May 2022) 

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