I open the final edition of this terms "Whistle" with a massive thank you to everyone.

It has been, without doubt, the most challenging and tiring autumn term, but equally one that we should take time on which to reflect and congratulate each other. We have worked week to week through a period of uncertainty, pulled together and supported each other through whatever situation has been thrown our way. We have shown resilience and adaptability as we have forged ahead with a full return and maintaining our delivery of first-class teaching and learning.  

I think it is really important that over the half term break we do take the time to reflect on what we have overcome and successfully achieved. By taking stock on what we have achieved we can hold an inner sense of pride, that our collective ‘struggle’ has brought the intended reward for our children and that we can look forward with an even stronger sense of confidence. In this vein I share the quote below:

“Throughout human history, in any great endeavour requiring the common effort of many nations and men and women everywhere, we have learned – it is only through the seriousness of purpose and persistence that we ultimately carry the day. We might liken it to riding a bicycle. You stay upright and move forward so long as you keep up the momentum.”                                                                                          Ban Ki-moon

Turning to other 'business and usual' items, if you haven't filled in the whole staff survey as yet, please have your say by this Friday 23rd October - it’s really important to be able to use your feedback to build improvements. Full details on how to complete the survey are provided in the short article below.

Over the last few weeks I have signposted the five different strands of WeST’s Strategic Plan and indicated some early work in each area. After the half-term break I’m keen to pick up the theme of our shared values and tease out in greater detail how we might interpret and understand them.

I now sign off by wishing everyone a restful and peaceful half-term break.

Take care & best wishes,

Rob Haring – CEO

A whole staff survey on shaping next steps....

Your views matter to us and we want your help to build improvements to our working environment as we move through the remainder of the autumn and into the spring term. Please complete the whole staff survey of 12 questions for WeST. Results will be anonymous and reviewed centrally by the Executive Team.

Click here for the link or scan the QR code:

Thank you!

A great result - HSE spot inspections!

As you maybe aware, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Ofsted have been tasked with inspecting schools on their implementation of the DfE guidelines that WeST developed in the form of its Risk Assessments and Toolkit that you have been working to this term. These inspections have been conducted through phone calls known as triage and randomly selected school visits.

I would not normally celebrate a HSE visit to two of our schools but on this occasion it is worthy of note and I want to share the good news with you.

A number of weeks ago Sherford had a triage phone call, the result of which was very positive. In addition we received a HSE visit at Callington and Stowford. Both visits went perfectly and the Inspector stated that we had done everything we could to implement the guidelines and adapted these to the school environment. Further, she was not able to advise on any greater improvements.

We should all take great reassurance from this as it demonstrates that we have understood the guidelines from the DfE and implemented them appropriately across WeST by both the generic risk assessment that we produced as well as the modified version tailored to each of our schools.

Well done everyone and thank you very much for your continued efforts in this regard.

Mark Bullard - Estates Director

Recruitment update:

We are delighted to inform you that there are a number of exciting career opportunities within our Trust as follows:-

Plymstock School are looking to appoint a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (Exams Access Arrangements) with immediate effect and also have a vacancy for a Mealtime Assistant. For more information please visit: https://plymstockschool.org.uk/vacancies/
 
Boringdon Primary School have the following two vacancies advertised:
  • Administrator - Part Time Permanent, Salary/Grade: NJC Grade C. Starting January 2021 - 23.25 hours per week (term time only 39 weeks per year)

  • Assistant Headteacher & English Lead  - Full Time Permanent, Salary Range L5-7. Starting date: 1st January 2021

For more information please visit: https://www.boringdon.plymouth.sch.uk/web/vacancies/399137
 
Dunstone Primary School require a KS2, full time Temporary Class Teacher, Grade MPS 1 – 5, from January 2021.  Please see the school's website for more information: www.dunstoneprimary.co.uk
 
Oreston Community Academy have the following vacancies:
  • Catering Assistant and Play Worker - Catering Assistant 15 hours per week (Grade B) and Play Worker 11.25 hours per week (Grade A) Hours: Monday – Friday 12pm – 5.30pm, Term Time Only Grade B £18,562-£18,933 (actual salary £6,279- 6,404) Grade A £17,842-£18,198 (actual salary £4,526-£4,617)
  • Teaching Assistant and Play Worker - Teaching Assistant 31.72 hours per week (Grade C) and Play Worker 5 hours per week (Grade A) Hours: Monday - Friday 7.45am – 3.30pm Term Time Only Grade C £19,312-£20,092 (actual salary £13,816-£14,374) Grade A £17,842-£18,198 (actual salary £2,011-£2,052)

For more information regarding these vacancies please visit: https://www.orestonacademy.com/current-vacancies/

Stowford School have the following vacancies:

  • Full Time Permanent Class Teacher from January 2021
  • Full Time Class Teacher to start as soon as possible (Fixed Term to 31st August 2021)
  • Class Teacher to start as soon as possible (0.4 Fixed Term to 31st August 2021)

For more information please visit:
https://www.stowford.devon.sch.uk/vacancies

Education Support are the only UK charity dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of education staff in schools, colleges and universities.

Sometimes work (or just life) can be tough. Education Support offer free, confidential help and support, no matter what the issue or problem. 

To access their services please click here.

Onboarding Survey

We hope you have now settled into working for Westcountry Schools Trust and had the opportunity to complete a Starter Experience Survey when you first started.  Don't hesitate to let the HR Team know if you have not taken part as yet and would like to by emailing hr@westst.org.uk and we will send you a link.  

As part of the Trust's aim of continual improvement, we would appreciate it if you would spend a few minutes completing the form via the link below about your experience of your first half a term with the Trust.  We are interested to know what you felt; went well and, your view of what did not go so well and what could be improved on going forward.

Click hereto complete the onboarding survey now.

A big thank you to all of you who completed our Starter Experience Survey to date.

We would like to thank all of you who commenced a new role with the Trust recently and took the time to feedback to us on how the Trust is doing with its recruitment and selection process.  Your feedback will help us in our efforts to continually improve the recruitment experience of all our potential new starters.

There were many positives which we would like to share with you as follows:- 

  • We asked you to rate how straightforward you found the application process for your new post. You gave the application process an average score of 4.58 stars out of 5.
  • 87% of you received an invite to interview less than 2 weeks after the advert close date.
  • We asked you to rate your invite to the selection process and any subsequent communications in relation to it.  You gave us an average score of 4.71 stars out of 5 for this.
  • Due to Covid-19 restrictions many of you experienced a remote selection process. Those of you who did were asked to rate how straightforward you found using the technology for this was. You gave it an average score of 4.11 stars out of 5.
  • 81% of you found the offer you received timely and the offer process straightforward. 
  • We asked you to think about your pre-employment checks and to rate us on how we did with these in terms of communication, efficiency and helpfulness (with 1 star = poor and 5 stars = excellent).  You gave us an average score of 4.71 stars out of 5 for this.

There are areas that you identified where we could do better and we really appreciate your suggestions around this. The full results are being analysed and will be used to improve the candidate experience of our recruitment and selection process moving forward.

Thank you for taking part!

WeST Modern Slavery Statement

As a large organisation WeST is required by the Modern Slavery Act to produce an annual statement; the 2020 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. Children (those aged under 18) are considered victims of trafficking, whether or not they have been coerced, deceived or paid to secure their compliance. They need only have been recruited, transported, received or harboured for the purpose of exploitation.

Modern slavery is an international crime, affecting millions of people around the world. Police Recorded Crime (PRC) includes all offences in law that are indictable and in the year to March 2019, the police recorded 5,059 offences of modern slavery in England and Wales. 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?

Last year saw the first WeST Modern Slavery Statement and in 2020 this has been reviewed and published on the website to promote the Trust’s continued commitment and steps towards this issue. The 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 by clicking here 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.

Arena are pleased to announce the following CPD opportunities available over coming months.......

Wild Tribe – This is a 2 day accredited outdoor learning course which has been recognised by Ofsted at Holsworthy Primary school. It is aimed at teachers and HLTAs. The course will support you in setting up an outdoor learning classroom, provide practical and theory sessions on Health and & Safety and how to link outdoor learning in a range of curriculum subjects, teach you the art of fire lighting, shelter building use of tools and cooking in the outdoors with children. 

  • Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th November 2020 - 9.00am to 3.30pm - STERTS Upton Cross PL14 5AZ 

Subject Leaders Course - This four day course looks at leading and managing improvement in Primary PE. This course is appropriate for colleagues who have a leadership role for PE within a primary school setting. The course will also develop the leaders’ subject knowledge in pedagogy in primary school Physical Education, planning for continuity and progression and assessment. 

  • Tuesday 10th November 2020 - 9.00am to 4.00pm
  • Wednesday 27th January 2021 
  • Wednesday 24th March 2021 
  • Thursday 29th April 2021 

        Trethorne Leisure Centre PL15 8QE 

Gymnastics – A practical course that covers progressive gymnastic skills both on the floor and apparatus. It explores ways of using apparatus in curriculum lessons, how to build up sequences and how to assess using the Arena SOW. It is suitable for teachers and teaching assistants working with EYFS to year 6 children.

  • Tuesday 17th November 2020 - 1.30pm to 3.30pm - Stoke Climsland Primary School

If you are interested in any of the above CPD events, please CLICK HERE to book yourself onto a course.