{item_alt_tag}

In last weeks ‘Whistle’ I launched the new academic year by talking about our audacious goals for 2023-24 and how, through our professional collaborative working, we will achieve them.

We start the year with a good degree of confidence – gained from our success from last year. Successes include our wonderful phonics results where we saw 90% of our Year 1 children meeting the PSC threshold, 67% of our Year 6 children meeting the KS2 RWM% standard, and external validation of the quality of education we provide through 12 Ofsted inspections where none were judged less than ‘Good’.

So, turning to our goals for this year.

The numerical targets in the slide above represent our collective children – the 14,000 young people in our care. Given that each WeST school serves its immediate community in its own context, these targets will look very different at a local school level in recognition of each local context. However, we cannot shy away from our collective belief that we can constantly improve and thus ensure that all our children thrive and succeed.

I wish everyone a very happy and successful year.

Best wishes 

Rob Haring, CEO 

Estates Summer Projects

During the summer the Estates central team along with school based teams used the time to invest in our school buildings, known as capital investment. WeST is funded from the DfE but as always it is never enough to undertake all the tasks we need. It is essential that we prioritise the projects we undertake including managing as many as possible through an in-house team. Over the next 5 weeks, I will share with you, different projects we have undertaken, these include, roofs, lighting, fire alarms, toilet upgrades, catering equipment etc. 

This week's example is Ermington EFYS outdoor playing area. 

The existing decking area was at end of life, with a small roof area, meaning during inclement weather the decking was of limited use. As well as the decking feeing spongy due to the water ingress to the substructure, although it was unknown to the extent of the damage to be repaired.

From the initial scoping to the final outcome, this project had a considerable amount of unknowns. Due to the difficulty in accessing the area under the decking, it was hard to fully scope the sub structure until we started dismantling the existing decking. This then revealed the extent of the damage which was completely rotten and the whole structure required replacing. This impacted hugely on the allocated time frame, extending the project from a 3 to a 5 week project. The completed project is a massive success and looks stunning. The new decking provides the EYFS a functional safe and dry platform for the students to thrive in and helps Ermington meet their curriculum for outdoor play area.

 

{item_alt_tag}

New MASH Consultation line for professionals: 01752 304339

In response to requests from our partner agencies and to support the statutory services provided within Children’s Social Care, we have opened a new Consultation Line.

This new phone line provides an opportunity for agencies to speak to the MASH to ensure that the right help at the right level is being provided to the children and families we work with. You can call for advice and guidance around situations where you’re unclear or unsure about the appropriate support, or if a referral into children’s social care is needed.

The phone line will be open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) and will not be available during hours that are covered by the Out of Hours Team.

We would encourage you to use this service as it means we will be able to provide more clarification in situations where a referrer is unclear whether the correct level for referral has been reached or if the needs of the family can be met by universal services or Early Help. This will then help to shape our future services and enable us to understand how we can best work together to support our children and their families.

Parental Consent and Generic Advice

Please note that you can speak to the MASH Consultation Line about a range of hypothetical issues or concerns, however in order to speak about a specific child you should have consent from the parents or carers providing it is safe to do so. It is important that we seek consent from families when working with them or sharing information about them, unless there is a safeguarding concern that would escalate the concern. The only time this isn’t applicable is when seeking consent might place a child at risk of further harm. The consultation line does not replace the right of partner agencies to make a referral directly into Children’s Social Care when the concerns may constitute significant harm.  

When you have a safeguarding concern about a child, please make contact with the MASH in the usual way. 

Ivybridge Community Big Band is looking for new members – Do you know anyone who plays Trombone?

Ivybridge Community Big Band is looking for new members. You would join an ensemble that includes staff and students from the college and Westcountry Schools Trust, along with ex-students, parents and members of the local community. It’s completely free to take part. We would welcome those who play Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums or Percussion, but in particular, we are short of Trombonists. The band rehearses in Music Room C3.07 at Ivybridge Community College from 7.00pm to 8.30pm on alternate Mondays. You might be playing regularly, or you might be a bit rusty, but as a guide this would be suitable for any musician of about Grade 4 standard or above who can read music to a reasonable standard. The band is led by ex-Royal Marines Band musician, the fabulous Gordon Carter.

Email: swhitehorn@ivybridge.devon.sch.uk or gcarter@ivybridge.devon.sch.uk

Self Care September

{item_alt_tag}

The Erasmus+ Natural Schooling project (led by WeST Learning Institute) has successfully concluded, innovating curriculum delivery through outdoor learning with schools in the UK, Sweden, Spain and Italy.

Intellectual Outputs for the projects are now freely available to download: 

  • Intellectual Output 1:  the project handbook available here: https://naturalschooling.eu/erasmus-natural-schooling-curriculum-innovation-handbook-io1-english-language-version/
  • Intellectual Output 6: the project evaluation report written by TLI Academic Professional Josie Cuffe and advised by Sue Waite (honorary Associate Professor in Outdoor Learning at Plymouth Institute of Education & Jönköping University in Sweden who also evaluated the Wildlife Trust Nature Friendly Schools initiative) available here: https://naturalschooling.eu/erasmus-natural-schooling-evaluation-report-2023/
  • Intellectual Output 7: a Natural Schooling training program for teachers or those wishing to develop a Natural Schooling approach in their own settings, written by project lead and TLI Academic Professional Deborah Lambert, advised by Sue Waite available here: https://naturalschooling.eu/natural-schooling-training-program/

A limited number of handbooks are also available for WeST schools wishing to have their own hard copy.

For further details about the project and outdoor learning training provided by Arena Wild Tribe Outdoor Learning (part of WeST) please contact debbie.lambert@learninginstitute.co.uk 

{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}

Recruitment update:

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

Chaddlewood Primary School are looking for a friendly and approachable person to join their busy office as soon as possible as a School Office Administrator. As a point of contact for parents and visitors you must be personable, well organised and have an excellent telephone manner and communication skills. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 27 September 2023.

Eggbuckland Community College are seeking to appoint Casual Exam Invigilators. Successful candidates will support the exams administrators with the day-to-day operation of examination venues. Duties may include reading and/or scribing for students with special needs. For more information, please click here. 

 

Ivybridge Community College are looking to fill the following vacancies: 

Casual Examinations Invigilator - Hours of work are by negotiation, to cover examination sessions throughout the year. The 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.

Cover Supervisor - The post holder will be part of the Administrative Team, providing specific support to administer cover arrangements and also provide cover on a daily basis.  The Cover Supervisor will provide a high standard of support to assist with the smooth operation of the organisation. Closing date: 29 September 2023.

Deputy Principal - Ivybridge Community College is looking for an inspirational Deputy Principal who aspires to be a Principal in the future who will have held a senior position in a school, i.e. Deputy Principal/substantial and current experience as a senior leader in a secondary school. Closing date: 11 October 2023.

Literacy Teaching Assistant - The post holder will work under supervision and direction of the Senior Literacy Teaching Assistant, usually outside the classroom - working with students who need support to fill gaps in literacy and reading. Closing date: 22 September 2023. 

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

Oreston Community Academy currently have a vacancy for a Teaching Assistant to join their team KS2 team. Experience in working within a school is essential. We are primarily looking for an excellent practitioner who, has a hunger to improve, a strong teamwork ethic and who is adaptable. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 25 September 2023. 

Plymstock School are looking to fill the following vacancies: 

Attendance Manager - To manage and track student attendance data across the whole school. To work with other agencies and within school to ensure the academic success of all students related to their attendance. Closing date: 27 September 2023. 

Behaviour Manager - The post holder is responsible for the effective day-to-day organisation, coordination, supervision of students and support of the Reset and Internal Reflection rooms (CORE rooms). Closing date: 27 September 2023. 

Exams Assistant – Part-time (2 days a week) - Working under the direction of the Exams Manager, you will assist in the running of the Examinations and Assessment office to ensure that all examination processes are organised, co-ordinated and recorded in line with JCQ regulations. This role is part-time over two days a week. Closing date: 29 September 2023. 

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

Sherford Vale School are seeking to appoint a Teaching Assistant to work under the direct instruction of teaching/senior staff. The person appointed would
need the skills and qualities necessary to demonstrate - a secure level of understanding of SEND needs, (particularly ASD and Speech Language & Communication), Safeguarding policies and procedures, and consistently high levels of expectations of behaviour and learning, to join their team as soon as practicably possible. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 5 October 2023. 

South Dartmoor Community College are looking to fill the following vacancies: 

Cover Supervisor (PE) - More details can be found on the SDCC website. Closing date: 2 October 2023.

Teacher of Computing - You will join a passionate and dedicated team, and a Trust who is committed to providing professional development and opportunities for all colleagues. Closing date: 2 October 2023.

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: 2 October 2023.

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

Westcountry Schools Trust is seeking to recruit a Senior Procurement and Contracts Officer with significant and demonstrable experience of procurement and contract management across a broad range of environments: technology, finance, estates and human resources. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 22 September 2023.