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Welcome back to Term 4.

As we have reached the halfway point of the academic year, it is worth taking a moment to reflect on a few of the reasons as to why we can look forward with unwarranted optimism. Whilst we have experienced varying degrees of challenge at differing times through Terms 1-3, we have enjoyed much of which we can rightly be proud.

First. Our mutual determination to succeed and support each other, bound by a common purpose. As a collective team serving 14k children, our resolve strengthens daily.  We have a terrific team of well qualified professional colleagues who are united in pursuit of improving the life chances of the children in our care. In doing so, our children will be better placed to impact positively on society!

Second. External validation of our work, through the lens of Ofsted, continues to endorse our endeavour and approach. We have hosted another two Section 5 (graded) inspections and both have gone well being judged ‘Good’. It is with immense pride that we can now state that our near 5k primary aged children attend a good school every day. All 19 of our primary schools are currently deemed by the inspectorate as Good. Terrific!

Third. Attendance of our primary pupils is in line with national averages at 95.8%. Secondary attendance is 90.8%, a thin margin behind national average. However, we have an experienced, skilled and determined team of staff working to improve our levels of attendance.

Fourth. Colleagues, through a combination of formative and summative assessments, are indicating that we are well paced to achieve our ambitious targets of 92% at PSC and 72% at KS2 RWM. Both of these figures are likely to be well in excess of national average performance. These figures represent the WeST cohort; 610 children in Year 1 and 708 children in Year 6. Figures at an individual school level will vary due to context and circumstance, but taken as a whole, our children are well placed. At KS4, our GCSE performance is excepted to experience a significant uptick in outcomes, especially Basics (9-5)%.

Fifth. Four of our primary schools have received letters of recognition from Rt Hon Damiam Hinds MP, Minister for Schools.

So, we can look forward to Terms 4-6 with confidence and knowing that we are moving the ‘needle to the right’ on the dial of success.

Growth.

Our partnership with North Cornwall Learning Trust (NCLT) continues to mature. We are hopeful of these five schools formally joining our family of schools and forming a Cornwall Cluster on 1 June 2024.

Recruitment

As mentioned at the end of Term 3, we have now entered a busy period of recruitment with a variety of posts available across our school. MyNewTerm is our main platform for advertising our opportunities.

I can’t sign off without recognising and thanking everyone for their contribution to such  a successful INSET on Monday 19 February. In secondary, schools, at a local level, hosted a range of different meetings and activities. Our primary phase came together for a central conference with the theme of considering inclusion through a multiple lens.

Best wishes,

Rob Haring

CEO

Care First 

Both self-esteem and kindness play integral roles in shaping our mental health and well-being. Positive self-esteem acts as a foundation for individual resilience, confidence, and healthy relationships, while kindness creates a ripple effect of positive emotions, contributing to improved mood, reduced stress, and enhanced overall mental health. Embracing both self-esteem and kindness as essential components of daily life can lead to a more fulfilling and positive existence. 

If you would like to find out more, please see this week’s wellbeing article ‘Self Esteem and Kindness’ from Care First. Further information and wellbeing articles are available to you on the Staff Portal.

At Westcountry Schools Trust we are committed to ensuring that all employees enjoy a healthy work culture with access to responsive and quality advice, support and wellbeing services.

Research shows that people who talk about money:

· Make better and less risky financial decisions

· Have stronger personal relationships

· Help their children form good money habits for life

· Feel less stressed or anxious and more in control

The Money Helper website from the Money and Pensions Service has a huge range of information, tools, and guidance about all aspects of money.

If you would like free, independent and impartial guidance on a range of  money and pensions topics, please visit the website where helpful guides are available.

Topics include:

· Budgeting guidance

· Help managing debt

· How to save money on household bills

· Insurance

· Savings

· Pensions

· Protecting yourself from fraudsters

· Money problems and poor mental wellbeing

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Friendly February 2024

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Recruitment update:

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

Coombe Dean School is seeking to fill the following vacancies: 

Cover and Behaviour Inclusion Supervisor (Maternity Cover) - Coombe Dean is 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. Closing date: 1 March 2024.

Cover and Behaviour Inclusion Supervisor - Coombe Dean is 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. Closing date: 1 March 2024.

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

Eggbuckland Community College is seeking to fill the following vacancies:

Casual Examination 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. Closing date: On-going.

Curriculum Team Leader for Religious Studies - Eggbuckland is looking for a Curriculum Team Leader that will be responsible for the leadership and development of Religious Studies throughout the school, ensuring that each student is positively encouraged to develop their planned potential to the full through a well-planned and carefully sequenced curriculum. Closing date: 11 March 2024. 

Teacher of Design and Technology - Eggbuckland is looking for a qualified teacher with great drive, determination and that has the ability to inspire students and further raise attainment in Design Technology and Engineering. Closing date: 25 February 2024.

Exams Manager - The successful candidate will be responsible for providing a professional, efficient, and highly effective exams system in accordance with set policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation, whilst maintaining high standards and confidentiality at all times. Closing date: 1 March 2024.

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

Hele's School is looking to appoint Exam Invigilators. Hele's is seeking reliable invigilators for both their internal/external exam series throughout the academic year. This is an interesting and challenging role in the school environment, and applicant’s availability must be flexible to accommodate. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 1 March 2024. 

Ivybridge Community College is looking to fill the following vacancies: 

Casual Examination 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. A full day, morning (start 8.30am) and afternoon sessions are offered. Closing date: On-going.

Minibus Driver- Ivybridge is looking to appoint an exceptional individual to the position of Minibus Driver. The post holder will be a member of support staff, transporting students and conducting themselves in a professional and knowledgeable manner. Closing date: 1 March 2024.

Finance Assistant - Ivybridge is seeking to appoint a part-time Finance Asssitant to support the accurate processing of financial information and ensuring systems and processes comply with the Trust regulations. Closing date: 26 February 2024.

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

Plymstock School is looking to fill the following vacancies: 

Office Apprentice - Plymstock are looking to appoint an Apprentice Office Administrator who will have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of departments across the school to gain a range of knowledge and skills. Closing date: 26 February 2024. 

Art Technician - Plymstock are seeking an enthusiastic and talented technician to join the Art Department team. The successful candidate will ensure resources are ready and available, assist in lessons, giving technical demonstrations as required and ensure that the equipment used with the Department is well maintained. Closing date: 26 February 2024.

Personal Assistant to the Headteacher - Plymstock is seeking a highly organised and efficient Personal Assistant to the Headteacher, who will undertake a full range of secretarial and administrative duties to ensure the smooth running of the of the Headteacher's office. Closing date: 26 February 2024.

Cover Supervisor - Plymstock are seeking an enthusiastic, energetic and committed individual who shares their mission of supporting students to achieve their very best. The successful candidate will enable the provision of learning to continue in the absence of the teacher, by utilising pre-prepared lesson plans. Closing date: 6 March 2024.

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

Westcountry Schools Trust is seeking to fill the following vacancies: 

Headteacher at Ermington Primary School - Westcountry Schools Trust is seeking to appoint an exceptional individual with vision, energy and inspirational leadership. The role will require collaboration within and beyond Westcountry Schools Trust and a close working relationship with the Director of Education. The Headteacher will be accountable through our governance structure and to the Director of Education on behalf of Westcountry Schools Trust. Closing date: 8 March 2024.

Director of Education (Secondary) - Westcountry Schools Trust (WeST) is seeking to appoint an exceptional individual with vision, energy and inspirational leadership. The key purpose of the Director of Education is to effect consistent improvement across WeST Schools in order to secure the very best outcomes for children. The successful applicant must have a proven track record of success in improving standards and is likely to have served as a successful Headteacher themselves. Closing date: 8 March 2024.

Deputy Trust Finance Manager - WeST is seeking an exceptional finance individual to join its central Finance team working across its schools. The successful applicant must have a recognised professional accountancy qualification (at least AAT level 3 or equivalent) and have experience of working in a busy finance office administering and maintaining financial systems and related transactional processing including the purchase ledger. Closing date: 11 March 2024.

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