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As we approach the final five teaching days before the Easter break, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the key school improvement priorities that we identified at the start of the academic year, and specifically attendance.

Our collective WeST primary school pupils attendance is 95.7% compared to the national primary school attendance of 94.6%, so we are a smidge in front of the national average. However, our WeST collective secondary pupil attendance stands at 90.75% with the secondary national average at 91.3%. If we ‘zoom-out’ and take a strategic view of attendance, we are significantly below where we were pre-Covid and that we hold strong concern over our secondary attendance.

It makes sense, then, that we hosted an Attendance Conference on Friday at Morley Meadow facilitated by Tom Bellwood from Chiltern Learning Trust. It was fantastic to see WeST colleagues join other SW colleagues to hear from and engage in workshops with Tom. Such collaboration, including beyond the SW region, will help us solve this stubborn problem. Thank you to everyone who attended and to Chiltern Learning Trust for their support.

I’ll take this opportunity to share that our collaborative work with North Cornwall Learning Trust continues and it has been super to see NCLT Headteachers begin to join our established networks. We are becoming increasingly confident that we will become one trust, with a thriving Cornwall Cluster, with effect from 1 June 2024. Exciting times.

In recent weeks, I’ve taken to the ‘Whistle’ to signpost a busy recruitment season and that our main platform for advertisement is MyNewTerm.

As previously indicated, Mr Alan Yendell is leaving Plymstock School at the end of this term to pursue new opportunities.

So, as we prepare to say farewell to Alan Yendell, I’m pleased to announce the next steps for Plymstock School. To ensure that Plymstock School continues on its upward trajectory, two appointments have been made to bolster leadership capacity and experience in the leadership Team. Mr Kevin Dyke will continue as Executive Headteacher with a strong degree of strategic oversight and responsibility for the school. Many of you will be aware of Mr Dykes proven and substantial leadership experience. Mr Stuart Koehler-Lewis has been appointed as Headteacher of Plymstock School and will assume this role from the start of the Summer Term. He will be the main point of contact for all pupils, parents and wider stakeholders and will assume responsibility for the day to day running of Plymstock School. Mr Dyke and Mr Koehler-Lewis have an excellent track record of working in tandem to great effect.

Finally, news of further sporting success. Last week we celebrated the achievements of ICC’s U18 boys rugby team. Today, I’m pleased to declare that Chaddlewood Primary School are the U11 Devon Games Netball champions, having successfully won a close fought final against Ermington Primary School – an all WeST final! Extremely well done to all.

Best wishes,

Rob Haring

CEO

Change to the National Insurance Rate 

The government has introduced a reduction to the rate of Class 1 National Insurance contributions from 10% to 8% from 6 April 2024; further information is available here.

We are working with our payroll provider to ensure staff will benefit from these changes in April's pay.

Neurodiversity week

This week marks Neurodiversity Celebration Week, a worldwide initiative working to transform the way neurodivergent people are perceived, and to recognise the many advantages and talents that come with neurodiversity. Though there are challenges that come with being neurodiverse in a world made for neurotypical people, neurodiversity brings advantages and talents which are often overlooked. According to the Neurodiversity Celebration Week website, approximately 15-20% of the population has a neurological difference.

In the Trust, one of our core values is compassion and we are working to promote wellbeing and improve outcomes by creating a sense of belonging for all our staff and to celebrate and cultivate diversity.

For further reading on neurodiversity and the benefits of having workplace cultural diversity, please see this week's article from Care First ‘Neurodiversity’.

WeST aims to promote a positive attitude towards menopause at work. As an employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive working environment for everyone. In light of which we are sharing key information and aim to increase awareness. Please take a few moments to watch a new video (3mins) from the Equality Human Rights Commission on menopause at work.

Please click on the following link: https://youtu.be/6HtTBqYPhCo 

In the coming weeks we hope to share more information and materials. However, if you would like to join our mail list for specific menopause at WeST updates please contact hr@westst.org.uk.

Sustainability and Climate Change

As the Estates Director, I have a passion for a sustainable future, it is not always easy to achieve but looking out for the future of our children is something we must do, be it with their education, to ensure they achieve their potential or to set them up for a life of adulthood. Hopefully one day many of them will be doing our jobs of the future. We must also ensure the planet is loved and cared for. WeST are on a journey to do our bit, working in line with the DFE and Government guidelines. 

The Government has set a target of Net Zero Carbon by 2050. This has been followed by the DFE paper called 'Sustainability and Climate change: A Strategy for the Education and Children Services Systems'. The DFE has stated a planned educational national park, of all school lands across England doing their bit to reduce carbon with a multi-tasked solution, such as reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, improving our building to reduce heat loss/gain and improving our biodiversity.

Three schools are already engaged with a pilot system of rewilding our schools and measuring our carbon output working with a student organisation. We already measure our carbon production from gas, electricity and vehicle use by the Streamlined Carbon and Energy Regulations (SCER). WeST are now developing our own policy and strategy to give direction and prioritise areas of work. We have engaged Coreus Group to help with the development of the policy/strategy. Initially, they require our assistance in data gathering, to understand our overall carbon impact which includes how our children travel to and from school.

Over the coming weeks we will have a couple of surveys for you to complete please, which will help and guide our policy/strategy going forward. The first survey details are below.

Mark Bullard

Director of Estates

TRAVEL SURVEY

WeST is happy to announce we are working in partnership with Coreus Group to develop and create a trust-wide sustainability strategy to cover all areas of sustainability as mentioned above.

As part of this process, we are engaging with all of our key stakeholders, you are a key components of this.

This short survey is to capture our collective commuter/travel habits, which will inform our carbon footprint calculations.

The survey itself is simple and will take around 2 minutes to complete, so please do ensure you take part. The data the team will gather from these is crucial to developing our carbon footprint, targets and ultimate net zero roadmap.

Please complete this survey before 29 March.

Click here to enter the survey - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NMM7NKK

Mindful March 2024

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Internal Vacancy: 

INTERNAL APPOINTMENT: Westcountry Schools Trust is seeking to appoint an exceptional individual with vision, energy and inspirational leadership to the position of Headteacher at Ermington Primary School. Part of the Headteacher's responsibilities will include leadership of SEND or some classroom teaching. This will be negotiated through a discussion with the successful candidate, depending on their experience and preference. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 16 April 2024.

Recruitment update:

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

Callington Community College is looking to appoint a Cover Supervisor. Callington require a passionate and inspirational Cover Supervisor to join their thriving team where the community is at the heart of everything they do. The successful candidate will oversee classes during the short-term absences of teaching staff. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 12 April 2024.  

 

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.

Cleaner - Eggbuckland is looking for an after school Cleaner to work as part of a team providing an efficient cleaning service for all parts of the College. Closing date: 14 April 2024.

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

Hele's School is looking to fill the following vacancies: 

Teacher of Maths - Hele's wish to appoint a dynamic classroom practitioner who will be an enthusiastic and influential role model for our students. You will be joining a passionate team of teachers who have a deep commitment to transform the lives and opportunities of every one of our students. Closing date: 17 April 2024.

Teacher of Maths - KS3 Coordinator - wish to appoint a dynamic classroom practitioner who is both an outstanding teacher and an enthusiastic and influential role model for our students.  The successful candidate will have a proven record of delivering excellent outcomes for students. Closing date: 15 April 2024.

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

Ivybridge Community College is looking to appoint Casual Examination Invigilators. 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. For more information, please click here. Closing date: On-going.

South Dartmoor Community College is looking to to appoint Exam Invigilators. South Dartmoor is seeking to appoint a number of Examination Invigilators. The successful candidates will be hardworking, self-motivated and enjoy working in a team as well as under their own initiative. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 14 April 2024.