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Welcome back to the start of the Summer Term (Terms 5 & 6)! I hope you had a restful and rejuvenating Easter break, filled with cherished moments with family and friends.

We return with optimism for the future and positivity about our work – our collective endeavours are bearing fruit!

The Spring Term concluded with all 19 primary schools in WeST judged as ‘Good’ or better by Ofsted, a remarkable achievement. Buckfastleigh Primary School and Manor Primary School were most recently inspected. This ensures that all 4700 primary-aged children in our care attend a ‘Good' or better school daily, reflecting our vision of ‘every child in a great school’.

As we navigate the weeks ahead, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to providing the highest quality education and support to our children. Let us draw inspiration from each other's dedication and resilience, knowing that together, we can achieve great things.

At the start of the academic year we agreed and shared some ambitious targets; 92% of our collective Year 1 cohort of children meeting the excepted standard in the Phonics Screening Check (PSC), 72% of Year 6 children achieving ‘ARE’ in the KS2 SAT’s and 53% of Year 11 pupils achieving a strong pass (9-5) in both English and Maths. These targets will look different at individual school level.

I am confident that with your unwavering dedication and passion for our children's well-being, we will make this term a successful one. Thank you for your continued hard work and commitment to our shared mission.

Here's to a fantastic Summer Term.

Best wishes,

Rob Haring

CEO

Stress Awareness Month

April marks Stress Awareness month and WeST would like to take the opportunity to highlight some materials available to you as valued colleagues. Stress can be personal or can be professional, however at times in our lives it is important to know what triggers and strategies may support us.

WeST continues to work with various providers, some tools to consider:

  • The staff portal contains a wealth of wellbeing information and resources.
  • Care First offering specialist information via webinars and wellbeing articles.
  • Check your stress container at MHFA
  • Consider the strategies from Able Futures

Below we have included some information for your refence and hope you find this beneficial.

Stress Container

MHFA provide a short online interactive tool to explore the items which fill our stress container, the unhelpful coping methods which may be blocking us, and the helpful coping methods which release our stress.

Visit the site to check your stress container: Click here

Care First

Stress can be a misused word. In our busy working day we often refer to the day to day working environment and all that it entails, as stress, when we actually mean pressure. We are under pressure to do our job well, to deliver on our commitments, to meet deadlines and to cope with the ever changing demands on us. This is normal within

the working environment and the working day.

We need a certain amount of pressure to energise and motivate us. It helps us get things done!

Stress is different from pressure. Stress is an on-going pressure that keeps building to a level where day to day work may become unmanageable. This can result in increased absenteeism which in turn may add pressure to those still working. When you feel you are struggling and under pressure, it is important to speak to your manager and explain how you are feeling, and together, look at ways of improving where possible, your working pattern, your planning and organisation.

There are many ways in which your manager can help and support you and so do speak with them and give them the opportunity to help.

Existing mental health issues can also become a source of stress in themselves, for example, those living with an anxiety disorder and/or depression can be more prone to stress as they try to manage their day to day conditions. Those who are perhaps more vulnerable are more likely to develop mental health issues and illnesses when high stress levels are present. So, given that, what can we do about it?

The key is to help people examine the factors that make them vulnerable and encouraging them to look for positive ways to change them.

Helpful coping strategies

  • Make time for yourself for positive experiences
  • Get enough rest
  • Talk to someone
  • Take exercise and get fresh air
  • Keep hydrated
  • Remember you are not alone
  • Be kind to yourself

All these things appear so simple, but when one feels overwhelmed it is difficult to see a clear way forward. There is one, we just need to believe that.

What might stop you from moving forward? Is it fear or uncertainty? Can you give it a name? It is okay to ask for help, and it is okay not to be okay!

Pressure is part of our usual everyday lives, but we need to manage our healthy levels of pressure effectively to prevent it having a detrimental impact on our wellbeing by turning in to stress. Stress is real and should not be ignored. It can however, “be managed”.

If you wish to contact the Care first telephone counselling and information line then please don’t hesitate to call, you can speak to a professional in confidence.

The Care First Lifestyle website has a section on stress. If you would like to learn more then please visit the Care First Lifestyle website:

Able Futures

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Sustainability and Climate Change

Before Easter, I wrote an article about how WeST are looking to develop a Sustainability and Climate Change Policy/Strategy. The article included a survey on your commuter/travel habits. In case you missed or forgot to participate in the survey, please see the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NMM7NKK

This week's survey is a MATERIALITY SURVEY 

A materiality survey is where you place in order the importance of various statements listed in the survey. 

We are now moving forward in setting our strategy and your views and opinions are important to us.

The survey itself is simple and will take around 3-4 minutes to complete, so please do ensure you take part. The data the team will gather from this survey is crucial in ensuring your views and options are heard and factored into our new strategic approach.

Please complete this survey before 3 May.

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

Mark Bullard 

Director of Estates

Active April 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: 

Teacher of Social Sciences (Maternity Cover) - Coombe Dean is looking to appoint an enthusiastic and inspirational Teacher. The successful candidate will deliver high quality lessons and opportunities to Post 16 students. The successful candidate will be a hard-working individual, passionate about Social Sciences. Closing date: 26 April 2024. 

Subject Leader of Maths - Coombe Dean is looking to appoint an experienced and well-qualified leader to the position of Subject Leader of Maths. The successful candidate will clearly demonstrate the ability to inspire, motivate and support colleagues and that they are an excellent curriculum thinker and classroom practitioner. Closing date: 22 April 2024.

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

Eggbuckland Community College is seeking to appoint 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. For more information, please click here. Closing date: On-going.

Hele's School is looking to appoint a Music Curriculum Lead. Hele's wish to appoint a dynamic classroom practitioner with the capacity to teach Music at KS3 and KS4, and also potentially at A-Level. They are seeking someone who is both an outstanding teacher and an enthusiastic and influential role model for their students. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 23 April 2024.

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.