Welcome to this week’s edition of the ‘Whistle’.
By the close of play this week, our GCSE examination series will have been, with the odd minor exception, finished, and our Year 1 children will have completed their Phonics Screening Check (PSC). Very well done to all!
On Tuesday, June 11, the Hub Advisory Board (HAB) Members visited Morley Meadow Primary School, one of the schools forming HAB 3, to find out more about the Opening Worlds Curriculum.
Children and staff volunteered to stay after the normal school day so that HAB
Members could see either the introduction of a History or Geography lesson, led by teachers Kirsty Huggins and Laura Thomas. They then spent time with the children sharing their knowledge and books in all three Opening World subjects (History, Geography and RE) as well as their writing books.
The HAB commented on how much knowledge the children had acquired in the first year of this curriculum and the huge impact on the quality and stamina of their writing. They also recognised how confidently the children used subject-specific vocabulary in discussing their learning.

Aspiring Leaders Programme: A Success Story
I am delighted to announce that the first cohort of delegates from the Aspiring Leaders Programme (ALP) have successfully completed their learning journey and were presented with their certificate of completion yesterday at WeST HQ.
The ALP is a bespoke leadership development programme designed for WeST staff who aspire to take on leadership roles in the future. The programme aims to equip them with the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead with impact and integrity.
The programme consists of conferences and workshops, each focusing on a different aspect of leadership, including self-awareness, leadership characteristics, communication, data to inform effective decision-making, culture, quality assurance at scale. The delegates also work on scenarios, applying their learning and creativity to propose solutions to leadership challenges. 
The feedback from the delegates and the WeST Training Institute team was overwhelmingly positive. The delegates praised the programme for being relevant, engaging and inspiring. Facilitators and guest speakers have been impressed by the enthusiasm and professionalism of the delegates.
I would like to congratulate all the delegates for their achievements and thank the programme facilitators for their support and guidance. I would also like to encourage anyone who is interested in joining the second cohort of the ALP, starting in September 2024, to register your interest as soon as possible. The ALP is a great opportunity to grow your potential and prepare for the next steps of your career. Contact adminWTI@westst.org.uk
Best wishes,
Rob Haring
CEO