Westcountry Schools Trust Parent Portal

Dear Colleagues,

As another eventful week comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible teamwork, collaboration, and shared commitment that continue to drive our progress. Across WeST, our collective efforts are making a tangible difference in shaping the future of the children in our care.

On Monday, we hosted the fifth and final SW100 Cohort Selection Day at WeST HQ—an inspiring milestone in our mission to close the disadvantage gap across Devon and Cornwall. This programme is not just about selecting future Headteachers; it’s about cultivating leaders who will bring vision, innovation, and inclusivity into our schools. The candidates who participated showed remarkable dedication, and the welcoming, professional environment created by our hosting team set the tone for a day of learning, reflection, and growth. It was fantastic to see the strong partnership between Reach Foundation, Education South West, Ted Wragg Trust, Cornwall Education Learning Trust, Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust, Kernow Learning Trust, Leading Schools South West and Turo and Penwith Academy Trust—demonstrating that, when we work together, we can drive meaningful change.

On Tuesday, collaboration was again at the forefront as we held our Primary Science Lead session. Science leaders from across WeST came together to explore how to adapt their teaching methods to better support the diverse needs of all learners. A key focus was ensuring that SEND students have greater access to practical work through personalised strategies, multisensory approaches, and specialised equipment. The session also delved into Ofsted framework changes, self-evaluation tools, and using data loggers effectively. The rich discussion and shared expertise in the room reaffirmed that the best ideas emerge when we bring educators together to learn from each other.

On Friday, our Premises Staff Meeting provided another vital example of the power of teamwork. The session covered a comprehensive range of topics essential to maintaining safe and compliant learning environments. Discussions including water safety management, fire door checks, kilns and printer usage, hazard perception, and health and safety updates. The team also reviewed the capital change form process and preparations for the SCA programme for 2025/26. A particular highlight was the emphasis on risk assessment and proactive compliance, ensuring that every school in WeST remains a safe and supportive space for students and staff. A huge thank you to all our Premises Team members—your diligence and expertise often work behind the scenes, but they are absolutely vital to our success.

What ties all of these events together is collaboration. Whether it’s developing future leaders, enhancing teaching practices, or ensuring the safety of our schools, the strength of WeST lies in the collective expertise, shared learning, and unwavering dedication of our teams. Every success we achieve is because of the way we work together, support one another, and remain focused on delivering the best possible outcomes for our children.

Thank you all for your continued commitment, your passion, and your teamwork. Together, we will keep striving for excellence and making a difference.

Best wishes,

Rob Haring

CEO

WeST Sustainability Strategy

In 2023, the DfE launched its Sustainability and Climate Change strategy for education and children services. Part of the requirement was for all trusts to develop and implement their strategy and to meet the target of the UK reaching net-zero by 2050 for carbon emissions. For the link to the DfE strategy, please click here.

WeST is excited to fully support the DFE strategy, which is very good and helpful. It has been realised that by combining the land and buildings of over 22,000 schools across England, together we can have a tremendous and positive impact on the climate. However, if we do not change our ways, we can equally have a negative impact. I am thrilled to share the link to the WeST sustainability Strategy for you to review. Please click here.

The highlights from the strategy that I would like to bring to your attention are as follows:

WeST have worked with an external consultant to help develop our strategy to ensure we secure the specialist skills required. In order to develop a full understanding of views across WeST, we undertook a survey of staff, parents and secondary school children. We had an amazing response from our children, showing their incredible passion and commitment to sustainability.
We have ensured that our strategy aligns with our values and strategic objectives for the next 5 years whilst considering our social and environmental responsibilities and our governance and implementation of the strategy to ensure the long term success. We already report annually on our carbon footprint of direct fuels used such as gas (known as scope one) and purchased electricity (known as scope 2). This is known as Streamlined Carbon and Energy Reporting (SCER). The strategy goes further in understanding our full carbon impact on items such as travel to and from work, business travel, third-party suppliers (known as scope 3), such as catering, paper for photocopiers, the purchase of books for our children. Recycling of waste, single-use plastics. Many of these things we are familiar with in our daily lives. Scope 3 accounts for 77% of our carbon emissions

The strategy focusses on key areas such as infrastructure (our buildings and grounds being part of this), operations and supply chain. Engagement and governance are key, ensuring we all understand our roles and what we should do to make a difference to ensure the strategy is delivered effectively. Finally, we have set ourselves commitments, because there is no one solution but a collaboration of tasks that will lead us to meet our net-zero carbon position by 2046. Our next phase is currently in progress of developing a carbon action plan for WeST.

WeST have been very fortunate in that we have secured a significant grant from the DfE. This is the first phase of many and will help us better understand our estate and prioritise higher carbon-generating schools. I ask that you read the strategy that will not take long but affects every single one of us. I will provide further updates throughout the year. Your positive involvement and support will help to ensure the success of this strategy.

Thank you,

Mark Bullard

Director of Estates

SW100

Word Of The Week!

WeST Sustainability Strategy

Mindful March

Internal Primary Headteacher Vacancies

Recruitment update:

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