Dear Colleagues, 

As the autumn term gathers pace, and the mornings become more chilly, I’ve once again been reminded of the energy, expertise, and deep sense of moral purpose that define our WeST family. Each week, I continue to see colleagues across our schools striving to ensure every child thrives—and this week has been no exception.

On Tuesday 7th October, I attended the Department for Education’s Raising Attainment Conference at Sandy Park, Exeter. The event was attended by more than 200 delegates and featured a keynote address from the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson MP, who spoke powerfully about the national ambition to close the disadvantage gap and raise educational outcomes for all children.

The data shared during the conference served as a sobering reminder of the challenge before us. Nationally, children from disadvantaged backgrounds continue to lag significantly behind their non-disadvantaged peers, and outcomes for white working-class pupils remain particularly low. Perhaps the most striking statistic presented was the correlation between attainment and attendance: pupils with attendance of 95% or above are twice as likely to meet the expected standard in reading, writing, and mathematics compared to those with attendance closer to 90%.

This reinforces a clear message for all of us—attendance matters. It underpins not just academic success but also wellbeing, belonging, and future opportunity. The call from the Secretary of State was unambiguous: schools and trusts must double down on strategies to secure strong attendance. Within WeST, this remains a cornerstone priority, and I’m encouraged by the collective determination we continue to show in tackling this challenge head-on.

Fittingly, our week began with the Primary Attendance Network, where leaders reaffirmed attendance as a top priority across our trust. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to share best practice, explore data, and identify how we can better support pupils and families in overcoming barriers to regular attendance. Through collaboration, early intervention, and consistent messaging, we are building a culture where every child knows that being in school every day truly matters. My thanks to all who attended and continue to champion this vital work.

Tuesday also saw the successful delivery of our Year 2 Early Career Teacher (ECT) Conference, which brought together colleagues from across the trust for a day of collaboration, professional learning, and inspiration. The sessions, expertly led by Jo Turner and Matt Bennett, encouraged reflection, shared strategies, and celebrated progress. The energy and enthusiasm of our ECTs were palpable—an encouraging sign for the future of teaching within WeST. Investing in our early career colleagues remains one of the most powerful ways we can secure the long-term success of our schools.

In parallel, our Safer Recruitment Training session—led by Richard Woodland, Joss Davis, and Fiona Maclachlan-Morris—ensured that colleagues are fully equipped with the latest guidance and best practice in safeguarding and recruitment. Their knowledge, professionalism, and clarity made for an excellent, practical session that reinforced our collective commitment to keeping children safe in every aspect of school life.

Midweek, I joined colleagues at the Trust Leaders’ Conference, an inspiring event that brought together educational leaders from across the South West. The conference included thought-provoking sessions from Lucy Livings and Hannah Woodhouse, who both underscored the importance of collaboration—between trusts, local authorities, and communities—in improving life chances for young people. It was a powerful reminder that while each of our schools has its own identity, our greatest strength lies in the partnerships we forge and the values we share.

Finally, I want to take a moment to recognise our Year 11 students who are preparing for their forthcoming Autumn Series of mock examinations. This period represents an important milestone in their journey. Please join me in wishing them every success as they consolidate their learning, build confidence, and take the next step toward achieving their potential.

Thank you, as ever, for your ongoing commitment, teamwork, and care. The work we do each day truly makes a difference. Have a restful weekend when it arrives.

Best wishes, 

Rob Haring

CEO

World Mental Health Day takes place every year on 10 October. It’s a reminder of the importance of good mental health and the need to prioritise and invest in good mental health.

This year's theme is 'access to services - mental health in catastrophes and emergencies'. The theme highlights the importance of people being able to protect their mental health in times of global instability.

Feeling overwhelmed? You're not alone

This years World Mental Health Day, focuses on the mental health impact of repeated exposure to news coverage of crises and conflicts. 

The world is going through a tough time right now and even if you're not directly affected by events, it can still feel like a lot to cope with. It's okay to ask for help, no matter what you, or anyone else is going through. We may not have the power to influence or change everything we’d like to on a global scale. But there are things we can do to protect ourselves and others from feeling overwhelmed and hopeless in the face of current events.

Feeling Overwhelmed by Global News: What You Need to Know

In today’s world, we’re constantly exposed to upsetting news, whether it’s about conflict, climate change, or political issues. This can feel overwhelming and affect our mental health.

Thanks to smartphones and social media, we can access news 24/7. While staying informed is important, too much exposure can leave us feeling anxious, helpless, guilty, or emotionally drained.

This stress doesn’t just affect our emotions; it can also impact our body and mind. You might notice:

Mental signs like increased anxiety, trouble concentrating, low motivation, or memory problems.

Emotional signs like sadness, anger, or feeling “stuck”.

Physical signs like tiredness, aches, sleep problems, or digestive issues.

These reactions are normal when we’re under constant stress. It’s also common to feel guilty for switching off from the news, but taking breaks is important for your wellbeing.

Important Data Protection information - Action needed by all staff

Our email storage policy is changing. From January 2026, no email will be stored in Microsoft Outlook for longer than 2 years. This means that:

• All emails of 2 years old or more will be automatically deleted from Outlook on 6 January 2026.

• From then onwards, all emails will be automatically deleted from Outlook 2 years after you receive them.

All staff using Microsoft email need to back up essential emails and/or attachments that are needed long-term to an appropriate storage area (like OneDrive).

The deadline to complete this before the Christmas holiday is 18 December 2025. 

Any emails not backed-up outside of Outlook by then will be lost permanently.

Please click here to see our detailed guidance.

(For now, Callington and Chaddlewood staff using Google Mail rather than Microsoft are exempt, but this will apply when your email is transferred to Microsoft in the future. Separate Google Mail guidance will follow, but consider proactively backing up any important emails from now on.)

Please start thinking and acting on this as soon as possible! Once you have read the guidance linked above, if you are concerned or confused please book onto a support session using the form at the bottom of the guidance page.