Firstly, I hope everyone is settling back into the hustle-bustle of school life and successfully adjusting to the inevitable new routines and structures of the 2020-21 academic year. I am looking forward to visiting schools over the coming weeks to hear how things are going – socially distanced of course!
The spread of coronavirus is again at the top of every news-run. Our schools have carefully considered the health and safety of everyone as they planned for our full return and appropriate measures put in place. Our primary schools saw on average a near 96% attendance rate last week. This is testament to our children wanting to return to school and our parents having confidence in the systems we were establishing. As we see infection rates rise across the UK it is essential that we avoid complacency and all play our part in reducing the spread of coronavirus.
It is now crystal clear that we will, in one way or another, be faced with difficult situations and, despite the thoroughness of our planning, will have to deal with unforeseen circumstances.
Daunting and unsettling this may be, but we should draw confidence from our recent experiences and achievements. We also know this time will pass and that new horizons will emerge. We must hold on to the human characteristic of hope. I share the fable below as a suitable example:
“Two men are in prison. The gaze of one is drawn to the shiny, twinkling stars that bejewel the velvety firmament. As he takes in the beauty of this scene, he is filled with optimism and hope: There is something better beyond the bars! The other person focuses on the muddy ground surrounding the prison cells; nothing there encourages him and he becomes less and less optimistic. He is robbed of hope because of the direction of his gaze.”
Embracing the sense of looking forward I am pleased to signpost the recent advertisement for the post of Deputy Headteacher at Glen Park Primary School.
In a similar vein I am also delighted to share WeST’s Strategic Plan 2020-25 and ask that you take a moment to read it when you get the chance. Whilst celebrating our values and beliefs it also outlines the ambition we hold for our collective children and identifies our five key themes of activity for improvement.
Best wishes,
Rob Haring – CEO
This weeks' update is from Oreston School where we delivered two significant projects. The Studio has been transformed with new kitchen and toilet facilities for before and after school clubs. This will strengthen the school's position in terms of their Ofsted inspection.
Further works included changing the enclosed boy/girl toilets for KS1 to open plan, unisex toilets and increasing the number of cubicles. Our teams were faced with many challenges during the works. In particular, in completing works to the toilet blocks, materials turned up less than 48 hours before children were due to return to school as a result of a factory being closed for business. We also had an underground drain fail. Consequently, our teams had to dismantle the concrete floor and undertake a repair in the last week of the holidays.
partners with BlueSky Education to provide online software to support you in managing the whole of your continuing professional development. The evidence you add to BlueSky builds your online portfolio and supports you to monitor your strengths and development needs in preparation for appraisal conversations. This allows you to take responsibility of your personal performance and contribution. In addition, understand how this supports the Trust’s and your school’s or business unit’s improvement strategies and plans. 
As you are aware from our previous article back in July, WeST have been exploring the possibility of working with the provider Cyclescheme to offer Trust employees the opportunity to benefit from a Cycle to Work scheme. Please click on this link for some 
Further information about the scheme is available on the Cyclescheme 
