I feel privileged to be able to visit our schools and see our staff and children in their classrooms engaged in learning. The sense of care, purpose and determination to ‘crack-on’ is tangible.

Thank you for all that you are doing to help us on our journey towards returning to a degree of normalcy.

I again signpost our continuing work on values and what it means to learn and work in WeST. As the opportunities present at school level, please do take the chance to contribute to the essential piece of work.

Best wishes, 

Rob Haring, CEO

Covid Update 

Lateral Flow Home Test Kits for everyone

Rapid Lateral Flow home testing kits are now available. With the new step in lockdown easing enabling people to socialise more, it is important that everyone stays cautious and regularly take the Rapid Lateral Flow tests to prevent a potential spread in COVID-19. Rapid Lateral Flow tests are free and can be collected from a number of locations across Plymouth including pharmacies and testing centres, as well as delivered directly to homes. To find a local test site go here. To order lateral flow test kits for at home please go here. Please do report your test result, even if it is negative. This can be done using the telephone number in the test kit instructions, or online. 

Hands. Face. Space. Fresh Air

It is important that we continue using the Hands. Face. Space message, with the addition of Fresh Air. Currently, six people or two households are allowed to meet outside. All non-essential retail, personal care, libraries and community centres, most outdoor attractions, indoor leisure including gyms and outdoor hospitality have also reopened. For the latest guidelines please go here. 

Covid Figures in the last seven days 

People who have been vaccinated with at least one dose in Plymouth (by age) 

 

Stress Tips

Faye McGuinness will be offering stress tips on Instagram with Victoria Hewett on the 27th April at 6pm. Please go here to join. 

P60 Update 

Staff members across WeST are reminded that P60 documents will be available for 2020/2021 from their school’s payroll provider alongside their monthly payslip records. The P60 document is an important personal record of your pay and tax, employees are encouraged to ensure they review / download / print / keep a copy safe for their personal records along with any tax credit claims or self-assessment returns. Across WeST we have three payroll providers who operate different types of online systems for staff to access their employment pay records. If you are unsure where/how you access your payslip records please speak to your local school administrator or contact the HR team on hr@westst.org.uk.

Staff Survey

Thank you to everyone who participated in the whole Trust staff survey last term!

Having reviewed the staff feedback we are now pleased to share the action plan and are working with school leadership teams on implementation.

You can access a copy of the action plan here.

The action plan draws upon the key themes of:

  • Staff Voice
  • Staff Wellbeing
  • ICT Provision
  • Pupil Wellbeing
  • Physical Environment/Health and Safety (including hygiene, PPE, social distancing, LFD Testing, etc)
  • School Improvement (including remote education and catch up)
  • Trust Development

You may recall from previous articles that we had a 40% response rate from 765 colleagues and around 900 comments to share feedback with the Executive Team and Senior Leaders. Analysis of the data informed the key themes of the action plan.

The full report from Feb 2021 staff survey can be found here. In addition school leadership teams have been provided with individual reports of their school feedback. 

Over coming weeks we will be sharing more details of the action plan implementation and activities so far.

National Gardening Week

Over the last year we have all learnt to appreciate where we live and the beauty that surrounds us. Many of us have rediscovered the importance of connecting with nature for our mental and physical wellbeing.

National Gardening Week is the nation's biggest celebration of gardening and raises awareness that gardening can improve the lives of so many people. 

There are countless ways to get your daily dose of Vitamin G. To help inspire you, The Royal Horticultural Society have created some simple, quick activities to connect you with the surrounding area around you, see how many you can tick off by going here. 

For more information on how gardening can boost your mental and physical health please go here.

Have you completed a Staff Status Declaration form recently?

For those of you who have completed a form for your school, college or business unit a big thankyou! 

If you have not completed a Staff Status Declaration form for your school, college or business unit since February please use the link to the refreshed form emailed to you recently by your school, college or business unit. Even if you don’t think your status has changed. It will help with their plans and inform safe systems of work.

If you cannot find the email with the link your school/HR administrator will be able to help.

Please then use the link again to provide an update each time your availability status changes.

Thank you for your help with this.

Recruitment update:

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

Plymstock School are looking for the following vacancies:

Deputy Headteacher – L21 – 25 (starting point negotiable) – From September 2021. Plymstock are seeking to appoint an outstanding and inspiring senior leader with a passion for the successful education and well-being of young people. Plymstock have an exciting opportunity for a Deputy Headteacher to embed a clear strategic vision for the synergy of curriculum design, teaching, learning and assessment to provide coherent and ambitious delivery across the school. Closing Date: 9am – Monday 10 May 2021. Interviews: Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 May 2021. 

Head of Geography – TLR1A – Required from September 2021. Due to the promotion of the current Head of Department to another school, Plymstock are seeking to appoint an inspiring and engaging Head of Geography, with a passion for the successful education and well-being of young people. Closing date: Tuesday 4 May 2021. Interview date: Week commencing Monday 10 May 2021. 

Teacher of Geography. Plymstock are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and engaging teacher of Geography. This position has become available due to the exciting opportunity a current member of staff has, to develop their travel and foreign experience through teaching abroad. Closing date: Tuesday 4 May 2021. Interview date: To be confirmed. 

Teacher of Physical Education – Fixed term until 31/8/2022 – From September 2021. Plymstock are seeking to appoint an inspirational and highly skilled professional with a passion for sport and physical activity and a desire to develop enrichment opportunities within PE. This vacancy has arisen due to a leadership secondment opportunity within our Trust. Closing Date: Tuesday 4 May 2021. Interview Date: Monday 10 May 2021. 

Teacher of Design and Technology – Required from September 2021. Plymstock are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and engaging teacher to join our Design and Technology Department. In addition to being a creative practitioner, you will have the commitment and energy to encourage all students to excel and aspire to attain their highest academic and personal goals. Closing date: Tuesday 4 May 2021. Interview date: Week commencing Monday 10 May 2021. 

Teacher of Art, Craft & Design - 0.5FTE – Required from September 2021. Plymstock are seeking to appoint an Art, Craft and Design teacher who clearly demonstrates a passion for their subject and will consistently strive to support all our students in fulfilling their potential. This new post has arisen due to a flexible working pattern being granted for the existing postholder.Closing Date: Friday 30 April 2021. Interview Date: Tuesday 11 May 2021. 

Teacher of English – Required from September 2021. Due to promotion, Plymstock are seeking to appoint a talented, dynamic and hardworking English teacher to join our thriving and well-resourced department from September 2021. Applications are welcomed from newly qualified teachers and experienced teachers.Closing date:  Thursday 29 April 2021. Interviews: Friday 7 May 2021. 

Teacher of Science (0.4FTE – Temporary until 31 August 2022) – Required from September 2021. Due to the promotion of one of our Science team to lead within our multi academy trust, Plymstock are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and engaging teacher of Science. Closing date: Tuesday 4 May 2021. Interview date: To be confirmed. 

Caretaker (multi-site) - required as soon as possible. Permanent – 37 hours per week x All year round (52 weeks) Grade C (SCP 5 - 7 ) £19,312 - £20,092. Plymstock are looking to recruit a Caretaker to join their Premises Team, undertaking maintenance tasks both reactive and planned, as directed by the Premises Manager. The successful candidate will undertake inspections of the school and resolve any findings as well as being responsible for security lockdown and opening of the school premises. Closing Date: 9am – Friday 30 April 2021. Interview Date: To be confirmed. 

Teacher of Mathematics plus TLR2A – Required from September 2021. Plymstock are looking for an enthusiastic and engaging Teacher of Mathematics, with a TLR2A for leading their Key Stage 5 offer. You will need to be an excellent teacher with a commitment and infectious passion for your subject. Closing date: Monday 10 May 2021. Interviews: Week commencing Monday 17 May 2021. 

For further information please visit Plymstock's website here. 

Chaddlewood Primary School would like to recruit a Primary Teacher for a full time position from September 2021. You will have the drive and enthusiasm to provide the best possible learning opportunities, inside and outside the classroom, for our children. If you can enrich our teaching team with enthusiasm, ideas and a passion for making children’s school experience exciting and challenging then we would welcome your application. Please visit our website here for further details and a downloadable application form. Closing date: Friday 30th April 2021 at 9am. Interviews will be held in the week beginning 17th May 2021. Chaddlewood is committed to safer recruitment of teachers and the welfare of our children. Any offer of a post is subject to excellent references and an enhanced DBS check.

Hele's School are looking for the following vacancies:

Head of Religious Studies and SMSC - MPS/UPS + TLR 1A for September 2021. An exciting opportunity exists for an exceptional candidate with the energy, creativity and commitment to lead our RS Department and whole school Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural programme at Hele’s School. Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the school for a tour. Please contact Karl Fonseca (Assistant Principal) via fonseca@heles.plymouth.sch.uk to arrange a visit. Closing Date: 9am, Thursday 6th May 2021. Interviews are scheduled for Tuesday 11th May 2021. 

Teacher of Computing and Maths – MPS/UPS. Required for September 2021. An exciting opportunity exists for an exceptional Computing teacher with energy, creativity and commitment to join our IT and Computing department. Hele's would particularly welcome applicants with additional experience of teaching Maths at Key Stage 3 and/or 4. 

Further information for both vacancies is available through the website here.

Boringdon Primary School are looking for a KS2 Classroom Teacher to start on the 1st September 2021. Full Time Permanent- Salary / Grade: MPS / UPS dependent on experience. Boringdon are looking to appoint a highly motivated, enthusiastic and inspiring class teacher to work in Key Stage 2.  The successful candidate will be able to work alongside colleagues to create an exciting learning environment where high expectations and standards enable all children to fulfil their potential. Further details including an application form are available from their website here or by emailing Mrs L Agnew, Business Manager at admin@boringdon.plymouth.sch.uk. Closing date: 9am on Wednesday 5th May 2021, short-listing and interviews will be week beginning 10th May 2021. Boringdon Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment.  The appointment is subject to enhanced DBS employment & suitability checks.

South Dartmoor Community College and the Atrium are looking for the following vacancies:

A highly organised, enthuastic and inspirational Year Leader. This is a full time, permanent position, with the year group to be determined on appointment. The successful candidate will work closely with the Directors of Key Stages and the Assistant Head teachers for Progress and Culture to ensure all students within their year group fulfil their potential. S/he will be a hard-working individual with high expectations and an unwavering determination to get the best for students. For more information and to apply for this post, please visit our website here. If you would like to discuss the position please contact Jen Veal, Executive Head teacher, (jveal@southdartmoor.devon.sch.uk). Completed applications should be submitted to Cleo Perry, PA to the Executive Head teacher (cperry@southdartmoor.devon.sch.uk). Closing Date: 21 May 2021. Interviews: 24 May 2021.

Teacher of English 0.6 (permanent from 01/09/2021)

Teacher of French & Spanish (temporary 1 year from 01/09/2021)

More information on the above vacancies will be available on the website soon. 

Coombe Dean School are looking for a part-time Teacher of Music and Drama to start in September 2021. This is an opportunity for an experienced music teacher or an ambitious NQT to join a vibrant and forward-looking teaching community – a place where success is built on positive relationships. Coombe Dean would welcome applications from Music teachers who love their subject and are committed to ensuring that all students experience learning that stretches and challenges in a way that enables them to achieve their very best. For more information, please go here. Closing date: 4th May 2021 09:00 AM. Coombe Dean School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Therefore, the successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

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