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Welcome back to the shorter than normal week.

Thank you for all that you have done to support the 10-day period of National Mourning and supporting the children in your care as the need arose.

It is with immense pride that I share the news of one of our very own former students playing a key role on Monday in the funeral precession. Jack Osborne, an ex-ICC and ex-CCC student represented the Royal Navy on Monday at the Queen's funeral. He was part of the Gun Carriage Crew, acting as a Brakeman. He and the Gun Crew conducted themselves with such honour and dignity.

We now celebrate the start of a new era and all of our usual comms and routines return to normal.

As we pursue our key priorities for school improvement I’m pleased to signpost that as of 13 September our collective attendance across all WeST primary schools was 96.9% and across WeST secondary schools 95.0%. It is vital that we maintain these levels of attendance.

I close this week's ‘Whistle’ by signposting two WeST headships that have just been advertised nationally in the TES, Oreston Community Academy and Yealmpton Primary School. Full details follow later in this ‘Whistle’ and on our website.

Best wishes, 

Rob Haring, CEO

Starter Experience Survey

Once again we would like to take this opportunity to welcome all our new starters to WeST. We hope you are beginning to settle in.

As part of the Trust aim of continual improvement, we would be interested to know about your experience of the selection process that led to your first day with us and your initial first couple of weeks.

We would therefore appreciate it if you would spend a few minutes completing the anonymous form that can be found here or via the QR code above by 2 October. Please also look out for an email with the link in if it is easier for you to access from there.

If you would like to discuss this or encounter any problems opening the form please contact the HR Team at hr@westst.org.uk or on 01752 891754 Ext 1765.

Free Wellbeing Webinar Sessions!

WeST are continuing to work alongside Able Futures to support staff wellbeing and are pleased to bring details of new free webinar sessions. Please click the following links to register your interest. If you are unable to access the live session, the registered participants will be provided with a recording of the information.

It's completely confidential to you as WeST will not be informed of any participant details.

We hope you find these sessions of interest and value as part of our ongoing commitment to developing a culture of wellbeing at work. Details of other resources are available on the staff portal.

Supporting Mental Health At Work

Monday 26 September – 2PM – 3PM

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2099177029314686477?source=Will

Work Life Balance

Monday 10 October – 2PM – 3PM

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4439526012100820240?source=will

Stress In The Workplace

Monday 14 November – 2PM – 3PM

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3682731059191190028?source=will

Feeling Better This Festive Season

Monday 5 December – 2PM – 3PM

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7137493350686773260?source=will

Free Mental Health First Aid (Youth) Training Working with SMART SKILLS 

FAA Award in First Aid for Youth Mental Health (Level 2 RQF/SCQF Level 5) - First Aid Awards

We can offer free places on the 6-hour Mental Health First Aid for Youth training. There are 16 places per course, which will run on each of the trust training days next year. Most courses will take place at Morley Meadow.

To sign-up for a place use the following forms:

• 31/10/22 - https://forms.office.com/r/6RzDh9jnsN

• 03/01/23 - https://forms.office.com/r/SdwfcH7QL6

• 20/02/23 - https://forms.office.com/r/L2wGygG3e7

• 17/04/22 - https://forms.office.com/r/3XT8hqbywx

Eyecare Voucher Request – Important Update

As a Trust, you will be aware that we offer Eye Care Vouchers to compensate qualifying staff for eye tests and glasses when needed for visual display unit use.

In June, Vision Express announced changes to their terms and conditions. As an employer, the decision has since been made to discontinue with the use of their eye care services. Therefore, Specsavers will be our only provider of Eye Care Vouchers.

The change to their terms and conditions will be effective from the 20 October 2022. After this date, you will not be able to use any pre-existing Vision Express vouchers, as they will not meet their new requirements.

We would like to encourage all staff with an unused Vision Express voucher, to redeem this at the earliest possible convenience to avoid passing up on this opportunity.

We have updated our guidance contained within the Eye Care Voucher FAQ Document to reflect this change.

If you have any queries relating to Eye Care Vouchers, please email the HR Inbox at HR@westst.org.uk. 

WeST continues to offer an employee assistance programme for all colleagues. As part of the service a range of free webinar sessions are available. Including:

‘Tips to save on energy bills’

Friday 23 September at 12pm

Recording available for those unable to attend live.

To register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5165127820770714384

Please go here for further details.

16 Sep 2022
Head Teacher at Yealmpton Primary School
Westcountry Schools Trust (WeST) is seeking to appoint an exceptional individual with vision, energy and inspirational leadership to the position of Head Teacher at Yealmpton Primary School.
Read more
16 Sep 2022
Head Teacher at Oreston Community Academy
Westcountry Schools Trust (WeST) is seeking to appoint an exceptional individual with vision, energy and inspirational leadership to the position of Head Teacher at Oreston Community Academy.
Read more

Ex England Rugby Player - Amy Garnett joins the Arena team !!!

A huge welcome to Amy Garnett. Amy was the first female Rugby player to achieve 100 caps for England playing for both England and Saracens rugby club. While Playing for England Amy achieved 8 Grand Slam Titles. Amy brings with her a vast range of coaching experience having played at the highest level as well as coaching for the Exeter Chiefs.  Amy joined us in the summer and has a vast range of experience in working with children having worked in a local primary and secondary school. Prior to this Amy worked in the metropolitan police in London for 15 years.

Amy will be coaching in some of our primary schools as well as supporting with events and competitions across the Arena Partnership and West Schools. Amy’s role will also involve working on Gifted and Talented programmes as well as promoting PE and School Sport across the partnership area.

Amy will be a great Ambassador for the partnership in raising aspirations for all areas of PE and School Sport. In her spare time, Amy enjoys spending family time outdoors. As well as looking after and exercising two dogs which include an amazing cockador puppy! 

We will keep you posted as Amy’s role develops within the partnership.

Postponed Teacher Trampoline Courses

Due to the Queen's funeral and the Bank Holiday on Monday 19 September, the Teacher Trampoline courses have all been postponed by a week. The courses will be held at Callington Community College, Cornwall PL17 7DR 0930-1530. If you still need to book click here BOOKING LINK

Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 September 2022 - Teachers Trampoline Part One Course - £300 per person

Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 September 2022 - Teachers Trampoline Part Two Course - £300 per person

Friday 30 September 2022 - Teachers Trampoline Refresher Course - £150 per person

The Teachers’ Trampoline Awards consist of two parts. Part One must be completed before progressing to Part Two. Part One and Part Two courses may run concurrently, consisting of a four-day delivery.

In order to be eligible to attend the Teachers’ Trampoline Awards, a candidate must be:

  • Specialist trained PE teacher, or
  • Trainee PE teacher (undertaking a PGCE, GTP or SCITT or in their 3rd/4th year of a QTS course); or
  • Teachers who are not PE specialists, but hold a current UKCC Level 2 (or higher) BG coaching award, or equivalent.
  • Teachers must provide their DfE or trainee PE teacher number on the first day of the course.
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Recruitment update:

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

Westcountry Schools Trust are seeking a number of Headteacher opportunities: 

  • Head Teacher for Oreston Community Academy
  • Headteacher for Yealmpton Primary School

For more information on the above vacancies, please go here. 

Westcountry Schools Trust is seeking to appoint an HR Administrator to support the HR provision of The Learning Institute and Arena Sports Partnership. The HR Administrator will be working in a fast-paced environment undertaking the full range of contractual administrative and payroll/pension-related tasks. For more information, please go here. Closing date: 12noon on Monday 3rd October 2022. 

Boringdon Primary School are looking for Teaching Assistants to work under the instruction/guidance of the teaching staff and SENDCo to undertake work/care/support programmes to enable access to learning and personal development for pupils and to assist the teacher in the management of pupils and in the management of the classroom. For more information, please go here. Closing date: 23 September 2022 9am. 

Chaddlewood Primary School would like to recruit an HLTA to its KS2 team. Chaddlewood is a school that is passionate about delivering an effective and engaging curriculum that meets the needs of their children and community and enables their children to meet their potential. For more information, please go here. Closing date: Wednesday 28 September. 

Coombe Dean School are looking for the following vacancies:

An exceptional Assistant Headteacher to join the Senior Leadership Team of five. This includes a Senior Deputy Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and two Assistant Headteachers. The specific roles and responsibilities of the successful candidate will be determined once appointed. For more information, please go here. Closing date: Friday 30 September 2022. 

An enthusiastic and inspirational Subject Leader. The successful candidate will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team and fellow Subject Leaders to deliver high quality lessons and opportunities to Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 students. For more information, please go here. Closing date: Friday 23 September 2022. 

Behaviour Support to work alongside the Behaviour Support Team and Progress Leader, within the Inclusion Team, with a focus on supporting students who are identified as having barriers to their learning and progress, mainly due to behavioural difficulties. For more information, please go here. Closing date: Friday 23 September 2022. 

Ivybridge Community College are looking for An exceptional individual into the position of Pastoral Leader. The Pastoral Leader roles are the first response for everyday pastoral concerns. They are required to lead and manage the delivery of pastoral support for an allocated Year Group. For more information, please go here. Closing date: 9am on Tuesday 27 September 2022. 

Morley Meadow Primary is seeking to appoint an inspirational, enthusiastic and highly motivated Deputy Headteacher to join their dedicated Senior Leadership Team, and support their continued drive for excellence in every aspect of school life. This will be an exciting opportunity for a current SENCo who is ready to take the next step in their career. The Deputy Head Teacher will be required to support the Head Teacher in the day-to day leadership of the school and continue to promote the high standards that were highlighted in our recent Ofsted inspection (January 2022). For more information, pleased go here. Closing date: 9am on Monday 3 October 2022. 

Plymstock School are looking for the following vacancies: 

A Cover Supervisor who will effectively manage the learning environment, including the behaviour and attitudes of students and where no cover duties are required, will undertake activities to assist teachers and support staff in the delivery of the curriculum. Closing date: 9am Monday 26 September 2022. 

A Sports Centre Leisure Assistant to assist the Sports Centre Manager in providing a safe, clean, friendly, customer focussed provision that enables the Sports Centre to be organised in an economic, efficient and effective manner. Closing date: 9am Monday 3 October 2022. 

For more information on the above vacancies, please go here. 

South Dartmoor Community College are looking for the following vacancies: 

Casual Exams Invigilators - The successful candidates will be hardworking, self-motivated and enjoy working in a team as well as under their own initiative. Previous experience within this area would be advantageous. You will be a committed and loyal individual; with high expectations and an unwavering determination to get the best for students. Closing date: Thursday 22 September 2022. 

A Finance Officer who will oversee purchase and sales ledger activity within the College and ensure that financial systems and processes comply with Trust regulations and achieve value for money. They will provide a specific support service across a broad range of financial activities ensuring confidentiality associated with financial support services is maintained. Closing date: Friday 30 September 2022 at 8.00 am. 

For more information on the above vacancies, please go here.