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I open this week's ‘Whistle’ with a quick look to our mission, vision and values.

In particular, I want to take a moment to consider our collective vision – ‘every child in a great school’. We know what this means to us, but it is always pleasing to see our work validated and shared with a wider audience. Many of you have successfully contributed to my next point. In a ten week period since January, we have hosted eight separate Ofsted inspections. Importantly, all have demonstrated that the children on roll at our schools are safe, well cared for, and are exposed to an ambitious curriculum offer – key ingredients for enabling our children to thrive.

I close by wishing all of our Year 11, 12 and 13 students every success in their examinations.

Best wishes

Rob Haring, CEO

Staff Survey Summer 2023

We are pleased to announce that the staff survey will open on

Monday 22 May 2023!

The survey will offer you the opportunity to share your views and continue shaping the Trust.

We hope to continue building upon the feedback from the previous survey in shaping the Trust ethos and culture. Several key themes were recognised in the previous survey including: communication, behaviour management, wellbeing and training/development and many positive actions have taken place as a result of this feedback.

Details on how to complete the staff survey will be communicated to you on Monday 22 May and in future editions of the Whistle.

Modern Slavery Statement of WeST

You may recall that WeST has a statement on Modern Slavery. The full statement is available on the public website (click here) and sets out our commitment to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking. This forms part of the Trust’s responsibilities under Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Modern Slavery is a serious and often hidden crime in which people are exploited for criminal gain. The impact can be devastating for the victims. Modern slavery comprises slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour and human trafficking. In addition a range of resources and information in available from Gov.UK – click here.

The WeST Modern Slavery Statement focuses on key areas that as a Trust we can ensure best practice, including:

  • Due diligence in our supply chains
  • Due diligence as an employer
  • Training and Policies

Please take moment to review the statement and consider the impact in daily operations you are involved in. If you would like to discuss further, please liaise with the HR Team directly on email: hr@westst.org.uk.

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 by 5 June. 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 3932.

NATURAL SCHOOLING – LEARNING IN, ABOUT AND THROUGH NATURE 

We would like to raise awareness of a free event to be held at the Eden Project on 21 July which may be of interest to WeST colleagues. 

This is a free dissemination event to share the results of our interprofessional Erasmus Plus project pilot.

The Erasmus+ funded project, entitled ‘Natural Schooling; using curriculum innovation projects to improve student outcomes, wellbeing and health’ has been a collaboration of school organisations from Italy, Spain, Sweden and England delivered in schools (ranging from KS2 to Post16) and led by (WeST Learning Institute).  

The partners include mainstream primary and secondary ages, special education and alternative provision schools. The partnership also includes organisations with varying experience in outdoor learning, with some settings with established practice and others that are very new to these approaches.  

The website associated with the project (which was also one of the outputs) can be found here: https://naturalschooling.eu 

The evaluation of the project has been advised by Karen Barfod (research leader, VIA OUT, senior lecturer and VIA UC, Denmark) and Sue Waite, honorary research fellow Plymouth University, who led the Natural Connections Demonstration project (Defra / Plymouth University, 2012-2016).

Event details:  

Target audience: teachers, outdoor lead teachers, Sustainability and Climate Change strategy lead teachers, senior leadership (schools), education establishment, other interested parties wishing to innovate curriculum delivery to support aspiration, engagement, mental health and wellbeing.  

When: Friday 21 July 2023 9.00-3.30 (buffet lunch included) 

Where: The Seed and Pod rooms, The Core Building, The Eden Project 

Supported by guest speakers, we will share what we have learned, provide all attendees with a copy of the project handbook and sign post everyone to other freely available materials, such as lesson plans, training materials and further research. 

Places are limited for this event. To find out more about the event and to book your free place, use this link:  

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/natural-schooling-an-event-to-share-the-results-of-our-erasmus-project-tickets-633298291237

We look forward to seeing you at this free event, to share with you how schools have developed their curriculums through natural schooling.  

Meaningful May

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Training Opportunites 

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

An accredited two-day, interactive training that prepares caregivers to provide suicide first aid interventions.

Suitable for people who work or volunteer with children and young people.

What will you learn as an ASIST trained first aid caregiver? After taking ASIST, you will be better able to:

  • Be suicide alert - identify people who have thoughts of suicide
  • Understand the reasons behind thoughts of suicide and the reasons for living
  • Access risk and safety - develop a plan to increase the safety of the person at risk of suicide
  • Recognise invitations for help
  • Recognise potential barriers of seeking help
  • Offer support – recognise other important aspects of suicide prevention including life promotion and self-care
  • Effectively apply a suicide intervention model
  • Link people with community resources

This course is being delivered over two full days between 9am-5pm and participants must attend both days.

Anyone 16 or older (despite previous training) can learn and use the ASIST model. No previous mental health or suicide prevention experience is necessary. Suitable for people who work or volunteer with children and young people.

Face to Face Training Dates:

Dates: Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 May 2023

Times: 9am – 5pm both days

Venue: Printworks Tavistock, Kingdon House Community Association, Pym Street, Tavistock, PL19 0AW.

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/601368327857

Dates: Tuesday 27 June and Wednesday 28 June 2023

Times: 9am – 5pm both days

Venue: Yealmpton Community Association, Yealmpton Community Centre, Stray Park, Yealmpton, Plymouth, PL8 2HF.

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/601493622617

Dates: Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 August 2023

Times: 9am – 5pm both days

Venue: Printworks Tavistock, Kingdon House Community Association, Pym Street, Tavistock, PL19 0AW.

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/601495909457

Dates: Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 September 2023

Times: 9am – 5pm both days

Venue: Yealmpton Community Association, Yealmpton Community Centre, Stray Park, Yealmpton, Plymouth, PL8 2HF.

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/601496832217

Dates: Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 November 2023

Times: 9am – 5pm both days

Venue: Lee Moor Public Hall, Lee Moor, Plymouth, PL7 5RJ.

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/609476599917

Mental Health First Aid (Online)

MHFA provides knowledge and skills at a level for any adult member of the public who wishes to give initial first aid.

Suitable for people who work or volunteer with children and young people. Open to all the community (16 years and above).

Train as a Mental Health First Aider (MHFAider®) and gain the benefit of joining England’s largest community of trained MHFAiders®, receive three years of ongoing learning support and benefits.

Covering the main diagnosis- Anxiety, Suicide, Depression and Psychosis. Includes a mix of media, group work and skill learning. This course is ideal for those who would like to become a MHFAider® to:

  • Encourage self-care, giving you the tools to look after your own and others' mental health
  • Gain the knowledge and skills to spot signs of people experiencing poor mental health
  • Be confident starting a conversation and signpost a person to appropriate support
  • Promotes early intervention and faster recovery, which can prevent an individual's mental health deteriorating
  • Awareness of how mental health impacts the workplace; skills to empower people to thrive in the workplace.

This training will be delivered in person by trainer Jacqui Bamford.

The training will be delivered over four morning sessions, 9:00-13:00pm. By signing up you are able to attend ALL four sessions for your selected course.

Please register your interest here and you will be contacted with a booking form and the necessary joining instructions.

Online Training Dates:

Dates: Monday 31 July, Wednesday 2, Monday 14 and Wednesday 16 August

Times: 9am – 1pm

Register your interest here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/610951200487

Dates: Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15, Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 November

Times: 9am – 1pm

Register your interest here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/610964871377

Mental Health First Aid (Face to Face)

MHFA provides knowledge and skills at a level for any adult member of the public who wishes to give initial first aid or assistance.

Suitable for people who work or volunteer with children and young people. Open to all the community (16 years and above).

Train as a Mental Health First Aider (MHFAider®) and gain the benefit of joining England’s largest community of trained MHFAiders®, receive three years of ongoing learning support and benefits.

Covering the main diagnosis- Anxiety, Suicide, Depression and Psychosis. Includes a mix of media, group work and skill learning. This course is ideal for those who would like to become a MHFAider® to:

  • Encourage self-care, giving you the tools to look after your own and others' mental health
  • Gain the knowledge and skills to spot signs of people experiencing poor mental health
  • Be confident starting a conversation and signpost a person to appropriate support
  • Promotes early intervention and faster recovery, which can prevent an individual's mental health deteriorating
  • Awareness of how mental health impacts the workplace; skills to empower people to thrive in the workplace.

This training will be delivered in person by trainer Jacqui Bamford.

The training will be delivered over two days from 9:00-5:00pm. By signing up you are committing to attend both days for your selected course.

Please register your interest here and we will contact you with a booking form and the necessary joining instructions.

The face to face MHFA courses below are 2 full days and both days must be attended to completed the course

Face to Face Training Dates:

Dates: Monday 10 and Monday 24 July 2023

Times: 9am – 5pm both days

Venue: Lee Moor Public Hall, Lee Moor, Plymouth, PL7 5RJ.

Register your interest here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/611079724907

Dates: Wednesday 6 September and Wednesday 13 September 2023

Times: 9am – 5pm both days

Venue: Printworks Tavistock, Kingdon House Community Association, Pym Street, Tavistock, PL19 0AW.

Register your interest here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/61113502029

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Venue: Withycombe Raleigh C of E School Exmouth

Course dates: Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 May 2023

BOOK

Venue: STERTS, Upton Cross

Course dates: Tuesday 13 & Wednesday 14 June 2023

BOOK

Venue: St Petrocs Primary School, Bodmin

Course dates: Wednesday 21 & Thursday 22 June 2023

BOOK

Venue: Chudleigh Primary School

Course dates: Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 June 2023

BOOK

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Internal Vacancy

Subject Community Lead (SCL) - PE

We are looking for a subject representative for PE from across the seven secondary schools to work with the WesT School Improvement (SI) team and help shape the work of the trust.

This post is a fixed term contract, September 2023 to August 2024, attracting a TLR3 payment, and is in addition to your current teaching commitment in schools. However, there will be some release time to support this work. You will have the full support of your school leadership team and will be linked with one of our Executive Directors of Subject (EDoS) from the SI team to support you in this work as well working alongside a second SCL for PE.

We are looking for an excellent classroom practitioner with a proven record of expertise and success in their chosen subject field. Teachers who want to or who already currently engage fully with their subject communities at local, regional and/or national level. Teachers who want to drive continuous improvement across our schools and help us to achieve our WeST aim of ‘stronger together, with every child in a great school’.

So, if you would like to…

  • shape the future of WeST
  • create and curate a community of practice to support subject and teacher expertise
  • lead subject curriculum conversations which harness and develop the expertise that resides in the trust
  • help develop common assessment and subject alignment beyond EBacc
  • engage fully with your subject community at every level
  • utilise the best that has been thought so that our curriculum work acts as a strong lever for social justice
  • ensure that all children and young people benefit from our curriculum development work regardless of ability, background or starting point

…then this is a great opportunity for you!

Should you require more information please discuss with your head teacher in the first instance.

Expressions of interest (no more than 300 words) outlining the skills and expertise that make you right for the relevant post to be sent to Chris Dickson, cdickson@westst.org.uk by 9.00am on Monday 5 June 2023. Please ensure that you have spoken with your headteacher before submitting your interest.  Interviews will take place during the week beginning 12 June 2023.

Recruitment update:

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

Coombe Dean School are looking to fill the following vacancies:

Apprentice Science Technician - The successful candidate will support the school's Science department in the delivery of high-quality practical Science. All training will be provided by City College Plymouth in collaboration with the employer themselves throughout the duration of the apprenticeship. Closing date: 19 May 2023. 

Teaching Assistant - You will be the adult keyworker for a Year 8 student, supporting their learning both within and outside the classroom and during unstructured times to support the development of their social skills. Closing date: 5 June 2023.

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

Eggbuckland Commuity College are looking to fill the following vacancies:

Inclusion Support Administrator - The successful candidate will consistently promote a positive learning environment which sets high standards with regards to behaviour, welfare and attendance. The individual will support the Inclusion Manager in promoting/supporting good behaviour attendance and student welfare. Closing date: 22 May 2023. 

Pastoral Support Manager - The successful candidate will be enthusiastic, reliable, adaptable and an appropriately skilled individual, who is passionate about supporting the pastoral care (and therefore the academic progress) of all our young people. Closing date: 26 May 2023. 

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

Hele's School are looking to fill the following vacancies:

Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages - The successful candidate will have a proven record of delivering excellent outcomes for students. This post represents a fantastic opportunity for the successful applicant to play a role in their school improvement journey and their quest for excellence in every measure. Closing date: 19 May 2023. 

Teacher of Technology - Hele's School wish to appoint a dynamic classroom practitioner with the capacity to teach Technology exam courses to KS4 and KS5. Hele's School are seeking someone who is both an outstanding teacher and an enthusiastic and influential role model for their students. Closing date: 22 May 2023. 

Premises Caretaker - Hele's School are looking for an enthusiastic, reliable, adaptable and appropriately skilled individual to join the team who provide repairs and maintenance services throughout the School site. Closing date: 26 May 2023. 

Cleaning Supervisor - The post holder is expected to be sympathetic towards the busy demands of the school, having a flexible attitude and being able to re-adjust work schedules around after school events, including cover for staff absence. Closing date: 23 May 2023.

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

Holbeton Primary School require an excellent classroom practitioner for their Year1/2 class. ECTs and experienced teachers are welcome to apply. You will need to be inspirational and reflective, show initiative, creativity and demonstrate the aptitude to work as part of a successful team of practitioners to improve the life chances of their pupils and make every child feel ‘special’. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 22 May 2023. 

Ivybridge Community College are looking to fill the following vacancies: 

Casual Examinations Invigilator - Hours of work are by negotiation, to cover examination sessions throughout the year. The ability to work at least three days a week during the peak times in May and June. Full day, morning (start 8.30am) and afternoon sessions are offered.

Secondary Intervention Teacher/Literacy Lead - You will be responsible for delivering English and Mathematics sessions which will also include catch-up programmes, utilising tools such as Fresh Start RWI/Primary RWI. Lead the Fresh Start programme to groups of students primarily in Years 7, 8 and 9. This is a newly created post and an exciting opportunity to support the progress of their students to ensure they meet age-related expectations and to support students in keeping up with their peers. Closing date: 19 May 2023.

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

Morley Meadow Primary are looking to fill the following vacancies:

0.6 KS1 Teacher – Fixed Term Contract. Are you an enthusiastic, inspiring and highly motivated teacher? The dedicated and hardworking team at Morley Meadow would be interested in hearing from you to cover a period of staff absence. Closing date: 8 June 2023

2 x Teaching Assistants – Permanent Contract. Morley Meadow are seeking to appoint two skilled Teaching Assistants who are hardworking, flexible team players to join our inclusive school. Closing date: 8 June 2023

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

Oreston Community Academy are looking to fill the following vacancies:

Assistant Headteacher (with SENDCo responsibilities) - The Assistant Head Teacher will be required to support the Head Teacher in the day-to day leadership of the school and continue to promote high standards in SEND across the school. The successful individual will lead by example, with a focus on supporting and developing the team from Nursery to Year 6, as well as collaborating within and beyond Westcountry Schools Trust. Closing date: 19 May 2023. 

Permanent School Site Caretaker - The school is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, conscientious, and self-motivated Site Caretaker to provide a key role in maintaining our school site, ensuring a welcoming and safe environment for the whole school community. Closing date: 22 May 2023. 

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

Plymstock School are seeking to appoint an inspirational, enthusiastic and engaging individual to effectively lead a year group with the aim of every child fulfilling their potential. The successful candidate will lead the pastoral provision within an allocated year group, where they will consistently promote a positive ethos which sets high standards and expectations with regards to behaviour, welfare, attendance, personal development and achievement. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 18 May 2023

Wembury Primary School are looking for a Caretaker. As the sole caretaker at their friendly village school you will be responsible for undertaking maintenance tasks, both reactive and planned work. You will also undertake inspections of the school and resolve any findings. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 22 May 2023. 

Westcountry Schools Trust is seeking to appoint an exceptional individual with vision, energy and inspirational leadership to the position of Inclusion Lead Practitioner. We are delighted to offer this opportunity to join the WeST School Improvement Team in September 2023. This post will provide an opportunity to work full-time under the direction of the Director of Education and with other senior colleagues. The work will be interesting and varied, and the successful candidate will need to work flexibly and use their own initiative to support pupils and schools with their SEND and disadvantage provision. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 18 May 2023.