Dear Colleagues, 

As we reach the close of what has truly been a whirlwind of a term—a 23 teaching day sprint of commitment, collaboration, and care—I want to take this moment to reflect on what we’ve achieved together and to thank each and every one of you for the vital role you’ve played.

This term has seen many of our young people reach major academic milestones. Our Year 6 pupils approached their Key Stage 2 SATs with maturity, determination, and focus. It has been heartening to see the calm and confident way in which they faced the challenge, supported not only by expert teaching and careful preparation, but by a culture of encouragement and belief. Their success is a shared one, made possible by the countless hours of guidance, reassurance, and care from staff across our schools. Thank you.

Meanwhile, Year 11 and 13 students continue to navigate their GCSE and A-level examinations. These young people are showing extraordinary resilience and ambition. At WeST, we often say that success is as much about attitude and belief as it is about results. And that belief is reflected daily in the way our staff lift students up, offer calm reassurance, and foster aspiration. It’s a privilege to witness.

Our commitment to improvement has remained strong—even in the final week of term. Some standout highlights include:

• Our English Leads Network met for a powerful and productive session. A huge thank you to Rebecca Cosgrave from Devon Education Services for leading such a rich and practical discussion. The collaboration and idea-sharing that took place will strengthen teaching across our schools.
• Our Designated Safeguarding Leads came together for an impactful session led by Richard Woodland. These gatherings are always a reminder that safeguarding is not a bolt-on, it’s a whole-culture commitment that we’re proud to uphold across WeST.
• The ‘Under the Umbrella’ experiential training, delivered by the University of Exeter and organised by Gemma Tully, placed staff in the shoes of neuro-divergent pupils. The emotional resonance and practical insight from these sessions have left a lasting impression. Thank you to all who participated so thoughtfully.

We’re delighted to share highlights from an inspiring day at Glen Park Primary School, where Deputy Headteachers from across the region came together as part of our trust collaboration programme with CELT and the Ted Wragg Trust.

The day focused on leading curriculum development and featured enriching sessions, opportunities to observe lessons across year groups and subjects, and valuable insights into pupils’ learning journeys. Participants were particularly impressed by the high expectations for writing as children progress through the school, as well as the positive attitudes to learning they consistently demonstrated.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, reflecting the collaborative spirit that defines our trust. These cross-trust partnerships not only enhance professional development but also remind us of the power of shared purpose.

We are proud to foster such a supportive community and look forward to future collaborations.

As ever, I want to thank you for everything you have contributed this term. Whether you're in the classroom, part of the support teams, or behind the scenes keeping everything running smoothly, your work makes an impact every single day.

Please take this half-term to rest and recharge. I hope you find time for the things and people that bring you joy.

Best wishes, 

Rob Haring

CEO

Word Of The Week!

This week's word is "equity".

Definition: Equity in education refers to ensuring that every individual receives the support they need to succeed, rather than providing the same resources to everyone. It recognises that students have different starting points, challenges, and needs, and aims to address those differences by offering tailored assistance.

Reason: equity is at the heart of creating meaningful opportunities for everyone, especially in education. Unlike equality, which provides the same support to all, equity recognises individual needs and ensures that each person receives the resources necessary to thrive. By highlighting this word, we emphasise the importance of fairness, inclusion, and tailored support - values that shape strong, supportive communities where every learner has the chance to succeed.

REVISED DATES: SEND Provision in Mainstream Schools - Expressions of Interest

We have all noticed changes in the cohort in our mainstream schools. Mainstream schools are expected to cater to an increasingly wider and more complex range of SEND needs. WeST is embarking on an exciting project alongside Kernow Learning Trust with the aim of better supporting the children within our trusts who are falling between the cracks of mainstream and specialist provision but are placed in our mainstream schools.

Our ultimate aim is to provide bespoke teacher-led SEND classrooms within our schools to meet the most complex needs of our pupils. Our goal is to open our first provision in September 2026 and use this as a starting point to grow across more of our schools. This is likely to be a KS1 provision.

These provisions need to be run by specially trained teachers. We want these teachers to come from within our trust. To that end, we will be delivering a programme of training to selected teachers during the academic year 2025-26. There will be 10 sessions throughout the year with opportunities to engage in CPD and visit specialist provisions. There will be a mix of online and in-person sessions which will be based in our training room in Camelford, co-delivered by members of WeST, Kernow and SEND specialists. As there will be a commitment to attend all training sessions, we ask that you seek support from your headteacher before expressing your interest.

Entry onto the course will not guarantee a placement in a bespoke classroom in the first year, but there will be opportunities as the project grows. While on the programme, teachers will continue on their current contracts.

If you would like to put yourself forward for a place on the course, please write a paragraph detailing why you feel you would be suited to the course and send it to gmallard@westst.org.uk by 2 June 2025.

Please include:

• Your motivation and passion for working with pupils with complex needs.
• Demonstration of your experience and how this relates to the purpose of the long-term project.

Following this you will be notified if you have been put forward for the selection process.