Good afternoon, everyone.

As we head towards the end of a busy term, I wanted to reflect on a week that has been largely outward-facing, spent in conversation with leaders across the region about how we can work better together for the communities we share.

Working together across trust boundaries

I spent two really productive sessions this week with CEOs from other trusts, discussing shared goals and how we might collaborate more closely. I was proud to show them around some of our schools. People sometimes assume multi-academy trusts are in competition with each other, but the reality is quite different. In many cases we serve the same communities, and our shared purpose is the same: the good of the young people in those communities. Later in the week, I joined the Southwest Trust Leaders Network and met with Devon CEOs to discuss how we can collectively address the challenge of young people not in education, employment or training after leaving school, as well as preparing together for upcoming SEND reforms. These aren't conversations any single trust can have alone, and I came away from each one feeling that we are stronger for having them.

Place2Be visit to Ivybridge

A particular highlight was welcoming Catherine Roche, Chief Executive of the national mental health charity Place2Be, to Ivybridge Community College. The visit was an opportunity to tour the school and hear directly from staff and pupils who have been involved in the partnership. What came through clearly was how the College's combination of high expectations, strong routines and genuinely relational work means that every young person feels known, even within one of the largest secondary schools in the country. Our Director of Safeguarding also shared how the programme is making a positive difference across other WeST secondary schools. It is a partnership we look forward to developing further.

Character education and our five-year plan

I'm pleased to share that we have secured trust-wide membership to the Association for Character Education. All our schools are now members, and we have begun rolling this out so that colleagues can draw on the network and resources available. This connects directly to the ambitions in our five-year strategy, and I'm looking forward to seeing how schools make the most of it.

Staff survey: your voice matters

Our annual staff survey is now open and I would encourage everyone to take the ten minutes or so it costs to respond. Last year we achieved a 67% return rate, which was reasonable, but I would love us to go further. Every comment is read; every school and team systematically analyses the feedback and produces 'you said, we did' responses throughout the year. All responses are anonymous, and the honest reflections we receive, both affirming and challenging, genuinely shape what we do. As Bill Gates put it, "We all need people who will give us feedback. It's how we improve." I have one request: please remember that it is welcome to agree or disagree with strategy and decisions, but questioning the personal motives of colleagues is hurtful and unhelpful. We are all in this to help young people. As Tim Urban wrote, "People are meant to be respected; ideas are meant to be batted around and picked apart."

Celebrating achievement and learning across our schools

There has been no shortage of things to celebrate this week. At Coombe Dean, a group of students successfully completed the Reading Fluency and Comprehension Intervention Programme, and the school welcomed the National Institute of Teaching to film lessons and their WE CARE group, contributing to materials that will support teacher development nationally.

Across our primaries, Buckfastleigh have had an action-packed few weeks: rugby coaching from the Cornish Pirates, a PE impact day with Dartmoor School Sports Partnership, and their oldest children performing at the Primary Body Language dance festival at South Dartmoor. At St Breward, the RNLI delivered a water safety assembly, and the art club have been crafting Easter bonnets.

Sport continues to shine across our secondary schools. Plymstock students represented the Groovement Project at the Super League Basketball Finals, while girls' rugby opportunities grew through PSSP and OPM Rugby Club. At South Dartmoor, the U13 girls' cricket team achieved an impressive third at the Chance to Shine County Finals, Ten Tors training continues in earnest, and the school has been recognised as a Dartmoor Dynamic Landscapes Champion School. Year 13 students also enjoyed a kayaking trip at Haven Banks.

A professional milestone, and a thought for the weekend

Congratulations to Roger Hutchinson on achieving his Level 7 Executive Coaching Certificate with UWE Bristol, accredited by the International Coaching Federation. Investing in our own professional growth at every level is something I am always glad to see recognised.

Finally, today is apparently National Scribble Day. We are all exhorted to scribble with a child. Whether the scribble makes sense or not doesn't really matter. I plan to do exactly that with my youngest daughter (who is considerably more talented than me at Art!) this evening, and I hope you might too.

Next week, as we approach the Easter break, I will be paying attention to how we are supporting our Year 11 and Year 13 students in these final weeks before exams, and thinking about how we can make the most of the term ahead.

Warmest regards,

Nat Parnell

CEO

A Level Historians Explore ‘The King’s Cardinal’: Thomas Wolsey Reconsidered

Our A Level History students from Coombe Dean and Ivybridge recently had the fantastic opportunity to attend an evening lecture hosted by the Plymouth Historical Association at the Levinsky Theatre. The talk, ‘The King’s Cardinal’: Thomas Wolsey Reconsidered, offered a fascinating and thought-provoking insight into one of the most significant figures in the Tudor period.

The lecture, delivered by Professor Glenn Richardson, encouraged students to challenge traditional interpretations of Cardinal Wolsey. Rather than simply viewing him as Henry VIII’s failed minister, students were introduced to more recent historical scholarship which suggests Wolsey’s influence and importance may have extended far beyond his fall from power in 1529. The talk explored his role as both a churchman and a statesman, his impact on England’s position in European politics, and the complexities of his relationship with Henry VIII.

This experience was a valuable extension of our AQA A Level Tudors course, allowing students to engage with academic debate and historiography beyond the classroom. It was particularly powerful for students to see how historical interpretations continue to evolve, reinforcing the importance of critical thinking and evaluation at A Level.

Our students represented Coombe Dean and Ivybridge exceptionally well, demonstrating maturity, curiosity, and a genuine enthusiasm for history throughout the evening. Experiences like this are invaluable in bringing the subject to life and supporting students in developing a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the past.

This enrichment reflects the History department’s strong commitment to extending learning beyond the classroom and engaging students with academic scholarship. A huge well done to all our students who attended. And thank you to the teachers for supporting this enrichment opportunity.

Mindful March