Good afternoon everyone,

As we reach the end of term, I want to start this week with something that quietly pleased me a great deal. Faye Kandes from Stowford School was invited to attend the Learning Languages in the Primary Classroom Conference in London last week, where findings from two major research initiatives were presented, including the Progression in Primary Languages (PiPL) project led by the University of Reading. Stowford has been part of this four-year longitudinal study, the largest of its kind on primary languages in England, and the findings offer genuinely valuable insights for our work across the Trust. What I found most encouraging was the confirmation that the primary languages curriculum we have been rolling out in recent years aligns closely with evidence-based practice. It means our children are building a strong foundation for continued language learning into Key Stage 3, and it gives us real confidence as we develop the kind of provision and transition work outlined in our curriculum ambitions for languages. My thanks to Jenni Bindon for flagging this and to Faye for representing us so well.

A quick word on the staff survey. It remains open, and I would genuinely encourage anyone who hasn't yet completed it to find ten minutes to do so. Currently, 'small but mighty' Holbeton Primary are leading the way with over 70% of staff responding, with Core Services hot on their heels and Stowford, Coombe Dean and South Dartmoor not far behind. Our overall response rate sits at 42%, broadly in line with last year with a couple of weeks still to go. Please know that I read every single comment and look at every chart. This is one of the most important feedback loops we have, and it directly helps our trustees shape strategy.

Sporting achievement has been remarkable this week, spanning both phases. Ivybridge Community College took 84 students and 9 staff to the Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s, the world's largest schools rugby tournament, and made history for the college in what sounds like a tremendous experience. Their Year 10 cricketers also represented the school superbly at the Devon Cricket Tournament, and the Year 8 netball squad delivered a standout performance in the South Semi-Final. Meanwhile, congratulations to Bella Prout, recognised with the Coaches Award at Dinnaton Swimming Club for her attitude and commitment. Over in Cornwall, St Teath pupils powered through wet and boggy conditions at the Camelford area cross country championships, with two runners qualifying for and competing in the Cornwall finals. St Teath's netball squad also represented their school with pride at the East Cornwall finals at Callington, and their Year 3/4 girls made their football debut with real determination. That breadth of participation, from first competitions to county finals, is exactly what enrichment should look like.

Celebration and recognition have been strong themes across our secondaries. Hele's School ran a series of Celebration Assemblies this week, with Year 7 and Year 11 both in the spotlight. At Eggbuckland, Students of the Week were recognised across every year group including sixth form. And at Plymstock, Harvey's decision to donate his positive class chart points to charity rather than spend them on treats is the kind of quiet, thoughtful act that says a lot about a young person's character.

Creativity and curriculum have been thriving too. South Dartmoor's Easter Concert brought together students from Years 4 to 13 in front of a full audience, spanning a wonderful range of musical styles. Their Year 10 Art and Design students reflected eloquently on their visit to MAKE Southwest, writing in their own words about the new skills and creative inspiration they gained. The Let's Dance shows, part of Body Language Week, were a celebration of confidence and community, connecting local schools, community groups and even their international partner school in Zambia. At Plymstock, a character design workshop introduced Years 9 to 11 to careers in the games sector, while Year 7 scientists created their own pH rainbows. And at Buckfastleigh Primary, Year 1 made the most of the sunshine in their Wild Tribe outdoor learning session, exploring plants and getting their hands in the soil.

Boringdon, Oreston, Wembury and Otterham have all published their latest newsletters this week, and Coombe Dean's termly updates are out too. These are well worth a read for the detail they contain about daily school life.

As we head into the Easter break, I hope everyone finds some time to rest and recharge. Thank you, as always, for the care and professionalism you bring to this work. When we return, I will be paying close attention to what the staff survey tells us and thinking about how we carry the momentum of this term into the summer.

Warm regards,

Nat Parnell

CEO

TLR Payments – National Changes from September 2026

National statutory changes to Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR1 and TLR2) payments take effect from 1 September 2026. These changes mean that TLR1/2 payments will need to reflect the proportion of responsibility actually undertaken (not simply a colleague’s contractual FTE), and decisions must be fair, transparent and clearly evidenced. 

To reassure colleagues, advice and guidance is place to support schools to meet these requirements.

This is an early heads-up for TLR holders. More local detail will follow after the Easter break via your Headteacher/line manager, including what this means in practice and the timetable for discussions (where relevant).