Good afternoon,
As we reach the end of what has been a genuinely full and productive half term, it feels right to pause and take stock before everyone heads off for a well-earned break.
A Five-Year Plan and a Question for You
This year we have formally adopted our five-year strategic plan, and I would encourage everyone to take a look at it over the break if you get the chance. I'm particularly keen for colleagues to read Pillar 4, our community connection strand, which focuses on civic responsibility and the role our schools play as anchor institutions within their communities. We know that many of our schools already do remarkable work in this space, and we are actively looking for ideas, whether from things you already do, or things you think we could do better, about how schools, clusters and the Trust itself can contribute back to the places we serve. If something comes to mind, please do share it.
A Well-Deserved Appointment
I'm delighted to confirm that Emma Clapham has been appointed as the substantive Headteacher at Hele's School. Emma has led the school as interim head since September last year and has done a tremendous job. I know the staff, students and wider community will be right behind her as she takes up the permanent post from September. Congratulations, Emma.
Staff Survey and Retention
Two things worth noting together. Our staff turnover this year is as low as it has ever been across the Trust, and our annual staff survey shows satisfaction up by several percentage points across almost all the metrics we measure, benchmarked not just against our own previous years but against sector averages too. I take both of these seriously as signals that people feel supported and that our values of integrity and compassion are more than words on a page. We are now working carefully through the detail of individual comments and responses, because the real value is always in what people tell us beneath the headline figures. That work will shape our priorities for the year ahead.
Technology with a Human Purpose
Several of our schools are now exploring the use of small classroom robots that allow pupils who struggle to attend school in person to participate remotely. The robot sits in the classroom, can look around, and even raise its hand. We are approaching this slowly with real care around safeguarding and wellbeing, but the potential to keep some of our most vulnerable young people connected to their learning community is genuinely exciting.
Sporting Excellence Across the Trust
It has been a remarkable week for sport. Boringdon Primary went unbeaten in both their rugby tournament at Albion and their football tournament at Home Park, which is no small feat across fifteen games. Ivybridge's Year 9 girls won the JuVoTo Volleyball Tournament in Weymouth, their senior football squad were crowned Devon Cup Winners, and a newly formed Under 15 flag football team won their regional tournament in Bristol on their very first outing. At Eggbuckland, the Devon U16 Girls' squad won the national Inter County Cup Final at Stoke City, with Ella R and Maisie W playing key roles, while Myla R and Pixie G helped the Plymouth Schools Girls U13 team become English Schools Champions. Plymstock's Year 8 rounders team won all three of their matches, and at Sir James Smith's the U13 cricket team claimed a seven-wicket victory over Wadebridge. The Plymouth Schools Challenge saw pupils from Boringdon, Oreston, Plympton St Maurice and others completing their half marathon miles on the Hoe with real determination and wonderful family support.
Enrichment, Curriculum and Community
At Holbeton, a Healthy Living Week brought together healthy eating workshops, football, climbing, team-building and a careers day involving parents and community members. The school also welcomed children's author Simon James, who created illustrations live and opened a brand new Reading Nook in the playground. At Sir James Smith's, students on the Brilliant Club's Scholars Programme completed impressive university-level research into biology and vaccines. Hele's welcomed barrister Nigel Hall from KBG Chambers to speak to criminology students about careers in law, while their new Junior Leadership Team of Year 12 students is now in place to ensure student voice feeds directly into senior leadership decisions. Buckfastleigh took their whole of KS2 to a cross-country event at Stover School, and Year 6 there celebrated the end of SATs with real pride. Woodlands Park's Year 6 set off for their Bude residential, and Coombe Dean held their Celebration Evenings, bringing families together to recognise student achievement. Miss Main at Coombe Dean also completed her 25-mile swimming challenge for St Luke's Hospice, which deserves a quiet round of applause.
Looking Ahead
As we head into half term, I want to say a sincere thank you to everyone across the Trust. The governance sessions this week reminded me how fortunate we are to have unpaid local governors and trustees who hold us to account with such care and commitment. Please do rest properly over the break. I hope the weather holds, and I look forward to seeing everyone return refreshed and ready for the final stretch of the year.
Warm regards,
Nat Parnell
CEO
It was a valuable day for making new connections with organisations who share similar values, and for exploring how we can continue to work together in the future. As a Disability Confident employer, it also gave us the chance to meet people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, and to support individuals in thinking about new career paths and how their potential can take them further.
