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Dear Colleagues,

We have reached the Easter break after completing a very busy Spring Term.

Easter is a time of hope and renewal, a time to celebrate triumph over adversity. It is a moment to reflect on the challenges we have faced and the progress we have made. Easter symbolises new beginnings and the promise of brighter days. It reminds us that even in the face of difficulties, there is always a chance for growth and improvement.

Which leads me to education finance. As you are no doubt aware, the economic climate has been challenging over recent years, and our schools have not been immune to these difficulties. We have seen a significant increase in operational costs, including utilities, supplies, and maintenance. Additionally, funding from the Government has been short of that hoped, such as our National Insurance Contribution grant falling way short of the amount required to cover the NI increase. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to providing the highest quality education and support to our pupils.

We understand that this situation may cause concern, and we want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to manage our resources effectively and maintain the standard of education and care that you expect from us whilst seeking to operate within a sustainable and balanced budget position.

I would like to take a moment to wish our Headteacher of Sherford Vale School, Susie Evans, a very happy retirement. Susie’s commitment to being both Headteacher at Wembury Primary School and Sherford Vale has been truly remarkable. Susie’s leadership has always been rooted in a child-centred approach, ensuring that every child is nurtured, inspired, and supported to thrive in all aspects of life.

Susie’s ability to ‘take people with her’, lead with compassion and a deep sense of community, has created a school culture that will be felt for years to come. Susie has not only shaped the lives of pupils but also developed those she has led—many of whom have gone on to leadership roles themselves.

As Susie embarks on this new chapter, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for her years of service and wish her all the best in her retirement. Her legacy will continue to inspire us, and she will always be remembered as a cherished member of our school family.

We are excited to announce that the staff survey is now open! This is your chance to share your valuable insights and help us improve various aspects of our organisation. The survey is confidential and anonymous, ensuring that you can provide your honest opinions without any concerns. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and make your voice heard.

This week, Plympton St Maurice have hosted Ofsted for an inspection. The staff and children have worked incredibly hard to showcase the best of their school, and we are confident that their efforts will be reflected in the inspection report. Well done to all staff and students for all your work on this inspection, especially being on the last week of a very busy term.

On Tuesday, the Raising Standards Leads meeting, led by Naveed Khan, Director of Education (Secondary), focused on key strategies to enhance student outcomes. The agenda included updates on Maths and English from Rachael Boothman and Scott Davies, and emphasised the importance of supporting disadvantaged students. Thank you so much to all who attended.

Ivybridge Community College held a Community Open Day on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the recent Ofsted Inspection report. Attendees enjoyed guided tours of the college and participated in engaging workshop activities, providing a glimpse into the vibrant academic and extracurricular life at Ivybridge. The highlight of the afternoon was a captivating student performance showcasing the talents and dedication of the students. The day concluded with a delightful cream tea, followed by an opportunity to observe after-college events, allowing visitors to experience the full breadth of opportunities available at Ivybridge Community College.

As we approach the break, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone for their unwavering hard work and dedication throughout the term. Your commitment and efforts have been truly commendable.

I hope you take this time to rest, recharge, and enjoy some well-deserved relaxation.

Best wishes, 

Rob Haring

CEO

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Staff Survey - Your Voice Matters: Let's Make This Year Even Better!

Our staff survey is now open and the link to participate will have been made available by your local administration. Response rates so far by school/business area are included below. Our overall rate is currently 39%. 

We greatly value your feedback and insights. Last year, we achieved an impressive response rate of over 70%, and this year, we're aiming even higher. Your participation in the staff survey is crucial for us to understand your needs and make meaningful improvements. Together, we can create a better workplace for everyone. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and help us reach our goal!

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Word Of The Week!

This week's word is "nuero-affirming".

Definition: accepting and embracing neurodivergent brains as equal, valid, and not broken or in need of repair.

A neuro-affirming mindset encourages us to embrace different ways of thinking and problem-solving. It helps us recognise strengths and create supportive environments.

SEND Provision in Mainstream Schools

Project Overview:

  • Objective: support children with complex SEND needs in mainstream schools.
  • Partnership: WeST and Kernow Learning Trust
  • Goal: Open bespoke teacher-led SEND classroom/s by September 2026

Teacher CPD Programme:

  • Duration: Academic year 2025-26
  • Sessions: 10 three-hour sessions with CPS opportunities.
  • Application: Qualified teacher with primary experience; entry does not guarantee a job.

Information Session:

  • Date: April 24, 2025
  • Time: 16:00-17:00
  • Platform: Teams
  • Sign-Up: https://forms.office.com/e/aGsziZWTh7

Interested teachers can attend the information session to learn more.

SEND Provision in Mainstream Schools

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. Our intention is that there will be 10 three-hour sessions throughout the year with opportunities to engage in CPD and visit specialist provisions.

There will be a rigorous application and recruitment process, and entry onto the course will not guarantee a job in a bespoke classroom in the first year, but there will be opportunities for jobs as the project grows. While on the programme, teachers will continue on their current contracts. For schools that have a teacher on the programme, in return for their release, you will benefit from their training and experience.

If you are a qualified teacher with primary experience who is interested in this opportunity, there will be an information session held via Teams on 24th April 2025, from 16:00 to 17:00. If you would like to attend, please sign up using the link here.

World Cultures in Schools

Royal Albert Memorial Museum has partnered with us here at WeST to run a series of workshops for KS2 children in two of our schools. Our aim was to enable pupils to build and develop their creative skills and access arts and culture whilst learning about cultures in different countries other than our own. 

Ashburton and Buckfastleigh Primary schools went on a visit to the museum for an activity day and also to the World Cultures Gallery back in January 2025. Both of these schools are in a rural location where under half of the pupils have not had the opportunity to visit a museum before! Children aged 7-10 from these schools visited RAMM and had the opportunity to handle a variety of real masks from different countries, sketch in the gallery, discuss the meaning of different patterns, materials and facial expressions to further their knowledge.

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Teachers Take on the Dartmoor Classic for Charity!

We are thrilled to announce that a team of dedicated teachers from our school will be taking on the Dartmoor Classic, a gruelling 68-mile bike ride through the stunning yet challenging terrain of Dartmoor, on 22nd June – all in support of a cause close to our hearts. The teachers taking part in this event are: Mr Thomas, Mr Sinclair, Mr Wilson, Mr Grenney, Ms Burns and Mr Dunstan...and any others who have yet to join. 

They are riding to raise funds for 'We Care', our school charity dedicated to supporting children of bereavement, young carers, and service families. These children face unique challenges, and with your help, we can provide them with the care, resources, and opportunities they deserve.

Donations will be made via Parent Pay or Westcountry Schools Trust, Coombe Dean School  - WE CARE

Lloyds Bank 

Account Number: 43599168  

Sort Code: 30-94-58  

We wish them the best of luck!

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Active April

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Internal Primary Headteacher Vacancies

We are pleased to share the following vacancies, which are now open to internal applicants and accessible via the links below:

  • Headteacher Woodlands Park Primary School - open to current Headteachers and Deputy Headteachers - https://mynewterm.com/jobs/Westcountry-Schools-Trust/3547/internal/EDV-2025-WST-63890/Headteacher-at-Woodlands-Park-Primary-School
  • Headteacher Manor Primary School - open to current Headteachers and Deputy Headteachers - https://mynewterm.com/jobs/Westcountry-Schools-Trust/3547/internal/EDV-2025-WST-93783/Headteacher-at-Manor-Primary-School

Both positions close to applications at 9am on 22 April 2025. Interviews will take place on 29 April 2025.

Recruitment update:

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

Boringdon Primary School are seeking to appoint a Y6 Classroom Teacher/ Senior Leadership Team Member. The successful candidate will be an established leader, who will strive to ensure the possible standards of pupil achievement, personal development and wellbeing are met. For more information, please click here.  Closing date: 18 April 2025.

Ivybridge Community College are seeking to appoint Casual Examinations Invigilators. 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. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 18 July 2025. 

Westcountry Schools Trust are seeking to appoint Secondary Initial Teacher Trainees (unpaid). Are you passionate about teaching and ready to make a significant impact on the lives of young people? We are seeking an exceptional individual with vision, energy and passion to join us as an Aspiring Secondary School Teacher, to uphold our core values and guide our vision of Every Child in a Great School. This is a 12-month, full-time, postgraduate programme in a Secondary School environment where you’ll experience a mix of study modules, live training sessions and classroom practice. Study modules can be completed at your own pace through our online learning platform, which will provide you with a foundation of theory to build your practice on. At every stage, you'll be guided by your own personal mentor. For information, please click here. Closing date: 20 June 2025. 

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