Welcome from the Chief Executive
It’s hard to believe that we have reached the end of another academic year! Summer term has felt particularly busy with so many highlights and fantastic events taking place including sports days, trips, performances, fundraising activities, sport tournaments and end of year Proms! A small snippet of which are featured in the newsletter below.
Looking back on the year we have had; it’s been quite a memorable year. As a nation we joined together in mourning for The Late Queen Elizabeth II at the start of the academic year, it was heart-warming to witness all Trust schools celebrating The Late Queen’s leadership, dedication and selfless service in so many different ways – from tree planting to artwork, each school took the opportunity to celebrate The Late Queen’s life. Our communities came together once again to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty The King, it was a delight to see our young people, their families and communities take enjoyment in celebrating such a historical event, a memory I’m sure will always stay with them.
In March we were pleased to welcome Crispin School to the Trust, bringing over a thousand students and a talented team of staff who deliver outstanding education to students aged 11-16. Crispin is the seventeenth school to join the Trust and we are now working closely with other schools as we continue to grow our family of Trust schools in Somerset.
With Crispin joining the Trust, so too did The Mid Somerset Consortium (MSC), our teacher training school based in Street. MSC offers high-quality, on the job teacher training in secondary schools in Somerset and North Dorset, providing a unique opportunity for us to develop and train talented new teachers within the Trust.
Being part of a Multi-Academy Trust has so many benefits to schools, one of which is the dedicated support from the central team, which was invaluable during recent Ofsted inspections at Axbridge, Weare and Draycott and Rodney Stoke First Schools. As a team we all pulled together, and I am delighted that all schools received the well deserved ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted.
Looking ahead to the new academic year, we will be welcoming many new members of staff to our schools as well as the Trust central team. One key appointment to the future success of the Wessex Learning Trust, is Libby Fidock as Director of Primary Education and Deputy Chief Executive. Her role will innovate and develop Primary collaboration within the Trust, whilst supporting and challenging schools to improve outcomes for all learners. Libby will play a crucial role not only in the growth of the Trust, but her creative vision will be pivotal for the future development and success of Trust schools.
Finally, I would like to extend a huge thank you to all the staff, students and their families who have worked incredibly hard this year and collaborated and contributed to their schools and communities in so many ways. I wish a fond farewell and good luck to all the students who will be leaving school to begin their next chapter in life and for those returning in September, I hope you have a fun and restful summer break.
Gavin Ball
Chief Executive
