Lockdown Special Leigh Academies Trust
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Leigh Academies Trust NEWS Summer 2020 | Issue 18 Lockdown Special Showcasing how Leigh Academies Trust has continued to shape lives and support communities throughout Covid-19. Shaping Lives, Transforming Communities A message from the Chief Executive It has been quite a remarkable year: one we shall never forget. This newsletter contains an article from every one of our academies showcasing how they have battled bravely during the last few crisis months, emerging never diminished and with heads held high. Their valiant efforts have been nothing short of inspiring. We hope you enjoy reading the stories in this newsletter, the likes of which I doubt we will see again. And as the academic year draws to a close in LAT we end with two very significant pieces of news to bring to you all. The second significant piece of news is a decision taken by the last Trust The first is the retirement of Bob Findlay as Trust Board to be chaired by Bob in July. Chair, a post he has held ever since the Trust got Directors agreed to purchase nearly underway in 2008. Bob has worked tirelessly as 7,000 Chromebooks to distribute to Chair and given extremely generously of his time. year 7-11 pupils across LAT. This will He will be well-known to many of you as he was significantly enhance the Trust’s digital always keen to visit academies to meet with staff one-to-one device strategy following and pupils. His dedication to our mission, vision and the lessons of Covid-19. We have all values is beyond question. We thank him for his very made considerable progress in the considerable contribution and wish him and his use of new technology during the family the very best for the future. Bob Findlay pandemic because we have had to. But virus or no virus, we must now At their July board meeting, Directors elected capitalise on the significant gains we have made so that the legacy Frank Green as the new Trust Chair. This follows of Covid-19 in LAT is not one solely very careful succession planning at board level about school closure and learning over a number of years. Frank will also be very well- loss, but about massively enhanced known to many of you. He has held the position of access to technology for children of LAT Vice-Chair in recent years, chaired the Trust’s all backgrounds because it cannot Standards Committee and been the main board link be right that children’s education is to its South-East London academies. Before all of hindered by a lack of access to basic that, he was the first CEO of the Trust having created modern equipment. it himself in 2008 and holding the post until late- Frank Green 2013 when he became Schools’ Commissioner for Trust Chairman This is a true zeitgeist moment for the England. We very much look forward to working with Trust. The pandemic has prompted us Frank as the new Chair, a position which takes effect to take a bold step forward which will immediately. strengthen and enhance the education of our young people. At the same At the same time, Theresa Davies has been elected time, the Trust has already purchased the new LAT Vice-Chair. Theresa is currently Chair over 400 Chromebook devices that of Milestone, the Resources Committee and Audit have arrived in our primary academies Committee. She also takes a lead for the Board on targeted at year 6 pupils. All of these its academies in North-West Kent as well as being new devices will not replace other a governor on the Maidstone Primary Academies teaching methods entirely, but will Board. Theresa has a very deep knowledge of the enable all of us to become better Trust and is dedicated to the success of its staff and resourced and more efficient in how pupils. She is an excellent new appointment to this we deliver the curriculum. They will role and the first woman to hold this post. She and accelerate our recovery from Covid-19 Theresa Davies Frank promise to be a very strong team to help and insulate us substantially against Vice Chairman oversee LAT’s continued development as one of the the impact on learning from a second largest and most successful MATs in the UK. wave outbreak. Continued on next page... www.leighacademiestrust.org.uk 2 Contents 2 | A message from the Chief Executive 4 | Latest Senior Appointments 5 | Cherry Orchard Primary Academy 6 | Dartford Primary Academy 7 | Hartley Primary Academy 8 | Horsmonden Primary Academy 9 | Paddock Wood Primary Academy 10 | Langley Park Primary Academy 11 | Oaks Primary Academy All leaders are now finalising the enhanced Chromebook strategy for launch in September. Purchasing the devices 12 | Molehill Primary Academy is the easy part in many ways, it’s how we use them that 13 | Tree Tops Primary Academy will have the greatest impact for our children. 13 | Eastcote Primary Academy To end, let me convey once again my heartfelt thanks to 14 | High Halstow Primary Academy the whole of the LAT community for your response to 14 | The Hundred of Hoo Primary Academy Covid-19. We can go into the summer holidays knowing that we have done our utmost and could have done 14 | Stoke and Allhallows Primary Academies very little more to support each other through the crisis 15 | The Hundred of Hoo Nursery of 2020. We look forward to all of our pupils returning to school in September and it promises to be another 16 | Milestone Academy busy year ahead. Some of our colleagues will be hosting 17 | The Leigh UTC pupils at summer schools throughout July and August to help them to catch up with lost learning. I am seriously 17 | Wilmington Academy grateful to them for their additional efforts. Whatever your 18 | The Leigh Academy situation, please make sure you have some good rest over the holiday period and see you all in September. 19 | Longfield Academy 20 | Mascalls Academy With my very good wishes, 21 | Stationers’ Crown Woods Academy 22 | Leigh Academy Blackheath 23 | The Halley Academy 24 | Strood Academy Simon Beamish Chief Executive 25 | The Hundred of Hoo Academy 25 | Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School 26 | New Schools 27 | LAT myON Digital Library 27 | Vision 2025 Shaping Lives, Transforming Communities 3 Latest Senior Appointments It is always one of my great pleasures to see talented colleagues promoted through the ranks to senior positions within the Trust. It is encouraging also to see how we have attracted fresh talent to join us from elsewhere, offering new ideas and approaches. Please find below all of those appointed to tier 1 and 2 leadership positions since the last Trust newsletter. Many congratulations to all of them. A number of colleagues have also gained promotion to Assistant Principal positions this year. I look forward to watching their careers develop as they too continue to rise through the LAT ranks. We wish all of these colleagues well as they take up new positions in Lorna Rimmer September. Principal Stoke and Allhallows Primary Academies Carl Guerin-Hassett Alex Millward Brendon Dutton Secondary Principal Principal Designate Vice Principal The Hundred of Leigh Academy Hartley Primary Hoo Academy Rainham Academy Steven Flower Jo Brooks Numera Anwar Head of College The Hundred of Head of College Head of College Hoo Academy Mascalls Academy Strood Academy Lacey Austin Hannah Sharma Director of Improvement Deputy Principal Science The Halley Academy (Joins us from Hadlow Rural Community (Joins us from Trinity Academy, Brixton) School, Kent) Samantha Simmonds David Kelly Director of Improvement Director of Improvement Key Stage 2 Science (Joins us from Hoo St Werburgh Primary, (Joins us from Westlands School, Kent) Medway) www.leighacademiestrust.org.uk 4 Cherry Orchard Primary Academy It is a sad fact that, during these difficult times, Cherry street dancing sessions for all the bubbles. Orchard Primary Academy has been unable to celebrate its The virtual sports day on Thursday 25th June was a scorcher usual social and physical events, such as ‘golden afternoon’ but the heat did not deter our mini-athletes from Nursery, activities hosted by teaching and support staff, sports Reception and year 1 from throwing themselves into the day, clubs and workshops. Undaunted and in true Cherry activities with great enthusiasm. The day started with Orchard style, staff were determined to create virtual events motivational video clips from each of the House Captains for those learning at home as well as physical events for of Ebbsfleet, Stratford, Ashford and St. Pancras, followed those learning in school, so that the children didn’t miss by a demonstration of the events by a couple of COPA’s out. Children have a choice of a dozen activities for golden dedicated support staff to allow children learning at home afternoon on the last Thursday of every term, from solving to take part. Activities were chosen carefully so that those the mystery of ‘Who Stole the Chocolate Cake?’ to step-by- learning at home and at school could compete on an equal step instructions on how to make waffles and pancakes. basis. Races included frying-pan sock-ps, a pillowcase jump race, an egg and spoon race and a multi-skills course and, as school-based teaching staff entered the scores live on Tapestry and Google Classroom, competitors taking part in their gardens, parks and other outdoor areas, were able to enter their own scores and upload a video clip at the same time. Overall winners in each of the four disciplines for each year Who Stole the How to make group were awarded medals, both physically and virtually, Chocolate Cake? waffles & pancakes and a great day was had by staff and pupils alike! PE lead Mr Barnard, who returned to school with EYFS and year 1 students, has continued to teach PE on the playground as well as posting activities on Google Classroom for those learning at home, while dance teacher Sofia rocks the playground every Friday afternoon with Nursery taking part in Virtual Sports Day Cherry Orchard Virtual Sports Day Shaping Lives, Transforming Communities 5 Dartford Primary Academy Every Cloud has a Silver Lining While the world kept its distance, at Dartford Primary Academy they pulled together more strongly and more determined than ever.