variation in concept and intervention, contractors Novalux LED and Combined Operations repetition, chorusing and intelligent Electrical Solutions. Novalux carried out Maintain measured and systematic practice. a detailed survey and energy audit, growth in-line with financial selected all the appropriate light fittings Sustainability. Deliver high quality We are also providing training for Year 5 and managed the full installation by services to academies. and Year 6 teachers in the new methods Combined ES." of teaching for example bar modelling A Trustee’s View and also subject knowledge where Graham Smith, Mast Academy Trust Trustee applicable. We will be holding moderation sessions where we will look I was delighted to have been asked to join at books, tasks and assessments to the Trustee Board at the inception of The ensure consistency across the pyramid. Mast Academy. By design the 12 Trustees We will have shared assessments and have a wide range of backgrounds which data collections at the end of each enable us to perform one of our primary module so that we can analyse the data, New lighting - functions – to use our diverse skills and track strengths and areas for Learning Resource Centre experience primarily to support, but also development, so that good and The new improved lighting levels have to challenge, the Executive Leadership outstanding practice can be shared. surprised pupils and staff returning to Team to help to ensure the best possible Support will also be offered to schools for school in September. One teacher asked outcomes for children. Newsletter planning, mastery, use of notebooks, if the whole school had been repainted, variation etc. the working conditions were so improved. My background was nearly 40 years in multinational corporations in ‘big ticket’ AUTUMN 2017 Feedback so far has been positive and "The minimal maintenance and long life sales and finance management roles. the locally tailored curriculum and The Staffing Committee will be meeting analysis of the first data collection is of these new LED fittings mean we will all Until July 2017 I had been a Governor at Chairman’s Message teaching we enjoy as teachers and in November. Their purpose is to ensure currently underway. be enjoying the benefits of this project for Kirkburton Middle School for 20 years, Martyn Jones, Chair of the Mast Academy Trust parents as well as, from what I have seen that as a Trust we are ethical and fair in at least the next 15 years", commented being Chair of Finance for most of that We are approaching our first year as an on school visits, our all-important our approach to implementing the Pay Lighting Refresh Jason Field. time and Chair of Governors for 10 years. Academy Trust. So what has happened children. Policy and in our approach to since the change? Performance Management. This group is My experiences to date in The Mast have With thanks to everyone involved, here's comprised of Governors from each school. The lighting systems throughout Scissett 2020 Vision been overwhelmingly positive (apart to continued progress and development and Kirkburton Middle Schools have been As Trustees, we believe our role is to Our 3 year development plan has from the necessarily legalistic and in the coming academic year. completely replaced during the Summer ensure that collectively, the four schools Birdsedge First been developed in consultation with somewhat bureaucratic set up process!). holidays, using the latest energy saving in the Trust spend the limited budget we all school leaders and our finance I have enthusiastically accepted the role School News LED lighting units. Over 1100 light fittings have been given by the Department of Mast Committees director and IT manager. It includes as one of two ‘link’ Trustees focussing on have been removed and replaced, Education wisely, so that we can keep In line with our vision and our values, our important elements such as finance Finance – my knowledge of strategic bringing a new quality in light levels, investing in our childrens' education. In committee structures facilitate joint and school improvement as well as finance in general and school funding in creating far better learning and working my view, much has been achieved by working based upon mutual respect and our growth plan. The Mast 2020 particular mean that I should be able to conditions. Debra Knowles, Jason Field and the team collaboration. Vision Action Plan sets out broad make innovative financial suggestions, in rationalising support services like strategic aims for the academy trust as: ask appropriate challenging questions financial accounting, ICT, payroll and Best of all, the new lights only use 30% of and bring an external perspective to The Audit Committee comprises the energy that the old system burned even modernising the lighting in our experienced and well informed Trustees Outcomes financial discussions and decision making. through, so saving the schools over middle schools during the summer who are responsible for overseeing the Secure high quality teaching and As a link finance Trustee I have worked £25,000 per year in energy bills. The holidays that will provide the savings we controls in place at the Trust and also learning of a rich and broad really closely with our Financial Director, carbon footprint of the two schools will need for future development and growth. monitoring and acting on risks that the curriculum in each academy. Ensure that Jason Field. We discuss all aspects of also be reduced by 72 tonnes of CO2 each academy faces. This is a vital committee groups at risk of underachieving make finance, review numbers in detail before Robinwood year. As Trustees we also want to offer help, and makes sure that the highest good or better progress via Trustee meetings and focus particularly We have been very busy already at advice and constructive comment on the standards of regularity, propriety and implementation of data Strategy. on achieving value for money and Birdsedge. During the first weekend of teaching standards and academic compliance are upheld throughout the strategic budget planning. Our our new term, Years 4 and 5 visted performance of the schools under our Trust. School Improvement procurement of services, as a group of remit. I am pleased to report that we have Robinwood in for the Secure an accurate and robust self- schools, has improved materially and weekend. The children all had fun the necessary skill sets on the Trust As a Trust, we have a formed a Chair of evaluation process and effective initiatives such as Green Lighting have participating in outdoor activities, Board, not only from business and Governors committee that meets school improvement strategies. Develop been possible – all driving through real including climbing, canoeing, zip wire, finance, but also from education and the regularly. This supports strong school-to- school support. Build links with savings which release more money to caving and archery. Even though it public services sector to do this. We are communications and an opportunity to Teaching Schools and training providers. spend directly on pupil education. poured with rain for most of the weekend, Old lighting - Scissett Middle School equally fortunate to have a committed exchange ideas and opinions. It also everyone had a great time. Learning Resource Centre and dedicated leadership team within the demonstrates the value that we place Leadership Ultimately I believe that Trustee Jason Field, Financial Director of the Mast head teachers and local governing bodies upon Local Governing Bodies. Develop a fully-functioning, high-level perspectives add to the whole Academy Academy Trust commented, "We were at all four schools, and within the Trust Board that represents the full process and hope that my efforts help us able to source funding from the Pyramid, where future growth in school Currently, this group is working hard to range of skills required. Embed high to achieve the essential financial Government's Salix Fund which was numbers will come from, in the develop a Governing Bodies induction quality governance at the Local elements - long term secure finances and introduced for exactly this purpose, foreseeable future. pack so that we can offer parity across our Governing Board level, focused clearly on value for money, which help to provide saving energy and helping to meet lower schools, allowing for individuality at the raising standards. To empower leaders to the best education possible for the Carbon targets. All the work was Whilst we have made a positive start to same time. They are also planning an lead the improvement journey within and children and security for our invaluable completed in less than 5 weeks by our the management of the Mast Trust, there exciting development opportunity for all beyond their academies. staff. is still plenty to do to optimise the Governors, utilising the expertise that we collective budget, and much to learn from have in-house. Macmillan Coffee Morning collective best practice, without losing Macmillan Coffee Morning line if accessing social media sites. I would Congratulations also to Bella Sykes who strategy were presented to Headteachers Academy Trust) ICT staff have worked On Friday 29th September, we joined in ask all parents to continue to be vigilant Kirkburton Middle has been selected to play cricket for West in May 2017. A decision was taken to closely for many years, sharing best the World’s Biggest Coffee morning, around social media sites and to ensure . standardise the provision in First Schools practice, infrastructure and internet organised on behalf of the Macmillan children use messaging and posting School Sporting with them being supported by a single connections to reduce costs and support Cancer charity. Thanks to all our parents forums responsibly and respectfully. Shelley First provider, CBC Computers, who were each other. This partnership means that who kindly donated their money (and Achievements identified as providing best value and for we have infrastructure, connectivity and waistlines!) to enjoy coffee and cake to As part of our new Community Hub (The School News Mast ICT staff to continue to support the backup and disaster systems in place make the event such a success. Bridge), which seeks to provide local Middle Schools with some projects which will be of great benefit to the other services to families within our Staffing delivered jointly with CBC. schools in our trust. Harvest Festival community, we are hosting an event in We were very sorry to say a fond farewell Our Harvest Festival was held at the November on how parents can help keep to our School Business Manager, Mrs An ICT Focus group, comprising of village Methodist Chapel again this year. children safe online. We will have Dawn Lawton in September. She has teaching staff, leadership, the Finance Pupils and staff were joined in the practical help on how to set up safety dedicated 9 years to the school and she is Director and I meet on a termly basis to congregation by their families for worship systems on devices at home from experts very much missed. Mrs Sarah Walters has discuss ICT development and issues and thanks for the harvest season. All within our region. This event will take agreed to take on the Business Manager across the academy trust. food donations were given to the place on: 8th November 2017 6pm-8pm. role and she is a good example of how we Christian African Relief Trust. More details will follow closer to the time. as a Trust develop the potential of our A Mast Academy Trust website has been teams. established and can be found at Scissett Middle Charity Work www.themast.co.uk System Leaders As Year 8 parents will be aware, in the last We consider all staff to be leaders but are School News week of term, Year 7 classes were each A key value of our academy trust is to particularly pleased with the quality work given £30 and asked to raise as much The surveys highlighted key priorities embrace technologies and new ways of Site Changes being carried out by staff beyond our own money as they could for a given charity. which formed an action plan to raise the working, to reflect the changing needs of We have had lots of work done over the school. This was done as part of the Summer standard of ICT in our schools with the our world. By ensuring that we have a Summer Holiday to make improvements Fayre which was massively supported by longer term goal of having a centralised solid platform to build on we will be able to the school site. All our lights have been As a school we have 2 Specialist Leaders parents and pupils from other year system for ICT administration and to embrace future waves of technology changed to LED to get better value from Congratulations to the following KMS of Education: Sarah Cunningham and groups. Pupils raised the following academy trust specific data; permitting and ways of working to benefit our energy bills and improve the light quality pupils who have been selected at various Catherine Bacon, who both lead amounts of money: staff working across all of our sites and children and prepare them for life in the in learning spaces. We have also removed levels of representative sport: Continuous Personal Development and externally. In keeping with the context of modern workplace. the cloakrooms and replaced them with school-to-school support as well as the Mast, schools will still be able to lockers – we have already seen a big 8NR Dreamflight £163 Joshua Burden. Josh is a fantastic skier supporting students within the West operate independently, for example - in reduction in lost property and we have who races for Lions Ski Club at . Yorkshire Teaching Alliance (WYTA). 8TM Chernobyl £171 the event that the internet becomes made some new learning spaces. This year he has competed in the Scottish Year 5 & 6 unavailable or if there were an ICT issue Championships and Anglo Welsh Sarah Cunningham is also a KS1 8MO Welcome Centre £215 in another school. ICT strategy Championships, as well as other national Moderator and has recently delivered Maths Project recommendations are made to club events throughout the year. Joshua’s CPD* to a secondary MAT in Oldham in Ann Large, Deputy Head - Scissett Middle School Headteachers who decide whether to Lions Race Team are going out to the Literacy. Jeannette Peake is an Early 8SB Forget me not £160 approve them or not. September saw the launch of the Year 5 Artemis British Inter-School Ski Years Moderator as well as also running and 6 Maths Project, planning and Challenge which is being held in Pila, Italy WYTA CPD and supporting beyond the Procurement options are being preparation had been underway since 8RP Centre £211 next March. We wish him all the very best. school. Faye Hirst is one of a small group of teachers advising and supporting the investigated so that we can use our joint Easter. buying power to drive down the costs of 8RJ Water Aid £164 Ruby McLellan. After having to meet a White Rose Maths Hub in developing hardware and software by purchasing in We are hoping that through this project number of challenges for selection, Ruby planning and resources for schools. 8TF Ethiopia £199 greater volume as an academy trust. all teachers in Year 5 and Year 6 will be has been chosen for the beginners’ stage Telephone and photocopier contracts working to a shared understanding of of training for the Yorkshire Ladies Dance Film have been reviewed as part of an exercise what it means for pupils to be secure in In total, pupils raised nearly £1500 for Juniors Golf at Sandburn Golf Club. Well We were very proud to produce a Dance charity which is a fantastic achievement Film this year. The film showcased to find the best value offerings and their mathematics and ensures greater The school has had a fresh coat of paint done Ruby, you can certainly teach Mr and clearly demonstrates what great traditional dancing as well as dancing solutions which best meet our needs. numbers of pupils meet their age related and we have put up Growth Mindset Johnson a thing or two! entrepreneurs they are. We are also very taught during our annual Cultural Arts expectation, make expected or greater inspirational quotes around the school to grateful to families who contributed Week. Please contact us if you wish to see A programme of work has started to than expected progress and achieve their remind pupils that anything is possible Jonas Rushworth. Jonas is a highly clothes to Chernobyl; Food to the Food the film, featuring all pupils and staff. upgrade PCs to the latest version of Key Stage 2 Raise targets. when you learn from your mistakes. talented and dedicated athlete who trains bank; outgrown school shoes and Windows and Office before the end of Some of these pieces have been with City Athletics, working outgrown uniform for the Uniform Windows 7 support in 2020, the majority We are doing this through having a incorporated with Art work produced by alongside such world class athletes as Nile ICT Update Exchange as well as all the extras brought James Ambler, ICT Manager of computers at Shelley First School and shared scheme of work and assessments. current pupils which looks stunning. We Wilson. He recently won a silver medal in in by children to help raise funds. all computers at Scissett Middle School, These will fully adopt the new national continue to operate a one-way system at the regional championships which means As the Mast Multi-Academy Trust was other than in the two ICT Suites have curriculum of fluency, problem solving busy times for health and safety reasons he will now be competing in the National Pupils at Scissett Middle School continue being formed, I started to look at ICT already been upgraded. Infrastructure and reasoning. The work that has been but pupils can cut through the Shared Finals at the beginning of November. Best to amaze me with their kindness, strategy so that our schools work improvements are planned for Kirkburton produced is for all three areas of the Area. of luck Jonas. generosity and thoughts for others who together to ensure efficiency, cost Middle School to improve server and national curriculum. Each module of work may be less fortunate than themselves. savings and best value, to provide network performance, which will aid includes comprehensive Smart Keeping Children Safe online Congratulations to Evie Wilks, Ellie Learning about these charities and systems that benefit teaching and teaching and learning by speeding up Notebooks, formative assessment tasks We have reminded all pupils about how Nightingale, Scarlet Taylor, Emma proactively supporting them, allows our learning and facilitate collaborative logon times and access to resources. and summative assessment tests. The to report any concerns around Coneron and Emily who have young people to develop greater skills of working. lessons planned include teacher led safeguarding. All pupils have had a recap all been selected for empathy and compassion – essential in Scissett Middle School and Scissett CE activities, concrete examples, pictorial about staying safe online and Year 6 have Schools’ Netball Team. early adolescence. Technical surveys of our schools, the Academy (part of the Learning Accord representation, variation in imagery, been shown how to identify concerns on- results of a staff survey and the ICT

* CPD = Continuous Personal Development