CEO's Blog - 24th March 2023 Our Organisation... The weeks are flying by and we're nearly at the end of the Spring term, so here's a snapshot of life at every one of our schools and settings. We're growing all the time, but our offer remains the best in special...
Gallery
Our gallery shows a selection of photographs from across our Academy.
CEO’s Blog – 17th March 2023 – ‘Thank You!’
CEO's Blog - 17th March 2023 'Thank You!' Well, if you've been following the updates on social media this week, you might just have noticed that almost 100 of our young people have been lucky enough to travel to Disneyland Paris. A trip that started on Monday...
CEO’s Blog (10th March 2023)
CEO's Blog (10th March 2023) It was International Women's Day this week, and it was great to see our schools and settings marking the occasion with their activities and learning opportunities. Of course, we shouldn't only celebrate our women and girls for just...
We are looking for our next CEO…
We are looking for our next CEO... It's probably been the worst kept secret for a while, but I'm writing my blog this week to let everyone know that we are actively looking for the next CEO of the New Bridge Multi Academy Group and MAT. After many years working as...
CEO’s Blog – Student Voice (24th February 2023)
CEO's Blog - Student Voice (24th February 2023) A few weeks ago, before the half term break, I said I would be reporting on how we listen to the Student Voice across our MAT and wider Group. Well, this week, I'm able to do just that, as some of our schools and...
I listened, this morning, to Amanda Spielman, Chief Inspector of Schools, with utter dismay.
How she can publicly say that the financial pressures faced by schools are not having an impact upon standards really tells me that Ofsted are living in some parallel universe!
If it wasn’t for the absolute commitment and resilience of our staff teams, there is absolutely no doubt that standards would be dropping.
I’d really welcome the opportunity to show Ms Spielman around all our organisations to observe the time our staff spend supporting our learners. The lack of break times, working over lunches, starting at 7.30am, working in the evening, using their own money to buy simple resources, catching up on paperwork in their holidays, covering for absent colleagues – the list goes on and on.
Ms Spielman – your Ofsted inspectors haven’t seen a drop in Ofsted ratings because our staff, in our schools, are desperately propping up a “wounded” system. They do it because they care passionately about our children, their families and our communities. Is it sustainable? Absolutely not!!
We are totally fed up of government rhetoric telling us there is more money than ever going into schools. We were told, on Radio 4, by a DfE spokesperson, that the government is putting more money into supporting children with EHCPs than ever before. Genius. Maybe we’ve more children!! Fact – 253,680 pupils had a statement or EHC plan in January 2018. This is an increase of 11,495 since January 2017. This will equate to more money.
Our staff, our families and our communities are becoming tired of the rhetoric.
In a democracy we need to make our voices heard. As chair of Special Schools’ Voice (SSV) I’ll be writing to all special schools across the country to mobilise letters to MPs. There’s a reality that MPs need to be made aware of.
Rant over. What a way to start the day – I need to listen to Chris Evans!!
Graham
Graham is by no means the only voice of warning in the sector – click here to read what Dave Hill, an influential DCS, told members of the education select committee.
Location
New Bridge Multi Academy Trust
Roman Road
Hollinwood
Oldham
OL8 3PH
School Hours
Weekends: Closed
Phone & Email
0161 870 9386
info@newbridgegroup.org