It’s been very much a week of reflecting and planning.

We’ve had the “invitational meetings” for all our New Bridge sites, Hawthorns School and Hollinwood Academy.

The invitational meetings occur every term and have a number of key functions.  Initially, there is an opportunity for every school to share “a school celebration”.  Secondly, we discuss a number of different areas relating to the schools’ performance.  Finally, we agree the support each school will receive over the next period of time.

All of the schools that had their invitational meeting this week have an Ofsted classification of “Outstanding”.

Interestingly, they all share very common values.  Every single school recognises the individual child and builds an appropriate curriculum offer around them.  They all plan the organisation around the child and ensure each individual is in the best place to learn and supported by the most able staff.  They all meticulously track the progress each child makes.  They all value the role families play in the learning progress.  Finally, and maybe most importantly, each one has super high aspirations for every single young person.

In the invitational meetings we saw, shared and were told of the amazing developments in all of these schools.  “Outstanding” is never a moment in time.  It is striving for better; it is evaluating what’s working and what’s not, it’s re-defining preconceived norms, and it’s having the courage to take risks and innovate.  You can be assured that the schools are in safe hands and are being led by the most amazing and inspirational leadership teams.

And on to our planning.

All the schools have been busily re-evaluating their risk assessments (I believe some are now on version 23!).  You can find them on the home pages of each of our websites.

They have also been busy dealing with the Lateral Flow Test roll out.  Again, risk assessments are available on the websites.

I really hope that we are now moving towards a degree of normality within our schools and organisations.  However, as I mentioned last week in my blog, we all need to continue to do our bit by conforming to the government’s message of Hands, Face, Space.  We’re still not out of the woods yet and we have to keep a close eye on the rising number of transmission cases across the north west.  We are better prepared this time around so I really believe by working together we can get to operating a near normal offer.

By this time next week, we, hopefully, will have a clearer picture as to how the rest of the school year will continue.

Please take care and let’s continue to support each other.

Best wishes, stay safe,

Graham

You can find all Graham’s previous updates and blog entries here