IMPROVEMENT within our Academies
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WELCOME FROM THE CEO Dear Parent / Carer The role of a Chief Executive Officer involves developing opening and running a number of schools which during my first term I have found to be both exciting and positively challenging. The overwhelming success that this learning community has produced, the warm professionalism of staff, the daily contact and interaction with so many talented young people and the support of so many committed parents has for me been inspirational. I have been particularly encouraged by the way that Trust children and schools have embraced their learning experiences and are ready to play a leading part in shaping yet another great term ahead. I am passionate about wanting to secure an excellent education for all children in order for them to play a significant part in society. I would like to share with you that all Trust schools have been reviewed by the trust leadership
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team. They are each individually and collectively highly skilled and I am confident in their abilities to secure the improvements that are needed to meet the challenges ahead. Children are the heart of our community and it is vital that we invest in their education which means we are investing in a future Medway generation. The Williamson Trust is committed to ensuring the very best for the community, which has already included setting the foundation for new traditions such as uniforms, programmes of study, changes to age ranges and improvements to school buildings. It is now that I take opportunity to include a sample of those improvements that have been made especially in relation to Trust Estates and learning environments over the course of the last 12 weeks. I hope that you and your child enjoy them as much as we do. Mr Vyse, Chief Executive Officer
WELCOME FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WILLIAMSON TRUST It has been another busy start to the academic year. As Chairman of The Williamson Trust I have been impressed while visiting each Trust School where I have observed children benefiting from their new found learning environments and being enthused by the range of rich learning activities they have been exposed to. It has also been great to see so many children engaged in their learning with beaming smiles, both at school and further afield. We as a Trust have continued to improve at a great pace and I would like to thank all the teachers and support staff, under the direction of Gary Vyse and the Trust Leadership Team, for working so hard to ensure that the pupils have had such a positive start to the year.
My role is to work closely with school leaders to provide the very best education we can for our children. Directors, Governors and I have continued to visit each school to monitor progress, and we have all been impressed with the learning “buzz� that we now see whenever we visit. We continue to look forward to seeing what further transformations will be seen next. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support. The changes that have been made would not have been possible without your positive involvement and I have no doubt that the hopes and aspirations you have for your child will be fulfilled. Mr Costello, Chairman
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ELAINE PRIMARY ACADEMY PUPIL VOICE QUOTES FROM THE EYFS AREA AT ELAINE PRIMARY ACADEMY. " Children are given the opportunity to further develop their physical skills through the new equipment provided and carefully planned activities." Mrs Webb " The outdoor classroom enables pupils to extend their learning and discover new skills and possibilities." Mrs Stradling
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" I like the house because it has a slide and a climbing wall, so I can be like Spider-man." Nursery
" I enjoy making cakes for my friends in the mud kitchen." Nursery
ALLHALLOWS PRIMARY ACADEMY
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HIGH HALSTOW PRIMARY SCHOOL KITCHEN We are pleased with our impressive new kitchen. During the summer of 2015 our kitchen space was transformed from a space smaller than many kitchens at home to a spacious kitchen fit to prepare tasty school meals. Our lunchtime staff now have the facilities to cook nutritious meals and many more children now choose to have a cooked meal in school. We don’t know what we did without it now!
REFURBISHED TOILETS During the Summer of 2015 the toilets in Early Years and Key Stage One were transformed into fresher environments for the children. The existing disabled toilet was split into two rooms-an improved toilet facility and storage space.
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STOKE COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL EYFS AREA & OUTDOOR LEARNING AREA As a result of the building works carried out in our EYFS department children can now play safely and in all weathers in the outside area. There are better opportunities for children to develop their gross motor skills through the new play equipment and they are enjoying the new mud kitchen. The toilets are now bright, colourful and safe for the children to use and allow adults to supervise them easily within the classroom environment. Adults in the nursery now have a purpose built area for nappy changing which ensures that all adults and children are safeguarded.
RECEPTION AREA Our new front reception offers a professional, inviting and secure entrance to the school. The new doors ensure that access is strictly controlled.
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PPA ROOM Teachers now have a dedicated space in which to meet for PPA with space in which to prepare resources, plan lessons and discuss learning in a professional setting. The room also offers space for larger meetings.
EXTENSION The extension has offered a small space for the two year-olds in our nursery to spend some time in a quieter environment when they choose to do so.
NEW FLAT ROOF The school no longer sufferers from leaks which have in the past damaged the building and resources.
PUPIL VOICE COMMENTS FROM CHILDREN AT STOKE “ Our lovely office is a little larger so it’s easier to fit more children in when registers are sent.” Katie “ The office is much larger than before and much more colourful. It’s far more inviting with the glass-panel doors. You can also see Mrs Powell working!” Jacob “ It’s lovely to see our uniform presented to our visitors too. We have room for this now.” Katie “ Yes, it’s lovely to be able to see how neat and smart our uniform is… because it will make other children want to come to our school.” Jacob THE WILLIAMSON TRUST
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HUNDRED OF HOO ACADEMY ADDITIONAL PROVISION YEAR 1 July 2016 work began on our Berners-Lee Building, the new home of our Year 1 pupils. Pupils in Year R watched with delight as the sections of their building were delivered and they explored the topic of ‘Building’ whilst works were ongoing in Term 6. Throughout the summer, extensive work took place to create a large playground, paths leading from the current EYFS setting and fencing of the entire area. Further improvements will be complete by October and will see an area of astro-turf and a wet-weather awning installed.
REFURBISHED AND IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO KS4 SOCIAL AREA We are thrilled with the improvements that have been made to our KS4 social area. Pupils at KS4 now have an area with exceptional facilities, from bespoke age appropriate seating, their own refectory serving hot and cold food at break and lunch, improved toilet facilities and the improved space has allowed for the addition of a recreational table tennis table, encouraging some healthy completion between year groups at lunch. The addition of the external outdoor canopies adjacent to the KS4 social space has provided a much needed additional
space to support the increasing number of pupils on roll at the Academy. Pupils are grateful that their learning continuity will not be impacted upon when the winter weather comes and are already making great use of the outside space. Phase 2 windows and door replacement has led to energy efficient savings and a comfortable learning environment for pupils and teaching staff.
RENEWAL OF ROOFS To continue with our thermal efficiency drive, roofs have been replaced, by working in conjunction with Oxford University we have seen a weather station installed which will monitor the weather against fuel efficiency savings.
EXTERNAL WALLS INSULATED AND CLADDING This summer saw our academy theme of blue and white being incorporated into the fabric of our buildings when the external cladding of the main building was replaced this summer. New uPVC windows have also been installed to ensure that we continue the energy efficiency theme throughout the academy and that the whole community can work in a comfortable environment.
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SIR JOSEPH WILLIAMSON’S MATHEMATICAL SCHOOL INTRODUCTORY MESSAGE FROM MR HODGES, HEADTEACHER Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School has enjoyed an excellent start to 2016-17. Following record A level outcomes in August and then best ever performance at GCSE in terms of English Baccalaureate the new year has started very positively. The school is bigger than ever with more than 1250 students now attending and as well as their normal lessons pupils are enjoying a wide range of other activities. Year 7 have settled in well are at the time of writing this are currently enjoying a Kidenza Orchestral Concert provided by the Music department. Later they will be preparing for their first rounds of rugby fixtures having already had a rugby taster day attended by more than 100 Year 7s on Saturday 3rd September.
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Key Stage Four students have also been busy, many Year 11 attending a performance of Macbeth at the Globe Theatre on the first day of term. All of Key Stage Four have also received an Assembly from the Teenage Cancer Trust. The Sixth Form are enjoying their refurbished Study Area and we are pleased to say that we have just received planning permission for stage 2 of the project which will see a significant extension built to the study area. Building will start before half term and be completed prior to Christmas. Mr Hodges, Headteacher Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School
FACILITIES REPORT FROM SIR JOSEPH WILLIAMSON’S MATHEMATICAL SCHOOL Gym – We are delighted with the improvements that have been made to our gym provision over the summer of 2016. It has converted a 1950s Gym, complete with wall bars and climbing ropes to a state of the art facility that will be used extensively both inside and outside the curriculum. Science – In 2012-13 a major refurbishment of Science laboratories took place. This involved the creation of two new laboratories along with the complete refurbishment of existing facilities. Carried out with the support of a Grant for the Wolfson Foundation this will ensure Science facilities at SJWMS are second to none in the local area. In the summer of 2016 a major renovation of sixth form facilities began at SJWMS. Phase one saw the refurbishment of the Sixth Form Study Area to include new toilet facilities, a café and specially designed study facilities. Phase 2 that will start in October will see a significant extension to the study area which will provide outstanding facilities to the more than 360 sixth form students at the school. Recent developments have seen the addition of acoustic absorbent materials to the Sports Hall at SJWMS. This improves the quality of the teaching space significantly and also allows the area to be used for Assemblies and exams.
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Maidstone Road, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3EL T: 01634 844008 F: 01634 818303 E: ellioth@wtrust.co.uk