Dear Parents and Carers
As we move to the final week of this term I’m emailing with a summary of some areas we have been working on in our schools and an update regarding our staffing situation.
Staff Absence:
Firstly, and frustratingly, like many schools in the South Lakes, we continue to have daily reviews of staff absence and, as you know, regrettably had to do a partial closure last week. Unfortunately we have come close to that this week as well with over 9% of colleagues off unwell. As I mentioned in earlier emails, we are immensely appreciative of supply colleagues and teaching staff who have stepped in to keep us open; we know it is disruptive to have lots of cover staff but continue to do all we can to stay open. Please rest assured that it is a last resort if I ever have to do a partial or full closure. Mercifully, so far, although some colleagues have been pretty unwell, most are returning as they recover and all are keen to do so!
Staff changes:
Rachael Whyte and Jane Bradshaw are leaving the MFL department to pastures new at the end of April. Having given 4 and 8 years to the teaching of languages at QES and supporting children as buoyant and positive Form Tutors, we wish them all the very best in this next chapter.
Jim Williams our Network Manager is also leaving us to work at a neighbouring school after 17 years and we know after his years of growing and developing this significant aspect of our large organisation how lucky they are to have him. He has supported colleague David Gradwell in his characteristically warm and decent way over the years and we are delighted to say we have appointed David as his successor.
Behind the scenes Tim Johnson has worked in our site team for 16 years and he is retiring. We are fortunate to have a large open site that has grown considerably over the years and Tim has been a constant colleague keeping the environment at its best – we wish him a long and happy retirement.
After 17 years with us, Jen Hartley is leaving us to complete her PhD and continue her role with the Royal Northern College of Music. Many of you will know the indefatigable qualities of Jen and her contributions to the heart of our schools over the many years she was Head of Music. So many of us have enjoyed the fruits of her labour in concerts and productions over the years too, not to mention her inspirational teaching and the support and care she has given to students over her time with us.
Other colleagues are retiring or moving on next term or in the summer and I will write to update you about these changes nearer the time. In the meantime we are currently advertising for an Assistant Headteacher with a focus on pastoral and standards and an Economics and Business Studies teacher and we are about to interview for a PE teacher and a teacher of Modern Foreign Languages.
Many colleagues stay in our schools and make their careers here and I know that many of our parents and carers have themselves been taught by teachers currently working here. It is a lovely aspect of our community and I’m sure you will share my sentiments in wishing all of these great colleagues and friends all the very best for this next chapter in their lives.
Events this term:
Remarkably, despite key colleagues falling to Covid at the last hurdle, two casts of Annie have managed to keep the show going and it has been absolutely fantastic.
Sporting fixtures have continued to flourish – occasionally we have had to cancel due to needing colleagues in school but for the most part we have managed to keep matches going including the recent Rosslyn Park tour in which our students acquitted themselves admirably. Equally our Year 10 Duke of Edinburgh students are having fantastic weather for their Bronze practice expedition – let’s hope it is as fabulous for their final venture.
We have had visits from different professions in school as part of our careers lunch time drop ins – from vets (with their wonderful animals!) to paramedics, we have had a theatre trip to see ‘Blue Belle’ at The Lowry and we are planning next Tuesday’s Spring Concert. It is hard to reconcile the energy and vibrancy of school as we embrace the Spring and resurgence of these events with the large absences and challenges this poses, but we are so keen to keep the sense of positivity in the air.
After Easter we will be launching more fully the new Behaviour for Learning Policy. Pupils are having assemblies this week and next, colleagues are being fully briefed, Trustees and Governors have reviewed the developments and next week we will be in touch with some of the key areas, in particular how we hope to develop our communications with you and how you can support us.
We will email next week with more details about this development amongst other areas of school life.
As always, please don’t wait for a formal meeting time to raise any query or concern, and thank you for your ongoing support. I sincerely hope I am not in contact with you about any partial or full closure over the next day, week or month.
With best wishes
Cathy O’Neill
Executive Headteacher
