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The Journal online: www.lowestoftjournal24.co.uk
Friday, March 25, 2016
Transforming teaching through working together
LINKS: Headteacher Martyn Picture: NICK BUTCHER Payne.
After taking over as headteacher at Pakefield Primary School in January 2014, Martyn Payne said that the links with the Lowestoft Hub schools and the trust was very successful. He said: “I have worked together with the trust to transform teaching and learning for our children at the school. The cross hub work in and out of Lowestoft has added value to the
experiences that the children receive. “Our work together and support for each is fundamental to the success across all of our schools. The peer support, development programmes and professional conversations enable all staff to have the highest of expectations and knowledge of up to day pedagogy: especially in the changing times of assessment without levels.” He added: “Personally, the joint working of the Lowestoft headteachers helps me to remain focused on not only my school but all of the children in our Lowestoft community.” Highlighting the good work that had been done to help the school improve, and continue to progress in the future, Mr Payne added: “We all strive for excellence. All of the staff in school are committed to providing the children with the best experiences and opportunities which help them to become successful adults. “The Active Learning Trust continue to support our ethos and values by providing us with good quality support for teaching and learning yet allowing us the autonomy to explore and implement what is best for our children at the school.”
SUCCESS: Andy Redman is the Lowestoft hub lead at Active Learning Trust. Mr Redman at Westwood Primary School with headteacher Rae Aldous and some of the children. Picture: NICK BUTCHER
A united approach is By MARK BOGGIS mark.boggis@archant.co.uk
FAREWELL: Left to right: Andrea Hall (Headteacher) Pauleen Marriot, Helen Capron (outgoing chairman) Andy Currie, Stephen Jay (incoming chairman) Kelly Gamble, Mary Hibbard and Tracy Garnier.
New chairman of governors looks forward to the role The Active Learning Trust has appointed a new chair man of governors at Grove Primary School in Lowestoft. Stephen Jay, previously chair of the finance committee, will take over from Helen Capron, who has been a governor at Grove for almost four years and chairman since 2014. The role includes supporting the head teacher at the school, Andrea Hall, to ensure the community’s positive perception of the school is maintained. Ms Capron is leaving the role as she is relocating, and was keen to praise the team who have supported her. “It is with reluctance that I have had to step down as chair,” she said. “I am confident though that Stephen [Jay] will carry on the good work that has been started and that Grove will carry on going from strength to strength. The role is a voluntary one, and Gary Peile, chief executive of The
Active Learning Trust, said: “I, and the whole trust, want to thank Helen for her unwavering support to Grove Primary since the school became part of the trust. “The trust is delighted that Stephen is prepared to step up from his role as chair of the finance committee to become the chair of our Local Governing Body and we look forward to working with Andrea and Stephen to carry on the excellent work.” Mr Jay started his new role this week. He said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to become chairman of governors at Grove. “I would like to thank Helen for the help and support she has shown towards me and wish her and her family well in their new venture. “I am looking forward to working with the gover ning body and the Active Learning Trust and supporting Grove and its pupils to achieve the recognition that they deserve.”
“There is buzz in all the schools, with people really wanting to move things forward, to raise aspirations....” That was the reaction of one headteacher who has overseen great improvements for the benefit of youngsters in south Lowestoft. Having been headteacher of Westwood Primary School since September 2012 – her first headship – Rae Aldous has worked with the Active Learning Trust (ALT) to transform the school on Westwood Avenue. With careful recruitment of outstanding staff and targeted school improvement, she has successfully led the school out of special measures. The school has been transformed resulting in a learning community, which is said to be both happy and harmonious, and where strong leadership ensures positive outcomes for all children and their families. Mrs Aldous said: “The support I have had from ALT in moving the school forward in terms of quality, continuing professional development (CPD) is fantastic. The collaboration with Andy (Redman) and the other schools has led to rapid improvements. “I am speaking for all five headteachers (involved with the trust), and this is high quality support from an expert.” Highlighting significant developments and progression at Westwood, Mrs Aldous said: “The school has been transformed. It is a completely different place – and the other four headteachers would say the same, that their schools have been transformed. “There is a buzz in all the schools, with people really wanting to move things forward, to raise aspirations and to get parents on board. “This collaboration across the five schools is key in moving things forward.” For Mr Redman, the Lowestoft Hub
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES ON THE COAST
A united approach is at the heart of schools within the Lowestoft Hub – with collaboration being key to system-wide improvement. Former headteacher, and the Lowestoft hub standards advisor, Andy Redman, said that the five primary schools are working together in Lowestoft, helping to overcome many of the challenges faced by their coastal communities. He said: “The coastal school conundrum, highlighted once more by the recent Social Market Foundation report of January 2016, is characterised by a lack of good teachers, low aspirations, educational isolation and difficulties brought about by changes to education policy. “At the Active Learning Trust (ALT), our learning hubs, based geographically in Cambridge, Lowestoft and Ipswich, are designed to create strong professional partnerships across
standards advisor with the Active Learning Trust, the schools are “flourishing.” He said: “It is flourishing and it has been really positive having the schools on board. Westwood, Grove and Red Oak have been working
all ALT academies, and to stimulate and support schools across all these challenges. “The coastal Lowestoft Hub is built on the foundations of a traditional partnership in the south of Lowestoft. Initially three primary schools, Grove, Red Oak (formally Fen Park) and Westwood (formally Whitton Green), formed the basis for the hub and, in the past year, this has expanded to include Pakefield and Reydon primary schools. “In recent years, employment levels in Lowestoft have declined at a more rapid rate than seen nationally, resulting in some significant areas of deprivation. “To combat low expectations, significant changes in leadership and staffing have taken place in many of the schools,” Mr Redman said. “New headteachers are not only responsible for the outcomes for children and families in their own schools, but also for those across the hub. It is this collaborative approach to the education of the children in south Lowestoft that is making the difference. With high expectations in the quality of teaching and learning, pupil progress and attainment has significantly improved and the aspirations of the communities are being raised. Pupil behaviours are now a strength, and core learning behaviours such as risk-taking, resilience, resourcefulness, reflectiveness and relationships, permeate through every school.” together for some time, with Reydon and Pakefield joining last year. “The schools are working together, sharing experiences and raising aspirations. At pupil level, the varied shared events, such as maths, spelling, able writing, computing