Let’s get writing sorted

trust matters Issue 5: June 2018

Children from 11 primary schools visited SBL Academy to hear a talk by the author-illustrator Cressida Cowell. Cressida wrote the bestselling children’s

series, How to Train Your Dragon, and is touring the UK to promote her new novel, The Wizards of Once, a magical adventure story of the warring worlds of Wizards and Warriors.Nearly 600 children were

welcomed by SBL Principal Dean Anderson and many were inspired to hear about Cressida’s writing career, the inspiration behind her books, and her childhood spent on a remote island off the coast of Scotland. She also enthused staff and students alike about her new campaign #FreeWritingFriday, in which each child is allowed to write whatever they want for ten minutes.Cressida said: “Every child should have

one notebook that no one corrects, in which the child writes and draws purely

for the joy of it. In this one notebook, spelling, grammar and neatness should be completely irrelevant – what’s important should be the ideas, and that it’s fun.”SBL librarian Laura Richards, who

organised the visit, said: “The students that attended the event were impeccably behaved and asked some really insightful questions. We were very proud of our SBL Student Librarians and Book Club members who helped out and represented our school. We all had a fantastic time.”It was the latest in a series

of exciting literary events at the school. These have

included a visit from author Sarah Govett and Harry Potter-themed fun, which included students joining Hogwarts’ houses using the amazing Sorting Hat made by talented sixth form student Eleanor Oates.

Exclusive price deals at SBL and Wellsway Sports Centres for Trust stafffrom £11 a month. Walks, running, boot camp - what’s not to like?!!#SummerShapeUp

1086 and all thatChildren from Saltford Primary School visited the reopened Saltford Heritage Centre. They learned about the 1086 Saltford Domesday Book and the timeline which reveals a remarkable history unsurpassed by any other English village.

Enter the dragon Chandag Junior School enjoyed a dance and performance by the Bristol Shaolin Lion and Dragon Troupe, followed by a whole-school Tai Chi session. Everyone took home a fortune cookie memento.

Guest appearanceKai Fletcher, 18, a former pupil of Aspire Academy, was selected to represent the Bath charity Southside at the wedding at Windsor Castle on May 19 of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

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Tots make their debutDebutots is a new lunchtime club for the children in Foundation Stage at Saltford Primary, funded for a year by the Big Lottery - Awards for All. Its interactive storytelling and dramatic play sessions promote speech, language and literacy skills and encourage self-confidence and imagination.

The secret storytellersReception children at Chandag Infants have been enjoying stories from our Mystery Readers. Each week, (sometimes twice a week if they’re lucky), a visitor will read a story to the children. So far they’ve had mums, dads, grannies, grandpas, radio presenters, puppies, babies- and even a story in French!

Exciting times at The Meadows Primary School, latest member of our Trust. A new logo is just the start of it...

Wellsway School has won an award from the Incorporated Society of Musicians for its commitment to music. Students performed a spectacular Night at the Musicals earlier this year and welcomed instrumentalists from the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra for a #BBCtenpieces coaching day.

Investing in our staffStaff Benefits and Wellbeing Our staff benefits are continually being developed as we aim to provide the best for all our employees.

Sport & gym membershipAll WMAT staff are entitled to make use of our gym and fitness classes across the Trust at both Wellsway Sports Centre and SBL Sports Centre at discounted monthly fees.

Exclusive rates are available for WMAT staff including both gym and classes. £15 for one month membership, £13 per month for three months membership or £11 per month for six months membership. Details, timetables and opening times are available from the sports centre receptions.

Cycle Scheme WMAT employees can save at least 25% on a new bike – and if you’ve already

got a bike, save on accessories! Best of all, get a bike and accessories. Pay over 12 months – interest free. For details, go to www.cyclescheme.co.uk

Employee Assistance SchemeAll WMAT employees are entitled to benefits from the Schools Advisory Service, providing access to free health and wellbeing support services including:

• Physiotherapy• Counselling • Slimming World weight management • Nurse support• Cancer and chronic illness support• Medical support

Childcare Vouchers Childcare voucher payments effectively let workers swap untaxed income for childcare. Users pay no income tax and national insurance on the money they spend on childcare – up to a

maximum of £55 per week (for basic rate tax payers). The maximum is reduced for higher rate tax payers. The salary sacrifice scheme can be used by all employees of Wellsway Multi Academy Trust, including part-time and temporary employees, to exchange part of their salary for childcare vouchers.From October 2018 – due to Government changes, the B&NES scheme will be closed to new joiners, but you may be able to get new Tax Free Childcare instead: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/tax-free-childcare

PensionsEligibility to join Teachers’ Pension Scheme or Local Government Pensions Scheme or NEST

Career development• Apprenticeships• Opportunities to work outside your

faculty• Opportunities to work across the Trust

Wellsway Multi Academy Trust Newsletter | Issue 5: June 2018 3

Thanks MikeWorking with Abacus has made us realise it is never too early

to plan for your future. We could not praise Abacus highly enough. Mike has provided us with peace of mind and security for an exciting future. WMAT colleague

High praise for Abacus’s indepen-dent financial advice. They can be contacted on t: 0117 972 8780

Keep up the good work!

Kind thoughts What a lovely idea from Chandag Infant School! Children in Owl Class have made a Compliments Tree where they share kind remarks about one another. “It helps people stay confident and happy,” said Izzy. One to copy?

Employers have praised Year 10 work experience students from IKB Academy for their positive attitudes. All students will have had two weeks’ work experience during the year, which helps them identify roles and experience the workplace. Companies involved include BMW, McBraida, EE, Willmott Dixon, Kier Construction, GKN Aerospace and Barratt Homes. Steven Thompson, from CL Electrical Controls said “Our experience of having a student from IKB on work experience was very positive. I believe work experience is a key part of a student’s education because it gives them a real sense of being in a work environment and helps to prepare them for life after full time education.” Julie Packham, from Universal Balancing, said: “It is always good to offer work experience to students who are genuinely interested in engineering, which is obviously the case with the students from IKB. I think that students

going out in to the workplace more than once during their education is a benefit as this helps to develop their skills, including their communication with adults (other than parents & teachers). It is important for students to experience work that they may not want to do as well as what they enjoy doing.”

Congratulations to Max, Jacob and the team

from Wellsway Sixth on their fantastic endeavours with the 45-mile Ten Tors event, finishing ninth out of 151 teams - a fantastic effort!

Budding Picassos at The Meadows Primary

held an art exhibition as the finale to a successful arts week, parents and friends were able to buy the framed artworks. Money raised will fund more art activities.

Saltford Primary Year 6 pupils worked with SARI (Stand Against Racism and Inequality) to explore racism and racist bullying and how to tackle these issues.

The Bath Studio School hosted auditions for the popular television talent show The Voice. Well done to everyone who took part in this event.

Children from Pod 4 at Chandag Juniors

took part in an indoor sports festival with Marksbury School at Wellsway, hosted by Year 10 sports leaders.Running, jumping and throwing gave them a taste for athletics.

Esther’s Cafe, which has moved into the

SBL sports centre after having to leave The Batch in Cadbury Heath, has been proving very popular. Give it a try next time you visit WMAT HQ!

Sam Hawker at Park Lane Press

Chandag Juniors trying Tai Chi

Health & Wellbeing Services are available to all WMAT colleagues as part of the Schools Advisory Scheme – contact hr@wellswaymat.com for details.And how are you...?

4 Wellsway Multi Academy Trust Newsletter | Issue 5: June 2018 @WellswayMat@WellswayMat

Simply the best...

Kerrie Willington joins Chandag Infant School in September as Deputy Headteacher. Kerrie is coming to us from a school in Wales and has a track record of raising standards and outstanding teaching.

Children at St John’s made cards to say

farewell to Tor Manuel before her move to the

WMAT central team

Steven Smith has been appointed area estates manager. Steven joins WMAT from the Olympus Academies Trust where he held the post of multi-site maintenance manager. Steven has a wealth of previous experience in many different aspects of estates and facilities management. He will be based at SBL but will support other schools (initially The Meadows, Saltford and Bath Studio/Aspire) and will also have some Trust-wide responsibilities.

Sarah Temple has become the Zest catering support manager. She is based at SBL alongside Claire Mansri, who has returned from maternity leave and now works Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Sarah can be contacted on stemple@wellswaymat.com or by telephone on 0793 949 1608 or 01454 868 016.

Laura Kinchella has joined the Trust as community and business development manager from the SGS WISE sports campus at Stoke Gifford. She says the Trust’s sites have amazing potential to create leisure opportunities for people in the areas we serve and at the same time to generate income that can be ploughed back into our schools.

The following staff have been appointed leading teachers for the Trust: Jon Godwin, Saltford, Helen Muncer, Chandag Juniors, Trish Nethercott and Liz Spincer, both Saltford, and Susy Summers, Aspire;

And finally... many congratulations to Trust stalwart Mary Ainsworth, who was married on April Fools Day and is now Mary Parker.

Staffing news

A last word from Mrs Arlidge, CEOThis academic year is speeding by and the season of SATs and GCSEs is already upon us. I’d like to take this chance to wish all our students every success and to thank the staff, parents and carers who are supporting them so well. The current Year 11 and their teachers have had a challenging time because this is the first year of the full range of the new content-driven GCSEs with exams at the end, but we are confident they

have risen splendidly to the challenge. It is not just us that are saying this either; Ofsted has visited three of our secondary schools so far during 2017-18 and inspectors have found many signs of progress. We were proud and delighted that Wellsway School maintained its Good rating and SBL Academy was judged to be improving strongly. Most recently, it was lovely to receive endorsement of IKB Academy as “a popular and successful

school built from scratch.” The Trust has developed a good deal this year and is adding value to its schools. Meanwhile, as this newsletter shows, students and staff are not only working hard, but are having a lot of fun along the way!