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Farewell to Jacki Mitchell

By Stuart Mansell, CEO, OWN Trust

At the end of this term, OWN Trust will sadly be saying goodbye to Jacki Mitchell after just over twenty-one years as headteacher of Woodston Primary School. Mrs Mitchell has been the heart and soul of Woodston, taking it from being one of the smallest schools in Peterborough that was on the verge of closing, to the extremely vibrant three form primary school that it is today.

During that time she has led the school through several successful inspections and a whole myriad of memorable moments and dramas. Many of the children cherish the school as their haven of excitement and care.

Mrs Mitchell was also instrumental in establishing OWN Trust as a founder member and has continued to contribute her wealth of experience in supporting the Trust Executive and her relatively new colleagues at Orton Wistow and Nene Valley.

Throughout the twenty-one years she has worked at Woodston, Mrs Mitchell has completely devoted her attention to ensuring that the children have the very best care and support. This has often overspilled into her own time, visiting the homes of those families where the children have been coping with extremely challenging environments.

Equally, she has ensured that the children have received the very best provision in school, whether it is a curriculum tailored to their particular needs, a learning environment that is truly outstanding, school meals that ensure they receive the nutrition that they need, or a Christmas celebration that has included (till now) as many as 30 Christmas trees. Children at Woodston have been made to feel special in so many ways.

Although Mrs Mitchell’s departure is sad for OWN Trust and for Woodston, we do recognise that all good things come to an end. She is taking early retirement (and I have been told to stress the ‘early’ bit!) so will now be able to relish the opportunity to choose what to do with her time. I know she has some plans (you may see her travelling through a Norwegian Fjord at some point!), but nothing has yet been confirmed.

We have no doubt that Mrs Mitchell will make the most of the well-earned change to her lifestyle and wish her a long and happy retirement!

OWN Trust Community Group Meeting 23.05.23

By Fiona Schneider, Marketing and Communications Officer, OWN Trust

The OWN Trust Community Group met at Orton Wistow Primary School on Tuesday 23rd May 2023. Those who attended included Fiona Schneider (OWN Trust Marketing and Communications Officer), Stuart Mansell (OWN Trust CEO), and the OWN Trust Community representatives from NVPS, OWPS, and WPS: Carly Pearson, Jo Simmons, and Kelly Fenton-Bradhaw.

We began by discussing the upcoming community events: the Quiz night for staff on 16th June and the Charity Day on 10th July. The Quiz will be an opportunity for staff from across the schools and Trust central office to get together for an informal evening. The Charity Day will enable all three schools to work together to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. We looked at the practical arrangements around these events.

The rest of the meeting was spent discussing the Community Questionnaire which had been distributed to staff, completed and the results analysed. It was encouraging to see that the number of people who said they felt part of the OWN Trust community has increased since last year, which reflects the positive results from the Edurio survey. 

In terms of initiatives that had made people feel part of the community, the following were mentioned:

• Newsletters
• Events
• Email updates
• Regular meetings
• Good connections and collaborations with counterparts in the other schools
• Cross-Trust Training Days
• Information on display regarding OWN Trust and activities

There are still some areas to work on to further strengthen links across the community including a Communication strategy, interschool children and parents events, increasing the number of social events, and expanding collaboration and training opportunities for all job roles.

It will be exciting to build on the work that has been done this year and continue to enhance the rich, diverse, and impactful network of Trust interactions as we move into the next academic year.

Peterborough Primary Headteachers' Day 13.06.23

By Stuart Mansell, CEO, OWN Trust

We enjoyed another fantastic Peterborough Primary Headteacher Day on Tuesday 13th June, although it was tinged with a little sadness. Facilitated by Peterborough City Council and OWN Trust there were many useful updates. The restructuring of Peterborough and Cambridgeshire was of vital interest to all and led to some of the sadness of the day. Delivered by current Service Director, Jonathan Lewis, it was confirmed that this would be his last meeting in post in Peterborough, as he would be maintaining his post with Cambridgeshire. Jonathan has been instrumental in supporting schools through many recent challenges, not least the COVID pandemic, and will be sorely missed by many colleagues. His successor in an interim role, Chris Baird, was introduced to all delegates.

Presentations on supporting behaviour, managing SEND, project proposals for Special Needs, and Developing Boys’ Writing provided the remainder of the morning information from the Local Authority.

In the afternoon we experienced the sheer joy that is Shonette Bason-Wood. Shonette is well known in both Peterborough and OWN Trust as someone who is devoted to ‘spreading the happiness’. Her motivational keynote speech was aimed at ensuring school leaders have the skills to face some of the most significant challenges facing schools in the modern era. She helps them to do this with a sense of enjoyment so that their own motivation impacts directly on the children for whom they are responsible.

Our next meeting is not until late November, so watch this space.

^{Photo by ian dooley on Unsplash}

Marketing and Communications Group Meeting 5th July 2023

By Fiona Schneider, Marketing and Communications Officer, OWN Trust

On Wednesday 5th July 2023, Nick File and Trevor Goakes (Executive Headteachers at OWN Trust) met with Fiona Schneider (Marketing and Communications Officer, OWN Trust) to discuss the results of the cross-schools parent survey on communications and other matters.

The Communications and Marketing Group was set up this year to develop a shared and agreed understanding of expectations regarding website management and content (including compliance) and other public-facing platforms that raise awareness (including social media, newsletter, publicity, and communications).  

We began the meeting by looking at how marketing and communications' tasks, particularly involving the website, can be delegated and implemented next year. Fiona will be involved in offering or organising training where needed.

We were grateful for all the responses that we received from parents for the recent survey on communications. The feedback will help inform parent-school communications going forward in the form of Communications Guidelines bespoke to each school.

There was overall satisfaction with how the OWN Trust Schools communicate with parents and lots of positive comments. There were some areas to work on, which we hope will further improve the variety and effectiveness of the communication channels offered.

We will be looking at communications across the whole of the Trust over the summer to share good practice and establish a plan for how we can address the areas for improvement. This will take the form of Marketing and Communications Guidelines for schools within the Trust which will be finalised in the autumn term.

We also discussed the integration of Twitter feed updates on the school websites, standardising the results pages, and had an overview of our recent meeting with E4 Education, our website providers.

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 27th September 2023.

Find out what's been happening across the OWN Trust at Orton Wistow, Woodston and Nene Valley Primary Schools.

OWN Trust Charity Day 10th July 2023

On Monday 10th July 2023, the OWN Trust Schools – Woodston Primary School, Nene Valley Primary School, and Orton Wistow Primary School – worked together to raise money for the cancer charity, Macmillan Cancer Support.  

Every year, the OWN Trust Schools hold a Charity Day to support a charity that is close to the heart of one of the schools.   

Last year, Nene Valley Primary School chose the charity, which was the Cavanoma Alliance UK. This year, Woodston Primary School has chosen Macmillan Cancer Support because a member of staff who had cancer and was also a parent in another OWN Trust school sadly passed away recently. Next year, it will be the turn of Orton Wistow Primary School to pick a charity for donations.  

Unfortunately, most people will know someone who has been affected by cancer. There are more than 200 different types of cancer. Each type has its own name and treatment. In the UK, around 360,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year. 

Macmillan Cancer Support is dedicated to supporting millions of people affected by cancer every year. They rely upon voluntary donations for 98% of their income.  

On Monday 10th July 2023, children in Orton Wistow, Nene Valley and Woodston Primary schools were invited to help raise money for Macmillian Cancer Support by:  

• Wearing non-unform (including something green for Macmillan if they wish)  
• Taking part in an active challenge with their class

They all did a fantastic job and worked hard at the active challenges, which included burpees, planks, high knees, star jumps, bunny hops and much more. Well done!

You can see more about what took place by clicking here Nene Valley Primary School - Active in Green for MacMillan and visiting the Orton Wistow Twitter posts with the hashtag #owntrustcharityday2023.

We are so grateful to all those parents who donated to the JustGiving page: OWN Trust is fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support (justgiving.com). The page is still open for donations until Thursday 13th July 2023.

On Friday 14th July, a representative from Macmillan Cancer Support will be visiting each school to officially recognise the donations made by the children and parents.

A special thank you to the OWN Trust Community Representatives Jo, Carly and Kelly for co-ordinating the day within the schools, and to the Office Managers Sam, Kate and Sharon for sending the information out to parents.

More News From the Schools

You can read more about what's been happening in some of the OWN Trust schools by clicking on the links below to view their website news posts:

Nene Valley Primary School

Nene Valley Primary School - PGL 2023

Nene Valley Primary School - Country Dancing

Nene Valley Primary School - Sea Life Adventures

Nene Valley Primary School - Sports Day

For more news at Nene Valley Primary School, please visit - Latest News

Orton Wistow Primary School

Orton Wistow Primary School - Year 4 Anglo-Saxon Village Visit

Orton Wistow Primary School - OWPS Art Gallery

Orton Wistow Primary School - OBA Year 5 Primary Challenge

Orton Wistow Primary School - Visit to Virador Recycling Plant

For more news at Orton Wistow Primary School, please visit - School News

Woodston Primary School

For news at Woodston Primary School, please visit - Latest News

Discover more about how those within the OWN Trust got involved in education and what inspires them to do the job they do!

This week, we learn more about Holly Ellis, Year Two Class Teacher & Art and Drama Lead at Orton Wistow Primary School and OWN Trust Arts and Culture Impact Network Champion.

Beginnings...

 I grew up in Folksworth and attended a small village school as a child. Funnily enough, the primary school I attended was where I got my first job as an NQT. My TA as a teacher was the same TA that I had had as a child at that school. It felt like a full circle moment! As a child, I always dreamed of being a teacher. I often lined all my toys up in a row, took a pretend register and then began to teach them!

My best memories of the school I went to as a child are residentials (Scarborough, Derbyshire and London), summer productions and singing assemblies.

Finding a vocation...

I started working at Explore Learning as a Tutor when I was studying my A-levels. I worked with children aged 4-16, tutoring them in maths, reading and writing following a personalised program. I then went on to lead my own Creative Writing group. I won Tutor of the Month and Tutor of the Year for the Peterborough branch. During Sixth form, I also spent my free periods volunteering in the Junior department at The King's (The Cathedral) School and I also volunteered at Gladstone Primary School during my enrichment afternoons. 

I studied Primary Education with QTS at York St John University. It was a 3-year teacher training course and my placement schools were in Doncaster and Peterborough. I qualified as a teacher at the age of 21. 

Working within the Trust...

I took on my current role at Orton Wistow Primary School to share my passion for the arts with others and to provide opportunities for children to share and celebrate the arts across the Trust. 

So far, we've had a very successful King's Coronation Project, all schools involved in the Field of Colour Project (Peterborough Celebrates Festival) and Orton Wistow and Woodston involved in the Singing Schools Event (also at Peterborough Celebrates Festival).

In my role as OWN Trust Arts and Culture Impact Network Champion, I hope to provide opportunities for the Trust to share and celebrate the arts, and initiate Trust Arts & Culture projects. I also aim to provide additional arts & cultural opportunities across the Trust and to establish good connections with local arts and heritage organisations. 

The children inspire me to do what I do. I also enjoy working in partnership with the other schools in the Trust. It is great to be able to share ideas with colleagues in a similar role. There is a fantastic support network!

Life Lessons...

Give yourself some grace and celebrate successes!

Catch up on what's been happening within the OWN Trust community.

If you'd like to make any suggestions or comments about community activities within the OWN Trust, please have a chat with the OWN Trust Community Representative in your school:

Carly Pearson (NVPS), Joanne Simmons (OWPS) and Kelly Fenton-Bradshaw (WPS).

Recent Events...

OWN Trust Quiz Night

By Fiona Schneider, Marketing and Communications Officer, OWN Trust

On Friday 16th June, OWN Trust held its first staff Quiz Night at Orton Wistow Primary School. Eight teams from across Nene Valley Primary School, Woodston Primary School, Orton Wistow Primary School, and the Trust central office took part.

Year Three Class Teacher, Bethan Strike, did a fantastic job of hosting the event single-handedly. She had prepared a varied and entertaining quiz consisting of several rounds on a variety of topics including celebrities, theme tunes, logos, geography, general knowledge, and much more. To spice things up, there were also Taskmaster rounds, where teams could undertake a challenge to win a cheat sheet for the next round. It was brilliant to see the diverse skill sets on display including making paper aeroplanes, limbo dancing, and hitting a target with a rubber duck!

Everyone who attended brought food for a communal buffet and the resulting spread was a sight to behold. Regular breaks between rounds enabled people to mingle, and it was a lovely opportunity for staff to get to know each other. 

There could only be one winner, however, and it was a team from Woodston Primary School that won first prize. Congratulations to them!

A huge thank-you goes to Bethan for all her hard work in preparing the Quiz and delivering it on the night. There were lots of positive comments about the quiz, which means it might have to become an annual event!

Each half-term, we learn more about the daily life of those who work in the OWN Trust.

This week it's the turn of Adam Charlton, IT Manager at OWN Trust Central Office.

Specific times will be announced to those attending.

Your feedback on the newsletter is invaluable for helping us to make sure that the content is relevant, useful and informative.

Please click on the button below to answer just 3 questions about what you think:

If you have any queries or questions about the OWN Trust, please get in touch...

• For information about the OWN Trust, please email info@own-trust.education or visit https://www.own-trust.education/
   
• For queries about the newsletter, please email marketing-communications@own-trust.education
   
• For questions relating to governance and compliance, please email governance@own-trust.education
   
• For information about OWN Trust policies, please visit the policies' area of the OWN Trust website.

You can also visit our website www.own-trust.education.