This week's edition includes:

Developing a ‘star quality workforce’

By Nick File, Acting Headteacher, Nene Valley Primary School, OWN Trust

Since I entered senior leadership as an assistant head, staff development has always been a high priority for me. Confident, capable, and conscientious staff at all levels lead to successful outcomes for children. I believe that many people have the potential to be great teachers with the correct support and nurture. Many fail to achieve this not because they do not have the potential but because they do not have role models who demonstrate a ‘star quality’ explicitly, or do not receive CPD in a targeted way do develop these ‘star qualities’ – which I have learnt as a leader is often very difficult to organise!

Tom Sherrington and Oliver Caviglioli talk about ‘Star quality’ in their research. The development of instructional coaching guides supports the profession’s ability to have a professional dialogue around the key elements of teaching or the ‘star’ behaviours that lead to high-quality teaching.

It is tempting to think that recruiting ‘star’ personnel would solve problems of poor teaching, but in the long term, this doesn’t develop the existing staff and therefore will always lead to elements of poorer delivery. Habits and behaviours developed within existing staff, at every level from midday supervisor to teacher or even school leader should be the goal of an organisation looking for success. In order to create a workforce of ‘stars’, leaders need to look at what behaviours and habits are demonstrated by the more skilled or successful staff. By cultivating these behaviours - modelling and teaching them - more of the workforce will then have more successful relationships and learning experiences with children.

My time at Nene Valley, from the deputy’s role through to 18 months of Acting Headship, has been most rewarding in seeing adults grow as much as the children we educate. Teaching can often be seen as a set of standards to tick rather than a group of behaviours to learn. Until this changes, the profession will continue to have inconsistent conversations led by personal preference and favoured individuals.

Nick File

Acting Headteacher

Nene Valley Primary School

^{Photo by Tim Hüfner on Unsplash}

Discover what's been happening at the OWN Trust over the last half-term.

Audit & Risk Committee Update

By David Perkins, Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, OWN Trust

This term the Audit & Risk Committee was focused on the Trust’s increasing maturity around the management of our Estates, IT, Internal Scrutiny arrangements and approach to risk. Discussions included our plans to maintain the ageing parts of the buildings, the ongoing development of our IT estate and several process improvements that are underway.  

There continues to be an emerging risk around funding, which means that effective planning and prioritisation is going to be critical moving forward. Thankfully, a recent governance review of the Trust highlighted that we have a strong approach to Risk Management and this should enable us to make the right choices.  I’d like to thank everyone who gives up their evenings to attend the Audit & Risk Committee and for their commitment to risk and compliance.

^{Photo by Dulcey Lima on Unsplash}

Finance and HR Committee Meeting 30.06.22

By Ian Ramshaw, Chair of Finance and HR Committee, OWN Trust

It’s the last day of June, a lovely light Thursday evening and the weather is finally beginning to pick up. Outside the air is heady with the smell of barbecues and the distant sounds of dad rock.

But, inside some Peterborough homes, a group of people eschew the hedonistic delights of one of England’s 100 best cities to live in, and give up their own time to provide a service to our schools and the local community by taking part in the Finance & HR Committee of the Own Trust via zoom.

On this day we reviewed:

• The Trust's budget with focus on the impact of inflation, the cost-of-living crisis, impact of government funding and beyond the immediate budget horizon.
• Recruitment strategies and tactics and well-being
• Procedures and policies

On behalf of our schools and local community, I thank each and every person that attended the committee and look forward to the next one in the Autumn term.

^{Photo by Clark Van Der Beken on Unsplash}

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

OWN Trust Charity Non-Uniform Day

On Friday 10th June, Orton Wistow Primary School, Woodston Primary School and Nene Valley Primary School participated in an OWN Trust Charity Non-Uniform Day to raise money for the Cavernoma Alliance UK.

Children in all three of the OWN Trust Schools were invited to wear non-uniform and bring in a donation of £1.

We are delighted to announce that a grand total of £1,118.36 was raised by all three schools combined!

What is Cavernoma?

A cavernoma is made up of abnormal blood vessels and can be found in the brain and/or spinal cord and looks like a raspberry. Cavernomas are also known as cavernous angioma, cavernous haemangioma or cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM). They can measure from a few millimetres to several centimetres. A cavernoma can get bigger, but this engorgement is not cancerous and does not spread to other parts of the body.

Sometimes the cells lining the blood vessels ooze small amounts of blood (inwards) within the cavernoma, or (outwards) into the surrounding tissue. The risk of re-bleeding varies widely and is difficult to predict accurately.

1 person in 600, in the UK, has a brain cavernoma without symptoms (asymptomatic). This equates to roughly 90,000 people – enough to fill Wembley Stadium. A spinal cavernoma is rarer than a brain cavernoma.

Cavernoma also occurs in other areas of the body, such as the spine.

Whilst people with cavernoma have things in common, each person remains unique. This should be considered for each individual who may require both lifelong support and medical attention.

Why was the Cavernoma Alliance UK charity chosen?

The Cavernoma Alliance UK has been chosen as OWN Trust charity this year because cavernoma affects the family of one of Nene Valley’s former pupils and former staff members.

It was the first time that Woodston, Nene Valley, and Orton Wistow Primary School have undertaken a joint charity initiative.  We hope to make it an annual event and raise money for a different charity each year.

For more information about the Cavernoma, Alliance UK, please visit https://cavernoma.org.uk/

^{Photo by Nicola Fioravanti on Unsplash}

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

Farewell to Simon Eardley

By Stuart Mansell, CEO, OWN Trust

At the end of this term, OWN Trust will sadly be saying goodbye to Simon Eardley, headteacher of Orton Wistow Primary School. Mr Eardley has been extremely successful in leading the school since January 2006, and was instrumental in establishing OWN Trust as a founder member. He has taken the school through its expansion, overseeing a substantial building development, to the 2-form entry school that it is now. During his time as headteacher, he has been visited by Ofsted on several occasions, for both full inspections and curriculum visits, all recognising the quality of leadership that he has provided. He has since progressed to be a Lead Ofsted Inspector himself!

Throughout the seventeen years he has worked at Orton Wistow, Mr Eardley has given his full commitment to the school, enriching the children’s learning and developing outstanding relationships with parents and the local community. He always throws himself wholeheartedly into the activities that take place; especially when it involves dressing up! Whether it’s full Elton John regalia in lockdown or Gangsta Granny for World Book day, Mr Eardley doesn’t hold back.

Although his departure is sad for OWN Trust and for Orton Wistow, we do recognise that Mr. Eardley’s move is the right one for him at this time in his career. Not yet ready for retirement, he will be using his skills as a leader and an Ofsted Inspector to take on the role of Director of Primary Education at a Multi-academy Trust near to where he lives. This will involve working with headteachers to maintain oversight of standards and improvement in the 4 schools within the Trust. We have no doubt that he will give this new role the same level of commitment that he has given to OWN Trust, and I am sure the Trust and Orton Wistow staff, parents and children will join us in wishing him every success.

OWN Trust Cupcakes to Launch New Branding

In the first week of September, OWN Trust will launch its new logo and branding, and is celebrating by inviting all staff to enjoy cupcakes, see the new branding and 5-Year Plan, and chat to OWN Trust central office staff during the week commencing 05.09.22. The events will take place on the following days:

Tuesday 6^th September 2022 - Nene Valley Primary School - from 10.15am in the staff room.

Wednesday 7^th September 2022 - Woodston Primary School - from 10.30am in the staff room.

Friday 9^th September 2022 - Orton Wistow Primary School - from 10.30am in the staff room.

A big THANK YOU to Tina Edwards (Catering Managers, WPS), Elizabeth Anderson (Catering Manager, OWPS) and Deborah Donnor (Catering Manager, NVPS) for baking the cupcakes.

OWN Trust Community Working Party Update

By Fiona Schneider, Digital Lead, OWN Trust

On Wednesday 22nd June 2022, the second meeting of the OWN Trust Community Working Party took place at Woodston Primary School. Representatives from each of the Trust schools - Kelly Bradshaw-Fenton (WPS) and Hayley Fidgett (OWPS) - together with Stuart Mansell (OWN Trust CEO) and Fiona Schneider attended the meeting. Carly Pearson (NVPS) sent her apologies.

We looked at the results of the recent staff questionnaire which aimed to find out if staff felt they belonged to the OWN Trust Community.  The results were very positive with only a small proportion feeling that they did not belong, and some feeling that 'maybe' they belonged, mainly due to not having yet had an opportunity to meet with counterparts from other schools because of COVID-19 restrictions.  

For those people who do feel part of the OWN Trust Community, the following reasons were given:

• Moderation meetings 

• Being involved in School Partnership Programme 

• Good communications 

• Opportunities to network 

• CPD and Training opportunities 

• Senior Leaders and Trust staff being visible and approachable 

• Trust Newsletter providing information 

• Regular meetings with counterparts giving a shared sense of direction 

• Borrowing/sharing resources increases contact 

• People taking an interest in roles and opinions 

• Positive and encouraging working relationships 

• Subject level meetings 

• SEND, Safeguarding, Leadership, Office managers meetings, and PE links 

• Sharing good practice to have a consistent approach 

We then discussed how to increase people's sense of belonging with more opportunities for people to forge meaningful links across the Trust and across job roles. We identified the following opportunities, many of which are already taking place and will be strengthened during the new academic year:

• Professional Events e.g. Training, CPD inset days 

• Professional Collaboration e.g subject leader meetings, shadowing, mentors 

• Staff Social Events involving whole schools or groups 

• Interschool events involving children and staff, with parents attending 

• Community/Charity Events involving staff and children 

• Digital links 

Stuart has asked the Working Party to present on their work so far at the Trust Day on 02/09/22. 

The date of next meeting is Wednesday 16th November 2022 at 1pm.

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 Joanne Simmons, Year Six Teacher and DT/PSHE Lead at Orton Wistow Primary School, and Hannah Bannister, Teacher at Woodston Primary School.

Before I come to work I...wake up and get ready for the day. I have a strong cup of tea and watch the news on TV. Before I leave for work, I take my puppy out for his morning walk.

My typical day includes...teaching a wonderful class of year 4 children. Each day, I teach a couple of lessons focusing on English and Maths. In the afternoon, I have great fun looking at a topic that relates to our engaging English book.

Right now I'm feeling...very content. I am surrounded by lovely children, and I am part of a fantastic and supportive team.

My favourite work snack is...cheese and onion crisps and cucumber (not together!).

To relax I...love to get stuck in a good book.

My most memorable moment is...creating paper mache volcanoes and letting them erupt on the school field!

One day, I would like to...go inter-railing around the world.