We are delighted to have further developed our family of schools this term with 2 new schools joining Kingfisher Learning Trust. Littlemoor Primary School converted to academy status on 1st January 2022 and our new Free School, Halcyon Way opened its doors to pupils.
We have also entered into a Trust Partnership with an Oldham primary school which again is providing further learning opportunities for our schools. This reinforces the principles underpinning our Collaborative Learning Partnership with a group of primary and secondary special schools across neighbouring authorities, where we are developing practice and provision from a wider perspective. We are also continuing to lead the Oldham SEND development offer to help mainstream schools in their work towards ensuring an effective inclusive provision for a greater number of children and young people.
We are delighted to have appointed a new Director of Primary, Kayleigh Byrne, who currently works for Focus Trust and will join us after Easter. We are extremely fortunate to have appointed someone with such a high level of knowledge and skills, especially in school improvement and we are very much looking forward to Kayleigh joining the team. Kayleigh will help us in ensuring that our intent remains resolute – our growth is about quality rather than quantity of Trust schools, creating a more meaningful, powerful, conceptualisation of what success looks like for Trusts, especially in a post-pandemic world. Too much of the sector’s rhetoric resonates with how many schools and how many pupils are in Trusts rather than how their schools give children the best educational and childhood experiences possible and how they prepare them to thrive in the modern world. Kingfisher Learning Trust’s model is of sustainability in terms of recognising that success is not simply about size; rather it is about shared vision and underpinning values, collaboration, and the development and growth of people, with a long-term commitment and contribution from all within the Trust.
With this in mind, it is a good time to return to our Intent, Values and Vision and why we do what we do. We have said many times that we are not an expansionist Trust, but as a values-led organisation and with an intent underpinned by integrity, that we are looking to work in partnership with like-minded schools built upon meaningful and respectful relationships with high aspirations for all of the children, young people and staff within each school. We have remained resolute in ensuring that growth is not too rapid and as such, we ensure that the necessary capacity, personnel and processes are in place to support any development without detriment to the quality of education we provide. We live in a world that is often one of competition, different value-sets or growth at all costs and sometimes this could obstruct our journey. However, in the face of adversity, and being able to put our heads on our pillows at night, we must always ensure that we uphold what we believe and, as we grow in whatever form that takes, we ensure every child in our care receives the best possible learning opportunities. In terms of numbers, we do need to ensure we are sustainable, but at the same time we need to ensure that our narrative remains about quality rather than quantity.
This year will bring both opportunities and challenges – but as we move forward as one Trust, we can be sure that we will be able to work together and support each other to ensure the best possible provision for the children we serve.
All the best
Anne Redmond
