CEO Blog - 10.1.25

Welcome back, everyone!

I hope you all had a refreshing break and are feeling recharged as we start this new term together.

We still have dark mornings but they will only get lighter!

Firstly, I want to say thank you to all our staff and families during what has been an exceptionally challenging period with the weather.

Your efforts to ensure that our children and young people remain safe are very much appreciated. We understand the challenges posed when schools close, but we will always act in the best interests of everyone's safety.

If you haven't heard the news, I am delighted to formally welcome Thomas Ashton School (TAS) into our trust.

It was a pleasure to spend Monday with their team for the training day, and I want to extend a warm welcome to Alan Harrison, who will be serving as the interim headteacher.

I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for both Thomas Ashton and our trust now that they are officially onboard.

As you might expect, our work this term has kicked off with great momentum. We recently held a members meeting where we discussed the strategy and direction of the trust.

It’s encouraging to see the strategic developments underway.

The Area Schools Partnership (ASP) work is gaining some headway, and our internal and external offerings are taking shape.

I’m also engaging in interesting meetings to align these efforts with the formal review of our school improvement framework.

In addition to these developments, our executive team has met to develop our response to the parliamentary call for evidence on 'solving the SEND crisis.'

It’s vital that our voice is heard at the highest level, as we are committed to shaping the future of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in a constructive way.

I also had the privilege of attending the Future Finders directors meeting, where we highlighted the fantastic outcomes for our young people.

It was encouraging to see the impact of the Destination Champion videos, and even more inspiring to hear that some of our former students have returned to share their journeys with current students.

Their stories are a powerful way to motivate and inspire the next generation.

As we look ahead to 2025, I can’t help but feel excited about the opportunities it holds for us.

I look forward to meeting many of our staff, students and families in the coming weeks to share in our collective vision for the future.

Clare John
CEO
New Bridge MAT