CEO Blog - 28.2.25

Happy Friday, everyone!

We're about to enter March and this week, we've seen some tentative signs of spring and even a little bit of sunshine.

It's great to see our schools using the outdoors, and I'm sure that will continue as the weather warms up.

There is nowhere else to start this week than at Hawthorns, where one of our dedicated leaders has reached a significant milestone.

Janet Sarno, Deputy Head at Hawthorns, has just reached 40 years of service to the school.

This is an incredible achievement and the whole MAT is incredibly proud to mark this milestone with Mrs Sarno.

The impact that she has had on the school, the students, the families, the staff and the wider community cannot be overestimated.

From everyone at New Bridge, I want to pass on our heartfelt congratulations for 40 years' service.

The school has been privileged to have you there, working tirelessly for such a long time.

Thank you, Janet!

Elsewhere, our Destiny students at Future Finders paid a visit to the BBC.

You can read all about it here:

https://www.futurefinders.org/News/Visit-to-the-BBC/

Please do follow the links to LinkedIn and Instagram to see more photographs of their day.

We also recently hosted a hugely successful iPad tour across two of our schools, New Bridge School and Samuel Laycock School, where we invited school leaders from across the country to see some of the amazing ways iPads are being used within our schools.

Some of the activities observed were phenomenal.

Leaders observed how iPads are integrated within the Maths, English and Music curriculum, the different ways iPads are used to support communication with built-in accessibility features, and how iPads are used a method of engagement for learners with complex physical and sensory needs.

We asked the school leaders what would they take away from the tour, here are just a few of the comments:

We left feeling really inspired by where our journey can take us with our SEND pupils.

(Anna Lister, St. Paul's CE Primary School)

So many areas. Assistive technology. Use of Showbie. Music. Pupil engagement.

(Jen Lomas, Watermill Special School)

Seeing the tech being used by pupils with such high levels of engagement and independence in their own learning.

(Dan Blundred, The Axis Academy)

The key take away was the inclusivity of the iPads.

(Chris Moore, The Link Education Trust)

A huge thank you to all the staff and young people who shared the various ways iPads are integrated into teaching and learning.

That's it from me this week.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and that the sun starts to shine again.

Clare