Founding schools celebrate the launch of Warwick Schools Foundation Multi Academy Trust

Following the launch of the Warwick Schools Foundation Multi Academy Trust on 1 September, Clapham Terrace Community Primary School and Nursery, Evergreen School, and Westgate Primary School each held celebratory ceremonies last week.

A new beginning for our schools

The Heads of each school spoke of an exciting new beginning for their schools, with three salient themes arising across the week – family, opportunities, and the strengthening of existing relationships.

Both the Heads and MAT representatives in attendance spoke fondly of the close-knit family feeling that the Trust creates — in a literal sense, as a family of schools, but also familial in the sharing of resources and experiences and in looking out for one another. Richard Nicholson, WSF MAT CEO and Warwick Schools Foundation Principal, spoke to the pupils about this sense of family, likening the Trust and its schools to family members moving to a street nearby, allowing you to meet up more often and do great things together.

Pupils are at the heart of the Trust’s objectives; improving their educational experience is the primary aim. As such, a repeated message was that the Trust will create multiple exciting opportunities. At each of the ceremonies, pupils were reminded of some of the prior opportunities that they have been afforded by collaborating with the Foundation, and were encouraged to share what they want to do in the coming months. MAT representatives, such as WSF MAT Director Richard Williams, said that he would be a friendly face for the pupils in the times ahead, and that if they came to him with an idea, he would do his very best to make it happen. Matthew Weston, Headteacher at Westgate Primary School, stressed to his pupils the importance of grabbing opportunities when they arise – ‘it is not the things you do that you regret, but the things that you do not do’.

Certainly, the creation of the Trust represents a continuation and strengthening of existing relationships that the schools have enjoyed for some time. At Clapham Terrace, Head Teacher Julie Miles reflected on their existing links with the Foundation, looking back fondly with her pupils at the times when they took part in a rounders festival using Kingsley’s sports fields and a netball tournament at King’s High School. Pupils at Clapham Terrace and Westgate are also familiar with Sixth Form pupils from Warwick Schools Foundation, as they often visit to read stories as part of their Friday afternoon activities, with Dr Burley, Head Master at King’s High School, telling Westgate pupils that his students cannot wait to help again this year. Evergreen School’s relationship with the Foundation dates back several years, and in recent times has included Foundation pupils assisting Evergreen pupils at their Holiday Club. Westgate School has also enjoyed collaborating with the Foundation throughout their musical String Project.

A historical day and cause for inspiration

At each of the ceremonies, the Heads and Trust representatives spoke about the historical nature of the occasion, and how it marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter. At Clapham Terrace’s ceremony, Head Teacher Julie Miles echoed this sentiment by reflecting on historical moments throughout the school’s history, and said to her pupils that in many years, that this day would be looked upon in the same vein.

On these symbolic occasions, each of the schools unveiled commemorative plaques that recognised their role as one of the Trust’s founding schools.

In addition to the pupils and staff, several WSF MAT Executives and Trustees were present, whilst we were also honoured to welcome Jacki D’Arcy, Mayor of Warwick to the ceremonies at Evergreen School and Westgate Primary School, and Ruggy Singh, Mayor of Royal Leamington Spa to the ceremony at Clapham Terrace.

A full circle moment was realised when Mr Singh informed Head Teacher Julie Miles that he in fact went to Clapham Terrace when he was a young boy - providing a source of immense inspiration for the pupils.

In many ways, this revelation personified the creation of the MAT and the occasion itself; through collaboration, the affording of opportunities, and the right support network, the young people in our community can achieve truly outstanding things.