letter to beccles parents - staffing - 21 march 2016 pdf v2

8/19/2019 Letter to Beccles Parents - STAFFING - 21 March 2016 PDF v2

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22 March 2016

Dear Parents / Carers,

As the Easter holiday approaches, I felt it was important that I updated you onstaffing developments for the coming year. Last year we were extremely pleased to

have secured three colleagues with Senior Leadership Team experience. The impactof Mrs Power to maths and the pastoral team; Miss Field to Science and STEM andMrs Rodden to English has been deeply significant. In light of this I am delighted tosay that in order to support staffing over the coming year we have recruited threemore colleagues with an SLT background. At the same time it is also important topause and thank colleagues who have made fabulous contributions to students'learning and well being at Beccles Free School.

Mr Mutimer is leaving us this Easter term in order to focus his time on his family andlook after his parents. I would like to once again thank Mr Mutimer for the

phenomenal contribution he has made to life of students at the school. It is nosurprise to colleagues that Mr Mutimer is keen to ensure his examination groups arestill well prepared going into the final term. Consequently although Mr Mutimer istechnically leaving, he will be coming back to work with his GCSE classes after Easter.In addition I am very pleased that Mrs Brown has already joined us and will beworking with Mr Mutimer this week to ensure there is a smooth transition for all of MrMutimer's classes. Mrs Brown has considerable experience as a Science teacher, as aSENCO and as a senior teacher and brings experience and expertise to our team.Further to this, in September, Mr Butler, who is currently an Assistant Headteacherworking with Nord Anglia International Schools, will join the Science team and take aleading role in supporting staff and students in the effective use of digital technology,focusing in particular on the use of chrome books.

Mrs Gittins having given years of professional support to students in teaching modernforeign languages is retiring this term. The teaching of French is a central aspect ofour curriculum and I would like to thank my colleague for her hard work andcommitment. It is a testament to Mrs Gittins' desire to develop learning that in thelast few weeks she has set up a partnership project with Beccles Museum andarranged for the school to act as a hub for other schools in the sharing of goodpractice with Modern Foreign Languages. As with Mr Mutimer, Mrs Gittins will becoming back in after Easter to support Year 11 with their examinations. In order to

further strengthen the preparation for the exams, Mrs Swan will be working with the


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students, drawing on her own considerable experience with teaching GCSE French. Itwas lovely, at the most recent Parents' Open Forum to hear parents / carers speakvery positively about the support Mrs Gittins has given. Over the next term Mr Bishop,an experienced languages teacher who has been working with us for the past term,will continue to teach thereby providing continuity for the students. He will be joined

by Mr. Pilato who is also an experienced French teacher. Looking towards next year,earlier in the term we were extremely fortunate to secure Mrs Bojang, who is takingon Mrs Walker's post who has also retired this term. We wish Mrs Walker well andthank her for all that she has done for the school. This week we are interviewing for asecond colleague to join the team and help continue to take languages forward.

As an English teacher myself, I am naturally very pleased to say that we haveappointed Mr Morris as Subject Leader for English, Drama and Literacy. Mr Morris,whose experience includes being an Assistant Headteacher and Advanced SkillsTeacher, joins us at Easter. Naturally Miss Best will continue in leading Drama and Mrs

Barratt will return at the end of the summer as an English teacher, having had a babyin December. Consequently Mr Morris will take on the Mrs Barratt’s former leadershiprole, and will also take on Miss Cunningham’s teaching timetable (with the exceptionof Year 11 who I will teach personally).

Miss Cunningham will be leaving the school at the end of this term. She will be takinga couple of months out after Easter, before joining Cliff Park Ormiston Academy. MissCunningham would like it to be expressed she wishes the staff and students all thebest of luck with exams and their futures. Miss Cunningham has worked at the schoolfor two and a half years and naturally we are extremely sorry to see Miss Cunningham

go.

“Teaching the students of Beccles Free School has been a wonderful experience.Never have I worked in a school where the pupils are so warm, friendly and open tonew and challenging ideas. I hope to have helped the students’ progress academically

and develop a love for English! I have been inspired by their determination, readinessto have fun, ambition and humour; I can only hope to have done the same. Thankyou and good luck !” Miss Cunningham.

Finally it is important to conclude this letter with thanking Mrs Swan for thephenomenal impact she has had on life at Beccles Free School. At May half term, MrsSwan will be returning to Saxmundham Free School to continue in her role as DeputyHeadteacher. Meanwhile Mr Ward, who is currently Deputy Headteacher at IxworthFree School will become our new Deputy Headteacher. Clearly it is vitally importantthat we take advantage of the excellent working relationship Mr Ward and Mrs Swanhave, having both been with the Trust from the outset. Consequently Mr Ward will bein school two days a week over the next half term, working alongside Mrs Swan andtaking the opportunity to meet students and parents, in particular ensuring that issuesrelated to SEND are addressed. Mr Ward, as well as being an experienced member ofthe Senior Leadership Team and SENCO, is also a Technology teacher, and so willhelp us to get Food Technology back in its rightful place in the curriculum, teaching


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GCSE Food Technology and guiding the teaching of Food Technology with youngerstudents.

The students at Beccles Free School deserve to have the very best teaching. Mycolleagues and I have been working hard to make sure we all learn to develop and at

the same time make important and careful decisions about appointments. I amexcited by what the new staff will bring to the school and thank you in advance forthe warm welcome I know parents and students will give them.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Easter.

Yours faithfully,

Nigel YoungmanHeadteacher

letter to beccles parents - staffing - 21 march 2016 pdf v2

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