Some Staffing News...
Firstly, I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to Thomas, who has secured a well-deserved promotion at Balshaw Lane Primary School.
Whilst we will be sorry to see him leave St George's, we are genuinely pleased that he has this opportunity to take the next step in his career. Thomas has made a valuable contribution to our school, and I know you will join me in wishing him every success. We will, of course, have an opportunity to thank him properly before he leaves.
Naturally, Thomas's departure meant that we needed to find someone to take his place.
Year 6 is a particularly special chapter in a child's primary school journey. It's a year of growing independence, developing confidence, celebrating achievements and preparing for the exciting adventure of secondary school. We were keen to ensure continuity, stability and excellent teaching, so that our children could enjoy everything their final year at St George's has to offer.
Following a thorough recruitment process, I'm pleased to announce that Mrs Rachael Horne will be joining us as our new Year 6 teacher, subject to the usual recruitment checks.
Rachael is an experienced Year 6 teacher who brings considerable expertise, high expectations and a genuine passion for helping children flourish. She impressed the interview panel enormously, and the decision to appoint her was unanimous.
And here's a rather delightful coincidence... Rachael currently teaches Year 6 at Balshaw Lane! So, in a peculiar twist of fate, Thomas and Rachael are effectively exchanging schools. You really couldn't make it up!
I know our children, families and colleagues will give Rachael the warm St George's welcome she deserves.
Another New Chapter... and Some Lovely News!
We also have some rather lovely news to share about Chelsea, who will shortly be beginning her maternity leave from 2nd December.
I'm sure you'll join me in wishing Chelsea and her family every happiness as they prepare for this exciting new chapter. We will certainly miss her whilst she's away, but what a wonderful reason to be absent!
I'm also pleased to confirm that Lizzie Newton will be taking over responsibility for Chelsea's class during her maternity leave.
We recognise how important familiarity and consistency are for children, particularly when their teacher changes during the school year.
There will therefore be a carefully planned transition, with Chelsea and Lizzie working together to ensure that the children's learning, routines and individual needs are fully understood. Nic will oversee these arrangements, including planning, support and ongoing supervision, so that the transition is as smooth and reassuring as possible.
Our aim is simple: the adults may change, but the children's experience of care, encouragement and excellent teaching should remain constant.
I'm sure you'll give Lizzie a warm St George's welcome, whilst joining us in sending Chelsea off with our love and very best wishes.
Familiar Faces, Steady Hands
With these staffing changes in mind, I also want to offer some reassurance about the wider leadership of St George's, particularly as our school has experienced a fair amount of change recently.
Nic continues as our Head of School, Naomi as Assistant Headteacher and Emma as SENCO. Their roles and responsibilities remain unchanged.
These three colleagues provide an enormously important combination of leadership, experience and care.
Nic continues to lead the day-to-day life of St George's with dedication, thoughtfulness and a deep understanding of what makes our school special. Her leadership provides the consistency and direction that are so important, particularly during periods of change.
Naomi plays a vital role in supporting teaching, learning and school improvement, helping to ensure that our ambitions translate into the everyday experiences of children in classrooms.
Emma's work as SENCO is equally important. Her commitment to inclusion, to understanding individual children's needs and to working alongside families helps ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed.
Together, and alongside our wider staff team, they provide something that no organisational chart can ever fully capture: continuity, professional expertise and a genuine love for our school community.
I am immensely grateful to them, and to every member of staff, for the way they continue to care for St George's and its children.
A Little More of Me, Too!
As many of you know, since September I've been supporting Moor Nook Community Primary School in Preston. It has been an incredibly busy period, culminating in the school's recent Ofsted inspection.
With that important milestone now behind us, I'm able to begin recalibrating my time across the schools.
I will now be spending two full days each week at St George's, working alongside Nic, Naomi, Emma and our wonderful colleagues.
I recognise that my presence at St George's has been less frequent than I would have liked, and I appreciate the understanding that families have shown.
However, I want to reassure you that my commitment to St George's has never diminished. Quite the opposite.
My increased time in school will allow me to spend more time with the children, support our staff and be more visible and accessible to parents.
And importantly, this is not about changing what is working well. It is about strengthening the excellent work already taking place.
Plenty to Celebrate!
Whilst there has been change around us, St George's has continued to move forward, develop and improve.
This year, one of our principal school improvement priorities is literacy. We want every child to become a confident reader, a thoughtful writer and an articulate communicator. These are not simply skills for school; they are passports to opportunity throughout life.
Recently, we welcomed an English consultant into school to spend time observing teaching and learning, particularly in our infant department.
And something rather wonderful happened...
After spending a glorious couple of hours watching our youngest children learning, exploring language and developing their literacy skills, our consultant was moved to tears. Happy tears!
Now, I've been in education long enough to know that consultants don't generally wander around schools weeping with joy!
But what a lovely reflection of the work taking place in our classrooms. The quality of the children's experiences, the care taken in planning and teaching, and the enthusiasm with which our youngest learners engage were clearly something rather special.
I cannot think of a more heartfelt compliment to our infant staff.
We have also recently welcomed a school improvement adviser, whose visit reaffirmed our confidence in the standards and quality of education at St George's.
And, importantly, the positives extend far beyond academic standards.
There is much to celebrate in the warmth of our school environment, the relationships between adults and children, the dedication of our staff and the sense of belonging that runs through St George's.
These things matter enormously.
A school can have beautiful displays, impressive results and carefully written policies, but its true character is revealed in the ordinary moments: the adult who notices a child having a difficult morning, the teacher who refuses to give up, the reassuring smile, the laughter in a classroom, and the child who feels safe enough to have a go, even when something is difficult.
That is the St George's I recognise. And that is the St George's we must continue to nurture.
Looking Ahead
Schools, like families, inevitably experience periods of change. People grow, opportunities arise and new chapters begin. But what matters most is that the things which make us who we are remain constant.
At St George's, those foundations are our Christian values, our relationships, our high expectations and our unwavering belief that every child deserves to feel valued, supported and successful.
Our ambition remains wonderfully simple: we want children to come to St George's because they want to, not simply because they have to.
There is a lovely verse in Ecclesiastes: "For everything there is a season."
Perhaps we've experienced something of a season of change. My hope now is that we can enjoy a period of greater stability, renewed confidence and continued growth.
Thank you, as always, for your patience, encouragement and trust.
A few new characters, some exciting new chapters, but still the same St George's story.
And it's a story I'm immensely proud to be part of.
Andy
