chestnut grove school, wandsworth

Trust Status

08 February 2010

Dear Parents/Carers,

As you are aware, I am currently Interim Headteacher at Elliott School for 4 days a week. This letter is to up-date you about developments both at Chestnut Grove and at Elliott, one of which we need to consult you about.

You will be glad to know that a new Headteacher, Mark Phillips, has been appointed at Elliott, and he will be starting after Easter. I shall therefore, as promised, be back at Chestnut Grove from then on.

Since I have been at Elliott, discussions have been taking place about putting in place a National Challenge Trust to oversee the development of the school, and over the past few weeks, Katy Lindsay (Chestnut Grove’s Chair of Governors) and I have been actively involved in looking at the possibilities of Chestnut Grove becoming the Lead Partner in such a Trust.

This has now developed from the initial idea, and, as you will see from the consultation documentation, the DCSF has given approval for us to consult on a Trust made up of Chestnut Grove, Ernest Bevin and Roehampton University.

The Trust document is primarily aimed at Elliott School parents and certainly makes clear the benefits for Elliott School, but focuses less on the benefits for us.
We think that this is an exciting opportunity for Chestnut Grove, and see many benefits for the school, including:

• An enhanced reputation – the first Wandsworth School to take the lead in forming a Trust to support another school;

• Enhanced career opportunities for Chestnut Grove staff – without moving to another school – thereby enabling us to keep our excellent staff longer!

• In particular, we see this as a great opportunity to retain and strengthen our middle and senior leaders – helping their professional development in a way that we hope will benefit Chestnut Grove for many years to come;

• Further improving teaching and learning at Chestnut Grove through enhanced training provision – we believe that the best way to develop your own skills is by teaching others;

• A range of benefits that should come from having a closer partnership relationship with Ernest Bevin School and Roehampton University, who will be our other partners on the Trust.

Please do have a look at the consultation document, and either respond to me, or Mrs. Lindsay, at Chestnut Grove, or to the Interim Executive Board at Elliott School.

If you would like to hear more about the proposals, there is a consultation meeting for parents on Wednesday, 24th February at 7.30 p.m. at Elliott School. If you have any specific questions you would like addressed at that meeting, we would be grateful if you would put them in writing to us before the meeting.

We hope that you, like us, will see this as an exciting development for Chestnut Grove, as well as Elliott.

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Peacock
Headteacher

Posted by Ms M Peacock, Tuesday 9th February, 2010