28th February 2025

Dear Parents and Carers,

RE: February 1/2 term update from the Headteacher

I hope you had a restful break and that your child has settled back into the new half term. It's been great to see them on their return to school! I am pleased to share some exciting updates about developments across our school community.

Leadership Update – Athena

We are delighted to confirm that Simon Coulter has been appointed as the permanent Lead Teacher for Athena. Simon has already played a key role in supporting students, families and staff, and we look forward to the continued positive impact of his leadership.

New Pastoral Hub and Pupil Entrance at Pegasus

We are soon to open a new pastoral hub and pupil entrance at the Pegasus site. This space has been designed to provide additional support and a welcoming environment for our students, ensuring they feel safe and supported throughout the school day.

Update on Athena Provision

We have presented a case to the local authority for a new building and location for our Athena provision. It has been acknowledged that the current site presents several challenges, including:

  • The consistent disruption caused by being located next to a heavy plant hire company, as well as potential health and safety risks.
  • The lack of outdoor open space for students.
  • Inadequate indoor space, including classrooms without windows or natural views.

While there is recognition of these issues, unfortunately, there is currently insufficient funding available to develop a new site that would adequately serve the number of pupils accessing the provision. We remain committed to working with the local authority and other partners to explore future possibilities for improving the learning environment for our students.

Despite the challenges of the site, the care and commitment that our staff demonstrate towards the holistic education of the pupils in their care is of extremely high standard.

Capital Funding

We are thrilled to announce that we have secured funding via the Local Authority and from the Department for Education. This will enhance our provision and provide improved spaces for students to learn, flourish and thrive. However, the funding will not, unfortunately, cover the cost of an entirely new building to replace the Athena site provision. We will keep you updated as plans progress.

Student Poetry Anthology – Celebration Event Coming Soon

Students have been working alongside local author Nathan Parker to create an anthology of poems, which will soon be published. This is a fantastic achievement, and we are incredibly proud of their creativity and hard work. We will be hosting a celebration event to mark the occasion – more details to follow soon.

Academy Conversion Update

As previously shared, our application to convert to an Academy Alternative Provision (AP) and join Synergy Education Trust has now been approved by the Department for Education. This is an exciting step forward for our school, and we will continue to keep you informed as we move through the process.

Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions regarding any of the updates above, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Yours sincerely,

Vic O’Farrell

Headteacher