Announcements

Announcement

Chair of Governors Update

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we are now halfway through the academic year I wanted to give you a brief update from the governors. 

Open Meeting - Meet the Governors

Our next open meeting will be at 9am on Friday 9th March at Prendergast Ladywell School. Parents and carers from all schools are very welcome to come and meet governors and discuss the strategic direction of our schools and ask governors about their work. You can find the notes from last term's meeting in the governance section of the school website. 

New Governors

When I wrote in September I asked for applications to fill three vacant positions on the governing board. I am pleased to let you know that three parents were appointed as a result of this process: Ian Duffy, Jacqueline Philips Owen and Sukhvinder Kaur-Stubbs. They are all already making a significant contribution, having taken on link governor roles for Community Engagement; Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) and Wellbeing; and Pupil Premium respectively.

Governor Vacancy

We will have another governor vacancy later this term, and will again invite applications from the local community. We currently need governors with good short-notice daytime availability so that we can assemble panels of governors to fulfil various obligations. Do please consider whether you or someone you know might be able to contribute in this way.

City Year

You may have noticed our City Year volunteers around the secondary schools this year - identified by their red coats! City Year is a charity which offers training and structured year-long placements in schools to young people. Thanks to a £150,000 grant from the Leathersellers' Charity Committee we've been able to undertake a pilot project this year with 18 of these volunteers in our schools. They have supported a range of activities in each of the schools, both academic and extra-curricular, supporting groups and individual students.  We will be reporting on their impact and effectiveness later in the year.

Sir John Staples Society

The Federation established the Sir John Staples Society last year in honour of the Master Leatherseller and Lord Mayor of London at the time the Company founded Prendergast School in 1890.  The Society comprises high profile patrons who have agreed to support our schools in various ways.  More information about the Society, its patrons and its aims are on the Federation website.  I am delighted to announce that Gregory Jones QC, an Alderman of the City of London and former federation governor, has agreed to become the President of the Society.  I am equally delighted to announce that the Rt Reverend Dr Karowei Dorgu, the new Bishop of Woolwich, has also agreed to become a patron of the Society. We are very privileged and grateful for their commitment to us.

Prendergast Vale School Ofsted Judgement

I would like to offer my thanks and congratulations to Mr Duncan Kamya and all his staff at Prendergast Vale School for securing the Ofsted judgement that the school is now rated Good in all areas with Outstanding EYFS provision.  You can read the Ofsted report in full on the school website.  I know all staff have worked incredibly hard over the last few years to improve the school and it is fantastic their achievements have been confirmed by this external inspection.

Finally if you haven't yet seen Prendergast Ladywell School for yourself, I hope you'll be able to come and have a look and meet me and fellow governors this Friday 9th March at the Governors Open Meeting (9am). 

Best wishes,

Andy Rothery
Chair of Governors

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