Despite all this, still Providing More
As everyone in the communities of the Watergrove Trust battles to the close of an incredibly difficult school year, it is important to find a moment to celebrate, in spite of everything, the great steps forward achieved this year.
St. Andrew’s Church of England Primary School and Nursery opened its Meadow Room carefully designed to support children’s mental health and well-being, the school undeflected by the pressure of the times from putting the needs of children first.
St. James’ Church of England Primary School continues to thrive, supported by the executive leadership of Judith Rainford and the commitment of its marvellous staff team.
The school’s journey will be enhanced this summer through a large-scale renovation scheme, including a re-roof and the reconfiguring of the toilet blocks to provide more space and light in classrooms. Watergrove Trust Chief Operating Officer Karen Neville is to be applauded for her hard work in securing funds for this and other vital improvements to schools across the Trust.
These funds Include £550,000 in grants gratefully received from the Department for Education to enable improvements to the latest school to join the Trust, Moorhouse Academy. We very much appreciate this support and these are exciting times for the school, with much positivity and optimism in the air.
Kentmere Academy’s run of successes continues unabated, with the award of World Class Status and also the Playspace Award from the Education Business Awards. In and amongst all this, the school have found time to further develop a new reading hut and the school library, promoting the love of reading which does so much to enable learning.
Perhaps the greatest gift to the community this year will prove to be Wardle Academy’s development of the old sports hall into the WaterSHED, an exciting suite of classrooms, dining and social space, which will enable 50 families this September and next to send their child to the academy, when previously there would not have been a place available. We thank Rochdale LA for their support with this project, Mark Slocombe, the Trust’s Director of Estates, for his expert project management and Brendan Hesketh and the Wardle Academy Local Governing Committee, for their determination to support local families.
Moreover, even more quality learning space is being provided at Wardle Academy due to the kind support of the Wolfson Foundation, who are generously funding the creation of new specialist science provision within the Anderson Suite. This will do much to boost the exciting developments in science education across the trust enacted through the System Science work led by Ashleigh White. Our thanks go also to Janice Bennett of Wardle Academy who has invested so much of her time and expertise in the design of the space and upcoming System Science initiatives.
Last, but not least, Matthew Moss High School have continued to be providing more through this difficult period by way of their D6 peer coaching initiative which is playing a vital role in protecting academic progress. Charlotte Leach-Rogers and the D6 team have done a sterling job, with their work across the Trust continuing into the summer holiday and shared with our friends the Hollingworth Learning Trust.
Of course, it is not only staff, but parents, governors, trustees and members who deserve our thanks for providing more. Your support is never taken for granted and thank you so much for helping the schools of the Watergrove Trust navigate the pressures of the times to not only survive, but thrive.
Thank you again and enjoy the summer!
