OFSTED rates Old Ford Outstanding once again!
Last month, Old Ford Primary Academy received an Ofsted inspection, and we are delighted to announce they have rated Old Ford Outstanding across all five strands! It had been 14 years since their last inspection, so it is really pleasing that Old Ford was able to retain the Outstanding rating over all these years, especially at a time when hundreds of schools across the country are being inspected and downgraded.
A huge well done to all the staff and pupils, we couldn’t be prouder! #Integrity #Community #Excellence
Coronavirus update
Our schools will be open to all pupils as planned from September 2021. Following the government guidelines, Paradigm Trust revised its arrangements again in May 2022. Our arrangements are available here.
Parent Director role (London)
The Board of Directors is seeking to recruit a Parent Director in London to join the Board.
What does the Board of Directors do?
The Board of Directors is responsible for both the conduct of the Trust and for promoting the high standards that we expect for, and from, our pupils. The Board carries out its role by setting the vision for the Trust and then ensuring that the schools across the Trust work efficiently and effectively towards achieving its vision. It does this by both supporting and constructively challenging each of the schools within the Trust and by ensuring accountability and compliance.
The Board is permitted to exercise all the powers of the Trust. The Board is responsible for the appointment, removal and remuneration of the CEO. The Board will delegate to the CEO responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Trust. The directors can determine whether to delegate any governance functions.
Who are the Directors?
Currently the Board is made up of eleven Directors who have been elected by Members, co-opted by other Directors or are a Parent Director. The CEO is a Director of the Board.
Why become a Parent Director?
Being a Parent Director is a challenging but hugely rewarding role. It will give you the chance to make a real difference to young people, give something back to the local community and to use and develop your skills in a board-level environment.
What qualifications do I need to have?
There are no formal qualifications needed, however, the one essential requirement is an interest in, and commitment to, the education of our pupils.
How much time will I have to commit?
A Director serves for a term of four years. In each academic year the Board of Directors currently meets nine times, with meetings starting at 18:00 and usually lasting for two hours. There is also a commitment to complete training particularly in the area of safeguarding and child protection. The Company Secretary will provide you with a structured induction and will support and guide you through the first few months.
Finally….
Parent Directors must be prepared to adopt the Trust Directors code of conduct and the Nolan principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. The role of a Director is voluntary and is not paid.
Interested?
All parents/carers are able to nominate themselves for the role providing that they have a child currently attending one of the London schools in the Trust. If you would like to find out more about the role of the Parent Director and/or request a nomination form, please feel free to contact Emma Vehit, Company Secretary by email: emma.vehit@paradigmtrust.org. Nomination forms should be returned no later than Monday 25 April 2022.
Admissions Consultation
Paradigm Trust is consulting on the admissions arrangements for all the schools across the Trust for the academy year 2023/24 in line with the School Admissions Code 2021.
The consultation is taking place for a period of six weeks, between 17 December 2021 and 28 January 2022.
Why are we consulting?
The Trust must set (‘determine’) admission arrangements annually. Where changes are proposed to admission arrangements, the Trust must first publicly consult on those arrangements. If no changes are made to admission arrangements, they must be consulted at least once every 7 years.
We have a statutory duty to consult on admission arrangements if we intend to make a change.
The changes being proposed are as follows:
Solebay Primary Academy – Nursery admissions to be coordinated by the school and no longer by the Local Authority as part of the nursery coordinated admissions process.
You are invited to review the admission arrangements (linked below) and any questions or responses should be sent to consultation@paradigmtrust.org
On conclusion of the consultation on Friday 28 January 2022, all responses will be collated and presented to the Trust Education Committee for full consideration.
The outcome of the Consultation will be posted on the Academy’s website along with the final admissions policies for 2023.
Proposed Admission Arrangements
RSHE engagement results
Please click on the following documents to view the RSHE engagement results:
Free School Meal vouchers – update
Current government guidance is that vouchers for pupils who are eligible for free school meals will not be issued for the half term break. Given this, we will not be issuing vouchers next week. If government guidance changes we will issue vouchers as soon as we can.
Spreading Love & Care at Old Ford Primary Academy
Take a look at this piece of art, sent in by Mehreen, a year 3 pupil at Old Ford Primary Academy. A loving message reminding us that it’s not all doom and gloom out there.
World book day
World book day 2020 saw pupils and staff from across the Trust dressing up as characters from their favourite books. A big well done to everyone that got involved. See below gallery for some of our favourites from Ipswich Academy, Old Ford Primary Academy, and Solebay Primary Academy. More to follow next week!
EYFS show at Old Ford
Pupils at Old Ford Primary recently performed ‘Peter Pan’.
Here’s a snippet from their performance:
UNICEF World Day for Cultural Diversity
Last week, pupils at Old Ford Primary Academy celebrated UNICEF’s World Day for Cultural Diversity and talked about how diversity at Old Ford makes the Academy an exciting and vibrant place to be.
