Memorial Event for Amanda Phillips CBE
Paradigm Trust would like to invite you to attend a Memorial Event to celebrate the professional life and achievements of Amanda Phillips CBE (invitation link below).
In planning the date and time, we have tried to accommodate the needs of people who have professional and family commitments and may be travelling some distance to attend. We have chosen a venue in Tower Hamlets since this is where Amanda spent the majority of her working life.
The memorial event has been confirmed for Saturday 9th September 2017.
Please extend this invitation to friends, colleagues and associates who would like to attend.
To confirm your attendance please RSVP by 11th August 2017 to emma.vehit@paradigmtrust.org.
Message from David Willis
I wanted to take this is opportunity to update you all on some of the decisions that have been taken during this difficult period to ensure our schools have the right support in place.
I am pleased to be able to tell you that Neil Winn has been appointed interim principal of Murrayfield Primary Academy and his appointment will run until December 2018.
Bill Holledge will continue to provide continuity and support but he has been promoted to the new role of Chief Operating Officer for Paradigm Trust. Bill has worked as a key part of the trust’s senior team since 2015, helping in many aspects of its management. His knowledge and experience will be of tremendous value during this time of transition.
This is the first time that the trust has had a chief operating officer. The creation of the role was something Amanda, Bill and I were working towards and, following Amanda’s tragic death, the board decided to accelerate this process.
Working closely with the board and the principals, Bill will assume responsibility for much of the trust’s day-to-day management while we go through the process of appointing a new CEO.
A number of Paradigm colleagues have also agreed to take on new/broader roles:
- Claire Brunning, systems and data support across the Trust
- Emma Vehit, interim company secretary
- Ian Arnold, premises support across the Trust
- Polly Jones, finance management across both Murrayfield and Ipswich Academy.
The Paradigm Board has also reflected carefully on the plans for Piper’s Vale Community Primary (Ipswich) to join the Trust as an academy. Paradigm’s strategy in Ipswich is to build a cluster of primary schools which will feed into Ipswich Academy. The regional schools commissioner/Department for Education asked Paradigm to take on Piper’s Vale some time ago and, since then, we have been working through the legal and other steps to enable Piper’s Vale Primary Academy to join Paradigm on 1 September 2017. The Board met last week and has agreed to proceed, notwithstanding Amanda passing away, in the light of a clear recommendation from Bill and the principals. We anticipate that Piper’s Vale will have its current headteacher, Paul Arch, in post when it joins the trust. The Board has asked Ben Carter to take on the role of executive principal over Piper’s Vale, working alongside Paul to ensure rapid improvements in outcomes and the quality of teaching. Ben will continue in his role as principal at Culloden, with members of his leadership team providing operational management on days when he is at Piper’s Vale.
Please join me in welcoming all the above staff to their new roles.
David Willis
Chair, Paradigm Trust
Vacancy for teaching assistants – London primary schools – closing date Monday 3 July 2017, 9am
An opportunity has arisen for teaching assistants to join Paradigm’s London primary schools.
Click here for more information.
Update on plans to celebrate Amanda Phillips’ life
Amanda will be buried at a private, family only ceremony in the next few weeks. Before that, Paradigm Trust will compile all the messages of condolences that it has received and present them to her family.
We will also be organising events to remember Amanda and celebrate her life and achievements for the children and adults across all the schools. We will be able to update you further as these plans make progress.
David Willis
Chair
Update
As of Monday 5 June, there will be books of condolences in each of the Paradigm schools. It is also possible to send messages of condolences via email – condolences@paradigmtrust.org. All messages will be read and then collated to be passed back to Amanda’s family.
The directors of Paradigm Trust have decided that Bill Holledge will be in charge of Murrayfield Primary on an interim basis until further notice. Bill is an experienced primary headteacher with a strong track record of school improvement who has worked closely with Amanda for more than ten years. He has the full support of the Board. Bill will work closely with the existing senior team at Murrayfield, including experienced leaders from across Paradigm Trust.
The Board is very aware that there is a need for stability and consistency at Murrayfield and is working to ensure that this is delivered.
David Willis
Chair
1 June 2017 – News on Amanda Phillips
It is with tremendous sadness that I have to tell you that Amanda died yesterday. While on holiday in France earlier this week, Amanda suffered a fall incurring serious head injuries which proved fatal. I know I speak for us all when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with her husband and family.
Amanda’s death is a dreadful tragedy. She led Paradigm Trust with enormous energy, tremendous skill and most of all an enduring passion to give every child an outstanding education.
She will be missed so much by everyone and we understand you will have questions – many of which we will not be able to answer yet. We are working on contingency plans and further news will be published in the Paradigm Trust website as it is available.
David Willis
Chair
Midday meals supervisors – Old Ford Primary Academy and Solebay Primary Academy – closing date 5 June 2017
An opportunity has arisen for midday meals supervisors to work part time within the teams at Old Ford Primary Academy and Solebay Primary Academy. The successful applicants will be responsible for ensuring full supervision and assistance for pupils in and around the premises during the midday lunch break.
Click here for more information.
Vacancies for qualified class teachers – London primary academies – closing date 12 May 2017
Paradigm Trust is seeking to recruit qualified class teachers to work in its three London primary academies, all of which are based in Tower Hamlets.
Click here for more information.
Vacancies for qualified class teachers – London primary academies – closing date 18 April 2017
Paradigm Trust is seeking to recruit qualified class teachers to work in its three London primary academies, all of which are based in Tower Hamlets.
Click here for more information.
Updated behaviour policy
The Board of Paradigm Trust has approved an updated behaviour policy, which is available from here. The main amendments relate to the arrangements around permanent exclusions – the policy now explicitly references the prevailing guidance from the Department for Education.