19 December 2023
Dear Parent or Carer,
I am excited to share with you some of the highlights from the work taking place across our trust this term.
We are all delighted that following the Ofsted visit to De Havilland Primary school in September the inspector was able to state that the school is 'Good.' The school was rated 'inadequate' in June 2019, but vast improvements have been made since. This achievement is the result of the combined efforts of De Havilland Primary School’s exceptional staff and students, as well as the strong partnership that has developed between our trust and the school since our collaboration in 2020. The inspector described De Havilland Primary as a "happy school", and praised the "rich learning experiences" it offers pupils.
I extend my thanks to all our learners and dedicated staff and thank you the parents for your support and for working in partnership with us.
I hope you have a restful and happy holiday, wishing you the best for 2024.
Josephine Valentine, CEO
Danes Educational Trust
Making the difference together
Investing in Early Years
This year our primary schools have made a significant investment in early years learning spaces, inspired by nature, to create calm environments that foster early excellence. As a trust we recognise the profound impact that natural surroundings can have on children’s development and academic performance, and this initiative is aimed at providing the best possible environment for young learners. Lead by Early Years Lead Lauren Sorano, our schools have embarked on a journey to bring the outdoors indoors, creating serene and natural forms within the early years spaces. This approach is designed to minimise overstimulation, allowing children to focus on the content of their learning.The incorporation of nature into the learning environment is not only a trend in educational design but is supported by research that highlights its positive effects on cognitive development and overall well-being.
This also marked the beginning of the Early Years teams collaborating and working beyond their own schools to help provide purposeful learning environments for the children. It sets a tone for what it means to be part of a trust and the impact it can have.
Coalition for Youth Mental Health in schools
Our Director of Education, Chris Marks has been working with the Coalition for Youth Mental Health in schools. The coalition is made up of school leaders from some of the most high-profile state and independent schools in the country, who have united to warn that vulnerable children are being let down because of delays in being able to access mental health services.
Chris says "What has been particularly rewarding about the work being done by the Coalition for Youth Mental Health in Schools is the focus it placed on all aspects of improving mental health within education. One area of focus was on 'Teaching in a Mentally Healthy School' as it was recognised as being of vital importance to have mentally healthy teachers if the profession is to support and improve the mental health of young people."
You can read more about the report published by the Coalition for Youth Mental Health in schools here.
Building investment
Julie Jones, Headteacher at OSA provides and update on the investment at the school
At OSA we are so excited to see the daily progress of phase two of our £13 million building project: the construction of our new Sports Hall for summer 2024. Historically, levels of investment in the fabric of Onslow St Audrey's School had been low and joining Danes Educational Trust marked a real turning point. Since joining the Trust, the central services team have assisted us in the sale of an area of land for development which has released significant funds to invest in the educational environment of young people who truly deserve the best. Our Science and Languages block constituted phase one of this project and our students benefit daily from state-of-the-art facilities in these subject areas. I have no doubt that the Sports Hall and 3G pitch will enhance our already rich offering of sport, an area of the curriculum in which our students increasingly excel. Beyond that, we are now starting our planning of phase three which will see the improvement and redecoration of all existing areas of the school. These levels of investment in our facilities show how much our students and staff are valued and bring real meaning to the idea of a transformative educational experience.
