18th November

Dear families,

it is with great pleasure that I write this message because I can now proudly confirm that I have been appointed to the role of permanent headteacher at Shacklewell. You will have received the letter from the Chair of the Governing Board and the Executive Headteacher on Friday outlining the process and the formal start date for this role. I am incredibly excited about the future at Shacklewell. I know that each and every learner will succeed here because as a community we are driven by enriching the children's lives and promoting their educational successes.

Thank you for the kind words I have received about my appointment as headteacher. Being the head of this amazing group of learners and teachers is the privilege of my professional life. As we move Shacklewell forward, I know I can count on all of your support. One of my key priorities is to ensure that the link between home and school continues to be strengthened- I look forward to working closely with you to maximise opportunities for the children to be successful. This week's 'Come Learn with Me' for Year 6, focused on digital technology, is a perfect opportunity for our families to come into school and learn alongside the children.

One of the most important aspects of parental involvement in school is clear lines of communication. At Shacklewell we direct our SMS communications through an app called Xpressions. This is a rapid forum for communication with the school and it is highly recommended, to avoid missing key messages. In order to access this service you must download the app from the Apple app store or Google Play- simply search for Xpressions. In order to login all that is required is the phone number and email address you have provided to the school. Once you have entered these details you will be able to set up your account and see messages from the school. The app is also designed to allow you to interact and reply to us. If you would like guidance on how to access this service please at the school office.

As you will have noticed this academic year we have been encouraging staff to bring the children's learning to life with more enriching experiences than ever before. This is something that I am passionate about because the ability to make emotional connections through lived experiences will deepen the children's learning. Last week children were able to see England win 7-0 at Wembley, script, rehearse and perform their own Anti Bullying Week play with Konflux theatre and create art work linked to their prior history learning. Coming up this week we have the first of many trips to the British Library and our second visits of the half term to Keats House and the Tate Britain.

Shacklewell is an extraordinary place and I cannot wait to shape the future of this amazing school, in partnership with you all, to provide our children the very brightest future.

Rory