Headteacher's update July 2024

1^st July 2024

Dear Parents and Carers

Thank you all for your support this term.  28^th June saw the end of the examination series for year 11 and 13, an incredibly busy time for all.  May I take this opportunity to thank parents in supporting your son or daughter through this demanding period.  For all other year groups assessments are ongoing and results coming in demonstrates the excellent progress our students are making.  For example, congratulations to year 7 and year 8 in the progress they have made in their reading which for both year groups is on average significantly above national average.  

Phew – we can breathe a little and as such I would now like to update you on the fantastic preparations that are in place for September.  Sit back – this is a long update but if you can make the time to read through I am sure you will be reassured around the changes that have occurred this year and in readiness for September.

School leaders have been focused on ensuring that our children experience the very best curriculum and experiences in school.  A full review of curriculum, subjects taught, and experiences offered has been undertaken.     

Campion’s reputation grows stronger each year and as such our planned admission number into year 7 of 240 has been increased in agreement with the local authority to 270 for this September and the following two years.  We are really looking forward to welcoming our new year 7s on 8^th and 9^th July for their transition days, and almost 200 students have signed up for our summer school in August.  With increased numbers comes the need for careful planning to appoint additional staff, both teaching and support, expansion and upgrading of facilities and resources.  

People first.  I am really proud to share with you how successful our current staff are when up against external candidates for posts at Campion.  Please see below the list of staff who were successful and have been therefore promoted to middle and senior leadership posts within Campion.  

We welcome to Campion this term the following staff

All staff have made an excellent start and are really enjoying working with our wonderful pupils.  Mr Taylor is a second Senior Deputy Head working alongside Mrs Bradley-Smith and he leads on pastoral including attendance, behaviour and safeguarding.

A message from Mr Taylor:

I am very proud and excited to be joining the Campion community as Senior Deputy

Headteacher - Pastoral.  I shall be leading on Behaviour, Character, Safeguarding and Attendance.  I have worked in education for 27 years and been a senior leader for 21 years in a number of schools in London and surrounding counties.  During this time, I worked with colleagues, governors, students and parents/carers on whole school improvements resulting in better outcomes and experiences for students, which has been recognised by improved Ofsted judgements.  

I started teaching because I want to make a difference to young people's lives, and I believe firmly that education can inspire young people to be ambitious, as well as develop their character that will open doors to a brilliant future.

Starting in June has enabled me to begin to get to know the staff, students, some families and governors.  I have also been able to get accustomed to the policies and procedures within the school. I am overwhelmed by the warm welcome I have received and have been impressed with the manners, attitudes and general conduct of students around the school, as well as the staff, who are so committed to giving their best to the students each day.

Last week I was able to work with the senior leadership team to identify the school priorities for next academic year and to plan how we are going to tackle those priorities.  This work will enable me to hit the ground running in September and ensure that a number of improvements are in place for when the students return to school.

I am really looking forward to working with the community to continue to improve the experiences that your child receives at Campion School.

Mr Taylor

I am pleased to share that we are fully staffed for September.  New appointments include a significantly expanded Senior Leadership Team growing from 6 to 9 leaders in line with school population growth.  External appointments bring with them vast experience and expertise all coming from Good and Outstanding schools.  We will invite you in to a Meet the Senior Team Evening in September.

At this time of year, along with all other schools we have a number of teaching and support staff leaving through retirement, moving out of teaching into for example public mental health work, returning to their home country, and promoted posts.  They have all been fantastic members of staff and will be sadly missed  We wish them all the very best in their next steps.

− Dr Ashmead

− Mr King

− Mrs Hilder

− Mr Deardon

− Mrs Burgazzi − Miss Ward

− Dr Brammer  

− Mr Stevens

− Miss Edwards

− Mr Cobianu

− Mrs Gardner

− Mrs Coote

− Mr Coote

− Ms Bliss

− Mrs Rawbone

− Miss Jones

− Dr Goddard

− Mrs Wisby

One year into United Learning and this year has been a fantastic year working with our Regional Director, Mr Clyne, and our other United Learning Northampton Cluster schools alongside being part of the biggest and most successful Trust in England.  In our final Campion Way we will share and celebrate everything that our students and staff have had the opportunity to be part of as a result of being in the Trust.  

This year the school has been able to invest significant capital in technology in a significant number of classrooms which was only possible to implement due to the expert United Learning IT support.  This summer the United Learning Central Teams have enabled us to liaise with the Local Authority to secure significant funding for additional staffing as a result of increased pupil population. This is being used to resource additional staffing and upgrade our facilities for example, additional catering and toilet facilities alongside further development of Art rooms within C Block.  The Food Technology room is having a complete refurbishment also.  Alongside this, work has now started in readiness for our new website which will be launched in January 2025 (a mobile friendly site!).  At long last we will be in the 21^st century with our technology which hopefully will support more efficient communications and information.

No apologies for the length of this update.  I felt it important to give you the full detail now that all the preparations are in place and the busy examination period is behind us.  Thank you for your continued support.   

Yours sincerely

Ms P Hammond

Headteacher

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The school is part of United Learning. United Learning comprises: UCST (Registered in England No: 2780748. Charity No. 1016538) and ULT (Registered in England No. 4439859. An Exempt Charity). Companies limited by guarantee. VAT number 834 8515 12. Registered address: United Learning, Worldwide House, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, PE3 6SB. Tel: 01832 864 444