CEO Christmas Blog I have now had the privilege of being the CEO for Valley Invicta Academies Trust (VIAT) for two terms – it’s been incredibly busy but also extremely rewarding.
At the end of term, I was delighted to be able to confirm a 6.5% pay increase, agreed by the Trust Board, for staff across the Trust (and a slightly higher raise for those on the VIAT living wage), as well as a brand new Health Cash Plan which will be implemented in the New Year.
Health cash plans provide financial support towards dental and optical costs, diagnostic testing and alternative and complimentary therapies. They also provide online GP services and comprehensive support for mental health and wellbeing, as well as other additional perks.
It’s a real priority for me to ensure the Trust looks after its staff, to recognise and acknowledge their hard work and commitment in what can be a really challenging, fast-paced and intense environment. I’m very lucky to have a workforce of dedicated, professional individuals who are absolutely passionate about what they do, but I hope the pay increase and the new health scheme will go some way to show my, and the Trust’s, appreciation of each and every one of them.
As we approach Christmas – a time that is full of festivities for some, but much more difficult for others – I hope that everyone within the VIAT family, staff and pupils/students, will have the opportunity for a well-earned break. For me, it’s a time to look forward and to build on the foundations we have laid in the first two terms of this academic year. I’m excited to see what 2024 will bring.
Valley Invicta Academies Trust SEND Action Research Event Valley Invicta Teacher Training was delighted to host the Valley Invicta Academies Trust SEND Action Research Event with Dr Alison Ekins which took place on Thursday, 16 November.
Dr Ekins, Trust Director of SEND, wrote this about the event:
During the academic year 2022/23, all of the nine VIAT Trust schools engaged in a year-long SEND Action Research project. Each school identified their own focus for their Action Research project, and this produced a rich variety of different research projects that we are now able to share and disseminate to support the continued development of practices across our Trust schools.
Across the VIAT SEND Action Research projects, we prioritised embedding the Kent Mainstream Core Standards and the evidence-informed approaches built into the Education Endowment Fund (EEF) Guidance Reports. These have been instrumental to us in ensuring that the practitioner research that we have undertaken in each school is built on a foundation of evidence-informed knowledge and understanding about what works and practices which may be effective to support a range of different pupil and cohort needs.
16 November 2023 was the culmination of the work that had been undertaken, and I was delighted to be able to host a VIAT SEND Action Research Celebration event, which showcased and provided an opportunity to share the fantastic SEND Action Research projects that had been completed by all of our nine Trust schools.
The event was attended by SENCOs, senior leaders and headteachers from all nine schools, as well as governors, Trustees and senior colleagues from the Local Authority, including the Director of Education for Kent. The research presented by each school was of an extremely high quality, with clear links to wider evidence-bases and research and opportunities for further collaboration and learning across the Trust. A hard copy VIAT Action Research Evaluation Report booklet was also provided to give everyone with more details about exactly what had been undertaken and the findings, impact and implications for the future from each of the nine SEND Action Research projects.
Ofsted Outstanding! Valley Invicta Academies Trust (VIAT) is thrilled to announce that Valley Invicta Primary School at Aylesford has been rated ‘Outstanding’ following an Ofsted inspection on 10 and 11 May 2023.
Headteacher, Billy Harrington, said: “We are absolutely overjoyed to have received an ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted, following our inspection a few weeks ago. This result reflects the ongoing hard work and commitment of all our pupils, parents, governors, and, of course, our fantastic team of staff. We are extremely proud of the way in which the report comments that: ‘Pupils thrive at this exciting, nurturing and inclusive school. There is a welcoming, friendly and purposeful atmosphere and a strong sense of community. Pupils are happy and enjoy learning. Parents appreciate this culture, with one saying, ‘Strong leadership from the top, coupled with excellent teaching and support staff, makes for a very happy environment. ‘The school’s values of respect, resilience, responsibility, cooperation and individuality are deeply embedded and very ably demonstrated by the pupils in all that they do.’ Our pupils are, and always will be, our absolute priority and we want the very best for each and every one of them. I’m so pleased this result gives them another huge positive to be really proud of.”
The report also states: ‘The headteacher is determined and uncompromising in his drive to ensure that all pupils, including the most disadvantaged and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), have the very best learning experiences. As a result, leaders have created an impressive and vibrant curriculum. Teachers build on pupils’ knowledge and skills exceptionally well.’
There is also praise, within the report, for reading, the personal development curriculum and the school’s safeguarding arrangements.
The report comes after ‘Good’ Ofsted ratings in November 2016 and January 2022.
Julie Derrick, CEO of Valley Invicta Academies Trust (VIAT), said: “I am so proud of everyone at the school. It is an amazing outcome and testament to the hard work of Mr Harrington and the staff team. The pupils at the school are delightful and absolutely deserve to be proud of themselves. The report eloquently describes what a wonderful place Aylesford is to learn. As a Trust, we all work tirelessly to provide the very best for our pupils across every one of our schools. This Ofsted report shows that the hard work has paid off – to be deemed outstanding in every area is a huge achievement and a clear demonstration of the dedication and passion of our pupils, staff, parents and governors.”
You can read the full report here: https://www.aylesford.viat.org.uk/2209/information/category/30/ofsted
6 Feb 2024
@ValleyInvictaTT - 3 Jul 2023Another brilliant conference held by VITT! pic.twitter.com/0WBBl86vrW— Valley Invicta Teacher Training (VITT) (@ValleyInvictaTT) July 3, 2023
