Having just had a very successful open evening for potential new families, it made me ponder the reasons for choosing Webheath Academy. As part of our open event, I always praise the schools in our local community and the strength of provision we are so lucky to have locally but it is about feeling comfortable in the school you choose and sometimes that is hard to pinpoint. We all have improvements we could make and we all strive to do the very best we can. So here are my thoughts on us at Webheath.

Choosing the right school for your child is a significant decision, and at Webheath Academy, we take pride in offering an exceptional educational experience. Here are five compelling reasons why your child should consider joining our vibrant learning community:

1. Holistic Education: At Webheath Academy, we believe in nurturing the whole child. Our curriculum goes beyond traditional academics to include a rich tapestry of arts, sports, and extracurricular activities. We aim to develop well-rounded individuals who not only excel academically but also possess the creativity, critical thinking skills, and resilience needed for success in an ever-changing world.
2. Dedicated and Inspiring School team: Our team of experienced and passionate educators is committed to providing a supportive and challenging learning environment. We understand that each child is unique, and our teachers work tirelessly to foster a love for learning, encourage curiosity, and tailor their approach to meet the diverse needs of our students.
3. Cutting-edge Technology Integration: Webheath Academy embraces the latest educational technologies to enhance the learning experience. From interactive smart classrooms to innovative digital resources, we strive to prepare our students for the demands of the 21st century. Our commitment to technology integration ensures that students are well-equipped with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
4. Strong Community and Values: At the heart of Webheath Academy is a strong sense of community and shared values. We believe in promoting kindness, respect, and empathy among our students. Through various community service initiatives and collaborative projects, we instill in our students a sense of social responsibility and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world around them.
5. Focus on Well-being: We prioritise the well-being of our students, recognising that a healthy and happy child is better positioned for academic success. Our dedicated well-being programs and support services aim to foster resilience, emotional intelligence, and a positive mindset. We work in partnership with parents to ensure that each child feels supported and valued throughout their educational journey.

Choosing the right school is a crucial decision, and we believe that Webheath Academy provides an environment where your child can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We invite you to explore all that our school has to offer and look forward to welcoming your family into our dynamic and caring community.

With the onset of summer term, sunshine and reflection on the year are key features for a headteacher in any setting. End of year assessments and the amazing progress our children have made is always a pleasure to have witnessed. Despite all the negative press about the difficulty of Key Stage statutory assessments, our pupils at Webheath demonstrated their true resilience and took it in their stride.

Don’t get me wrong, they were challenged and tried their hardest, and they approached them with confidence. They had the exact attitude that 11-year-olds should have towards these assessments and took them as an opportunity to demonstrate their own learning. Whatever the outcomes, they deserve to be proud of themselves. They are now looking forward to flying the nest of Webheath and take the next step in their learning journeys; a bittersweet event.

Not only have Year 6 being part of National benchmarking as our Year 1 children are screened on their phonics knowledge, Year 2 teacher assessments are submitted nationally, and Year 4 are tested on their abilities to have instant recall of all their multiplication tables up to 12 x 12!

The summer term is always a busy one.

Watching the King’s Coronation on Saturday brought a vast range of emotions and admiration; awe at the medieval traditions and humility of our new King being dressed in Westminster, to pleasure at seeing all of our nation’s representatives bearing witness to new directions and reflections for Great Britain in 2023.

With a new King, the occasion signalled to me the hope that may be on the horizon during a post-pandemic era. The symbolism and pageantry of the ceremony is what makes the act seem official and marks the next historic period of time.

The bank holiday marked a time of volunteering and being part of the wider community. School has a huge part to play in the community and we want to build on that at Webheath; we want to play a central role in this area. Paul, from the local Boys’ Brigade, sent me a little something to share, which seems absolutely right for this moment in time:

1st Redditch Boys’ Brigade is a local youth organisation based in Headless Cross for boys aged 5-18, we meet weekly on Friday evenings during term time where the boys undertake various activities towards earning their badges. After May half term we move to our open session where the boys take part in outdoor led activities towards their physical badge. For this we require a safe space within our local community.

After many years of using another local school field we were faced with a huge price increase and as a charitable organisation we were unable to continue with hiring this venue. Webheath Academy Primary School kindly offered to support us and last summer we held successful sessions on their school field. We are pleased to be offered this opportunity again this year and we will be using the field between 6.30pm and 9.15pm on Friday evenings, until the end of July.

If anyone is interested in joining the Boys’ Brigade, please contact paul.gration@1stredditch.com for more information.

No amount of training can prepare you for this role and the ups and downs of daily life leading a school.  Today, I arrived at work to ensure I was ready for the day of meetings stretching ahead of me jumping from working out the logistics of builders being on site, to HR, to what paperwork was needed for the website knowing that the day would be interrupted by the daily emails, phone calls and knocks at my door.

What I realise throughout my day is what a privilege it is to be in this role and at the heart of all my decision making is the wonderful children I have had the opportunity to meet and work with.

the children in our school are my first priority

At the end of the day, it was a special assembly and a child had approached me earlier asking if I was going to be able to make the assembly as he missed me when I couldn’t make it.  It hit me that no matter what paperwork was waiting or demands sitting in emails, the children in our school are my first priority.  I did go to the assembly and had time to watch the whole school’s eager faces beaming at the children winning awards and proud parents looking on; that this is why I do the job I do and there is no other career I would choose.