https://www.firstfederation.org/annual-review/

If your child is in Year 4 or Year 5, book a space to view Dawlish College at a time that suits you.

Reminder - all pupil absences need to be reported via the admin email - admin@gatehouse.devon.sch.uk or through the My Ed app or by telephone on the day.

Please do not send through Seesaw.

Many thanks for your support.

School Office

Thank you to Capture Weddings who helped us produce an amazing 'Welcome to Gatehouse 2020/2021' video.

 

https://www.gatehouse.devon.sch.uk/starting-at-gatehouse/

x2 Governance Volunteer Vacancies

Gatehouse Primary Academy

 

Parent council members are an important link between the board of directors and each school within the Trust. They have a valued role within the Trust governance to help the board of directors fulfil their core duties:  

 

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
2. Holding the Chief Executive Officer and senior leaders to account for the educational performance of the Trust schools and their pupils; and
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the Trust and making sure its money is well spent.

 

Each parent council member is a member of the governance hub advisory board for their school. They are normally linked to another school within the Trust and visit their school and their linked school termly, although this is being reviewed because of Covid-19 restrictions.

 

More information about the role is available overleaf. More information about the governance structure of the First Federation can be found on the Trust website:

www.firstfederation.org

 

You do not need to be an expert in the field of education for this role. What you do need is an interest in children’s education, the First Federation and very importantly the time and willingness to get involved. Training and support will be provided.

 

If you are interested in the role, please let the school office know by Friday 8^th January 2021.

 

You will be contacted after that date to discuss the role in more details.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Isabelle Candy

Company Secretary

 

What are First Federation Trust Parent Council Members?

Parent council members represent the voice of a parent (i.e. a ‘typical’ parent) not the voice of the parents. Their primary expertise is as a parent and their role is to support and challenge all the schools in the First Federation Trust to improve outcomes for children. As a parent at an individual school within the Trust they will have a good working knowledge of that school through their child’s education and their interaction with the school. We link each parent council member to another school within the Trust.

 

In practice, what will I be expected to do? (This is being reviewed due to covid-19 restrictions)

The Trust parent council member will:

• Visit their own school and linked school once a term for 2 hours during the school day, together with their paired parent council member. The visit will include:
  • Taking part in a learning walk with a member of the school leadership focusing on the First Federation Trust internal consistencies
  • Focussing on an aspect of school improvement
  • Talking to staff and children
  • Receiving an update on events to promote parental engagement and links with the local community
• After each visit, send a report, using the agreed template, to the hub clerk within 10 working days of the visit.

• Attend the Governance Hub advisory board meetings (currently five a year)
• Attend training as necessary.

 

What does the role offer?

• A chance to develop your own personal skills
• Access to free training in respect of education and governance matters
• A sense of achievement in helping to make a difference to children’s education

 

Are you looking for people with particular skills?

We would be delighted to hear from anyone who:

• Is interested in children’s education and the performance of a group of schools
• Has an enquiring mind, and has the confidence to ask questions and debate issues that have an impact on the quality of education we provide
• Can consider matters strategically, objectively and make informed judgements
• Has an enthusiastic and proactive attitude
• Is able to work well as part of a team

 

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline opening hours

The Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline remains available to answer questions about coronavirus (COVID-19) relating to education and children’s social care. Please listen carefully to the available options and select the most appropriate to your nursery, school, or college’s current situation.

Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline by calling:

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm

NHS TEST AND TRACE COVID-19 APP

NHS Test and Trace has launched the NHS COVID-19 app. The app has been launched to help control the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). It will do this by alerting people who may have been exposed to infection so that they can take action.

The app is available to download on smartphones for anyone aged 16 or over.

Dear Children and Parents/Carers

If your child cycles or comes on a scooter to school please can we remind children not to ride on school grounds or in the turning circle and to wear helmets (head protection) when travelling to and from school.

Many thanks for your support and understanding.

Regards
School Office

 

Dear Parents/Carers,  

 

I would like to update you on our plans to support our pupils with Citizenship this year.  

 

Across the school, we aim to celebrate as many extra curricular and citizenship-focused activities that children complete; and for the last three years we have worked with the Children's University team in Plymouth to achieve this.   

 

This year, we have reviewed the 'offer' from this programme, and we have decided to press pause on using the scheme for now. This is mostly due to the fact that the children would struggle to achieve the awards because of the restrictions of the current pandemic of Covid 19 with their inability to complete many clubs safely.  

 

We do however, still want to celebrate the children's efforts and promote citizenship in our school community; we have found an alternative programme for pupils to follow.  

 

The programme is called the Active Citizenship Award Scheme. This programme is more achievable in light of our current situation and is something they can achieve with school's help, rather than just parental support. Further details of this programme will come later in the month, once staff have attended some training to run the programme successfully.  

 

Please kindly advise your child/ren that Children's University has ended for now, but a new, super exciting scheme will be up and running very soon!  

 

If you require us to update old passports or if your child/ren require any certificates or badges to finalise their Children's University days, then please let the office know and they will be happy to help.  

 

Lastly, I would like to thank all the parents, carers, pupils and staff who have previously supported Children's University; and hope that you are all looking forward to the next challenge of the Active Citizenship Award Scheme instead.  

 

Kindest regards,  

Mrs Jenny Deacon