MLP Newsletter No. 31
Welcome back to Term 2 and I hope you all enjoyed a good break over the last ten days. As you’ll see in this edition of our newsletter, there has been a lot going on in all our academies and much to celebrate. We have welcomed hundreds of new pupils and students to the Trust, who have settled very well indeed into their respective schools and college and we have also been pleased to have a number of new staff join us for the new academic year. Yesterday all the staff in Magna Learning Partnership came together for our annual conference, the first time we have been able to host an in person event in three years. It was wonderful to see everyone together at Sarum Academy, all focused firmly on the work that we do as a team to support your children in their educational journey.
One of the objectives we have set ourselves as a Trust for the year is to secure high attendance for all our children and young people. I’m sure you will be aware of this via communications from your children’s school or college. However, we need to ensure that attendance returns to ‘normal’, in other words, what it was before the pandemic – and then continue to build on that ‘normal’ so that in every academy, every pupil or student is actively engaged in learning every day. The evidence for high attendance is stark; regardless of ability, those who have 95% attendance or higher read fluently by the age of 7, achieve better in KS2 SATS, gain higher GCSE grades and score best at A level and vocational examinations, leading to better opportunities in higher education and in employment.
As well as the academic benefits, it’s clear that most children and young people are happiest in school or college; their mental health and well-being is significantly improved if they are able to avoid the need to catch up on their learning, their relationships with adults and peers and their opportunities to take part in activities on offer. Please, parents, do all you can to ensure that in Term 2 this year, your child attends every day.
If, of course, you need attendance support, please contact your child’s school or college, where there will be a member of staff able to help.
I hope you all enjoy a happy and healthy Term 2. It will soon be Christmas!
Sarah Busby
Chief Executive Officer