On Thursday 14th September, Michael Hodges from the Pershore Civic Society accompanied Phil Hanson to present the 2023 Avonreach Academy/Pershore Civic Society Community Action awards. 

Nominations had been received from Norton Juxta Kempsey CofE Primary School, Flyford Flavell Primary School, Inkberrow Primary School, Himbleton CofE Primary School, Orchard Primary School and Pershore High School. Teachers were encouraged to identify deserving students who were doing good work in their communities. Amongst others, we rewarded individuals who do daily good works as litter picking, assisting in community gardens, editing school newspapers, and raising money for charity. The overall winners of each school were presented with framed certificates and £30 book tokens. Presentations were completed in two School assemblies with parents and in classrooms. The encouragement of good Citizenship is an area that can be massively beneficial to Pershore town and villages beyond. 

Pershore Education Review – update on latest progress with the proposal to move to a fully two-tier education system

Background - Activity to date:

A public consultation took place between October and November 2021.  We sought views from parents, carers and other stakeholders on the proposed required changes to existing first, middle and high schools to move to a primary and secondary education journey for children in the Pershore area.

The consultation responses confirmed a majority support for the proposals, and Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet agreed in April 2022 to a commitment to support a collective change of age range to align to fully two-tier system, subject to the necessary funding being fully secured.

An essential part of the required funding relates to the creation of the additional places for Year 7 children required at Pershore High School. The Department for Education submitted a business case to HM Treasury in Spring 2022 to request this funding.

Current position:

HM Treasury have now approved the funding required to create the additional places for Year 7 children at Pershore High School. Currently work is being undertaken to include these additional places in the building plans and understand how long it will take to complete the building project.  Once we know this, we will be able to plan and seek views on changes in other schools following a clear timeline and processes that are required before any further changes are made. 

Contact:

If you have any questions about this, please contact: pershorereview@worcschildrenfirst.org.uk

We hereby announce that Clive Corbett has decided to bring forward his retirement from the positions of Executive Officer and Accounting Officer at Avonreach Academy Trust. We are immensely grateful for the dedicated service that Clive has given to the creation and development of the Trust over the last 6 years and indeed for his 44 years of total service to the education of children and young adults. In combination with his time at Pershore High School, Clive has devoted himself to improving the educational outcomes and lives of children in the Pershore pyramid for over 28 years and it is without any doubt that he has had significant positive impact on the lives of many thousands of children that have passed through his care during this time. He leaves a legacy of educational and institutional improvement and has been instrumental in the formation and formative development of Avonreach Academy Trust, which would not be the strong and stable Multi Academy Trust that it is now without his significant contribution. I and the Trust Board offer him our sincere thanks and wish him the long and happy retirement that he so very much deserves.

We can also announce that with the full support of the Governing Body and Senior

Leadership Team at Pershore High School, Phil Hanson has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Accounting Officer at Avonreach Academy Trust and has kindly agreed to bring forward the commencement of his roles, effective immediately. The Trust Board is delighted with this appointment, and we look forward to working with Phil as we start a new chapter in the Avonreach journey, building on the strong foundations that Clive has helped put in place.

Please join us in thanking Clive for his service and wishing him well in his retirement, welcoming Phil in his new roles and continuing to support the Trust as we move forward together.

Andy Longdon

Chair of Trustees

Avonreach Academy Trust

Good morning,

I am delighted to announce that following a rigorous and diligent recruitment process, the Trust Board has appointed Phil Hanson to the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Accounting Officer, effective from September 2023, upon the retirement of Clive Corbett. This role is based on the equivalent of two days per week and Phil will retain his position as Headteacher at Pershore High School for the equivalent of 3 days per week.

Against a very strong field of internal and external applicants, Phil demonstrated a clear vision for the future of Avonreach Academy Trust, with a plan for controlled and considered growth, building upon the foundations laid down during Clive's tenure, whilst sustaining and developing educational outcomes for all of the pupils both within Avonreach schools, the Pershore pyramid and further afield.

Plans to re-organise and strengthen the Senior Leadership Team at Pershore High School, including the recruitment of an additional Deputy Head, are already underway and will be communicated in due course.

We look forward to an exciting new chapter for Avonreach Academy Trust under his leadership.

Best regards,

Andy Longdon

Chair of Trustees

We are delighted to announce the winners of the Avonreach Academy Trust Creative Writing competition, for pupils in years 3&4. 

Emily was the overall winner for Year 3.

Isla was the overall winner for year 4. 

A huge well done to all those that entered, and congratulations to the winners! 

Avonreach Academy Trust recently held a quiz event for its Year 6 pupils. Teams from Inkberrow, Norton Juxta Kempsey and Orchard primary schools took part in a quiz that was led by sixth form members of the Trust Student Council and Executive Officer Clive Corbett. Great fun was had by all and in a close finish, Inkberrow just pipped the other two teams to win the trophy. 

Orchard  came second with Norton  a close third!

On 25th November, Avonreach Academy Trust held a conference on well-being for all its staff members. It was a fantastic day where everyone enjoyed a wide variety of training sessions and activities. 

Our key note speaker was the inspirational Nina Jackson, from the Independent Thinking Company, who talked to us about 'Finding the Fizz' - where wellbeing, teaching, learning and living is a work of heart.

The afternoon consisted of a wellbeing marketplace and 12 training sessions that the staff could choose from. 

Thank you to the trainers, marketplace delegates and the Pershore Kitchen, it was an uplifting and brilliant day!

On Friday 16th September Judy Dale and Michael Hodges from the Pershore Civic Society accompanied Clive Corbett to the following schools to present 2022 Avonreach Academy/Pershore Civic Society Community Action awards:

Norton Juxta Kempsey CofE Primary School, Flyford Flavell Primary School, Inkberrow Primary School, Himbleton CofE Primary School, Orchard Primary School and Pershore High School.

Nominations had been received from teachers who were encouraged to identify deserving students who were doing good work in their communities. Amongst others, we rewarded classes and individuals who do daily good works as litter pickers, environmental activists, carers to disabled siblings……… Silver and Gold awards were presented. Gold award winners were presented with framed certificates and £30 book tokens. Presentations were completed in two School assemblies with parents and carers & in classrooms and in a Forest School. There is no doubt that the encouragement of good Citizenship is an area that can be massively beneficial to the town and villages beyond. 

Thank you to everyone that came to the Open Evening at Pershore High School last night. Here are some of the Pershore Kitchen displays provided to prospective students and parents. The displays were fantastic and all the fruit and vegetables were from the horticulture unit.

pershorekitchen.co.uk

Following the announcement from Buckingham Palace of the death of our sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, you will be aware that a period of National Mourning has started and will continue until the end of the State Funeral. This is a period of time for reflection in response to the death of the Sovereign. For all schools and further education settings, normal attendance is expected throughout the National Mourning period. This is in line with Department for Education guidance.

The official date of the State Funeral is 19th September 2022. This day will be a bank holiday and, as with all settings that are normally closed on a bank holiday, the schools of the Avonreach Academy Trust will be closed.

You can be certain that all of our staff will do everything required to reassure children and young people at this difficult time. 

Best wishes

Clive Corbett

Executive Officer