Diocese of St Albans Multi-Academy Trust

@TeachLeadAAli Great to read, you are an inspiration

Amjad's journey: championing inclusion through flexible leadership teaching.blog.gov.uk/2026/03/06/amj…

Thank you to our wonderful school community for all your donations to Mr Clark’s Marathon fundraising with yesterdays non-uniform day! You have all helped him to raise an extra £200 towards his fundraising goal! 1/2

It was great to spend time at Wenlock CE Academy this week. What a fantastic and impressive school which has undergone a massive school improvement journey, lead diligently by Olivia Burke and her wonderful team. Whilst they were busy talking to some important visitors, we ensured that the Year 6 movie night pupils had popcorn. It was great team work. Caldecote CE Academy recently had their SIAMS inspection and I can proudly share that they achieved a J1 and some highlights are here… -        They readily discover the uniqueness of individual pupils and how they can reach their potential. -        Pastoral care is extremely effective -        The school and Diocese of St Albans Multi-Academy Trust (DSAMAT) work closely together   There has been much hard work from Sarah Young and her team to achieve this great outcome. I thank them for their hard work. Today the DfE Regional Director for the East of England, Jonathan Duff visited Manshead to see the transformation at the school over such a short period of time. It is such exciting times for the school. It was great to talk, tour and think about our Trust. Jonathan asked throughout how the DfE can support and he was really listening to what we spoke about. Well done Manshead staff for the work that you do. @TW_CE_Academy @diostalbans @stalbansdioedu @COOInclusiveMAT @mrawolfe @Caldecote_CE @NorthillHead @Ravensdenhead @ravensdenps @StJamesHead @UrsulaTaylorSch @mansheadacademy @KensworthCE @StudhamAcademy @WenlockAcademy @TotternhoeCE @Stlceacademy @teachleadaali @trustsafeguard @DavidWoolf16137 @ali_brabs @StLCEacademy

This week has made me so proud. The lived values between our staff was in abundance. Care and support for our schools brought many to tears this week and from colleagues outside of our Trust. I have watched leaders strive forward and show relentless drive. The best part being able to see the impact this is having on pupils we serve. Happy 60th to Gilly Riach who also got lots of nominations for her care, guidance and support from our heads and central team. We finished the week with a fabulous day with our heads and central team. We looked at education, reaching higher attendance, how to achieve our aspirational targets, what is going well and what we can develop. It is just over a year on from us centralising Finance. It was great to talk through how well this is now working, how we have worked through teething issues and how this is enabling our head teachers to focus on education. @TW_CE_Academy @diostalbans @stalbansdioedu @COOInclusiveMAT @mrawolfe @Caldecote_CE @NorthillHead @Ravensdenhead @ravensdenps @StJamesHead @UrsulaTaylorSch @mansheadacademy @KensworthCE @StudhamAcademy @WenlockAcademy @TotternhoeCE @Stlceacademy @teachleadaali @trustsafeguard @DavidWoolf16137 @ali_brabs

Exciting times when we are planning on what to spend our capital budget on for next year David Woolford MIWFM . Some exciting projects are: -Trust wide energy monitoring system across all schools to support budgets and our Climate Change Action Plan and sustainability goals -Full LED lighting upgrade across all schools to improve light levels in classrooms and cost savings -Replacement of the roof coverings on one of our schools, removing the risk of leaks, disruption to teaching spaces and improve health and safety I have seen overwhelming support from leaders across our Trust this week, really living the values that we set out in our vision – hope, nurture, equality, respect, collaboration. Wenlock CE Academy had our first safeguarding audit led by Sarah Bloomer. It was a joy to read the report with some snippets here: •There is a demonstrable sense of ‘team’ and genuine shared responsibility for safeguarding at Wenlock •The DSL clearly has the oversight of all things safeguarding •Decision making and practice is holistic, inclusive and effective •The way in which the SLT work together with the DSL to oversee all decisions, curriculum, interventions and support for vulnerable children is inspiring. Well done Olivia Burke and her staff team and thank you Sarah Bloomer. I had a great meting with Mostaque Koyes MBE, Hon. MBA to look at how we can support the Luton community projects. Nothing better than giving back to our communities. Well done to our finance team who received a well done email from the DfE for the accounts return which was completed well before the deadline. Thank you Claire Jones The week ended with a brilliant executive meeting with Vicki Morrall FCCT and Sarah Bloomer where we looked at strategy across our trust, our plans for now and for next. Thank you to Alison Barden for looking after us at St James. What a beautiful school with such a focus on a love of reading. @TW_CE_Academy @diostalbans @stalbansdioedu @COOInclusiveMAT @mrawolfe @Caldecote_CE @NorthillHead @Ravensdenhead @ravensdenps @StJamesHead @UrsulaTaylorSch @mansheadacademy @KensworthCE @StudhamAcademy @WenlockAcademy @TotternhoeCE @Stlceacademy @teachleadaali @trustsafeguard @DavidWoolf16137 @ali_brabs

I took some time this week to look at strategy and bigger picture. With such a strong central team it is so exciting to be thinking about our short and long term goals. We had a great Education and Ethos Director meeting, where we were able to have focused discussions on our key schools and also share our great habits of teaching emerging strategy. Well done to Vicki Morrall FCCT and Olivia Burke Joined up thinking took place with Patrice Evans , Amjad Ali and staff at manshead on professional development for teaching and learning, with an inclusion lense. What a great thing to be talking about. What another amazing day with the Church of England. 300 pupils were on stage singing and dancing with gusto. So proud that pupils from Ursula Taylor were part of this exciting event. Thank you Andy Wolfe for your inspiration. The painting attached which was commissioned for Nigel Genders CBE and painted by a talented young person was just breathtaking, and it is inpired by John 10:10 which ubnderpins our Trust vision. Caldecote CE Academy held a fantastic community event last term following their Church service. They invited all parents to see a display of work across the curriculum. You could feel how proud they were of their child’s work and the school. So lovely to be part of. Well done Sarah Young. Images of the work are below. @TW_CE_Academy @diostalbans @stalbansdioedu @COOInclusiveMAT @mrawolfe @Caldecote_CE @NorthillHead @Ravensdenhead @ravensdenps @StJamesHead @UrsulaTaylorSch @mansheadacademy @KensworthCE @StudhamAcademy @WenlockAcademy @TotternhoeCE @Stlceacademy @teachleadaali @trustsafeguard @DavidWoolf16137 @ali_brabs

Another great week for our Trust. Some fantastic work from our operations Heads of Service. Claire Jones, is building such a strong finance team, now working on how to bring income into our Trust. Ali Brabner, working through some robust exclusion templates with the brilliant Tom Bellwood to support heads when they have to sadly take this route. David Woolford MIWFM, has developed a brilliant safe schools assessment, asbestos management folder, fire risk assessment folders, energy saving plans and estates management systems – wow! Sharon Dickman, has made a brilliant start working on policies, sickness absence management training and SCR checks We had our third Headship Excellence CPD session. Feedback has been great. It’s been powerful to join with Life Education Trust for this and work with Julian Dutnall Vicki Morrall FCCT, Olivia Burke and Alison Barden attended Chiltern Training Group recruitment fair and Katie Flowers attended University of Bedfordshire recruitment fair. Nothing better than brining new teachers into the profession and a win for our Trust. We have several teachers this year who trained with CTG last year. Always so proud of the work that they do. Always a pleasure to meet with Duncan Gauld from Diocese of St Albans Board of Education to talk about education strategy. Lots of school visits have taken place, Manshead, Ursula Taylor, St James and Ravensden. This is what a Trusts work is all about. Seeing the impact of decisions on pupils is special. Gilly Riach has been accepted to start her SIAMS inspector training. Wonderful for her, our Trust and who she will inspect. More induction for Sarah Bloomer and Sharon Dickman – we are determined to ensure that our induction processes are strong, which will in turn enable our new staff to succeed. Lastly, having been unwell this week the value of nurture came to the forefront with such care from all the team. Thank you to Sarah Bloomer for posting me super sachets to drink and make me better. There is real lived values of care in our Trust @TW_CE_Academy @diostalbans @stalbansdioedu @COOInclusiveMAT @mrawolfe @Caldecote_CE @NorthillHead @Ravensdenhead @ravensdenps @StJamesHead @UrsulaTaylorSch @mansheadacademy @KensworthCE @StudhamAcademy @WenlockAcademy @TotternhoeCE @Stlceacademy @TeachLeadAAli

Baffled at the responses about uniform rules Could you imagine going into a hospital and refusing to wear the gowns, the library and borrowing without a card? Sitting on the floor in a restaurant as you dont like the seats! Why do schools rules get to be optional?!

I’ll be delivering NPQ for SEND for two cohorts starting this Monday. On behalf of @ChilternTSH @ChilternLT for Best Practice Network. I’ve never delivered an NPQ before, so I’m equally excited as well as nervous as delivering content for others. We are Really happy with the sign up numbers for our suit of NPQs looked after by the amazing. @NicolaKH_DSE @unleashing_me @AJRAllModCons

What a first week back our Trust has had. We welcomed Sarah Bloomer who is our new Director of Safeguarding and Sharon Dickman who is our new Head of People. They have had a brilliant start and have achieved so much already. The ability and quality of staff in our whole central team is something that I am immensely proud of and together we will take our Trust to such a strong place.   We have formed another partnership within our Trust, joining two more schools together with an executive Head. This has allowed one of our Heads to move to a school that was without leadership. Such a wonderful opportunity for staff to develop and grow. Thank you to Sarah Young NPQH and Sarah Evans    We now have 6 schools with executive heads, allowing excellent leadership to be spread across many establishments, joining our vision together and creating financial stability for our schools. This has grown from 2 schools in the last year.   We have a new logo which we are proud of, and it has been great to hear from staff how much they like it.   Our amazing Director of Education Vicki Morrall FCCT has worked with the schools making the leadership moves smooth, liaising with Governors, staff and parents. She has so much to celebrate that she has already achieved in just one term such as… - brilliant subject networks - writing Moderation, subject leadership in Maths, English, DSL, SEND, EYFS, Key Stage, RE. - focused professional discussions at school visits on standards, curriculum development, target setting and progress to targets - SEND Ladders to track progress in small steps - Ofsted SEF template - writing assessments have been aligned across all schools - ‘Great Habits of Teaching and Learning’ document is in draft form and - education Strategy is in draft form   Looking forward to a successful and busy term @TW_CE_Academy @diostalbans @stalbansdioedu @COOInclusiveMAT @mrawolfe @Caldecote_CE @NorthillHead @Ravensdenhead @ravensdenps @StJamesHead @UrsulaTaylorSch @mansheadacademy @KensworthCE @StudhamAcademy @WenlockAcademy @TotternhoeCE @Stlceacademy @TeachLeadAAli

Our Year 7 students have been busy designing entries for the @diostalbans Christmas card competition! This year’s theme; “The light shines in the darkness…” inspired some truly creative and thoughtful artwork. Here are just a few of their fantastic designs!

A typical @ChilternLT @ChilternTSH day. A powerful & insightful training on ‘Racism & Safeguarding’ led by @DrFRajina. Now at the @UKHouseofLords with @CharteredColl at the Teaching Commission Launch Event. @msybibi from our team was one of the commissioners. @MaryWBousted

Today, @DrFRajina held an important session on Racism in Education for our schools’ DSLs - creating space for honest dialogue, reflection and action toward equity. Proud of our educators for showing up, listening and committing to real change. Thank you to Dr Fatima for an extremely insightful, informative and engaging session. #EquityInEducation #AntiRacism

Secondary School Applications – Deadline Approaching! Parents & carers of Year 6 students: don’t forget to apply for your child’s secondary school place by Thursday 31st October. centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/5/school_… We look forward to welcoming the next generation of Manshead learners!

We had the most amazing and impactful safeguarding strategy day lead by the wonderful Sarah Bloomer. All our Headteachers and DSLs together, crafting what our vision and strategy will be. The alignment, positive ethos and expertise was a pleasure to be part of. Proud moment. @TW_CE_Academy @diostalbans @stalbansdioedu @COOInclusiveMAT @mrawolfe @Caldecote_CE @NorthillHead @Ravensdenhead @ravensdenps @StJamesHead @UrsulaTaylorSch @mansheadacademy @KensworthCE @StudhamAcademy @WenlockAcademy @TotternhoeCE @Stlceacademy @TeachLeadAAli

Congratulations to the five recipients of this year's Order of St Alban, awarded at Evensong at St Albans Cathedral recently, in recognition of their faithful and committed service to the Diocese over many years. Read our news story here: buff.ly/MBP6k4V

✨ Year 6 Open Evening ✨ 📅 Thurs 9 Oct ⏰ 4–7pm Manshead CE Academy Come meet our staff & students, tour our school & discover why Manshead is the right choice for your child’s future. 🔗 eventbrite.co.uk/e/year-6-open-…