It’s been a wonderful start to the new school year across all Acer Trust schools. Meeting children as they begin their journeys in nursery and reception is always a joy, just as it is to see our new Year 7 students settling into secondary school and Year 12 students beginning the next stage of their education in our sixth form colleges. These moments of transition are so important, and working collaboratively with our students and families at these key times sits right at the heart of our Acer values.
This term, our secondary school open evenings have been exceptionally busy, with record numbers of prospective parents and students visiting. These events are always a highlight of the term, a chance to talk with families about what makes our schools special and to see students proudly representing their schools, speaking passionately about why they love being part of the Acer community.
In several of our primary schools, it’s not just the nursery and reception children who are new this year, we’ve also welcomed a number of new Early Career Teachers (ECTs) who have joined the Trust full of enthusiasm and energy. When I meet them, I’m always reminded that teaching is the best job in the world. There is something magical about those “lightbulb moments” when a child grasps a new idea for the first time, moments that happen every day in early years classrooms as children make extraordinary leaps in learning and understanding.
The start of the year is also about opportunity. I always tell students and parents that the best way to enjoy and succeed at school is to get involved, to take part, to be curious, and to say yes to new experiences. Already this term, our students have taken part in Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, sports tournaments, theatre trips, harvest festivals, art exhibitions, and even a visit to the world of Harry Potter! School life is about more than great lessons, it’s about friendships, courage, and ambition.
For those of us who have never left education (like me), the year begins in September and ends in August and there is no better feeling than the buzz of a new beginning. This year feels especially exciting as we launch our new five-year strategy, building on the momentum of our September staff conference, where over 800 colleagues came together to be inspired by Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Professor Kate Nation, and Dr Kate Paradine from Voice 21. As our students settle into their new classes and our staff continue to bring learning to life, it feels like the start of another brilliant year for the Acer Trust community.
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