COLLEAGUES,

I hope that you will enjoy this second edition of BETTER Times; much has happened in our schools since Eddie the Eagle and green chickens!

As the nights draw in, it is perhaps apposite to reflect on a busy and successful first term of the academic year - and the last of 2018. Reflection was very much in all of our thoughts in November, with the poignantly redolent WW1 centenary commemoration at Priory School. Respect is, quite literally, at the heart of our BET values - values which we will be celebrating with further Trust events over the coming year. The Priory commemoration again showed the strength, depth and talent we have within BET; the music, provided by all member schools, readings and guest speakers all served as an evocative and powerful reminder of the sacrifice of a departed generation. Following your feedback from the September Trust INSET day, this issue has been predominantly designed to focus on our incredible staff and students. As we grow and develop further collaborations within and across our schools, it becomes increasingly important to invest in and recognise the importance of good relationships - and trust! Within these pages, you will find interviews with both teachers and students from each BET school, as well as just a sample of key student-related news. I do hope you enjoy reading these and learning more about life in our fantastic schools.

Autumn Term also heralded the visit of Ofsted to two of our schools – both visits had been hotly anticipated and were long overdue in the eyes of many. You can read more of these in the ensuing pages; BET and the support it offers was strongly recognised in both reports, being cited as, ’Bohunt Education Trust provides high quality support (BSW) and, the school greatly benefits from being part of Bohunt Education Trust (TPS).’

Lastly, I hope you will also find the opportunity to learn more about the BET Finance team and the latest HR developments useful and enjoyable.

Thank you for what you continue to do for our students each day and for those who are aficionados of New Year Resolutions, I sign off with the words of Heraclitus, “Everything flows and nothing abides, everything gives way and nothing stays fixed.”

Other than green chickens!