Heads Up - Friday 6th March 2026

Heads Up Friday 6th March 2026

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CEO’s Welcome Dear Colleagues, I wanted to let you know that, following a formal recruitment process, the Board of Trustees has appointed Sarah Lack as the next Chief Executive Officer of The Boleyn Trust, effective 1 September 2026.

As you know, Sarah is our Trust’s Deputy CEO and Director of Primary. She brings deep knowledge of our Trust and communities, a strong track record of delivery, and the values-led leadership to build on our existing work as we move into the next phase.

This appointment forms part of a carefully planned transition as I move into a phased retirement. I will remain in post as full time CEO and Accounting Officer until 31 August 2026, at which point my responsibilities will transfer to Sarah.

In September, I will start a new role in the Trust as Head of Strategy and Delivery on a part time basis of 2.5 days a week. The remainder of the week offers me the freedom to work across the sector to support the DfE in the delivery of the White Paper.

Tom Canning CBE

It has been the honour of my life to lead such a vibrant, exciting and inclusive trust. Our successes are too many to mention here and I know we are in very safe hands under Sarah's future leadership. I offer Sarah my warmest congratulations and my total support in her new role as CEO of The Boleyn Trust.

Best wishes, Tom 2

Deputy CEO's Welcome Dear colleagues I would like to thank the Trustees and Tom and for my recent appointment. I am humbled and excited to continue the amazing journey of our Trust as we continue to grow. Tom’s incredible mentoring and leadership have made us the successful organisation we are today.

Sarah Lack

I am so grateful to work with so many amazing people. Therefore, in this edition I would like to celebrate some of the wonderful staff members that make our schools such special places. They don’t always get the recognition they deserve, so we would like to shine a spotlight on everything they do for the pupils and parents they work with, and their colleagues.

Sarah

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Attendance Data Below is the attendance and persistent absence data from across the Trust for the period of 09 Feb 2026 and 27 Feb 2026

Attendance

Group Name

Attendance

Persistent Absence

Monega Primary School

96.7%

18.0%

Tollgate Primary School

95.6%

19.0%

The Clara Grant Primary

95.3%

20.4%

Cleves Primary School

95.2%

19.8%

Shaftesbury Primary

94.5%

22.3%

New City Primary School

93.8%

23.0%

Rosetta Primary School

93.6%

27.5%

Ravenscroft Primary

93.3%

28.3%

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Meet our Governors Here are some insights from some of our governors, on why they volunteer and what they enjoy about the role. If you feel inspired to become a governor, please email timothy.white@theboleyntrust.org I became a school Governor because I was very keen on getting involved in the local community, interested in Children’s education and passionate in my desire to help the school achieve the best possible schooling experience and outcomes for all children.

As a governor you can influence the direction that the school is taking, your efforts will not only benefit all children and the school community but also your own personal development, this requires commitment and devoting the time required to the role to achieve the best possible outcomes for all pupils.

I have been a Governor for over 6 years and can say it has been incredibly rewarding, I have seen many children grow, thrive and move onto the next phase of education.

Olivia Offorjindu - Chair of Governors at Cleves Local Standards and Safeguarding Committee (LSSC) It is no understatement that I have found it an honour to initially be asked to be a governor at Ravenscroft Primary School-part of the Boleyn Trust. I have subsequently taken on the role of chairperson.

Governors are in place to ensure that education and safeguarding standards are maintained to the highest level and to supportively challenge the leadership of the school to help further this.

Every governor I have worked with wants to give something back to their community and specifically to the school within that community. If you value the place education has in the development of children I would urge you to consider becoming a governor. It helps to have a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds in governors to support the vibrant and diverse school community. You will be supported, encouraged and trained to ensure you feel informed and confident in the role.

Dominic Barnes - Chair of Ravenscroft Local Standards and Safeguarding Committee

Olivia Offorjindu

Dominic Barnes

Being a governor offers the opportunity to work collaboratively with school leaders and fellow governors to provide strategic oversight, strengthen accountability, and help ensure every pupil has access to highquality education. It allows individuals to bring their professional experience to support the school’s development while also gaining valuable insight into how schools operate, from curriculum priorities to community engagement. I see it as a meaningful way to give back locally while helping the school continue to grow and thrive.

Emily Harrington - Chair of New City Local Standards and Safeguarding Committee

Emily Harrington

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The Magic Porridge Pot The children in Nursery enjoyed decorating pots and spoons, making porridge and taking part in creative activities linked to the book. We also learned about healthy and unhealthy foods and why it is important to make healthy choices. To finish the week, the children enjoyed tasting porridge, which they all agreed was delicious.

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Pre-formal Learning in Pathways 1 Our pre-formal learners have been exploring the traditional tale of The Gingerbread Man, through a range of engaging and sensory-based activities.

The children participated in a themed sensory tray experience, encouraging exploration and communication skills, as well as imaginative role play to develop their understanding of the story.

They also used play dough to design and decorate their own gingerbread characters, supporting the development of fine motor skills and creativity.

Additionally, the learners explored a variety of spices traditionally used in gingerbread baking, engaging their senses of smell and touch while expanding their awareness of different ingredients.

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Reception Police Visit Reception were very lucky to have a visit from our local police officers. The children learnt all about their important roles in our community.

What they do each day, and how they help to keep us safe. The officers showed the children their uniform and special equipment, and everyone had the exciting opportunity to try on the police hats! The children asked some fantastic questions and showed great curiosity throughout. It was a fun and engaging experience that linked beautifully to our learning about people who help us.

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Chinese New Year Performances This week, pupils had the joy of celebrating Chinese New Year through a series of immersive workshops and vibrant performances. From traditional dance and music to creative activities, children were able to explore the rich heritage and symbolism of the festival in meaningful, memorable ways. The experience ignited curiosity and built cultural awareness. The enthusiasm and confidence pupils showed throughout the sessions highlighted the powerful impact of learning through shared celebration—opening minds, inspiring creativity and strengthening our sense of belonging.

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Staff Accolade Karleen is one of those rare individuals whose impact is felt in every corner of Cleves. Wearing several hats with remarkable ease, she leads welfare and medical provision across the school, heads our EYFS Resource Provision and serves as a highly trusted DSL — each role requiring a depth of care, expertise and resilience that she delivers effortlessly.

Often described as “so calm under pressure,” Karleen’s presence is genuinely grounding. Whether navigating complex safeguarding matters, supporting children with highly individualised needs, or managing day‑to‑day challenges, she brings a steady, reassuring professionalism that inspires confidence in staff, children and families alike.

At the same time, Karleen is wonderfully dynamic. She moves fluidly between roles, adapting with intelligence, creativity and immense compassion. Her ability to balance so many responsibilities while still giving her best to every child and every team member is a testament to both her skill and her character.

And, of course, her incredible sense of humour shouldn’t go unmentioned. Karleen has a gift for lifting spirits, finding joy in the busiest moments, and reminding everyone around her that even on the toughest days, laughter is powerful.

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Staff Accolade We are proud to celebrate Mr. Ariel. A dedicated teacher and valued member of our community, Mr. Ariel consistently goes above and beyond in every aspect of his role.

As a volunteer at Monega, he brings commitment, warmth, and professionalism to everything he does.

Mr. Ariel is an invaluable part of our EYFS team, where his flexibility and positive attitude make a real difference every single day. Whether he is covering nursery nurses or providing teacher PPA cover, he steps in seamlessly and ensures that our youngest learners receive the very best care and education. His adaptability, reliability, and calm approach create stability and continuity for both staff and children.

We truly could not cope without him. Mr. Ariel’s dedication, generosity with his time, and unwavering support for colleagues make him a deeply appreciated and respected member of our team. Thank you, Mr. Ariel, for all that you do.

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MENTAL HEALTH WEEK FUNDRAISER To mark Mental Health Week, Monega pupils were busy raising money for Place to Be by hosting a fantastic playground fundraiser.

Pupils sold sweet treats, doughnuts and cookies, ran games, and even offered face painting. Thanks to everyone’s hard work and generosity, an amazing £442.95 was raised.

Just as importantly, the week helped raise awareness about mental health, encouraging pupils to think about how to look after their own minds and support one another.

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CHESS CLUB A lunchtime chess club, with Mr Terry at the helm, is becoming a lively new highlight of the school day. Pupils are invited to settle in, and enjoy a friendly but thoughtful break where strategy, patience, and creativity take centre stage.

A calm, focused atmosphere that gives everyone a refreshing pause from the school day.

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WEAR YOUR TRUE COLOURS Last week we celebrated Wear Your True Colours Day, and the school was filled with bright outfits, personal styles, and a real sense of togetherness. Pupils swapped their uniforms for clothes that showed something about who they are — favourite colours, or simply outfits that made them feel confident and comfortable.

The atmosphere felt warm and supportive, with everyone celebrating the idea that being yourself is something to be proud of.

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GAMELAN PERFORMANCE Year 3 pupils have embarked on a journey of creativity and rhythm with Gamelan. They created colourful puppets and brought their characters to life in an incredible performance for parents.

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Celebrating Chinese New Year with the Confucius Institute Before half term, our school had the wonderful opportunity to welcome a visiting team from the Confucius Institute, who delivered an inspiring and vibrant programme of performances and workshops in celebration of Chinese New Year.

Pupils from across the whole school enjoyed an exciting line-up of cultural activities, including traditional martial arts and kung fu demonstrations, beautiful singing and dancing performances, and interactive sessions exploring Chinese customs and traditions. One of the highlights of the day was the spectacular dragon dance, which brought colour, movement and joy to the hall, captivating children and adults alike. Pupils also had the chance to try traditional fan movements, learning how precision, rhythm and artistry come together in Chinese performance culture.

This year marks the Year of the Horse, a symbol of energy, perseverance and optimism—qualities our pupils demonstrated throughout the sessions as they engaged with curiosity and enthusiasm.

Our partnership with the Confucius Institute offers pupils a meaningful window into one of the world’s most ancient and influential cultures. It strengthens global awareness, promotes intercultural understanding, and enriches our curriculum with authentic experiences that children will remember for years to come.

We are deeply grateful to the Confucius Institute team for sharing their talent, knowledge and passion with us. It was a truly unforgettable celebration of Chinese heritage and creativity.

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Year 3 and 4 Medical Students Workshop We were delighted to welcome a team of medical students this week, who spent time with our pupils in years 3 and 4 exploring practical ways to look after their health and wellbeing. The sessions covered simple strategies for managing winter illnesses, the importance of regular exercise, making healthy food choices, andbalancing screen time. Our children enjoyed the interactive activities and left with plenty of useful tips to help them stay healthy and active throughout the colder months.

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St Joseph’s Hospice Just before half term we were over the moon to welcome Charlie a representative of the St Josephs Hospice to receive a donation from New City. St Josephs mission is to provide compassionate, specialist palliative care to people in the diverse community of East London who are living with life-limiting illness. Thank you to our wonderful New City parents, carers staff and community for taking part in our fundraising events which included our reindeer run, cake sales and community events.

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London Docklands Museum Before half term our Year 4 children visited the Museum of London Docklands to support their History learning on World War II. The children explored what life was like during the Blitz, learnt about evacuation and air raids, and examined real artefacts that brought their classroom learning to life. They represented the school beautifully and showed great enthusiasm throughout the visit

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Year 3: Faith in Schools Before half term our Year 4 children visited the Museum of London Docklands to support their History learning on World War II. The children explored what life was like during the Blitz, learnt about evacuation and air raids, and examined real artefacts that brought their classroom learning to life. They represented the school beautifully and showed great enthusiasm throughout the visit

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Staff Accolade We are extremely glad to have the opportunity to thank Lee, our Reprographics Assistant. Lee has been employed here at New City since October 2013 and was in fact an ex pupil of the school (he started in our Nursery!).

Lee is a firm favourite here amongst both staff and students and is always willing and ready to help with anything and everything! There is no other person within the school that knows their way around a photocopier and laminator like Lee! This term is extremely busy for Lee as he prepares past papers for SATs and although deadlines are fast and often, Lee will always complete these tasks with a ‘can do’ attitude and a smile on his face which is infectious. You cant not feel happy and positive around Lee. Thank you for all you do.

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Child of the Term – Pizza Express Our Autumn term winners of ‘Child of the term’ were treated to a lovely day out which included a meal at Pizza Express.

It was a nice way to celebrate their achievements last term!

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School Disco We had our February Disco at the end of halfterm. The children enjoyed letting their hair down and letting off some steam along to their favourite songs (which was loud enough for every school in the trust to hear!!)Each child was given a light-up wand which they all waving around the dark school hall.

The funds raised will be used to host further exciting events later on in the year.

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Chinese New Year We celebrated Chinese New Year in school this week with the help of our Mandarin teachers.

Our Nursery children have made their own hat with a red horse included on it and they then celebrated by listening and dancing to traditional Chinese music.

The Mandarin teachers, who were dressed in traditional clothes, held assemblies for the rest of the school to talk about how they celebrate the new year and also what it means for the ‘Year of the Horse’.

The school cooks prepared a Chinese meal for everyone to eat that day too!

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Religious Education In R.E, Reception have been learning about Islam.

Week 1, they learnt about how Muslims pray and created their own prayer mats.

Week 2, they learnt about Hajj and used finger painting to represent Muslim people going around the Kabah.

Week 3, they learnt about Eid and created salt dough ornaments.

Week 4, they learnt about the hijab, reading books about it and designing their own hijab!

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Staff Accolade Nicolae Grigoras – Ravenscroft Primary School Site Supervisor Originally from Romania, Nic has lived in the UK since 2007.

Nic has worked at Ravenscroft for 10 years. We first met him when he worked for Neilcott Construction, who won the contract to expand the school buildings, allowing us to grow from two to three forms of entry. But, following the completion of the works, he wanted to stay with us full time and got the job of Site Supervisor!

Nic can do anything – and usually in double quick time. He is the reason that Ravenscroft looks so good both inside and out all the time!

As well as his normal duties, Nic acts as a translator for our Romanian families, works with our children and goes on Educational Visits when we need him to. He is an allround hero.

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Year 1 visit West Ham Park Year 1 had a fantastic trip to West Ham Park to learn more about the Stone Age. They enjoyed a plant walk where they spotted crocuses, daffodils and snowdrops and learned about the different plants around them. The children also worked together to build shelters using sticks, just like people did in the Stone Age, and explored artefacts from the past. It was a fun and exciting day full of hands-on learning.

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Year 3: Regeneration Project Year 3 have been learning about regeneration and how local areas can be improved to better support the people who live there. They explored examples of regeneration in their community, discussing changes such as new buildings, parks, and transport links. To share their understanding, the children created informative posters showing how regeneration can make places cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable for everyone.

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Year 5 Into University Our Year 5 pupils had a fantastic visit to INTO University East Ham, where they explored the exciting world of higher education.

They learnt about different degree courses, the importance of choosing a subject they’re truly passionate about, and key factors to consider when thinking about university life including accommodation. Pupils even stepped into the role of career advisers, using real-life scenarios to recommend courses based on interests and aspirations. A brilliant day of big thinking, bright futures, and ambitious goals!

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Year 6 NSPCC Speak Out Stay Safe Workshop Year 6 recently took part in the NSPCC Speak Out Stay Safe workshop, where they explored important messages about staying safe and speaking up. The children learned about recognising trusted adults, understanding their right to feel safe and the importance of sharing worries or concerns. As part of the session, they created thoughtful and eyecatching posters to promote the key messages of the workshop. We were incredibly proud of their maturity, engagement and the supportive discussions they had throughout the day.

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Dream Job Day This week, Year 5 have been continuing their work on fractions and have built up their understanding really well. They have confidently used their prior learning alongside a mastery approach to tackle a wide range of fraction questions. Children applied bar models and times table knowledge to solve problems, often using multiple methods to check their answers. They were able to clearly show and explain the reasoning behind their work, demonstrating a secure and growing understanding of the concepts. The children also produced excellent journals, presenting their thinking neatly and thoughtfully.

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Lunar New Year Workshop To celebrate Lunar New Year, we had volunteers in school delivering lunar new year workshops to the children across the school. Children learnt about the story behind lunar new year, different traditions and cultural beliefs associated with it and they took part in craft activities.

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Staff Accolade Without these two amazing ladies, lunchtimes at Rosetta simply wouldn’t run so smoothly!

Zoe Maltby, Head Cook and Sarah Bagwell, Midday Supervisor are the dream team when it comes to ensuring the dinner service runs without a hitch. Both work diligently to ensure all of our children receive healthy meals each day, in particular, they ensure that all children with allergies are appropriately catered for by knowing the children’s individual allergies and needs and that the choices the children have chosen are safe for the children to eat.

Having been met with some very difficult situations this term, they have risen to the challenge and provided nutritious meals despite the difficulties that they have faced and taken initiative and thought quickly to find solutions.

Thank you for all that you do ladies, we appreciate you more than you realise!

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Year 4 Visit to the Synagogue Year 4 visited our local Synagogue as part of their RE studies

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Year 3 Art Year 3 have been learning about tone and how to show this using different mediums.

Today they identified how 3-dimensional shapes appear in direct light. The used their perspectives to copy this into their books using sketch pencils and Chinagraph markers.

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Year 3 Baking Lesson Year 3 children took part in an engaging baking session led by a chef! Each child mixed their own ingredients, kneaded to form a dough, rolled out and cut out their vanilla sugar cookie shape.

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4B visit Pizza Express Year 4B pupils had another amazing learning experience this week with a visit to Pizza Express at the O2 in Greenwich as part of their DT food curriculum. The children enjoyed making their own pizzas and were proudly awarded a ‘Pizzaido’ certificate for their hard work. They thoroughly enjoyed tasting their delicious creations and even showed how thoughtful they are by sharing some with their parents and siblings at home.

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Year 1 The historians from 1R visited the young V&A Museum to support their history topic 'Toys Through Time'. They had a fantastic time exploring how the toys have changed from the past to the present day.

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School Fair We had our school fair the week before half term, and it was a success! Families enjoyed all the games on the stalls, the activities and the food.

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Ofsted Party Pupils and staff celebrated the latest results of our OFSTED success- it was wonderful to see the community come together- parents sent in many delicious food to thank the staff which was much appreciated. The children enjoyed themselves.

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Staff Accolade Shaftesbury Primary would like to give a big shout out to Hiru our welfare officer.

There are so many reasons, but to list a few below - she is just simply magic!

Hiru completes tasks that help everyone's day without being asked/ without them knowing-eg Filling up tea/coffee, keeps the staff room tidy & ensures there is always cutlery etc.

She knows all our pupils either via breakfast club or the medical room and has a great relationship with them all and is well respected.

Hiru raises lots of donations from Green street for all our fairs and events- she is so friendly and well known in the community.

She is super organised and always ahead with tasks she needs to complete in her role.

Hiru is so versatile and is willing to do/support anyone and any role at Shaftesbury- e.g. covers in class if required / covering a club.

She is very reliable and never needs reminding.

And finally, Hiru puts the school first and will work around anything to ensure it is best for the school and to avoid any pressure on her team- she is so committed to Shaftesbury, and this is recognised and appreciated by everyone- thank you so much Hiru.

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Ms Patel Huge congratulations to Ms Patel on 30 years of service at our school!

Ms Patel began her journey with us on 27th February 1996, and for three decades she has shown unwavering commitment to our pupils, families and the wider community.

Throughout the many changes in education over the years, Ms Patel has been a constant source of care, professionalism and dedication. She has played an important role in the school’s development and has supported generations of children to grow, learn and succeed.

Her loyalty, warmth and tireless service have made a lasting difference to our school community, and we are incredibly grateful for everything she continues to do.

Thank you, Ms Patel, for 30 remarkable years — we are so proud to celebrate this milestone with you!

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Poetry, Passion and Pride at the Tower Hamlets Poetry Slam Pupils from our school took to the stage with confidence and creativity at the recent Tower Hamlets Poetry Slam, competing against three other schools from across the borough in an inspiring celebration of young voices.

The atmosphere was electric as each school showcased original poetry, but it was our children who truly shone. Demonstrating exceptional courage and preparation, every all of our poets recited their work by heart.

Their performances were powerful, expressive and delivered with remarkable confidence, captivating both the audience and judges alike.

What made the morning more special was the unwavering support shown by classmates. Those not performing played an equally important role, cheering enthusiastically, encouraging their peers and representing the school with pride and maturity throughout the event.

The children’s hard work and teamwork did not go unnoticed. We were thrilled to receive two prestigious awards: Best Group Performance and Best Supporting Class — a testament not only to the talent on stage, but also to the unity and spirit shown off it.

Congratulations to all of our young poets for an unforgettable morning and for representing our school so brilliantly.

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Year 4 Create Athenian Vases in Sculpture Unit Year 4 pupils have been busy creating their own Athenian vases as part of their Sculpture unit in Art, linking closely with their History learning about the Ancient Greeks.

Inspired by traditional Greek pottery, the children explored how vases were carefully designed with detailed geometric patterns and storytelling images. They practised recreating classic Greek patterns before designing their own decorative borders and motifs.

Using a range of clay techniques, pupils developed their sculpting skills by pinching, blending, scoring and slipping to strengthen joins. They used the coiling method to build the height and shape of their vases, carefully smoothing the surface to refine the final form.

This cross-curricular project has allowed children to deepen their understanding of Ancient Greek culture while developing important artistic skills in sculpture. The finished vases showcase both creativity and historical knowledge, reflecting the craftsmanship of traditional Athenian pottery.

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Choir Takes Part in Young Voices at the 02 r choir had a truly unforgettable experience when they visited the Young Voices concert at the O2 and joined thousands of children to perform as part of one of the UKs largest choirs. From the moment they stepped into the arena the excitement was clear and they rose to the occasion with confidence and joy. Their singing was brilliant and they represented our school with pride and enthusiasm throughout the entire event. Watching them sing alongside so many other young performers was inspiring and it was wonderful to see how all their hard work in rehearsals came together in such a spectacular setting. We are incredibly proud of every member of the choir for their dedication teamwork and positive spirit. It is a memory they will carry with them forever and an experience that has helped them grow not only as singers but as a group who achieved something very special together.

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Readathon at Clara Grant As part of our World Book Day celebrations this week, the whole school is taking part in a special Readathon. The children have been setting themselves amazing reading challenges to help raise money for our local hospital, and we are so proud of their enthusiasm and generosity.

A huge well done to all the children who have already raised so much—your hard work is making a real difference. Keep reading and keep going!

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Staff Accolade Nadia Kalam This month we celebrate our incredible Business Manager, Nadia, the true heartbeat of our school. Her calm efficiency and unwavering dedication ensure that everything runs smoothly in ways we often don’t even notice because she has already taken care of them.

Every morning she welcomes our children with a warm smile that sets the tone for the day and she is always there to support staff with kindness, patience and reassurance. Our school simply wouldn’t be the same without her steady presence and exceptional care. Thank you, Nadia, for everything you do.

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Resource Provision Maths The children in the Resource Provision have engaged in early number through hands on, multi-sensory activities that supported their individual needs.

By exploring concrete objects, matching quantities and practising simple counting routines, they developed their understanding of number which felt accessible and meaningful. The activities encouraged communication, turn taking and independence.

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Resource Provision Visit the Dentist As part of our curriculum, the resource provision children explored what happens when you visit the dentist. Through role play, stories, and hands‑on activities, they learned about the importance of looking after their teeth and the different tools a dentist uses.

Children had the opportunity to practise being both the dentist and the patient, helping them understand the routine of a dental check‑up in a safe and familiar environment. They examined model teeth, counted them, and used pretend instruments to clean and check for “cavities,” building both language and confidence.

This experience supported children’s personal development by reducing anxiety about real‑life dentist visits, while also encouraging healthy habits. It offered rich opportunities for vocabulary building, turn‑taking, imaginative play, and early science knowledge about how to keep our bodies healthy.

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Coffee mornings Recently, a series of engaging and supportive coffee mornings were delivered by our WINS practitioner to strengthen partnerships with parents and help them feel more confident in supporting their children’s learning, behaviour, and emotional wellbeing. Each session was designed to be welcoming and informal, creating a safe space for families to ask questions, share experiences, and access practical guidance.

Topics covered included strategies for positive behaviour, building routines, supporting early learning at home, and understanding children’s emotional needs. Parents were introduced to simple, achievable techniques they could use daily, helping them to feel empowered and better equipped when facing common challenges.

The coffee mornings also played a key role in fostering community connections. Families benefitted from meeting one another, discussing shared experiences, and developing a stronger sense of trust and partnership with the school. Our WINS practitioner provided expert advice, signposting, and personalised support where needed, ensuring every parent felt listened to and valued.

Overall, the programme has had a noticeable impact on parent confidence, home–school relationships, and the children’s overall wellbeing. It has strengthened the collaborative approach between families and the school, ensuring children receive consistent, nurturing support both at home and in the classroom.

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RISE visit to Griffin Primary Emma O’Connor and Craig Lilleyman recently visited Griffin Primary School as part of a RISE team focused on strengthening the quality of education and supporting school improvement.

The visit formed part of a collaborative initiative in which leaders from across the trust work together to share expertise, raise standards, and drive positive change.

Elvis the dog!

During the visit, the duo worked alongside senior leaders and staff to review teaching and learning, explore effective practice, and offer constructive guidance in key priority areas. Through lesson visits, discussions with teachers, and analysis of curriculum provision, the team provided valuable insight and practical recommendations to support continued development.

This partnership-based approach not only supports Griffin Primary in its improvement journey but also enhances professional learning across the wider RISE community. By contributing her expertise and leadership experience, our headteacher played an integral role in promoting high expectations, consistent practice, and a shared commitment to delivering an excellent education for every child.

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Reception Visit the library Your This week, Reception visited Plaistow Library.

The session included an introduction to the library, where the children learned about how it works and what they can find there. They enjoyed listening to a story and were given a tour of the library.

It was a wonderful experience for the children. They listened very carefully to the story and asked lots of interesting questions. The children also had the opportunity to borrow a book of their choice and were given time to sit and enjoy reading.

It was a lovely visit, and the children thoroughly enjoyed their time at the library. paragraph text

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Staff Accolade Since stepping into leadership for the first time, Jennifer Ijeoma has led the Early Years provision with exceptional skill, vision, and dedication. Her leadership is characterised by a deep understanding of early childhood pedagogy, a relentless focus on high‑quality teaching, and a warm, nurturing approach that places children firmly at the centre of everything she does.

Jennifer has transformed the Early Years environment into a vibrant, purposeful, and highly engaging space where every child feels valued, supported, and inspired to learn. Under her guidance, staff feel empowered, well‑supported, and confident to innovate, resulting in consistently strong practice across the team.

Jennifer’s strengths lie in combining strategic clarity with day‑to‑day practicality: she models outstanding practice, drives improvement through thoughtful coaching, and uses assessment intelligently to ensure progress for every child.

She builds excellent relationships with families, fostering trust and partnership from a child’s very first day at school.

Calm, passionate, and genuinely committed to early education, Jennifer has made a significant and lasting impact. Her leadership has not only raised standards but created a joyful, ambitious Early Years culture that gives children the very best possible start.

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In Memory of Julie-Anne Jennings 1982-2026 We are sorry to announce the passing of the wonderful Julie-Anne Jennings after a recent illness.

For more than fifteen years, Julie-Anne was a cherished member of the Tollgate community—an educator, a colleague, and, above all, a truly kind and generous soul. Her presence shaped the lives of countless children and adults, leaving a legacy of compassion, patience, and unwavering dedication.

Julie-Anne approached every day with quiet strength and a genuine love for helping others. Whether she was supporting a child through a difficult moment, offering a thoughtful word to a colleague, or bringing calm to a busy school day, she did it with grace and warmth. She had a remarkable ability to make people feel seen and valued, and her impact will continue to ripple through our school for years to come.

Her loss, following a recent illness, has left a profound sadness within our community. Yet alongside that sadness is deep gratitude—gratitude for the time we shared with her, for the joy she brought into our classrooms, and for the care she poured into everything she did.

Julie-Anne will be remembered not only for her dedication to Tollgate but for the kindness and heart she carried with her every day. She will be deeply missed, and her memory will continue to inspire us. We know she had made a great impact on lots of the parents and we are so proud of everything she accomplished at Tollgate Primary School.

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NPQH at All Saints Catholic School, Dagenham We have 6 Cohorts of NPQH going through at the moment and this group is led by Craig and the Head of All Saints Catholic Secondary School in Dagenham - Clare Cantle.

This group is about half way through the programme and we met for Conference 2 where we look in detail at the participants personal decision-making skills, Theories of Action, use of evidence-based research in school improvement and the use of pre-Mortems to aid large scale decision making.

In his session we also look at whole school approaches to SEND - a hot topic!

In this cohort is our very own Rosetta Robinson, as well as DHTs from Brampton Manor, Cooper Cobourn and many other schools besides.

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NPQ SENDCo and NPQH Assessment Clinics Martin Redfern leads on NPQs for LDE and we have around 18 groups running in total at the moment, all at various stages. All of the courses are 12 or 18 months in length.

The September 2024 Cohorts are going to Assessment in April. All NPQ assessments are open book essay style exams.

These sessions, where we prep for the assessment tasks, are the last time we see the participants - which can be quite sad after 18 months.

In this cohort of NPQH - 4 participants have gained headships since the programme began.

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LDE Out and About...

Various visits recently to assess and monitor trainee teachers and to visit ECTs who are in need of support.

Cooks is one of our primary school partners up in Harlow in Essex.

At Five Elms Martin and Michelle were supporting a Head Teacher with an ECT. Sarah Bartley was at Keir Hardie in Newham for an Appropriate Body Quality Assurance Visit.

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Year 2 ECT Mentor Conference Each year we have 6 cohorts of ECTs and Mentors on the ECT Programme.

Our April Cohorts tend to be quite small - around 20 ECTs (as opposed to 500 in September).

The April mentor cohort tends to be around 10 20 new Mentors and additional ‘replacement’ Mentors for ECTs already on programme.

The numbers in these cohorts dwindle as the April ECTs often have slightly different journeys than the ‘standard’ ECTs - so this is Kiran Gill following up in Year 2 with these special and dedicated mentors who make up one of our smallest cohorts.

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Spring Term Strategic Maths Hub Board meeting at Riverside School, including Year 9 lesson visit Jacqueline Buchan is Deputy Director of LDE and is also the Vice Chair of the Strategic Board of the London North East Maths Hub - alongside the Chair: Simon London, CEO of Empower Learning Academy Trust in Havering.

Part of Teaching School Hub remit is to support and promote all other local ‘Hubs’.

This meeting was around strategic future planning and involved a Year 9 lesson visit at the amazing Riverside School in Barking Riverside.

Also in attendance was Shahed Ahmed, CEO of New Vision Trust in Newham and Elmhurst Primary School where the Maths Hub is based.

We have a Maths Hub Mastery Specialist in The Boleyn Trust - Laurice Prempeh - Deputy Head Teacher at Rosetta Primary School.

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Train to teach?

If you know anyone with a degree who would be amazing as one our teachers of the future, then please ask them to come and talk to us about teacher training...

We also welcome school visits for potential trainees to any of our schools, so please get in touch.

Or contact our Director of Teacher Training directly: rosetta.robinson@londondistricteast.org

Click below:

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LDE trainees make the news in The Times newspaper!

Meet the AI refugees: White-collar workers retrain as teachers Nicola Woolcock, Education Editor Friday February 27 2026, 5.10pm GMT, The Times We hear from former executives and consultants leaving lucrative roles to seek stability and purpose in their jobs as AI transforms the workplace Anna Burrows, 44, changed career from being a TV producer, saying that the writing was on the wall as AI took over. She is now training as an English teacher.

Anna Burrows Is a trainee secondary English Teacher with LDE at Redden Court School in Havering.

For more than 20 years she worked on documentaries, reality and factual entertainment shows, including Married at First Sight, Squid Game and Four in A Bed, and also on charity campaign films which fired up her interest in social mobility.

Work in her former career slowed down and the unpredictable nature of freelancing became worse with the increased use of AI in content creation.

“As I looked at the next 25 years of my working life, I had to ask myself, ‘will companies really need a producer with 20 years’ experience to do a job that for the most part, a media graduate or tech-savvy school leaver could do with the help of AI?’” she said.

Teaching English helps create better outcomes in life for children, she said: “Communication, empathy, developing ideas and sharing them constructively, creative writing, critical thinking, metacognition, reflection — all these skills are what employers want and need in their people to tackle the ever-changing goal posts that are being created by the advancement of technology.”

While workload and time are a challenge, the biggest joy was the pupils and the “constant feedback loop that exists to help us improve our practice. That sort of constructive and empowering feedback is missing from my experience in TV which creates a toxic culture,” she said.

“It’s a really, really exciting time to become a new teacher. I can see the curriculum is slowly changing to be more focused on the arts. We still have a long way to go in answering the question ‘what does education look like in a world where the struggle is being taken away by AI?’ Because that struggle is usually the process where the learning happens.”

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CONTACT US

https://theboleyntrust.org/

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