Welcome back

4th September 2026

Welcome back. I know that for many of us the return of the pupils and students this week didn’t mark the return to work. Some of you just have a simple summer leave period, some of you get a longer break, akin to the college or school being closed to pupils and students. Those who don’t work in the schools and college environment really don’t appreciate how consuming our work might be. You can be reassured that many staff have been ‘at it’ across the whole summer break, making sure all is ready for the return of the children and young people.

All that said, until the pupils and students return it doesn’t feel quite right in the school or the college. Quiet corridors and empty classrooms don’t feel a little unnatural. The ‘buzz’ in each of our establishments has been palpable this week. There has been a genuine excitement and anticipation from our pupils and students, as they ‘skipped’ back into the building; be that Tuesday or Wednesday. We are back at it and the necessary return to our collective and personal routines is welcome.

I will take a moment to reflect upon and celebrate the successes of our children and young people over the summer. I do know that SATs and examination results aren’t the sole purpose of the very best educational experiences. We do understand that in changing lives we have a holistic responsibility. School and college aren’t just ‘those bits of paper’. However, without the ‘passport’ our children and young people are infinitely less likely to be able to make a positive progression. We need to be hard nosed and realistic; without some degree of academic success the child and/or the young person is far more likely to become stuck. We cannot afford to allow that. We won’t allow that. We will continue to be laser focused on driving up academic standards.

And so, it’s wonderful to be able to write about how brilliantly so many of our children and young people did in their SATs, their L2 and their L3 qualifications. Attainment and achievement continue to improve; pupils and students have done well in absolute terms and have made progress across a whole rage of markers.  I can reassure you that each institution in this trust is in a very strong position; has made some progress against the set priorities; has subjects, departments, curriculum areas who have made some significant steps forward in outcomes and curriculum delivery; has been able to support children and young people to go further than they thought possible. Our successes are established on a well-built staircase, not an artificial contrived climb up an unsustainable rickety ladder. Accountability measures come and go. Whatever metric you might use, it is clear that we are successful, we know how-to drive-up standards even further and we do all of that in a child-centred, inclusive, supportive and community-centred environment.

There is more to come. ‘Better never stops’. We will use this year’s best as the base from which we will launch further improvements. We do know what is needed to ensure further success.  I  know you do but a plea from me… support your child’s teacher, your child’s school and the college.

Inspired to Learn

Vision:

Inspire Learning Trust is committed to offering all of our children and young people a truly inspirational, outstanding and ambitious educational experience; preparing them for learning and life. We are committed to Educational Social Responsibility

‘Inspiring lives, creating possibilities, shaping futures’ – Sitwell Junior School

‘Everyone succeeds’ – Winterhill School

‘Inspired to achieve’ – Oakwood High School

‘A tradition of achievement – a future of opportunity’ – Thomas Rotherham College

Values: 

We are ambitious.

We are committed to improvement; we will always strive to be better.

We will have an eye on the future; whilst being respectful of our past.

We are truly inclusive; working with and for our communities.

We are relentlessly optimistic; seeing the best in all.

We are determined that our children, young people and adults will have the very best opportunities, resources and experiences.

Guiding principles: 

We are values driven.

We are inclusive and diverse.

We work independently and in collaboration.

We are inward looking, outward facing.

We work with integrity.

We prioritise the learning experiences of our children and young people.

We are committed to excellence and strive for high standards.

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”  Robert Collier

Enjoy the Rotherham Show.