At the Year 6 Celebration Evening on Wednesday we spoke to the children about how this time of the year is one where it is appropriate to celebrate, reflect and aim. Certainly our Broadford community have a number of reasons to celebrate based on the achievements of 2015-16: TES Award winners; pupils presenting at WE DAY; National Teaching School Status; results significantly above national levels at KS2; the finals of Count On Us; Team London recognition and confirmation of the demolition of the old school to allow the next stage of expansion. This is not the total of the achievements by any means, which shows that we have sustained the pace of improvement set in previous years.
When we reflect on the year, it is worth considering the rapid growth of the school. To date we have managed to maintain the strong community feel and ethos that we have: where we know the name of every child and have the highest of aspirations for all. In 2011 we had 274 pupils, now we have 550 and by September this will be near 600. In the next 18 months we are likely to grow to nearer 700 pupils. While it is good to see the old building torn down and replaced by a modern, high quality environment we don’t want to loose the values and close knit ties which have made our school such a special place to learn and work.
Finally, where do we aim? The answer is the same as ever… for the stars! Each year we have blazed a trail for Harold Hill and our local community. In 2011 we wanted to be the best school on the hill, then we aimed to be the most successful in Havering, after that we got into the top 1% of the country (and sustained it for 3 years) and now we have National Teaching School status - with educators from St Louis, Missouri travelling thousands of miles to meet our pupils and see our teachers at work. As we look ahead into 2016-17 we have a fantastic opportunity with the new Learning Federation. Our formal partnership with Mead makes us the largest combined school community in the whole of Havering. Our schools have unrivalled outdoor spaces, equally excellent academic results and two sets of hungry, enthusiastic teachers. In the next 12 months we can have a positive and direct impact on our local community and help support others through our Teaching School. For these reasons I couldn't be more excited about the opportunities that await us and the benefits that we will reap for your children.
To help facilitate this next step on our journey we are changing the leadership structure of the two schools. From the 1st July I was appointed as the Interim Executive Headteacher of both Mead and Broadford Primary. I feel extremely proud to have been given this opportunity by the new Governing Board, and will be doing my utmost to ensure that we again sustain the pace of improvement and achievement in both schools. It means that from July, I am delighted to inform you that Mrs Nicholls will be taking over as Interim Headteacher of Broadford Primary, while Mrs Smith becomes the Interim Headteacher at Mead. Mrs Nicholls will have full responsibility for the care of Broadford pupils and staff, while my role will be to provide more strategic support and direction for the Federation and the two Headteachers.
Therefore this seems like a very good point at which to say thank you for all the help, support and encouragement you have offered over the last five years. Whilst I always had high aspirations for what we could achieve, we have surpassed what I would have thought possible on that first wet and windy day in September 2011 when I met many of you for the first time. I know that you will extend Mrs Nicholls that same support and encouragement as she seeks to move the school forward to new achievements… your children couldn’t be in better hands.
All that leaves me to do is to wish you a relaxing and enjoyable summer break. If you are travelling, then we wish you a safe journey and we look forward to seeing you rested and refreshed for the start of the new school year on September 7th.
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