Gardner's World, TSAT Trust

Welcome to Gardner's World for May!

I wanted to take a moment to congratulate everyone who has been working so hard during this exam season.

Thank you to the staff and invigilators for their hard work to prepare our students for sitting their exams. From SATS tests to GCSE and A-Level exams, I recognise this may be a stressful time, but nonetheless your commitment doesn't go unnoticed. I know some schools are holding additional revision over the half term break too, so thank you to all the staff involved in that.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our last #WeAreOne event for Earth Day. It was wonderful to see pupils, staff and our services participate with an interest in our environment and taking action to reduce our carbon footprint through recycling, gardening or shutting down in our Great TSAT Switch Off. We saw more than 100 entries into the Green Hat for Sustainability banner competition. These are currently being reviewed and the winners of our primary and secondary categories will be announced shortly.

In other positive news, five Portsmouth schools have been celebrating their Artsmark achievements this term. Congratulations and well done to Penbridge Infant and Junior Schools, as well as all three Meon Way Federation schools for embracing a creative and engaging arts curriculum. As a family of schools passionate about delivering vibrant arts opportunities, I'm looking forward to our next WeAreOne event in Term 6: TSArTs Week.

Introducing Colin Rudgley, a dedicated educator with 20 years of experience as a primary teacher across Hampshire, Southampton, West Sussex and now Portsmouth. Throughout his career, Colin has gained extensive experience working with children who need additional support, particularly those with Pupil Premium (PP) and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Colin's passions extend beyond traditional subjects; he has a background in leading math, music, computing, Gifted and Talented provision and environmental education. He is also committed to coaching and mentoring, especially supporting trainee teachers as they start their educational careers.

As well as engaged in evidenced-based research, Colin is currently enrolled in the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL), which he is thoroughly enjoying. He has also achieved his National Professional Qualification in Leading Teacher Development, which has been a rewarding journey for him.

At TSAT, Colin appreciates the ethos and the commitment to providing every child with access to quality education. In his role as the Thinking Lead at Penbridge, he is focused on enhancing thinking skills across the school, ensuring that students develop the critical thinking abilities they need to succeed. Colin is looking forward to contributing to the mission of TSAT and continuing to grow within this vibrant community.

School Highlights:

Paignton Academy's Abi shines bright in European Gymnastics Championship

Well done to Abi Martin, from Paignton Academy, for her outstanding achievement in the European Gymnastics Championship held in Italy.

Abi, alongside her Team GB teammates, recently clinched the silver medal, highlighting remarkable talent and dedication on the international stage.

The GB team delivered a stellar performance, accumulating 162.16 points. Despite fierce competition, Italy secured gold with 164.162 points, while France claimed bronze with 158.796 points.

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Year 9 students represent The Victory Academy at the Touch to Twickenham Competition

Touch to Twickenham is a fun and inclusive national programme to drive non-contact participation in schools and colleges in England.

A group of ten Year 9 students from The Victory Academy took part in the event on Monday 1st May 2024, demonstrating excellent team spirit and camaraderie. The team's captain, Elliot, also received praise from the referees for his positive motivation and energy.

The students also had the unique opportunity to meet International England Red Rose Rugby Player Shaunagh Brown as she supported and refereed some of the games.

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Portsmouth staff enjoy football match to promote well-being and mental health awareness

Staff from across our Portsmouth schools came together recently to promote well-being and camaraderie through the power of football, while raising awareness for a mental health charity.

Teachers from Penbridge School and New Horizons Primary School took the initiative to organise a friendly staff football match to bring people together for fun, laughter and a decent workout.

What started as a simple idea between two schools then led to an opportunity for staff at The Portsmouth Academy, who formed a team and offered their football pitch for the game, to take place in the evening.

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