Tag: Eastern Learning Alliance

  • Summer departure for Impington Village College Principal

    Summer departure for Impington Village College Principal

    Impington Village College (IVC) Principal, Victoria Hearn, is stepping down from her role, and is set to leave the school at the end of the 2024/25 academic year.

    Victoria Hearn has been Principal of IVC since 2020, taking over from Ryan Kelsall. Photo: IVC

    Ms Hearn, who first joined the school as an Assistant Principal over a decade ago and who has been Principal since 2020, is leaving to take up a new post at Comberton Village College which comes under Cam Academy Trust.

    Her move comes shortly after the school received positive feedback from a recent IB Evaluation, as well as an Outstanding Ofsted report. The college, part of the Eastern Learning Alliance, was also recently named ‘UK Comprehensive School of the Year’ by the Sunday Times for 2025.

    On her time at IVC, Ms Hearn said: “It has been an absolute privilege to be a part of this truly unique school. I am incredibly proud of all that the leadership team, staff and students have achieved during my time at the College.”

    She continued: “The [school’s] achievements belong to our entire College community, and especially the incredible senior leadership team with whom it has been a joy to work during my tenure as Principal.

    “Thank you all for your support during my time as a senior leader at the College, and for your enthusiasm and belief in our unique approach to education”.

    Ms Hearn will continue as Principal until the end of August. HI HUB will bring news of her successor when available.

    READ ALSO: IVC rated ‘outstanding’ in full Ofsted inspection | HI HUB

  • Trustee – Eastern Learning Alliance

    Join the Eastern Learning Alliance as a Trustee.

    Our Multi-Academy Trust are currently looking to expand our board of Trustees, who play a critical role in shaping the strategic vision of our Trust. We know that great schools hold the power to transform whole communities, and are committed to providing an exceptional school experience to every student, regardless of their background. We’re looking for Trustees who would share in this vision and commitment.

    If you are interested in working with us, and could offer skills relevant to educational leadership; HR; finance; estates and health & safety; or any other key areas, please do get in touch: hello@tela.org.uk

  • Lifeline for IVC trees

    The line of mature trees that was due to be cut down under plans to improve the netball courts at Impington Village College (IVC) could now be saved.

    The trees form a 60m hedge that creates a natural screen between the courts and neighbouring residential properties.

    Fence approved

    Despite objections from neighbours, including those living on Park Drive, immediately in front of the courts, the planning application for upgrading the facilities included replacing the trees with an acoustic fence.

    This was approved by the planning authority when they gave permission for the development in December 2024. They said: “the use of the courts shall not commence until the acoustic fence has been installed in accordance with the approved details. It shall be retained as such thereafter.”

    But the Decision Notice also allows for variation of the permission if there is local agreement.

    Change of heart

    At a meeting with residents and other stakeholder last week, Ryan Kelsall, Deputy CEO of Eastern Learning Alliance (ELA), the academy trust that runs IVC, confirmed that they had listened to residents’ objections and that the trust’s preferred option was now to retain the trees.

    He told HI HUB: “We can’t confirm that we can keep the trees until we get confirmation from Planning that this is supported…

     “The Parish Council are following up with the Planning Department to seek confirmation/clarification; once we have this we can confirm either way.”

    Courts to open

    The IVC Liaison Group will now be considering whether the trees alone or a combination of both the trees and a fence would mitigate the expected levels of noise and light pollution.

    Whatever the outcome, ELA is not in a position to put floodlights in place yet, as they are prioritizing progress on creating an all-weather 3G football pitch elsewhere on the IVC site.

    But the resurfacing of courts has now been completed, with top dressing and lines due to be added in March. IVC students will be able to use the courts shortly, and when all the work has been completed, the public and clubs will be able to use them on a pay-and-play basis during daylight hours.

    READ ALSO: Decision time for IVC netball development | HI HUB

  • Shorter IVC term dates to continue next year

    Shorter IVC term dates to continue next year

    Eastern Learning Alliance (ELA), which runs Impington Village College, are recommending that the shorter calendar of teaching days introduced in 2024/5 should continue next year.

    In a trial during the current academic year, October half term was extended by two days and the Christmas holiday began mid-December. A survey across the Academy Trust’s schools saw 86% of staff and 78% of students support the changes, but only 59% of parents.

    In 2025/6, half term will run from 23 October to 3 November and the autumn term will end 12 December. ELA say they have “plans in place to ensure that they work with parents to provide age-appropriate childcare opportunities for those who need support with this.”

    Replacement

    ELA’s vision is that the teaching hours lost due to the changes – described as “disaggregated” time – will be used to provide “enhanced extra-curricular and intervention offers” outside of the normal school day, spread across the school year. Each school in the Trust is developing its own plans as to how best to use this time.

    “Academic interventions” in the form of one-to-one and small group provision to boost the core curriculum outside of the school day, will be part of the programme.

    ELA explains: “As these taught sessions do not currently form part of teachers’ directed time, we rely on teaching staff volunteering to run them.”

    This means the schools are unable to “consistently staff the sessions, guarantee the provision to those who need it, or robustly monitor the delivery of these sessions.”

    ELA has also “committed to offering sector-leading [extra-curricular] programmes”, including sport, and to making these offers as inclusive as possible.

    Final decision

    The trial will run for the full academic year 2024/25.

    As well as looking at staff, student and parental feedback, it will include analysis of student and staff attendance, staff recruitment and retention, Governor monitoring reports, the nature and extent of academic interventions and extra-curricular activity, and student outcomes – based on data to be collated in August 2025.

    Following the publication of those student outcomes, a decision will be made with regards to future academic years.

  • Teaching Assistant – Cavendish School

    The Cavendish School who are part of the Eastern Learning Alliance are looking to recruit to for these roles, for all apply by April 17, 2023 for a start in September 2023.

    Teaching Assistant (Levels 2 & 3) to be an integral part of a class team and able to offer support across the whole school setting. Apply before April 30, 2023 for a start in September 2023.

    See All Jobs in the Eastern Learning Alliance

  • Deputy Headteacher, Assistant SENDCo, Leader for “Enabling-the-self”, Curriculum Leaders in Computing, Development and Foundation, English, Mathematics, Science – Cavendish School

    The Cavendish School who are part of the Eastern Learning Alliance are looking to recruit to for these roles, for all apply by April 17, 2023 for a start in September 2023.

    Deputy Headteacher to be responsible for supporting the balance of education across academic, social and developmental progress. The focus will be in maintaining an ambitious and engaging curriculum for all areas. The successful candidate will play an integral role within our new leadership team as the main operational lead and deputising for the Head of School.

    Assistant SENDCo to support the next stages in the development of our curriculum across the school in the role of Assistant SENDCo. The successful candidate will be able to provide strong classroom teaching to model the best practice and play an integral role within our newly developing leadership team as the advocate and voice for pupils provision.

    Leader for “Enabling-the-self” with Assistant SENDCo and DSL to support the next stages in the development of school around PSHE, RSE and taught safeguarding. The successful candidate will be able to provide strong classroom teaching to model the best practice and play an integral role within our newly developing leadership team as the advocate and voice for “ETS” and take the lead on all aspects of safeguarding including the responsive and taught safeguarding curriculum.

    Curriculum Leaders to support the next stages in the development of the curriculum across the school in the relevant subject area. The successful candidates will be able to provide strong classroom teaching to model the best practice and play an integral role within the newly developing leadership team as the advocate and voice for their subject, articulating the conceptual progress and small steps within their specialism.

    Curriculum leader in Computing and Online Safety this post holder will also be a part of the safeguarding team to ensure a best practice approach for taught safeguarding with reference to computing and online safety.

    Curriculum leader in Development and Foundation

    Curriculum leader in English

    Curriculum leader in English

    Curriculum leader in Mathematics

    Curriculum leader in Science

    See All Jobs in the Eastern Learning Alliance

  • Speech and Language Therapist – Cavendish School

    The Cavendish School who are part of the Eastern Learning Alliance are looking to recruit to for this role.

    Speech and Language Therapist with extensive experience providing therapy to children with communication, motor, and sensory needs within a school setting. You will work with pupils all of whom have autism and associated complex needs, where intensive therapy with pupils is encouraged. Your working day will be diverse and will involve working with class groups, smaller groups and with individual students, whilst also providing a universal level of support across the setting. The role will also include creating pupil assessment reports and support reviews to guide EHCP annual reviews and class teams to ensure pupils receive the most up to date and appropriate provision.  You will be involved in training and in the ongoing development of staff and the extended community. This role can be fulfilled by either a self-employed contract, to be reviewed annually. Or by a permanent school employment contract. We will require 2 days per week for 7 hours 9:00 – 16:30 (30 minute protected lunch break) term time only, reporting to the Head of School.  Apply By March 21, 2023

    See All Jobs in the Eastern Learning Alliance

  • Attendance Support Assistant – IVC

    Attendance Support Assistant – IVC

    IVC who are part of the Eastern Learning Alliance are looking to recruit to for this role.

    Attendance Support Assistant to assist with the daily safeguarding checks to ensure all students are accounted for and updated on SIMS and to follow ‘unaccounted for’ procedures to ensure that the attendance officer is able to account for all students. Apply by February 27, 2023

    See All Jobs at the Eastern Learning Alliance

  • Educational Psychologist – Cavendish School

    The Cavendish School who are part of the Eastern Learning Alliance are looking to recruit to for this role.

    Educational Psychologist to strengthen Attachment Aware Trauma-Informed (AATI) practice across the school. This will involve embedding the AATI professional development already completed, working with staff across our school – including linking with the in-school educational psychologist. In addition, you will be working as a team member within Cambridgeshire Virtual School and a specialist speech and language team, to develop an exciting project to promote communication and language development for children in care.  There will also be other interesting professional opportunities within the Virtual School – whole school professional development, consultation, networks, assessment, and when required EP statutory work. Fixed term contract and it is anticipated about one day a week, term-time, will be based in Cavendish School, the remaining time will be working with Cambridgeshire Virtual School. Apply By March 13, 2023

    See All Jobs in the Eastern Learning Alliance

  • Occupational Therapist – Cavendish School

    The Cavendish School who are part of the Eastern Learning Alliance are looking to recruit to for this role.

    Occupational Therapist to ensure that pupils are able to access their clinic sessions within the specialist Sensory integration space and as a part of the whole school community impacting on the provision and knowledge of their wide range of staff. They are looking for a qualified Occupational Therapist with extensive experience providing therapy to children with communication, motor, and sensory needs within a school setting and would prefer experience and qualifications within Sensory Integration. You will work with pupils all of whom have autism and associated complex needs, where intensive therapy with pupils is encouraged. Your working day will be diverse and will involve working with class groups, smaller groups and with individual students, whilst also providing a universal level of support across the setting. The role will also include creating pupil assessment reports and support reviews to guide EHCP annual reviews and our class teams to ensure pupils receive the most up to date and appropriate provision. You will be involved in training and in the ongoing development of staff and our extended community. Apply By Noon on Tuesday 31st January 2023

    See All Jobs in the Eastern Learning Alliance