Email received by Mrs Snowden Principal 5th July 2021

 

 

Dear Coral (Principal),

I am taking the academic year end as an opportunity to express my thanks to you as our leader. Leadership is not about just management but also about listening to your staff and supporting them so that they are enabled to be the best that they can. 

I wanted to say thanks for supporting me by enabling flexibility in my working hours so that I am able to support my younger son and manage my hospital appointments.

 

Leadership in action :)

 

Kind Regards,

Mrs Farooq

 

Email received by Mrs Snowden 9th June 2021

 

Hi, 

Hope you and our family at Western House are all doing well. Due to the immense  amount of love and support I got from here, I will always consider myself as part of this family, no matter where I am.

 

Western House was the first opportunity to work in a school and what a wonderful journey it was. I have learnt so much from so many amazing people. Everyone puts the interest of the children first and everything is done to maximise the learning potential of children in a relaxed and happy atmosphere. 

 

I can't thank enough to you, my year 6 team and all the staff for making my job so easy and so effortless. You are doing an amazing job, keeping not just the staff under your wings but also making sure that each and every child is safe and happy and I truly admire you for that. Thank you,

 

Kind regards,  

Mrs Iqbal 

Email received by Mrs Snowden 21st May 2021

 

I just wanted to take the time to mention how well the after school clubs have been going especially how polite and well behaved the children have been.  Every day I  turn up I am greeted by a smile from the very helpful office staff. Whilst passing through the building everyone is so friendly and I even get a "hello" from children I have never coached/met before.

 

As for the children in my clubs they are always ready and raring to go.  They always try their best and give everything a go.  When some activities may be more challenging than others they always participate to the best of their ability.  If one child is struggling the others will encourage them, and create a really positive atmosphere to succeed.  The older children especially are more than willing to help out, whether its leading a warm up game or collecting equipment at the end of the session.  They are a massive help to allowing the sessions run better.

 

Overall I have thoroughly enjoyed my first half term at Western House Academy, and can't wait to continue next half term.

 

Thanks

Coach Tom

Get Sports Inspired

Email to Principal, SLT and staff received Friday 2 Oct 2020

 

Dear All,

 

I can't quite believe today is my last day after deciding to take early retirement and relocate to Wales (emphasis on early retirement - don't let Kyla tell you otherwise!).

 

Although I haven't been with you long, I wanted to put into words how grateful I am that I have ended my career on such a high with true belief in our profession being restored.

 

As several of you know, I became very despondent with teaching over the last few years; pastoral care seemed to take a back seat; children were no longer such individual and unique beings but data and percentages; more and more lessons were no longer about the learning but about getting facts right for SATs results and children were disengaged.  Staff no longer spent time with each other and some hardly seemed to acknowledge each other down the corridor - such was the pressure being felt.  I therefore decided to do supply so that I could get the benefit of being in the classroom without the politics that went with it.  However, supply had its drawbacks, for example no longer building relationships with children.

 

It was at this point that I also started working here at WHA as part-time PPA cover and I soon realised how welcoming and friendly everyone was (thank you to Kim in particular) and, when the part-time year 4 teaching vacancy came up, I decided to go for it again and take up the position.  Obviously at this point I had no intention of moving to Wales but we found our dream home, hence my time here being short-lived.

 

It's been enlightening to see the amount of pastoral care here and, let's face it, we cannot and should not forget that a child can't learn unless they are in the right place for learning.  All the hard work done to make the children feel safe and happy may not show results in progress straight away, but that hard work DOES pay off and it is refreshing to see the effort put into children's well-being here.  

 

Staff not only have time to talk to each other, but make an effort to have lunch together, albeit in their bubbles at the moment, and this makes such a difference to teacher well-being.

 

When SLT appear at your classroom door, it is to check IN with you, not check UP on you, and are there to offer assistance at all times.  You get told "well done" too, rather than just told what you should be doing better.

 

So thank you to all at WHA for completely restoring my faith in our fantastic profession.  I have such happy memories to take with me now and, although I am looking forward to my retirement and relocation, I am definitely feeling quite emotional today.  That in itself says it all really!

 

Take care, look after yourselves and continue to look after each other as you all do so well.

 

All the very, very best,

 

Gail :)

Email received by Principal 8 Sept 2020

 

Hi Coral,

 

I have been thinking of everyone a lot over the past week. I hope the children and staff are settling into their new routines well.

 

I arrived at Western House Academy feeling a little tired and disenchanted with teaching (as many teachers do after several years in the profession). I am delighted that I stumbled upon this absolute gem of a school, it rejuvenated my passion for teaching with its work ethos, support and fantastic network of professionals and enthusiastic children.  It is wonderful to work alongside a team of people who are passionate about their various roles which makes this school a well-oiled machine. I was incredibly sad to say goodbye to this school but will always remember my time here fondly and hope to cross paths again in the future.

Kind regards,

Mrs Parmar

Email received by Mrs Snowden 19 July 2020

 

Hi Coral (Principal),

 

Once again, Thank you for the bottom of my heart for all your support and guidance over the years. You have made me feel a part of the WHA family. I am really going to miss everyone!

 

The moment I walked through the doors at Western House Academy, I knew this was the place I wanted to be. There is a positive ethos around the school that immediately grows on you. I started here as an NQT and quickly become Team Leader in the middle of my second year of teaching. I was inspired and guided by some brilliant Teachers and Vice Principals to help me grow as a practitioner. The school has outstanding staff who always put the children at its forefront. The curriculum is well rounded to ensure that each child has the opportunity to excel. I have been given many development opportunities to support me in my career which has enabled me to become a Vice Principal after four years of teaching. The WHA values are ingrained in the children, staff and the whole school.

 

Mrs Snowdon [sic] has led the school to great success due to her love and dedication to the children. This can be seen in the staff and the teaching and learning across the school. It is truly a family here at WHA!

 

Kind Regards,

Miss S.Khehar