SEEAT Shortlisted for National Schools Awards 2022
October 10th 2022
South East Essex Academy Trust (SEEAT) are thrilled to announce they have been shortlisted for the Leadership Team of the Year Award at the National Schools Awards 2022.
The National Schools Awards unites over 250 school and Multi Academy Trust leaders and celebrates education pioneers. Organised by the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) and the Schools & Academies Show, the awards recognise excellence in the education sector with those shortlisted are invited to a ceremony taking place at the House of Lords at Westminster, on 1st December.
SEEAT is a charitable trust educating almost 4,000 young people across a family of seven schools in the local area which includes The Deanes School, Hadleigh Junior School, Holt Farm Junior School, Prince Avenue Academy & Nursery, The Westborough School, Westcliff High School for Girls, and Rochford Primary & Nursery School.
Chief Executive of SEEAT, Andrew Cooper said:
We are proud to have been shortlisted for this award. I took over as CEO of the Trust in September 2021 at the same time the Trust expanded by taking on 3 schools. Since then, the leadership team have acted at pace to set a compelling mission, vision, and values for the trust, build an excellent school improvement team, rapidly improve the finances of the new joiners to help deliver more resources for school improvement, develop a strategy for recruiting and retaining the best staff, add capacity and strength to other areas - pastoral and inclusion, IT, finance, estates – and strengthen governance.
Young people are at the heart of everything we do, and we have made rapid improvements to work collaboratively across our schools so that we can deliver the best education for our pupils. We have built over 30 communities which allow our 517 staff across the trust to share ideas, resources, and expertise with each other.
Just to be shortlisted for this award is a privilege and we look forward to meeting with colleagues in our sector at the ceremony in December.”
Westcliff High School for Girls Welcomes New Headteacher
September 5th 2022
Westcliff High School for Girls is pleased to announce the appointment of their new Headteacher who took up the position at the start of the term.
Emma Matthews is a highly experienced educational leader who has over 15 years of experience in a wide variety of schools. For the past 3 years Emma has been Deputy Head at Chelmsford County Girls School where she was able to direct her experience and passion for girls’ education in leading highly able students.
The new headteacher said:
“I feel deeply honoured and privileged to lead Westcliff High School for Girls and look forward to helping empower our students to become articulate, courageous and compassionate young women (and men, because of course, we are delighted to welcome boys into our sixth form) who will go onto be the next generation of leaders, enriching their lives and those of others.”
Mrs Matthews has taken on the role from Andrew Cooper, who had the dual role as Headteacher of Westcliff and CEO of South East Essex Academy Trust (SEEAT), a family of seven local schools of which Westcliff is part of. Mr Cooper is now able to fully focus on his CEO role and commented:
"I am thrilled to welcome Emma to the SEEAT Family. Westcliff High School for Girls has been proudly educating generations of students for over 100 years and I have no doubt that Emma will lead the school to even greater heights. Emma has a strong team of staff behind her and I look forward to working with her to continue to provide educational excellence for our students.”
Peter Parkinson, Chair of Governors at WHSG added:
“I am delighted to welcome Emma to Westcliff High School for Girls. Emma successfully navigated her way through a very challenging, varied and rigorous recruitment process where her strong leadership and communication qualities made her stand out. Her vision for the school and alignment with our core values of Leadership, Enrichment, Scholarship and Kindness, make her an excellent appointment for us and I am looking forward to working with her.”
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen’s dedication to public service was an inspiration. Through her unswerving sense of duty, she set an extraordinary example. Our condolences to the Royal Family and all those affected.
All the schools across our Trust will observe the mourning period whilst continuing to support our pupils, families and staff.
As a mark of respect communications will be kept to essential messages only throughout the period of national mourning.
Our schools will be keeping pupils informed of news about these events as part of our assemblies and class activities.
We will keep you updated on details of Her Majesty's funeral as soon as we know.
