Introduction to the lead sponsor Andy Pickles
07/08/09
I am tremendously excited but equally challenged about the opportunity of working in partnership with the Maltby community, the local authority, the staff at Maltby Community School, Sheffield Hallam University and most importantly the young people across the family of Maltby schools. Together, I believe we could bring about an exciting forward-thinking change to how young people in Maltby would be able to access their learning in the future.
It is important to appreciate that change is something that justifiably provokes concerns and opinions within people and that is why, as members of the Maltby community, I would like to assure you that the move to the proposed Academy status would be an evolution not a revolution. We would continue to build on the great work Dave Sutton and his team have already achieved with the school, we would continue the working relationship with the local authority as co-sponsor and we would continue to put the young people at the forefront of helping us determine what they want to learn and how they want to learn it.
My role as lead sponsor would not be to run the proposed Academy, that would the job of the Principal Dave Sutton and his experienced team. My role would be to provide support for the proposed Academy and bring my expertise in as a business leader to make sure that together, we would deliver not only a incredible multi-million pound learning campus for the entire community, but also a curriculum that would connect with your children in a relevant, purposeful and engaging way.
As a straightforward Yorkshire man my ethos for the proposed Maltby Academy is a simple one. It is a vision that all our students would be ‘Qualified’ to confidently enter the world of work, not only with the necessary qualifications to succeed but also a greater understanding of how to apply themselves in work and life. This would improve their own life opportunities and also enable them to make a positive contribution to the local community and the economy.
We would use technology to enable our young people to access learning in this fast changing digital age but we would also continue focusing on the basic principles that would evolve Maltby Community School from a much improved school to a high achieving Academy. Those principles being respect, good behaviour, representation and positive communication between parents, students and staff.
I am looking forward to developing this exciting opportunity further with you and playing my part in helping to build the best possible place from which your children would develop, grow, become inspired and be safe.”
Yours Sincerely,
Andy Pickles
