The benefits of Trust networks and teams

Working at St Joan of Arc Catholic School in Rickmansworth has been a challenging and rewarding job with lots of joy and love and some frustration, as with all jobs. Teaching is a privilege that offers great reward. Pupils depend on enthusiasm and dedication from all staff to ensure all pupils make the progress they should. St Joan of Arc is blessed with outstanding teachers dedicated to their profession with a desire for all our pupils to feel loved, safe and secure while in school.

‘Love Christ, Inspire Others’ is our mission statement and a mantra we use with our students every day. The pupils are polite, friendly and love learning, this is reflected in our good results at the end of KS4 and KS5. Feedback from pupils reflects the efforts of our staff and the hard work from our pupils.

As with all schools, we have moments when school life can be challenging. The school pastoral team works tirelessly to support pupils in building their futures and is committed to keeping parents involved. Learners at the school excel at many clubs and sports teams and enjoy exciting education trips along with experience trips and charitable trips. Our pupils visit Europe with RE, MFL and Skiing trips. Trips have visited India, to our Udyan School for children of lepers, where our sixth form work with the school children. Other trips have included New York; Iceland; South Africa; Australia; and many other countries, as we strive to expand our pupils cultural and social capital.

In the 23 years I have been at St Joan of Arc I have watched the site grow with four new buildings in Maths, Music, Drama and Science along with our fantastic 4G pitch. One of the areas we would love to develop would be a sports Hall.

The School is part of All Saints Catholic Academy Trust’ (ASCAT). This has led to opportunities for collaboration with John F Kennedy Catholic Secondary School and with our primary colleagues, to allow for the development of essential strategic partnerships and the sharing of good practice and great Ideas. This has offered the opportunity to look at how best we can deliver education in a cost effective manner with shared resources across the trust. There are opportunities to meet and network, including through Trust Conference. These opportunities enable us to find out more about each school and the different challenges we all face, particularly in these years of austerity and the recruitment crisis facing the sector.

The Trust can rely on a variety of skills offered by each of the settings, from Senior Leaders; Governors; teachers; and support staff. All of whom have the pupils at the centre of all that we do. There is now a network of support to help catch us all if we stumble and encourage us when we need it. It is comforting to know that we are all working toward a collective goal.

ASCAT continues to expand and grow in influence within the educational arena in Hertfordshire and there will be new opportunities for Career development for those who join our professional community and initiatives to ensure that the pupils, who have been entrusted to us, thrive and become ambassadors of their Catholic faith and are a true reflection of the Love of Christ in all that they do. This is just the beginning.......

Greg Doyle, Deputy Headteacher St Joan of Arc

June 2024