School Update 24 August
Dear Parents
We hope this brief update finds you well and enjoying the last few weeks of the summer together, before Autumn hits!
A quick update on our planning application and the proposed solution to expand interim capacity here at Abbot’s Way, prior to planning permission, works on the driveway and a subsequent material change.
With regards to planning, our pre-application has been submitted to Somerset Highways and feedback of a positive nature has been received by our planning consultants.
Whilst we had anticipated a full submission on the 9th August, we feel it important to take the advice of our planning team who are now advising this may take another few weeks to complete in light of further advice and guidance from Highways.
Whilst this feels like a frustrating delay, we hope you share our feeling that it is imperative to cover every single eventuality to guarantee the right outcome longer term for the school with the target of January 2022 for 40 students still very much achievable.
As you may be aware, we have since been assessing the viability of an additional premises to allow an interim increase capacity whilst we achieve the above.
We are very pleased to have found a suitable property nearby which we feel is in keeping with Abbots Way’s holistic approach.
Currently our request to use the premises has gone through DfE and sits with Ofsted, from whom we await an imminent visit and hopefully an interim material change to allow us to use this to increase capacity temporarily in order to accommodate pending students for whom Abbot’s Way has been deemed a suitable placement.
Busy times ahead as we prepare for the Autumn Term - both in terms of curriculum planning for this coming year and also building our KS4 Charisma Learning Chapter in preparation for 2022-2023. With our first Year 9 cohort about to hit the ground running, it is exciting to see our range of year groups grow.
Numbers and interest remain strong. We have spent much of the summer break in communication with prospective parents or hosting visits on site. Our liaison with local authorities is positive and ongoing, as is collaboration with the local community and professional bodies.
Our staff team will be in for two days’ INSET and welcome back, on Thursday and Friday of next week. We will be training and sharing practice so that our provision remains cohesively forward thinking and outward looking.
We will be in touch again this weekend with a more detailed newsletter.
With best wishes and many thanks as always for your ongoing support.
Gareth, Hellen and Team