19 June 2025 weekly update

Dear Colleagues,

Headteacher briefings

Three headteacher briefing events took place last week at Maidstone, Seasalter and Ashford.

We were delighted to have a number of colleagues presenting on education collaborations they are involved in and together they provided a really rich picture of ways you are working together to provide better opportunities for children and young people from early years through to post 16. Look out for the PowerPoint to see all the case studies in details.

A really big thank you to:

Early Years

• Neerasha Singh, Headteacher, Northfleet Nursery School and Julie Miles, Discovery Day Nursery Manager, TEP  who talked about the Kent and Beyond Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
• Kirsty White, Headteacher, Westmeads Community Infant School who shared the framework the school have developed for working with other schools on mutual improvement.

Primary 

• Holley Hunt, Headteacher, Snodland CE Primary School talked about the work of the Maidstone and Malling Peer Review Group
• Iain Witts, Executive Headteacher, Kingsnorth CE Primary School and Strategic Lead, Kingsnorth English Hub explained the work of the English Hub and the opportunities available to primary schools. The Hub is now working with the DfE on a project to support reading in the secondary phase. Please contact Iain if this is of interest
• Phil Chantler, Headteacher, Ashford Oaks Community Primary School discussed the work of the partnership between Central Ashford Town Schools and the benefits of this work.

Cross-phase

• Gina Salter, Headteacher, Painters Ash Primary School and Chris Norwood, Headteacher, Northfleet School for Girls are Chair and Vice Chair of a trust that comprises two secondary, five primary schools and one nursery school, the Northfleet Trust. This trust is an alternative model to a MAT and Gina and Chris talked about the efficiencies they are now getting our of the collaboration.

Post-16 Pathways for All

Based on local analysis and research, the Pathways for All programme was set up to develop post-16 provision for young people of all abilities across Kent. A Board was established, now chaired by Charlie Guthrie and Local Collaborative Partnerships are working of a range of projects to remove barriers and improve opportunities.

• Ashford Local Collaborative Partnership Area - an update (and poem) from Charlie Guthrie, CEO, Endeavour MAT and Chair of Pathways for All and Siobhan Matthews, Deputy Head, The North School
• East Kent Local Collaborative Partnership Area - Chris Norwood, Headteacher, Northfleet School for Girls and Hayley Harney, Strategic Lead for East Kent Post-16 Education, East Kent Colleges Group talked about the work of their group.

School visit

I was really pleased to visit Borden Grammar School in Sittingbourne with Assistant Director for Education East Kent Rob Veale this week. A big thank you to headteacher Ashley Tomlin for his time.

Sad news

Panna Nagar, a former headteacher at Northfleet Nursery School and Ofsted inspector, was among the victims of the tragic Air India plane crash. She will be remembered by her family as someone who “poured an endless amount of love, passion and care into everything that she did”.

A true champion of Early Years education for 15 years, Panna dedicated her life to nurturing young minds and supporting families. Her warmth, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to children’s development left a lasting impact on countless lives.

May her memory be a guiding light for all who believe in the power of early childhood education.

The school will be organising a tribute to celebrate Ms Nagar’s passion to education as soon as they have spoken to the family. If you would like to send a message then please feel free to send your messages to office@northfleet-nur.kent.sch.uk.

With all best wishes

Christine McInnes
Director of Education and SEN