This is our final bulletin of the academic year. The end of the Summer term has some of the most poignant moments, particularly when seeing pupils and colleagues moving on. Several Headteacher colleagues are leaving Camden at the end of this term including some who have been Headteachers in Camden for well over a decade. This shows such commitment to Camden young people and is truly a fantastic achievement. A heartfelt thank you to Helen Gill at Maria Fidelis, Liz Hayward at Kingsgate, Alyson Dermody at Robson House, Clare Burns at Emmanuel, and Harsha Patel at Primrose Hill for everything you have contributed to Camden Schools and the wider Headteacher networks. I hope that you all will look back on your time in Camden with fondness, and satisfaction for what has been achieved. Your expertise will be missed.

St. Dominic’s Catholic Primary school will be closing at the end of term, having been open since 1869. On behalf of all at Camden Learning I offer our sincere thanks to all at St. Dominic’s who have contributed to the life of the school and especially to Jennifer O’Prey, Margaret Harvey and Lucy Giverin for leading the school and managing the closure whilst ensuring the continuity of education.

We are also saying farewell to two Camden Learning colleagues, Rhian Swain who many of you know stepped down last Summer as Senior Primary Adviser but continued this year as a Camden Professional Partner. Rhian is now fully stepping down having worked with Camden schools for many years, alongside Patrick Pond who has supported many of you with some of the trickier pupil wellbeing and attendance issues and who is retiring this Summer. A sincere thank you to both for their contribution and service and the very best for the future.

On a personal note, my first year in Camden has been an invigorating and exciting time that’s flown past. I have learned so much in this time about the commitment of Camden schools and the mature partnership model that has been nurtured. I am excited by the possibilities of the coming year, not least with the addition of a research school and further developing the potential of school based learning hubs to generate evidence informed joint practice development. I am also excited by the progress made so far on Building Back Stronger (BBS), Camden’s Education Strategy. BBS, and the way it aims to turn challenges into opportunities, is part of what attracted me to working in Camden and it’s been great seeing its ambitions starting to be realised this year.

Thank you for making my first year in Camden such an enjoyable one. I look forward to seeing you in September. Enjoy the Summer break, take some time away and make sure you indulge yourself in what makes you most happy. Rest and recharge!

Stephen Hall

Chief Executive Officer, Camden Learning