I am thrilled to embark on this journey as the new CEO of the Prince Albert Community Trust. In my first 'CEO' blog post, I believe it's crucial to share with our community my vision and the key priorities that will shape our collective path forward.

Educational Excellence:

First and foremost, I am deeply committed to maintaining a standard of educational excellence that sets us apart. At PACT, we share a united vision: 'enabling every pupil to succeed at school and in life.' This means not only ensuring that our students achieve academic success but also acquire the skills and values needed to become effective and fulfilled global citizens. To celebrate this excellent service offer, we will soon be launching our “In Service to Excellence” awards across the Trust. More details on this exciting initiative will follow shortly.

Community Cohesion and Collaboration:

We understand that at the heart of any excellent school lies great community cohesion and collaboration. I firmly believe that it takes a collective effort to raise a child. Our community includes not only our exceptional students and staff but also their families, local organisations, and other educational institutions. Engaging with parents and caregivers will continue to be a fundamental aspect of our work. Open and meaningful communication will serve as the bridge connecting our schools to our students' homes.

I am committed to ensuring that parents and caregivers have a voice and feel like active partners in their children's education. I look forward to spending time with parents and carers in the coming weeks. All insights are invaluable, and together, we can continue to create an environment where everyone thrives.

Collaboration through partnerships is essential for driving improvements, especially in the context of financial difficulty. By working together with businesses and other educational institutions, we can enrich the opportunities available to our students and broaden their horizons, all while building a sustainable future for our community. This is why we’ve launched our first-ever ‘Community Task Force’—a group of Birmingham citizens with a passion to work towards mobilising our community. Our children need to know they are capable of achieving anything they want. Through these partnerships, we can harness expertise, resources, and experiences that will help our students thrive and ensure that the decisions we make today consider the long-term impact on our students, the community and the world they will inherit. It is our civic duty to work together for the greater good.

Social Justice:

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion have always been fundamental values at PACT, and they will remain at the forefront of our mission. As we navigate the complex challenges of the modern world, we recognise that Social Justice is not just a choice but a moral imperative. Our commitment to Social Justice will not only help us create a more inclusive and compassionate community for all stakeholders but will also empower our students to excel and feel a sense of power and belonging in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.

In the upcoming weeks and months, I look forward to listening to your ideas and together crafting a bright future for PACT. Your thoughts and feedback have always been invaluable in helping us build a community we continue to be proud of.

I'm excited to experience with all of you what the future holds as we strive to enable PACT to be an even more exceptional place for our students to thrive. They will never have this day of learning again, and we need to ensure that it is excellent.

Phillipa Sherlock-Lewis

PACT CEO