Headteacher - Retirement

Sunday 19th April 2020

Dear Parents and Carers

Today is my final day as Headteacher of Childwall Valley Primary School. Tomorrow my retirement begins. 

I was appointed Headteacher of CVP before it officially opened in September 2003, as a Fresh Start school. 

The Fresh Start aspect being that it replaced Craighurst Primary, a school that had serious underperformance and behaviour issues across a number of years. A new PFI build replaced the old school.

I think it is probably true to say that I didn’t expect to be at CVP almost 17 years later.

It has been an incredible journey. It gives me great pride and satisfaction looking back, that as Headteacher, I am leaving a thriving, innovative and highly successful school. 

Our most recent Ofsted inspection judged behaviour at CVP to be outstanding.

The last academic end of year results across all key stages, put CVP not only above Liverpool schools, but above all schools nationally.

But schools are more than SATs scores and Ofsted grades. They are about children, the staff and its community. 

A school’s core purpose is to serve its children, and every key decision made during my time at CVP always put the children first, second and third. 

Visitors to the school often comment on the happy and purposeful atmosphere at CVP and the polite and well mannered children.

When CVP opened as a Fresh Start school, the Local Authority had identified ICT to be a feature of the new school. 

So it is particularly pleasing that CVP was judged to be the best whole school for ICT in the UK. 

The school is recognised nationally and internationally for its creative use of new technologies to promote new ways of learning. CVP was one of the first UK primary schools to adopt a 1:1 device for every pupil across the whole school.

I have been very fortunate to work with a number of dedicated and talented teachers during my time at CVP. 

I thank them for all they have done for the children. I must give a special thank you to Mrs Scott for her support as Deputy Headteacher and her devotion to the children and their families.

Mrs Scott joined the school at the same time as myself, Mr Greggs and Mrs Brand actually joined CVP form the original school. 

We are living through times that only recently would have been unimaginable. 

Please take care and follow the stay safe guidelines and hope that we return to some sort of normality soon.

Obviously due to the school closure, I have been unable to say goodbye to the children. 

Please do this on my behalf. Tell them I will miss ALL of them, and I am expecting them to go on and do great things with their lives.

Kind regards

Kevin Basnett

Headteacher 

Childwall Valley Primary School