Religious Education survey for all schools

FAO. All RE Subject Leaders/ RE Coordinators in Warwickshire (with the exception of Catholic schools)

ACTION: Please respond to the survey by 18th January 2019

Warwickshire Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) has a duty to monitor the provision and quality of Religious Education (RE) taught according to the locally agreed syllabus, together with monitoring the overall effectiveness of the syllabus. SACRE also plays a role in providing advice and support on the teaching of RE to Warwickshire schools.

The current syllabus was launched in 2017 and is available to all schools (except Catholic schools who follow their own syllabus) on the SACRE website.

In order to help SACRE to fulfil its statutory responsibility, we are asking RE coordinators and subject leads to complete an online survey to provide information on the provision and delivery of RE in school. The survey forms part of the overall monitoring process and data from the survey will be used to report back to SACRE on current RE provision and to offer monitoring support visits to schools where these would be helpful. 

Please follow the link below to complete the online form by 18th January 2019:

For any queries please contact sacre@warwickshire.gov.uk

The Year of Wellbeing 2019 and your school

Coventry and Warwickshire will be celebrating a Year of Wellbeing throughout 2019, and every school will be able to take up free advice on participating in ways that work for you.

The Year is an opportunity for all organisations across Coventry and Warwickshire to help inspire everyone to take action to improve their wellbeing and the wellbeing of others.

During the Year, everyone - including pupils, parents, headteachers, and schools ­– will have the opportunity to think differently about how we can maintain and improve our health and wellbeing by doing simple, free things like keeping hydrated and taking a 10-minute mental break to clear your mind.

One important area for action is around children and physical activity, both in and out of school.

Education, leisure services, sports and health colleagues have already come together to find the best ways to help schools manage existing demands regarding physical activity in school. Together we aim to help make it easier and more logical for you to find the right approach, and the right support, for your school, pupils, parents and teachers. We intend to make free, good quality advice available to every primary school to help you get the right blend of activities for your school.

A trailblazer group is being convened to enable headteachers to shape this work. You are welcome to both participate and contribute, whether you are achieving great things already or want to improve.

Please take a couple of minutes to complete this simple survey to provide some more information about physical activity in your school by 20th December. Let us know how you think your school is doing, and how you want to be part of this work in future.

Free Mental Health First Aid Training

One in four people struggle with their mental health and wellbeing. Springfield Mind is delivering five Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training courses primarily aimed at early years practitioners. Training is fully funded by Public Health and Strategic Commissioning, Warwickshire County Council, who currently have a significant programme of work underway around parent and infant mental health.

Delegates will gain knowledge to help them identify, support and provide signposting to parents who are struggling to cope. The two day course qualifies delegates as a Mental Health First Aider and provides:

• an in depth understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing
• practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
• confidence to step in, reassure and support a person in distress
• enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening
• knowledge to help someone recover their health by guiding them to further support - whether that’s self-help resources, through their employer, the NHS or a mix
• self-care – looking after your own wellbeing.

Delegates will be expected to take on a Mental Health Champion role in their organisation following the training. This is a great opportunity to earn an internationally recognised qualification that will provide you with invaluable life skills.

The courses are taking place as follows:

• 4th & 5th February  - North Warwickshire
• 26th & 27th February - Nuneaton
• 21st & 22nd February - Rugby
• 11th & 12th March - Warwick
• 28th & 29th March - Stratford

To express an interest in becoming a Mental Health Champion and attending the course please email paul.thompson@springfieldmind.org.uk with your details, job role and preferred training location.

Please note that places will be allocated to ensure that delegates are trained from as wide a range of organisations as possible. Therefore places may be limited to one person per organisation if courses are oversubscribed.

Contact details:
Paul Thompson, Springfield Mind. Tel: 01789 298615  Email: paul.thompson@springfieldmind.org.uk

Specialist Teaching Service taster session

On Thursday 29th November the Specialist Teaching Service (STS) held a very successful taster session for schools and settings at Pound Lane, Leamington Spa. 

The aim of the session was to showcase the breadth of training, interventions and support that the STS staff can provide. The event was well attended by primary, secondary and special schools. 

A further event will be held on 31st January 2019 at Cawston Community Centre. 

Police Cadet recruitment 2019

Do you have any students interested in policing?  Keen to make a difference to their community?  Looking for a new opportunity?

The Warwickshire Police Cadets will be beginning a new recruitment round in January 2019 and are encouraging anyone interested to sign up now so they can be contacted with more information about the recruitment process at the start of next year.

Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police Cadets is a volunteer scheme aimed at young people who wish to be part of a two year programme that offers an opportunity to gain a practical understanding of policing and develop their spirit of adventure and good citizenship.

Applicants will need to be aged 13-16 on 1st September 2019.

More information is on the attached flyer.

CyberFirst Girls Competition 2019

Registration for the 2019 CyberFirst Girls Competition is now open, as the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ’s) National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) looks to crown the next female code-breaking champions.

The exciting competition is for girls in Year 8 in England and Wales and aims to give participants the opportunity to find out more about cyber security, to gain cyber skills, solve problems, work as a team and have fun with friends! Ultimately, it is hoped that the competition will spark an interest amongst girls in this field and encourage them to consider a potential career in this industry. With only 11% of the global cyber workforce made of women it is an exciting opportunity to encourage more girls into this field.

Teachers of any subject can register teams of up to four girls aged 12-13 years up until Monday 28th January 2019.

The competition begins with teams attempting to complete a series of online challenges during the week beginning 21st January – so although you can register your team up until 28th January it is best to register before the online challenges begin if you can! Teams must also be prepared to attend the grand final in Scotland on 24/25 March 2019.

Over the past two years, 12,500 girls in schools across the UK have participated in this annual competition of problem-solving and code cracking challenges to crown the UK’s most cyber-capable young women.

For more information please see the attached information pack or visit the website.

Please keep us informed if you do enter a team and let us know how you do!