Schools’ Forum

The Education Act 2002 requires each Local Authority (LA) to establish a Schools' Forum. This is a consultative group made up of head teachers, governors, trade unions, the diocesan authorities and Early Years providers.

The purpose of the forum is to provide guidance to the LA about decisions relating to the local funding formula, changes to the scheme for financing schools and spending priorities of the LA.

The forum is an elected body and the members representing Warwickshire School Governors are listed below:

Please click here to see the minutes from the last meeting

RE Facilitator to support schools using the new Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education

FAO HEADTEACHER AND RE COORDINATORS / RE SUBJECT LEAD - PLEASE FORWARD TO THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR RE IN YOUR SCHOOL

We are very pleased to have successfully appointed Jennifer Jenkins as Religious Education Facilitator for Warwickshire and Coventry. Jennifer has been seconded from St Paul's CE Primary School, Nuneaton for one day a week starting in September, providing support to schools across the two authorities to implement and deliver the new Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. Jennifer will also bring her expertise to provide more general guidance to both Warwickshire and Coventry SACREs (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) with the aim of ensuring that pupils receive their RE entitlement and provide new and innovative ideas to help schools to deliver high quality RE and collective worship.

We would like to welcome Jennifer to Warwickshire and wish her every success in this role.

Request to schools - RE co-ordinator contact details

To assist Jennifer in her role it would really help us to build a contact list for RE coordinators and subject leads across Warwickshire. We would therefore be grateful if you could ask the person responsible for RE in your school to complete the form at the link below:

https://goo.gl/forms/QRtGbaJcJ9X5nvZj2

A bit about Jennifer....

I have been Assistant Head Teacher at St Paul’s CE Primary School in Nuneaton for the past 5 years and have been subject leader for RE for 15 years of my 16 year career. I am passionate about the teaching of RE and creating meaningful opportunities for SMSC (social, moral, spiritual and cultural) growth for pupils throughout the curriculum and their school experience. I have successfully led our school toward becoming an ICON School with Coventry Cathedral, committing us to promoting peace, forgiveness and reconciliation, and one of my greatest hopes is to see schools and communities brought together to work and thrive together.

I am looking forward to working with schools across Warwickshire and Coventry and supporting teachers in the pursuit of excellent, inspirational RE in our locality.

Independent travel training for students with SEND

In October 2017 Warwickshire County Council began working with Lift Training (part of National Star College) to deliver travel training to students with special educational needs. We have three travel trainers working with students from schools and colleges across the county, with the opportunity for students to obtain an EdExcel qualification at the end of training.

The programme enables young people to develop the skills to travel to and from school or college independently and has proven very popular with four students now successfully trained and another nine students currently undertaking training.

One of the first students to complete the training was Anthony:

“Anthony completed his independent travel training under the direction of his trainer Ed in March and now travels to and from school independently.

In order for Anthony to achieve his goal of studying level one Animal Care at College in September Anthony completed several sessions to that location and on two of those days, some taster sessions were included.

This is Anthony training "Scout" in his final session with Ed to the College and  he is now fully prepared for the journey. All the staff at LIFT wish him well for his future.”

If you are a special school and would be interested in taking part in this scheme, please call 07976 231 383 or email lift-warwickshire@nationalstar.org

Alternatively, please visit the website https://www.nationalstar.org/learning-programmes/prospectus/lift-training/warwickshire/ where more information about the training programme is provided along with an online enquiry form.

Southam Primary Out of School Care Scheme judged outstanding

Congratulations to all of the staff at Southam Primary School Out of School Care Scheme for receiving an outstanding judgement following an Ofsted inspection in May. The Out of School Club has made significant improvements since they were last inspected in April 2015 receiving a 'good' judgement. 

Brookhurst School awarded Primary Science Quality Mark

Congratulations to Brookhurst Primary School who have successfully achieved the Gold Level Primary Science Quality Mark.

The award celebrates a commitment to excellence in science teaching and learning. 180 infant, junior, primary, middle and special schools received this nationally recognised status in the latest round of awards given out in May, including Brookhurst, 

The Primary School Quality Mark scheme enables schools to work together to share good practice and is supported by professional development led by local experts. It encourages teacher autonomy and innovation while at the same time offering a clear framework for development in science subject leadership, teaching and learning.

As part of a quality assurance process, Brookhurst were selected at random to be reviewed by two external representatives.  One of the reviewers commented that:

'The portfolio has a varied and rich range of examples that show that science is valued across the whole school. I particularly like one quote from a member of staff, “Science has become a fantastic subject at Brookhurst. It
has gone from strength to strength and has captivated the children and the staff.”'

The Primary Science Quality Mark is led by the University of Hertfordshire, School of Education in partnership with the Primary Science Teaching Trust. It is supported by the Royal Society for Chemistry, the Ogden Trust and the Association for Science Education.

Jane Turner, PSQM National Director said: “Gaining a Primary Science Quality Award is a significant achievement for a school. The profile and quality of science teaching and learning in each awarded school is very high. Children are engaging with great science both in and outside the classroom, developing positive attitudes towards science as well as secure science understanding and skills. Science subject leaders, their colleagues, head teachers, children, parents and governors should be very proud.”

For more information, please contact:

Jane Turner PSQM Director:

j.turner@herts.ac.uk

01707 28 1036

07792 395015

Competition for funding to support projects in the Bedworth/Bulkington area

Survey - maternal and child health services