Celebrating Warwickshire’s Family of Schools
United Against Bullying (UAB) Programme
The United Against Bullying programme is now OPEN for 2023-2024. Don't miss out on the final funded year of this programme!
The programme is FREE for all schools in England. Participating schools receive:
- Access to the online United Against Bullying Hub, including;
- A 360° audit and action planning tool
- An online pupil questionnaire to ascertain levels of bullying and wellbeing in your school
- Specialist tailored resources to support you to implement your action plan, including case studies
- CPD online and face to face training and invitations to other special events
- An interactive anti-bullying Parent Information Tool to provide to parents
For more information check here: https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk
WES Academy & Trust Launch 2023-24
Warwickshire Education Services (WES) have launched their services for Academies & Trusts for 2023/24, offering specialist services that can help you to raise pupil attainment, improve operations, develop staff and resources, and ensure legal compliance.
WES services are aware of the budget pressures facing schools during the current cost of living pressures and are committed to supporting you through these difficult economic times and to providing outstanding services that offer real value for money.
Services have worked hard to keep our price changes for WES Subscription Services for 2023/24 as low as possible.
You can read more about the WES Service offer launch here.
If you have any queries about purchasing WES Services you can call WES Customer Care on 01926 412210 opt 2 then opt 3.
NEW Headteacher Induction in Warwickshire – 2023/24
In Warwickshire, we run a successful Headteacher Induction Programme which we would like to invite any new Headteacher/Head of School to attend. The course will be held at several face-to-face meetings throughout the year.
A brief summary of the programme, which may be subject to change, is as follows:
Introduction to Warwickshire
Managing the Organisation (including WES, HR Business Partnership Services, HR Advisory Services, HR Service Centre and Payroll, Health & Safety, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Legal Services, Managing the Media, Governor Services, Emergency Planning, Closure Procedure, Newly Qualified Teachers and Early Careers Framework, ICT, Unions, Finance).
Vulnerable Learners (including Alternative Provisions, Ethical Leadership, Virtual School, Missing Children, SENDAR, STS, EMTAS, Educational Psychology Service, Wellbeing)
Safeguarding (including Early Help)
School Improvement (including Education Strategy, Specific School Support, System Leaders, Ofsted Complaints, Assessment and Moderation, Closing the Gap)
A Healthy School (including Staff and Headteacher Wellbeing) The cost for the whole of the programme is £595
The programme is being run and facilitated by Darren Barrow who has been a headteacher of three primary schools within Warwickshire and is now our School Improvement Lead & Sustainability Commissioner.
The first session is on 21 September 2023 at Eliot Park Innovation Centre 4, Barling Way, Nuneaton, CV10 7RH. Please see the attached sheet for the complete programme dates.
The course has had very positive feedback from previous delegates, proving invaluable in establishing links with key contacts, putting faces to names and networking with new colleagues. Its content is aimed at headteachers who are new to Warwickshire, those who are already Warwickshire staff but new to headship, colleagues who are transferring to another school within Warwickshire and newly appointed acting headteachers. This course will also be useful for newly appointed Heads of Schools. Delegates will receive updates on key topics and insights from experienced headteachers.
We strongly recommend that all new Headteachers, whether maintained or an academy school, participate in this Programme. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Please book your place as soon as possible via email to Fiona Mcguinness at fionamcguinness@warwickshire.gov.uk
The Journey
Warwickshire County Council Road Safety Education Team are offering a free programme of road safety education for Warwickshire secondary schools and sixth forms.
Warwickshire County Council’s Road Safety Education Team are delighted to announce that we will be continuing to run our successful secondary road safety education programme, The Journey for the 2023/2024 academic year, and are inviting schools to sign up for this today.
The Journey is an annual programme of road safety education which offers tailored sessions for pupils aged 11 – 18 years, focusing on pedestrian and cycle safety, pre- and young drivers, and pre- and young riders. All sessions incorporate recognised behaviour change techniques to change intention to take risks and provide strategies to self-regulate to become safer road users. Themes include distractions (saccadic masking), cycling / road respect, risk taking and consequences, responsibilities and peer influence, impulse control and impairment – drugs, alcohol, and fatigue.
Research and data evidence that children under the age of 16, are one of the most vulnerable road users, with a peak in child pedestrian injury collisions between the ages of 12-15 years. Data further shows that there is a heightened collision risk of newly qualified drivers. Globally, road traffic crashes are a leading cause of death among young people, and the main cause of death among those aged 15–29 years. Our vision is to engage with schools, teachers and pupils to educate on safe behaviours and change intention to take risks, with the aim to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads.
The Journey’s tailored programme supports delivery of the Programme of Study for PSHE Education, addressing pupils’ current experiences and preparation for their future. Furthermore, there is opportunity for overlap and cross-curricular links with other subjects such as Geography, Science and Maths, English and Art.
If you would like to find out more about The Journey or register your school's interest, please contact: roadsafetysecondary@warwickshire.gov.uk.
Testimonial:
S. Smith, former teacher at Aylesford School commented ‘This research-based school intervention on road safety is excellent! It effectively educates students, promotes responsibility and creates safer communities. I would like to highlight the comprehensive nature of the intervention which covers topics such as pedestrian safety and the dangers of distracted driving. The program catered to different age groups, adapting the content to suit the cognitive abilities and developmental stages of the students. This personalized approach ensured that each student received the appropriate level of education and guidance. Highly recommended!’
AB Briefing with Coventry and Central Warwickshire teaching School Hub
Eligible families are encouraged to unlock the benefits of free school meals
We urge you to share this valuable information with parents and carers to ensure that eligible families take advantage of the free school meals program and enjoy the numerous benefits it offers.
If your students' families receive financial support, such as jobseeker's allowance, income support, child tax credit, or universal credit, their children may be eligible for free school meals. Making a successful application not only saves time and money for families but also provides your school with additional funding to enhance educational resources and opportunities.
By encouraging parents and carers to apply for benefits-related free school meals, even if their children are currently receiving universal free school meals in reception, year 1, or year 2, you can help secure ongoing support for both the child and the school. The entitlement continues beyond year 2, ensuring that the school benefits from the additional funding.
It's essential to note that applying for free school meals will not result in a reduction or elimination of existing benefits. Families can rest assured that claiming free school meals will not affect their current entitlements. In fact, eligible families could save around £400 per year through this program.
The benefits of free school meals extend beyond the school day. By claiming free school meals, children gain access to the Holiday Activities and Food program. This program offers exciting and free activities, along with nutritious meals, during school holidays at Easter, Christmas, and over the summer. It presents an excellent opportunity to keep children engaged and nourished outside of term time.
Increasing the number of eligible students accessing free school meals can also benefit your school directly. Schools can access the Pupil Premium funding they require to provide more teaching and learning support. The Pupil Premium funding is designed to close the attainment gap and ensure that students from disadvantaged backgrounds receive additional support and opportunities.
To learn more about free school meals, including information on how to apply, eligibility criteria, and the benefits you can share this link: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fsm
For regular news and information for families sign up for the Family Information Service (FIS) newsletter. This month's special edition is dedicated to providing comprehensive details about free school meals and the support available.
For any questions or support regarding the application process for free school meals, parents and carers can contact freemeals@warwickshire.gov.uk or call 01926 35918.
The Family Information Service is available 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Residents can phone FIS for free on 0800 408 1558, email fis@warwickshire.gov.uk, get in touch on Facebook or Twitter or visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/childrenandfamilies.
Students dance to tackle bullying
Dance students from Stratford-upon-Avon College took their final dance show on the road recently to perform their end of year show: Taunted.
Students on the Level 3 Dance course prepared a performance followed by a workshop centred on bullying, which after they performed at the college, toured to Solihull College & University Centre and Alcester Academy amongst other events taking place later in the year.
When creating their work, the dancers decided to look at different perspectives such as 'being bullied' and 'being the bully', and also at the differing relationship's people have on and offline. Together they also created a finale piece based on 'what if', to demonstrate how harmful bullying could be to someone's mental state and even their life.
Alongside the 40-minute dance show, they also created a 40-minute workshop where they taught a section of choreography from the performance and led a drama exercise to explore different types of bullying, including toxic relationships, cyber bullying, physical bullying and emotional manipulation, allowing opportunities for discussion.
The students were extremely excited to present the show and workshop. Student Saphire Fennymore commented: “It is great to have the chance to perform in external venues and develop our skills in performance as well as leading workshops. It gives us the chance to learn what it's like to perform and tour in industry.”
Jess Perrin added: “It is an important subject too. Bullying awareness is something everyone needs to know about and a subject everyone can relate to.”
The twelve dance students were supported by Backstage Production Arts students Ollie Hayward (lights) and JJ Lines (sound) who also benefited from the learning experience, with Ollie saying: “It’s great to get touring experience and learn how to work in unfamiliar locations.”
Students from Alcester Academy really enjoyed the experience with one commenting: “I really liked how it conveyed a message about how it’s ok to be different and made me more aware of bullying!” and another adding: “I liked how the lighting reflected different emotions and the dancers were so good!”
Alcester Academy Performing Arts teacher, Sabrina Sacco, detailed why the visit was beneficial for the Y9 and Y10 students: “This showed our students different pathways post 16 as well as giving them ideas for their current project work.”
Dance lecturer Samantha Franks described why the students focused on the topic: “The subject of bullying was chosen so that both the students taking part, and their audiences could recognise how prevalent in society bullying is. We wanted to explore the different forms of bullying and the effect this can have on people physically and mentally, and how we could create a dance performance piece that could raise awareness, educate, and even prevent certain types of situations. We felt a tour around various educational establishments would be a great way to bring this topic to the surface, so that other students could recognise how words and actions of their own, or of others, could be so damaging and detrimental.”
She continued to detail how the students handled the project: “The students dealt very well with such a sensitive topic and were mature in their approach in developing and creating the final product.”
For more information on any of Stratford-upon-Avon College’s courses, please visit www.stratford.ac.uk or call the College on 01789 266245.
Warwickshire County Council Supports Refugee Week: Fostering Compassion and Solidarity
Warwickshire County Council is proud to support Refugee Week 2023, an international festival that celebrates the resilience, creativity, and contributions of refugees and those seeking sanctuary. Taking place from 19 to 25 June, this year marks the 25th anniversary of Refugee Week.
Warwickshire County Council is marking Refugee Week 2023 by honouring refugees worldwide and recognising the strength and courage of individuals who have been forced to flee their home countries to escape conflict. However, leaving their homes is often just the beginning of a challenging journey.
To mark the week a community event is taking place in Warwick Library on Tuesday 20 June and people are invited to come and share their experiences and connect with each other. Suzanne Glanville, Team Leader for Homes for Ukraine scheme has been involved in organising the event, she said: “We encourage residents to write heartfelt messages on post-stick notes and place them on our dedicated notice board. Our team will collect these messages and weave them into a powerful poem, showcasing the collective understanding and empathy of our community.”
The Migration Services website (www.warwickshire.gov.uk/migration-services), provides comprehensive information about education, ESOL classes, employability sessions, community resources, and details about the available schemes to refugees and migrants in Warwickshire and those who support them.
Additionally, the newsletter for the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which will provide valuable information and updates for both hosts and guests of the scheme is now live. The newsletter shares useful information about the scheme, upcoming events in Warwickshire, and news from around the county. To stay informed and subscribe to the Homes for Ukraine newsletter, click the link: Homes For Ukraine Newsletter.
Warwickshire Libraries are excited to present their Refugee Week collection and the compelling 'Refugee Stories' collection in honour of Refugee Week 2023. Discover these diverse and inspiring resources on the Inclusive Reads Web Page at https://library.warwickshire.gov.uk/iguana/www.main.cls?surl=inclusivereads. Explore the powerful narratives that shed light on the experiences of refugees, fostering empathy and understanding. Join Warwickshire Libraries in celebrating Refugee Week by engaging with these thought-provoking collections and embracing the strength and resilience of refugees.
For more information about events that are happening in Warwickshire follow WCC on Facebook & Twitter, and if you would like to get involved with the refugee week visit: https://refugeeweek.org.uk/
If your school is organising any activity and would like to share please let us know by emailing headsup@warwickshire.gov.uk If you have any photos you can share, please send those too!