Education Challenge Board update from Peter Kent
Our recent meeting of the Challenge board highlighted once again how well school leaders in Warwickshire are dealing with all of the challenges presented by the pandemic. The way in which headteachers and leadership teams have responded to a rapidly changing set of events has been deeply impressive; putting a complex set of arrangements in place to cope with schools being closed for the majority of students, overseeing the setting of work, supporting colleagues and offering reassurance and advice to parents and governors. Never has the role of the headteacher as a community leader been more apparent.
Our role has perhaps been made more challenging by the fact that wider society has not always fully grasped the role that schools have played in the current crisis. In my experience people outside the education network often assume that schools are entirely closed and so do not realise the huge amount of work that is going on, both to support those attending and to provide a virtual network for the entire school community.
When the Challenge Board met this week, we discussed all of these issues and inevitable pressures that the national debate about the reopening of schools has created for headteachers and leadership teams. Whilst agreeing that there were no easy solutions, we agreed that it was important to look for ways in which headteachers could come together to explore the questions that we were grappling with and to exchange potential solutions. Whilst recognising that some questions cannot be answered either easily or immediately, we felt that it was very important to seek an opportunity to share ideas and approaches.
Whilst we explore ways in which to do this, I wanted to pass on my admiration, as one colleague to another, for all that you are doing. The County is very fortunate to have such a committed and selfless group of school leaders who are doing so much for the children of Warwickshire.
Dr Peter Kent
Chair of the Education Challenge Board and Lawrence Sheriff School Headteacher
Free modules for students aged 11-19 yrs from The Prince's Trust
In response to Covid-19, The Prince’s Trust is giving access to free ready-to-go modules for 11-19 year olds who would like to continue to build their skills at home or in school.
Modules have been converted to Word format so that they can either be completed on a computer or printed out and completed by hand, making it easy for these to be emailed out to learners who are at home. The Prince's Trust aims to provide access to the courses within one working day.
There are eight modules, that have all now been adapted into Word format:
- Interpersonal Skills
- Managing Money
- Personal Project
- Planning for Personal Development
- Teamwork
- Preparing for a Healthy Lifestyle
- Digital Skills (Including Online Safety)
- Presentation Skills
If a student completes any two of these modules, they could be submitted for an accredited Level 1 Award in Personal Development and Employability from The Prince’s Trust.
If your School, or youth service, has students looking to engage in this provision please email elaine.speed@princes-trust.org.uk
Achieve Modules 1 Flyer
Achieve Modules 2 Flyer