We would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who were able to attend the Headteacher's Conference last Thursday at Stoneleigh Park.

It was a fantastic turnout with attendance from a broad range of education providers coming from right across the county, including nurseries; maintained and academy primary, secondary and special schools; representatives of local academy trusts; the Church of England Diocese; NASUWT; and Warwickshire County Council including education officers and the Portfolio Holder for Education and Learning.

Delegates heard from a mix of speakers including Warwickshire headteacher Ian Dewes from Dunchurch Infant and Dunchurch Boughton CE Junior and Ofsted representatives, HMCI Amanda Speilman and HMI James McNeillie debunking some myths and providing an insight into the new Ofsted framework.  

Keynote - Amanda Spielman, HM Chief Inspector of Education Children's Services and Skills

Paul Senior and Peter Kent represented the local authority and put questions, submitted by headteachers in advance, to HMCI Amanda Spielman, to gain a better understanding of the new inspection framework. Nine questions were put to Amanda on the day and in order to give you the opportunity to watch these back, or to listen for the first time if you were unable to attend, we captured Amanda's responses on film and have included the links to each video below:

1. Ofsted's focus: results / depth of curriculum
2. How supporting inclusion will not work against a school's results
3. What a broad and rich curriculum will look like for Early Years pupils 
4. Ofsted supporting for 'outstanding' schools
5. Three year KS4 or three year KS3?
6. Schools with a pupil premium profile
7. Inspection of maintained nursery schools and PVI sector providers
8. Broad and balanced curriculum and enterting pupils for the EBacc
9. Schools releasing colleagues who are also current inspectors

We also heard about the benefits of google for staff and pupils from Christian Hilton and Lucy Bosley, Shipston on Stour Federation, and ideas for encouraging physical activity during the school day to help schools to achieve 'The Daily Mile' from three Warwickshire headteachers. Some important updates were also provided by WCC officers around opportunities to get involved in the mental health in schools project, and the 'W' code - a moral code to ensure no child is left behind.

Opportunity to shape communications with schools

We made a plea at the conference for as many of you as possible to share your thoughts with us on Heads Up and how we can improve our communications with you.  We would be grateful if you could spare 10 minutes to complete this short survey to give us your feedback: https://goo.gl/forms/2FKdybKd3LSA1Wm42

Presentations and handouts from the conference

As mentioned at the conference, the handouts are now available along with the powerpoint slides here: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/we3