Celebrating Warwickshire’s Family of Schools
Scheme for Financing Local Authority Maintained Schools
The Scheme for Financing of Schools was approved by the Schools Forum on 22 June 2023.
The Council is required to publish a Scheme for Financing of Schools setting out the financial relationship between the Council and Warwickshire Maintained schools. The Department for Education (DfE) periodically revise their guidance to Local Authorities and as such, the Council also periodically revises its Scheme.
Information of free Maths CPD for 2023/24
As Warwickshire's designated Maths Hub, Origin is excited to offer the following free Maths CPD for 2023/24:
Secondary Maths CPD 2023/24
- Secondary Teaching for Mastery Development - comes with £2000 grant to support engagement. The DfE shared in their March announcement that they want 65% of Secondary Schools in England to be engaging with a Teaching for Mastery programme by 2025. See attached for more details on this programme and the link to reserve your school's place. We only have 4 places remaining for 2023.
- Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Maths - Secondary Early Career Teachers - Maths subject specific CPD that complements both Teaching for Mastery approaches in maths and the Early Career Framework programme.
- Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Maths - Secondary Teaching Assistants NEW - Brand new programme for 2023 responding to feedback from Secondary schools nationally, a maths specific CPD programme for Teaching Assistants to build confidence and support them to be better equipped to support the students they work with in maths.
- Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Maths - Secondary Non-Maths Specialist - Maths CPD for non-specialist QTS teachers or non-QTS non-specialist teachers that are teaching maths in KS3 or KS4. Opportunity to develop colleagues' skills in delivering Teaching for Mastery approaches within maths.
- Secondary MAT Maths Leaders Community - Professional development community for teachers that lead maths across multiple schools in a MAT/MAC that has at least one secondary school.
- Year 5-8 Continuity Work Group - Cross phase Work Group for colleagues that have responsibility for maths curriculum in years 5-8. The Work Group aims to improve the transition between primary and secondary, where possible we link feeder schools together to joint plan maths curriculums and gain access to high quality PD resources.
Primary Maths CPD 2023/24
For the Attention of Head Teachers and Chairs of Governors of Maintained Primary Schools and Secondary school
This consultation document is for Maintained Primary Schools and Maintained Secondary School asking whether they want de-delegation to be retained on a service-by-service basis for 2024-25.
The Schools Forum will make a decision about de-delegation on 28 September 2023, but they need your feedback to assist them. Please complete the consultation paper and email your response back to schoolfunding@warwickshire.gov.uk by Friday 15th September 2023.
Burgundy Book
The Burgundy Book setting out the conditions of service (outside of the STPCD) for schoolteachers in England and Wales has been updated. The Burgundy Book is a national agreement between the five teacher unions and the national employers (NEOST).
It is relevant to around half a million teachers and is an essential reference for all schools – both maintained and academies – with the majority choosing to incorporate the agreement into their teachers’ contracts of employment.
The 2023 edition updates legislation and clarifies terminology without amending the application of any of the terms and conditions of employment contained in the Burgundy Book.
Teachers’ pay 2023
The School Teacher Review Board (STRB) has informed NEOST that the STRB’s 33rd report was submitted to Government on 16 May 2023. The team is waiting Government’s publication of the report and decision on implementing the recommendations on teachers’ pay for 2023.
Working together to improve school attendance
- Update: DfE update on the progress of ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance
The DfE has written to all Directors of Children’s Services providing further update regarding progress of the working together guidance. The pressures on the Parliamentary timetable remains and legislation to make the guidance statutory will not be in place before the beginning of the new academic year as planned and therefore the guidance will not be statutory from this September. During a briefing by the DfE on 22nd July 2023, it was further stated that, ‘It remains top of the legislative priorities for the Department and will be pursued at the next available opportunity’.
- TES article.
Colleagues maybe interested to read the following article from TES. Nick Gibb, Minister for Schools stated to the Commons Education Select Committee that ‘we are in unchartered territory’ when talking about school attendance in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic. Read the full article here.
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/school-attendance-nick-gibb-i-dont-know-absence
- School Attendance Self- Evaluation Framework
All maintained schools across the county should by now have sight of the attendance self-evaluation framework. This is the first stage in the free at the point of access offer to all schools by the local authority under Working together to improve school attendance. Academy schools will receive an invitation to complete the SEF from September. Please do return your SEF at the earliest opportunity, following receipt of the document your school will be linked with an Education Casework Officer who will then offer you the opportunity to have a termly targeted support meeting.
- Wonde
82% of schools nationally have opted in to sharing daily attendance data with the DfE The figure in Warwickshire is 87%.
The DfE are now rolling out new functionality to allow mainstream schools that are sharing data to compare attendance with other schools within their local authority area. The tool will help schools to identify strengths and priorities and signpost to additional guidance and support. Further information is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/pupil-attendance-in-schools
To share daily attendance data and get access to these tools, please email Wonde. If you already use Wonde, please accept the request in your Wonde portal.
If you are having ICT difficulties in sharing data and have contacted Wonde direct, and the matter has not been resolved we would be interested to know; please emails was@warwickshire.gov.uk with the details.
Contact Us:
If you wish to discuss any issues relating to school attendance, please feel free to contact the Warwickshire Attendance Service: was@warwickshire.gov.uk
AB Briefing with Coventry and Central Warwickshire teaching School Hub
Please register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAkcempqjsqHNf_6gZE7WgjZGWd9kDtYPAa
Meeting ID 849 6014 0063
Parents and Carers Invited to Secondary School Admissions Webinar
Parents and carers of children who will start Year 6 in September will need to apply for their secondary school place this autumn.
To help them to prepare for their child’s secondary school application, they are invited to join the school admissions team at a free online webinar on Thursday 13 July at 7pm. This is a great opportunity to learn about the process of applying to secondary school, and how to choose a shortlist of schools to include on the application form. By researching school options now, and including realistic choices of schools when they apply, they’ll increase their chances of getting an offer of a school place at one of their preferred schools on offer day next year.
Please do share the details of this event in your own communications.
To join the webinar, parents and carers will need to book their place online at: https://bit.ly/3XHu0U1. Anyone not able to join on the evening will be able to watch a recording of the event a few days later, when it will be available on our YouTube channel.
Tudor Grange Teaching School Hub, NPQ Release Funding
NPQ Release Funding
The following funding is available for schools where staff are completing NPQs:
- state-funded primary schools with one to 150 pupils will receive a grant payment of £800
- state-funded primary schools with more than 150 pupils will receive a grant payment of £200
- state-funded secondary schools and state-funded 16 to 19 educational settings with one to 600 pupils will receive a grant payment of £200
This money goes directly to schools where teachers have done an NPQ.
NPQ Applications
The closing date for NPQ registrations with Tudor Grange TSH is 28th September 2023 for the Autumn cohort. Spaces are filling up fast, so apply early to avoid disappointment. If you have any questions, please contact bstewart@solihull.tgacademy.org.uk.
Early Career Teachers
You will be receiving an email in the next week or two from the DfE to invite you to register any ECTs for their September 2023 start. Please make sure that you register all ECTs with the DfE, but also with an Appropriate Body (this is a separate registration). Failure to register with an appropriate body may delay the start of the ECT’s induction.
For more information, please contact bstewart@solihull.tgacademy.org.uk or estallard@solihull.tgacademy.org.uk.
Stratford Library launches new sensory offer to support with children’s development
Warwickshire County Council’s library service has launched a new sensory offer at Stratford-upon-Avon Library, which features brand new equipment including a floor projector, interactive floor mat, and a fibre optic den.
The new offer aims to improve the support and development opportunities available for all children, and especially those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The new sensory resources were announced at a celebratory launch event on Thursday 22 June.
Free sensory library sessions, which are limited to small numbers to create a relaxed and informal atmosphere, will take place weekly at Stratford Library on Mondays 10:30am – 11:30am for 1-4 year olds, and Wednesdays 4pm – 4:45pm for 4-11 year olds. To book a place, visit the Stratford Library Eventbrite webpage. Stratford Library’s sensory projector is also available after regular children's activities during the week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 11am, and sensory toys are available to borrow at any time, just ask a member of library staff for assistance.
Please read more:
https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/4309/stratford-library-launches-new-sensory-offer-to-support-with-children-s-development
The search is on for Warwickshire’s next Young Poet Laureate
The search is on for the county's eighth Young Poet Laureate, who will succeed Emily Hunt in the role for 2023/24.
The competition is open to anyone aged between 13 and 17 who lives and is educated in Warwickshire, and who would like to perform their own poetry to an audience. The Laureateship is a unique opportunity for the successful candidate to develop their writing skills and take part in events and activities across the county under the mentorship of a professional poet. Past Warwickshire Young Poet Laureates have performed on the radio, on film, at festivals and led their own poetry workshops.
Applications are now welcome before the deadline of 6pm on Thursday 5 October 2023. The judges will then get to work and shortlisted candidates will be notified by Thursday 26th October. They will then be invited to take part in a selection say which includes a workshop with a professional poet, a short individual interview with judges and a performance in front of an audience at a public event. This will take place at one of Warwickshire’s libraries on Saturday 4 November 2023. Please ensure when applying that you are available on this date.
The Young Poet Laureate competition is run by Warwickshire Libraries and supported by Poetry on Loan, an initiative supported by Arts Council England that promotes contemporary poetry throughout public libraries in the West Midlands.
To apply, applicants need to:
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Fill in the Application Form (available in the weblink below)
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Submit three poems. One should be inspired by Warwickshire; one should be about or inspired by libraries and the third can be of your own choosing.
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Submit a personal statement and explain in 250 words:
1. Why you want to be Warwickshire Libraries’ Young Poet Laureate
2. How you would promote poetry to the diverse range of people
To submit an application, or for help with any questions about the application process, visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/youngpoetlaureate or email libraryevents@warwickshire.gov.uk