Key national updates
Ofsted launches consultation on changes to inspecting Initial Teacher Education (ITE)
Earlier this week Ofsted published a consultaton on their new approach to inspecting initial teacher education. Ofsted is seeking views from a wide range of respondents on the draft framework and inspection handbook, including trainee and newly qualified teachers, ITE partnerships, headteachers and other employers. The consultation is open for 10 weeks and will close on 3 April 2020.
Read the press release here
View the draft handbook and respond to the consultation here
DfE announces replacement for P scales 1-4
A new 'engagement model' has been announced by the DfE to assess pupils working below the standard of the national curriculum tests and not engaged in subject-specific study. The new model, which replaces P scales 1-4, will assess pupils across five key areas - exploration, realisation, anticipation, persistence and initiation - and subject to consultation and a final decision by ministers will become statutory from September 2020.
Read the draft guidance and view the engagement model information video here.
Period product scheme for schools and colleges in England
The DfE has introduced a new scheme to provide free period products for all learners who attend state-maintained schools or who are in 16-19 education in England.
Education providers will be able to order a range of products including tampons and sanitary pads at any point during the year through the contracted supplier, Personnel Hygiene Services (phs), which are then delivered free of charge.
Providers have an allocated amount that they can spend on products between January 2020 and December 2020 that has been calculated based on numbers of students whose legal gender is female and who, based on age, are likely to have started their periods.
You can find out more about the scheme on the DfE website here.
Government proposals to increase teacher starting salaries from September 2020
The DfE has announced proposals to introduce salary rises of 6.7% for early-career teachers and 2.5% for experienced teachers and school leaders in England.
Changes would only apply to teachers employed under the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) and would come into force from September 2020. The government says that schools will receive additional funding to help them cover the costs of the pay awards however the amount is yet to be confirmed.
See more detail on the proposals here.
2019 primary inspection data summary reports
The DfE has updated the 2019 primary inspection data summary reports (IDSR) with revised key stage 2 data, final 2019 EYFS and data for disadvantaged pupils. They are available through the new Ofsted IDSR service.
You can also access this from the DfE’s Analyse School Performance (ASP). When logged into ASP, click on ‘All reports’ and then ‘Ofsted inspection data summary reports’.
Schools are advised to ensure they download the latest version dated 27 January 2020.
Where applicable, the IDSRs hold:
- final 2019 EYFS
- revised 2019 KS2
- data for disadvantaged pupils
- two term absence
- provisional 2019 KS5, KS4, KS1, phonics and context data.
A new and improved guidance document for the IDSR has also been published. This includes example reports and supporting data tables used for the 2019 IDSR which show national figures and quintile boundaries used to determine whether areas of interest sentences are triggered.
Newly added links are now located throughout the IDSR, which take you directly to the relevant section of the full guidance.
Should you have any IDSR or Ofsted IDSR service queries, please contact either:
Support for new or aspiring female senior leaders
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) is pleased to be offering a re-run of the fully accredited Women's National Professional Qualification for School Leadership (NPQSL) programme for new and aspiring female senior leaders.
The programme aims to support and encourage female leaders from all types of school and college to develop their knowledge, leadership qualities and skills to be effective senior leaders and achieve the NPQSL qualification.
The course encourages women to develop confidence, resilience, and network with other female leaders within a nurturing and challenging peer-learning programme, led by a partnership team of experienced female senior leaders.
Applications opened on 1 January 2020 and will close on 30 April 2020.
Training to support HR in schools
Warwickshire's HR and Payroll Services offers training to support schools with a range of areas in relation to HR and payroll.
Some of the upcoming training courses are highlighted below. Full details of all courses and bespoke training are available on the WES website.
| Course title / Description |
Date |
Venue |
Booking Link |
Pre-employment training
The aim of the course is to provide an overview of the pre employment checks required as part of the conditional offer. The course will provide an understanding of how to complete the necessary pre employment checks.
|
5 Feb 2020 |
Pound Lane Learning Centre, Leamington Spa |
Book this course |
DBS training
The Objectives of the course are:
- to build your confidence in processing DBS applications
- raise awareness and provide background to DBS
- confirmation of documents that are required
|
5 Feb 2020 |
Pound Lane Learning Centre, Leamington Spa |
Book this course |