Ofsted publishes annual report for 2017/18

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman launched the publication of Ofsted's 2017/18 Annual Report earlier this week. The report summarises the findings from Ofsted inspections, visits and research over the past year and provides an opportunity to comment on the quality of early years, schools, children’s social care and further education and skills.

In a speech given on 4th December, Amanda Speilman highlighted some of the main themes of the report which include off-rolling, SEND provision and 'stuck' schools. 

The full report recognises areas of success, as well as areas for improvement and also gives some pointers on the proposed new inspection framework, which will include changes that “strengthen the focus on early reading” and allow Ofsted to identify and report on schools which use off-rolling to remove pupils who might achieve less well.

Congratulations to Budbrooke Primary and St Michael's C of E Primary on their positive case studies highlighted in the report.

Consultation on admission arrangements for September 2020

For September 2020 we are consulting on making changes to the admissions over-subscription criteria.  In line with the Education Strategy and narrowing the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers, we are proposing to amend the over-subscription criteria to weight in favour of disadvantaged pupils.

The consultation opened on 23rd November 2018 and will close on Friday 11 January 2019.

We would like to gain the opinion of as many schools as possible so would like to encourage you to look at the proposed changes and let us know what you think. The proposals are published on the admissions policies webpage. (The consultations are listed in chronological order so please refer to the documents listed with 2020-2021 entry).

All Warwickshire schools and surrounding local authorities should also have received a copy of the proposals by email. 

Responses and queries should be sent to: 

Post: Amy Taylor, School Admissions, Pupil and Student Services, Saltisford Office Park, Ansell Way, Warwick CV34 4UL

Email: schooladmissionsconsultation@warwickshire.gov.uk

Access to Realtime Data trends and visit reports

During the last term, WCC School Improvement Officers making visits to your school have been securely sharing their visit reports with you via Perspective Lite.

These are available for you to review online now, as are your Realtime Data Trends showing your headline school data alongside local and national averages for the past three years.

This is useful performance analysis material and is all housed in one place online. To be clear, you will only see the data and visit reports for your school(s).

You will be notified by email of any new visit reports or news items at your given email address. If you need to change your email, are still unaware of your account details or want to ask a question about the system, please contact el-businessimprovement@warwickshire.gov.uk

Are you interested in being a School Governor in Warwickshire?

Governor Services are looking to recruit school governors to fill current vacancies.

School governors are one of the country's largest voluntary groups and in Warwickshire we currently have governor vacancies in a number of schools. We are looking to strengthen our governance with energetic and driven individuals with a wide range of expertise across both education and business. Being a Governor is a rewarding and effective way of making a voluntary contribution to your community and to the lives of young people. Governors are appointed by the Governing Board and are the strategic leaders in schools.

Are you:

• Keen to put something back into the local community?
• Interested in education?
• Prepared to work as part of a team?
• Open to new ideas and ready to learn?
• Enthusiastic?
• Comfortable and confident in asking questions?
• Prepared to represent and promote your school?

Although the role of a governor is voluntary, you will be supported in your school by the Chair of Governors, Head teacher and fellow Governors and you will have access to support and personal training and development from the Local Authority Governor Services Team.

If you can answer yes to these questions, have the ability to commit your time and enthusiasm and you share our values in inspiring the next generation we would be keen to hear from you.

For more information on the role, for an application form, or for an informal chat please contact Amanda Gardiner in Governor Services by telephone: 01926 745139 or by email: amandagardiner@warwickshire.gov.uk

You can also find out more on the Governor Services webpage.