School Census and Teacher Assessment Data Submission Summer 2018

To all Infant, Primary, Primary Special, Junior, Academy and Free Schools

For the attention of the headteacher, Year 1, Year 2, Year 6 teachers and administrative staff

Please find below LA Data Collection deadline dates for summer 2018 

Key dates to highlight:

May Summer School Census: DEADLINE - THURSDAY 17th MAY 2018
This exercise is vital for the moderation process as it identifies those children that have missing Key Stage results and enables the LA to support you with any submission queries.

KS1 and KS2 pupil data submission - LOCAL AUTHORITY DEADLINE MONDAY 25th JUNE 2018
Please be aware that the STA may consider it maladministration if schools do not meet the relevant submission date of 28th June 2018. To ensure this does not happen, we are opening the local authority data collection from MONDAY 4th JUNE 2018 for schools to submit data earlier than the STA deadline, so we can help schools if there are difficulties with their data submission.

Key Stage 2 Statutory Writing Moderation 2018

Exams and Ramadan: Guidance for Schools

FAO. All headteachers in primary, secondary and tertiary schools and colleges and anyone involved in adminstering public examinations including GCSE, GCE AS and A levels, and national curriculum tests (SATs)

In 2018, the Muslim festival of Ramadan falls in the same period as certain exams and tests. Ramadan is predicted to start around 17 May and will end around 14-15 June. Eid-al-Fitr festivities this year will fall on either 15 or 16 June.

We would therefore like to highlight to schools two useful guidance documents to help them to support any Muslim pupils who may be considering or planning to fast during the exam period:

1.  Ramadan: Exams and Tests, 2018, published by The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)

STA have been referring schools to this information paper and a link was included in the STA assessment update emailed to schools on 17th April.

2. Celebrating Diversity 2018 - a briefing paper on Ramadan, published by Newham Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) and recommended by the National Association of SACREs (NASACRE).

This has been written to support schools in making informed decisions about handling Muslim pupils who might be fasting during the time of public or internal school examinations. 

Emergency Contact Information

An email was sent to all headteachers from Monica Fogarty, Joint Managing Director of Warwickshire County Council, on 19th April, requesting headteachers' home and mobile telephone numbers for use only in emergency situations.

This request came as a result of a recent situation on the weekend during the snow/cold weather, where Severn Trent Water was down to zero water supply due to leaking reservoirs. We were faced with a situation whereby a large number of Warwickshire schools might not have been able to open on the Monday, and no way of contacting the relevant headteachers to alert them.  In this situation, email would not have been an effective means of communication due to the urgency of the decision required.

In order to avoid a similar situation in future, we have therefore requested all headteachers provide a home and mobile telephone number.

Thank you to those of you who have already responded to this request. There are still a large number of headteachers who have not responded, so if you have not already done so please could you follow the link below to the short online form to provide us with this information:

https://goo.gl/forms/Ty7PnTwGqjWqM9qh2

We would like to reassure you that the Google form is secure and your details will be held in a secure environment on WCC's network.  Access to this information will be restricted to the following people:

• Monica Fogarty, Joint Managing Director
• Chris Malone, Head of Service Education and Learning
• Jayne Surman, Marketing and Communications Manager
• Ruth Waterman, School Partnerships Support Officer

Should the need arise to widen the access to these details, we will notify of you this in advance.

If any of these contact details change at any time, please notify us by emailing schoolpartnerships@warwickshire.gov.uk so that we can update our records.

Thank you for your cooperation with this request.

Summer Term Headteachers' Meeting - 28th June 2018

Warwickshire's Summer Term Headteachers' Meeting will be taking place on the afternoon of Thursday 28th June 2018 at Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth.

We are very pleased to have secured Sir John Timpson CBE who will kick off the afternoon as our keynote speaker.  John is well-known for his 'upside-down management' philosophy, as well as for being a foster parent with his late wife Alex to over 90 children. John is currently working with Headteachers of Virtual Schools in the West Midlands on improving outcomes for Children who are Looked After.

The meeting will also be an opportunity for headteachers to hear key updates from Education and Learning. Please view the attached agenda for further details of the programme for the afternoon.

Date: Thursday 28th June 2018

Time: 1pm arrival for a 1.30pm start. Finish at 4pm.

Venue: Stareton Hall, NAEC, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, CV8 2LZ (For Satnav please use CV8 2LG)

Booking: please follow the link below to register your attendance using the online booking form:

Booking Form - Summer Term Headteachers' Meeting

For queries please contact Ruth Waterman on 01926 742075 or email schoolpartnerships@warwickshire.gov.uk

New address for IDS & EPS North Teams

The Integrated Disability Service & Educational Psychology Service North Teams have now moved out of Lancaster House to:

Kings House, Fifth Floor, King Street, Bedworth, CV12 8LL

IDS' new telephone number is 01926 413777

EPS' phone number has not changed; they can still be contacted on 02476 368885

Need-to-know updates

Secretary of State speech at the National Association of Head Teachers conference

On 4th May, Damian Hinds spoke at the NAHT conference where he announced plans to improve teacher early career support and development, as well as new measures on school accountability:

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/secretary-of-state-speech-at-the-national-association-of-headteachers-conference

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Ofsted - changes to timing of inspections for 'good' and 'requires improvement' schools

Schools rated 'good' will now be re-inspected every 4 years instead of every 3 years. This also applies to 'good' or 'outstanding' special schools, maintained nursery schools and pupil referral units. These schools will still be subject to short inspections.

Schools graded as 'requires improvement' will now have their next section 5 inspection "usually within 30 months" of their inspection report being published. This would previously have been no later than 24 months. 'Requires Improvement' schools may still receive section 8 monitoring inspections in this time.

Ofsted School Inspection handbook

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DfE publishes GDPR toolkit for schools 

The Department for Education have published a toolkit for schools, to support them in implementing the new requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation that come into force from 25 May 2018.

The 68-page document features guidance, tips and case studies on how schools are preparing for the new laws.

GDPR Toolkit for Schools

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Reception baseline assessment confirmed for September 2020 launch

The Department for Education has confirmed that the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) will develop and deliver the new reception baseline assessment which will be implemented from 2020. The assessment will be administered as a 20 minute, teacher-recorded assessment of children's communication, language, literacy and early mathematics skills. A timeline of activities has been published from 2018-2023. 

New measures for fairer recording of primary school performance

Education Select Committee - School Funding Survey

The Education Select Committee has announced an inquiry "to inform the Department for Education's bid for funding for schools and colleges, and to consider whether a longer-term vision needs to be taken of education funding in England."

Written submissions to the inquiry on the following issues are invited:

• What the Department for Education's priorities should be for the next Spending Review period as they relate to schools and colleges
• Whether the spending review cycle is the best mechanism for determining overall expenditure on schools and colleges, and what that level should be
• The effectiveness of targeted funding such as the pupil premium, and its relationship to core education funding
• The practical implementation of the national funding formula

Please visit the link below to respond to the online survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/EducationCommitteeSurveyMay2018

Grant funding to support schools to meet the needs of children with SEND

Are you a vibrant collaboration of primary, early years or special schools/settings committed to action-led research and innovation to improve outcomes for children? Are you in an area of multiple-deprivation and challenge?

The Laurel Trust, a relatively new educational charity, offers supportive funding for schools and academies in areas of deprivation and challenge to enable research and innovative developments linked to school improvement.

The Trust has just completed a successful pilot year with thirteen imaginative projects in diverse geographical areas from Blackpool to Kings Lynn to the East Sussex coast. Projects are being disseminated locally and hopefully regionally to be of wider benefit to other schools - with one of the research projects in the north being used as a model for further innovation in three large areas including Belfast. In 2018-19, The Laurel Trust will be funding further projects that will focus on children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The latest application round opened at the end of April and closes at 5pm on 25th May 2018. Applications in this round should be focused explicitly on meeting the needs of children, removing barriers to learning and building capacity for future improvement.

More information and guidance on how to apply is available on their website laureltrust.org.uk or on the attached flyer. You can also view two case studies from the pilot:

Forest Way Teaching School Alliance Case Study

Pupil Referral Unit in Blackpool Case Study

Reminder – Headteacher Vacancies/Appointments – New Heads

If your school has appointed a new headteacher or acting headteacher, please notify heatherimbush@warwickshire.gov.uk

We will then notify all concerned, update our records and invite the successful candidate to join the Warwickshire Headteacher Induction Programme for 2018-19.

Details of the programme will be sent out to delegates later this term. In the meantime, please register your interest.

Thank you

Revised edition of WCC's Toileting Guidance.

WCC has just revised its "Guidance on Special Toileting Needs in Schools and Early Years' Settings". Approximately three quarters of a million children in the UK aged between 5 and 16 will need some support with their toileting; this equates to two or three pupils in every primary class and one pupil in every two classes at secondary. Incontinence is not uncommon.

Childcare and Education Providers have a duty to meet the needs of children with delayed personal development in the same way as a child with delayed language or any other delay. Admission policies and practices that require a child to be toilet trained are discriminatory and potentially unlawful; under the Equality Act issues should be dealt with on an individual basis and Settings and Schools are required to make “reasonable adjustments” accordingly. It is, therefore, inappropriate for any Setting or School to delay or refuse admission to children who have not achieved this milestone.

The LA's guidance provides practical advice and support for schools and settings, including advice on staffing, health and safety, risk assessment and SEND.

For further information please contact Jane Carter in the Integrated Disability Service on 01926 413737.

Reporting Prejudice Related Incidents

https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/equalityanddiversityforschools

www.reporthatenow.com/schools

With the impending GDPR on the horizon we have been reviewing the information that Warwickshire County Council holds. Part of this work has been reviewing the reporting of Prejudice Related Incidents.

We now only require information related to these incidents in an anonymised way. Any personal data that has been provided when reporting previous incidents has now been deleted. We will also be amending the form to reflect these changes so you will no longer be asked to provide information about the individual.

Please continue to inform us using the Prejudice Related Incident Form on our website: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/equalityanddiversityforschools

We would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have reported incidents to us over the years.

Talkingshop – FREE Consumer Rights, Financial Literacy and Cybercrime education for Warwickshire schools and colleges

Are you interested in helping your year 12 and year 13 students prepare for life beyond school or college, either at University or in employment?

Consumer education, financial literacy and cyber-crime awareness sessions are being offered free of charge by Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards.

The educational sessions, which run under the umbrella programme ‘Talkingshop’ are delivered on-line and in real time by Trading Standards consumer, financial literacy and cyber-crime experts.

Over 5000 Warwickshire students have already participated in the Talkingshop educational programme.

The programme can be amended to fit a school or college’s particular requirements.

The programmes cover:

Financial Literacy, including:

• Opening a bank account
• Payday and other high interest loans
• Budgeting
• Moving into rented accommodation
• Credit and debt
• Buying a used car
• Contracts (for example for mobile phones)
• Store cards
• Priority loans

Consumer Rights, including:

• Your statutory consumer rights
• Returning damaged and mis-described items
• Your rights in a sale
• Shopping from home
• Buying on auction websites

Cyber Crime, including:

• Safe shopping online
• Online banking
• Social media safety
• Protecting your PC

Salvation Army Housing Association PHSE Homeless Prevention Workshops for year 11 and 12

The Salvation Army Housing Association (SAHA) currently delivers Homeless Support Services across Warwickshire to young people aged 16-25. As part of this support SAHA delivers Homeless Prevention programmes to young people in schools across the county to try and prevent young people becoming homeless in the first place and to develop early intervention.

The Homeless Prevention workshops are aimed at PSHE students in Year 11 and 12 to create an awareness of Young People and Homelessness. The idea is to prevent/reduce Young People from becoming homeless in the future and to give them the skills and knowledge of where they can go for help.

The workshops involve group discussions and challenge stereotypes about Young People and homelessness, addressing the following:

Information on our Young People services in Warwickshire
The law on homelessness
A 5 minute fun brainstorm - what does a homeless young person look like?
What are the different types of homelessness?
What are the reasons young people are homeless?
How it might feel to become homeless?
What are the risks and consequences of becoming homeless?
How does it feel to have a home?
Where to go for help if you become homeless

New Hotel Management Training School for the Midlands

Moreton Hall Hotel Training School wins National Lottery support WCG (Warwickshire College Group) has just received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for its project to create a Hotel Training School based at Moreton Morrell College.

Made possible by National Lottery players, the project aims to bring Moreton Hall, a much loved regional landmark, back to life following a devastating fire in 2008 and make it a centre of excellence for Hospitality and Tourism training.

The Moreton Hall Hotel Training School is an important development in the region and has been designed to supply the region’s visitor economy with the skilled workforce it very much needs.

Neil Coker, Group Vice Principal Curriculum at WCG, commented on curriculum plans: “Our new Diploma in Hotel, Tourism and Destination Management, which starts this September, is designed to train young people to meet the current and growing skills demand in this vast industry.

The programme will be truly responsive and link directly with industry and employers. We want to give students a rich and challenging programme that results in them being fully prepared to enter employment and having the skills needed to fulfill skills gaps in the near and longer term future.

Our course will be innovative and a leading example of excellent practice in employer linked training and learning. Any students or careers advisors interested in finding our more should visit www.wcg.ac.uk.”

The Hotel itself will be designed as a high quality boutique hotel, providing students with a commercial hotel setting in which to develop their skills and to ensure they are work-ready for the many jobs, from chef to hotel manager, tour guide to events manager, available in this industry.

Anyone wishing to offer support or insights should contact moretonhall@wcg.ac.uk

The Commonwealth Youth Forum

The Commonwealth Youth Forum took place in London from 16th to 18th April. The event comprised of around 500 young people from 53 Commonwealth Nations and took place alongside the Commonwealth Business Women’s and People’s Forum. The objective of the forum was to discuss issues facing citizens of the 53 Nations, the results of which have set the agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Governments meeting which took place immediately afterwards.

Nick Andrews, a previous member of Warwickshire's Youth Parliament attended the event. Nick attended sessions covering the four pillars of the forum, which support the overriding theme 'Towards a Common Future':
1. Security
2. Sustainability
3. Fairness
4. Prosperity

Speeches were made to the forum by: Theresa May, Jamaican PM Andrew Holness, Bill Gates, Baroness Scotland and Princes William and Harry.

One session looked at the youth-led accountability mechanism run by Restless Development’s Youth Power, which gave examples and tips of how to ensure young people can play a crucial role in holding their leaders to account on the issues that mean most to them.

Aside from the forum work, Nick also attended a joint forum reception to celebrate Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as meeting several inspirational young people who have gained recognition as the Commonwealth’s young people of the year.

Nick has been involved in Warwickshire Youth Parliament for 5 years; he has held the office of both VOX (Warwickshire's Youth Council) and MYP (Member of Youth Parliament). He was nominated for the Commonwealth forum by Cheryl Jones in recognition of his tireless work and commitment on behalf of young people in Warwickshire and the region.

For more information about Warwickshire's Youth Parliament please contact: cheryljones@warwickshire.gov.uk

Warwick Poppy Appeal Update

In September 2017 St Mary's Church in Warwick launched an exciting campaign to mount a huge display of handcrafted poppies in St Mary's Church Warwick, as part of the centenary commemoration of the end of World War 1. The poppies will be on display in the church during October /November 2018.

The Warwick Poppy Appeal is delighted to report that they are well over two thirds of the way towards meeting their minimum target of 11,610 Poppies - one for every life lost from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment alone in WW1.

There has been a lot of activity since the campaign was launched in September, with a Fish and Chip supper at the Lord Leycester Hospital raising money to fund the campaign, as well as a poppy-making workshop for Warwickshire Young Carers sponsored by the Arts Society of Royal Leamington Spa (formerly RLSDFAS). The Warwick Poppy Appeal will also be holding a "poppy swap" with Australia, who are also arranging a huge display of poppies later this year in Canberra. Warwick, UK and Warwick, Australia will each contribute 100 poppies towards each other's display.

Making poppies
Details of knitting patterns, craft templates and much more information on how you can create poppies for use in the display, can be found on the website: www.warwickpoppies.org.uk.

"Poppy Drop" Stations are located across the Warwick and Leamington area, with one also in Coventry, where you can pick up more information and deliver your contributions. For a list of these locations please visit the website above and look under the 'FAQ' section. You can also arrange for poppies to be collected if you are unable to take them to one of the drop off stations. Please ensure that all poppies are delivered by the end of the Summer school term or sooner.

Schools' Service of Remembrance

All schools will receive an invitation to apply to send youngsters to the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire’s Schools’ Service of Remembrance. It will be held on Friday 23rd November 2018 at 10.30am in St Mary’s Church, Warwick, and the poppy display will be in full swing.This Service will be child-friendly, but with an element of ceremony - it will be something for the children to hopefully remember for a very long time. 

Further information:

www.warwickpoppies.org.uk
Phone: 01926 403940
Email: contact@warwickpoppies.org.uk
Facebook: WarwickPoppies2018
Twitter: @WarwickPoppies

Training

We provide a comprehensive training programme for all school governors, clerks and head teachers, whether in maintained or academy schools. Places on training sessions are available to all schools. For subscribing schools these will be free of charge and for non-subscribing schools there is a charge per delegate.

If your governing board does not subscribe to Warwickshire Governor Services and you think it would be useful to do so, please contact Gurby Dhesi to discuss your requirements:
Email - gurbydhesi@warwickshire.gov.uk, Telephone – 01926 745 137

Courses being delivered this term are:

Special Educational Needs & Disability and the Governing Board (G18-SEN-Cov-01)
Tuesday 15th May 9.30am – 11.30am The Welcome Centre, CV1 2HG

Clerks’ Induction (G18-C1-NB-01)
Tuesday 15th May
9.30am – 3.30pm
Bulkington Village Centre, CV12 9JB

Governors’ Conference
Wednesday 16th May
9.00am – 4.30pm
Honiley Court Hotel, CV8 1NP

Preparing for Ofsted Inspection (G18-OFST-E-01)
Wednesday 16th May
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Boughton Leigh Junior School, CV21 1LT

Head teacher Appraisal & Teacher Pay and Performance (G18-HTA-C-01)
Thursday 17th May
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Aylesford School & Sixth Form Centre, CV34 6XR

Health & Safety (where WCC is the employer) (G18-HSM-S-01)
Thursday 17th May
3.00pm – 5.00pm
Stratford – Upon - Avon College, CV37 9QR

SENCo and the SEND Governor (it is expected the SEND Governor and SENCo will attend together) (G18-S&SG-C-01)
Thursday 24th May
5.00pm – 7.00pm
Aylesford School & Sixth Form Centre, CV34 6XR

Induction to School Governance (G18-IG-E-01)
Thursdays 7th, 14th and 21st June
7.00pm – 9.30pm
Stratford – Upon - Avon School, CV37 9DH

Induction to School Governance (G18-IG-Cov-01)
Monday 11th June
9.30am – 4.30pm
The Welcome Centre, CV1 2HG

Finance Part 1 – Introduction to Budget Planning and Monitoring (G18-FR-S01)
Tuesday 12th June
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Stratford – Upon - Avon School, CV37 9DH

Effective Classroom Visits (G18-ECV-Cov-01)
Thursday 14th June
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Hearsall Community School, CV5 6LR

Click here to view our new Training and Support Programme (April 2018 – March 2019)
If you would like to book on a course, or for further information please:
Email your booking or enquiry to governors@warwickshire.gov.uk,
Telephone Governor Services on 01926 745120
Book via the WES website at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/wes

When booking a course, in addition to quoting the course reference number, title and date. Please provide the following information: the name of the person attending the training event, the school they are from together with a contact email address and telephone number.

Dates for your Diary

Governors’ Conference:
The Governors’ Conference will take place on:
Date: Wednesday16th May 2018
Venue: Honiley Court Hotel, Meer End Road, Honiley, Kenilworth, CV8 1NP
Time: 9:00am – 4:30pm

Topics will include:
• GDPR Training for Governors
• Dealing with Complaints
• Exclusions

Being Strategic (New Guidance)

To assist governors and trustees in their strategic role, the NGA and Wellcome have published Being Strategic: a guide for governing boards, three years after the popular original guide – A Framework for Governance – was released.

A printer-friendly pdf version of the guide is available at www.nga.org.uk/beingstrategic

A copy of the document has been uploaded to WES document library and to GovernorHub.

Changing Articles of Association

The NGA’s advice team receive a lot of queries from trustees and clerks who are interested in changing their articles of association. They have published a new short piece of guidance which sets out the reasons why trusts change their articles and the process which needs to be followed. The guide is available in the NGA Guidance Centre.

Prevent Toolkit for Schools (London Borough of Ealing)

This toolkit includes ideas, resources and practical approaches to support primary and secondary school practitioners to understand the principles of the Prevent strategy and implement the Prevent duty as part of a whole school approach.

Download the toolkit here: www.egfl.org.uk/services-children/safeguarding/anti-radicalisation-prevent-duty

Data View Update

Data View was relaunched on January 29th and it allows users to explore inspection data for children’s social care, early years, further education and skills, initial teacher education providers and schools.

Data View shows Ofsted inspection data in simple graphs that make the data quickly and easily accessible.

You can compare and contrast performance in inspections between regions, local authority areas and parliamentary constituencies.

To read more about the website please click here.

Ofsted News

 Ofsted School Inspection Update: March 2018 – Issue 13

Ofsted recently released their latest ‘School inspection update’ to its inspectors.  It looks at a number of issues, including the inspection of ‘exempt’ schools, the inspection of schools with a religious character, and what inspectors should look for in relation to careers provision in schools.

On March 8^th the Ofsted School inspection handbook – “Handbook for inspecting schools in England under section 5 of the Education Act 2005” was updated.

The following amendment was made:

• Paragraph 17 has been amended to clarify the position for inspecting exempt schools.

Schools rated ‘good’ will be re-inspected every 4 years and schools judged ‘requires improvement’ will be re-inspected within 30 months.

Ofsted’s Inspection handbook now says that schools rated 'good' will be re-inspected every 4 years instead of every 3 years. This also applies to 'good' or 'outstanding' pupil referral units, special schools and maintained nursery schools. These schools will still be subject to short inspections.

The inspection frequency for schools graded ‘requires improvement’ (section 8) has also changed.  These schools will have their next section 5 inspection “usually within 30 months” of their inspection report being published. Previously it would have been no later than 24 months. 'Requires improvement' schools may still receive section 8 monitoring inspections in this time.

Additionally, academies judged to have serious weaknesses or requiring special measures that are not rebrokered to a new trust will now be re-inspected within 30 months. This previously happened within 18 or 24 months respectively.

A copy of the updated documents have been uploaded to WES Governor Services Document Library and to GovernorHub.

7b) Role of Ofsted in the inspection of MATs

A new report published by Forum Education details the role of Ofsted in the inspection of Multi Academy Trusts. The report focuses on the form this inspection could or should take.

The report suggests that an inspection of MATs should include consideration of:

• the MAT’s documents detailing its structure, vision and strategy
• governance as a “central pillar”, including consideration of the skills and knowledge of the board, its committees and the support and challenge provided
• the sustainability of a MAT, including its leadership and financial management
• the relationship between the MAT and individual schools

Click here to see the report.

GDPR Updates

Preparing for Ofsted

The DfE have talked more about preparing for the GDPR in their blogs for schools.

• Twelve steps to take now, or twelve steps to take then?
• Talking with Staff on GDPR
• GDPR Readiness: Focus on Catering

You can find all the articles here:  https://teaching.blog.gov.uk

Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

The ‘twelve steps to take now’ guidance referred to above can be found here: https://ico.org.uk/media/1624219/preparing -for-the-gdpr-12-steps.pdf

An ‘at a glance’ guide and checklist about GDPR can be found here: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/accountability-and-governance/documentation

Data Protection: Toolkit for Schools

On April 23^rd the DfE produced a Data protection: toolkit for schools; a guidance document to support schools with data protections activity, including compliance with GDPR.

(A copy of the document has been uploaded to the WES Document Library and to GovernorHub).

Privacy Notices for all schools to issue for 2018 - 19 academic year

Every year the DfE release privacy notices for schools to issue to all pupils. The latest version of the privacy notice was issued by the DfE in January 2018 in preparation for GDPR. It is recommended that schools issue this notice in line with their usual privacy notice distribution for 2018/19.

As usual, schools should issue this by the end of the Autumn Term 2018.

There are some gaps in this edition of the privacy notice to allow schools to insert their own information; the DfE has provided links to key guidance to help schools to do this.

In terms of including the retention information, we recommend that schools include details of the link on their website to their retention policy rather than trying to replicate it in the privacy notice.

The ICO has a link which will help schools populate the gaps in the privacy notice: 

See Privacy notice – suggested text for pupils:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/data-protection-and-privacy-privacy-notices

Record Retention Schedule

The Information and Records Management Society (IRMS) is a professional association for those who work in records or information management. It has produced an information management toolkit for schools.

A table on pages 37 - 56 shows the retention periods for different types of school records, and the actions to take at the end of a record's administrative life.

For some records, there are statutory retention periods. For others, the table shows retention guidelines following best practice

The IRMS also says that the toolkit has been designed as guidance and should “not be quoted to users as being a ‘standard’”.

Recommendations from the IRMS

In its information management toolkit for schools, the Information and Records Management Society (IRMS) recommends retaining some governing board documents permanently.

These documents are:

The principal set of signed minutes

• Instruments of government
• Trusts and endowments

It recommends retaining some other documents for 6 years. These are:

• Reports from meetings
• Complaints files
• Annual parents' meeting papers

The IRMS also advises that:

• One copy of the agenda for meetings be retained permanently with the master set of minutes, and all other copies to be disposed of
• Policy documents be disposed of 3 years after they expire
• Action plans be securely disposed of 3 years after they expire
• Inspection copies of minutes be securely disposed of after 3 years
• Annual reports to the DfE be kept for 10 years

It notes that these retention guidelines are considered to be "normal processing" under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

If records are to be kept for longer or shorter periods, the reasons should be documented.

Governing Board Tasks

Maintained schools

April - July – All maintained schools to complete their 2016 / 17 consistent financial reporting return and submit by the deadline set by their LA

April – Update published information on how the school is complying with the Public Sector Equality Duty and its equality objectives

30^th April – Deadline for many head teachers to hand in notice to leave at the end of summer term 2018

14^th - 18^th May – Key Stage 2 National Curriculum tests (SATs) week

17^th May – Summer census day

May – A-level and GCSE exams

31^st May – Deputy Head teachers who wish to leave at the end of the summer term 2018 must have handed in their notice by this date

June 11^th – Phonics Screening Check Week

Academies and MATs

April – Update published information on how the school is complying with the Public Sector Equality Duty and its equality objectives

14^th – 18^th May – Key Stage 2 National Curriculum tests (SATs) week

17^th May – Summer census day

18^th May – Submit your 2017/18 budget forecast return: outturn (BFRO)

31^st May – Deadline for most trusts to file audited financial statements to Companies House (9 months from the end of the accounting period)

31^st May – deadline for resignations of deputy head teachers and permanent teaching staff who wish to leave at the end of the summer term  

May – ESFA issues the 2017/18 academies accounts direction

May – ESFA issues guidance on the 2018/19 budget forecast return (BFR)

May – A-level and GCSE exams

June 11^th – Phonics Screening Check Week

June – ESFA issues the 2018 Academies Financial Handbook Payment

June – ESFA – makes final payments for Universal Free School Meals (UIFSM) for 2017 / 2018 academic year

Amendment to School Information Regulations

On April 18^th the government published an amendment to the School Information Regulations which will come into force from 1^st September 2018. 

From this date, schools are required to publish the following information about their careers programme:

• The name, email address and telephone number of the school’s Career Leader
• A summary of the careers programme, including details of how pupils, parents, teachers and employers may access information about the careers programme
• How the school measures and assesses the impact of the careers programme on pupils
• The date of the school’s next review of the information published

Full details of the amendment can be found here.  

Reducing teacher workload: What the government is doing to reduce unnecessary workload for teachers, including details of the workload challenge.

Damian Hinds: There are no great schools without great teachers

Education Secretary addresses the Association of School and College Leaders’ annual conference in Birmingham.

School performance measures: about the data: Guidance and information to help you analyse the data that we report in the school and college performance tables and in the analyse school performance service.

School and college performance tables in England: 2016 to 2017:

The attainment of 16- to 18-year-old students at the end of advanced level study in England.

Code of conduct for board members of public bodies: The Code sets out, clearly and openly, the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies.

Free School Meals: guidance for schools and local authorities: Guidance about free school meals and transitional protection arrangements for them under Universal Credit.

Free school meals and pupil premium: model form for schools: Model form that schools can use to determine which children are eligible for free school meals and the pupil premium.

Schemes for financing schools: Statutory guidance for local authorities on producing and amending school financing schemes.

Changes have been made to School Funding agreements to reflect recent legislative changes, the inclusion of a new land clause and to provide additional clarity on existing clauses.  The updated documents are listed below:

Mental Health and Wellbeing Services and Support in Warwickshire

Please help to raise awareness of Mental Health and Wellbeing services and support in Warwickshire. During, and beyond Mental Health Awareness Week (14-20 th May 2018) Warwickshire County Council is encouraging Warwickshire residents and workforce to think about their own mental health and wellbeing and to seek support if they are struggling to cope.

Mental health problems affect 1 in 4 people every year, yet too often people are afraid to talk about their experiences or to seek help. There are a range
of services available across Warwickshire to support people who may be experiencing difficulties with their mental health; this may include those who are struggling to cope, feeling anxious, low or stressed.

Services can support in a variety of ways, including: face to face support, an on-line community support network, self-help books and telephone support.
Please help to spread the word about the Mental Health and Wellbeing support available across Warwickshire by signposting staff, parents and carers to the website below for more information on support available for Mental Health and Wellbeing: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/mentalhealth
  
In addition to the website, there are also four printed resources that you can order from Public Health by completing the attached order form and returning
to phadmin@warwickshire.gov.uk. The four resources are:
• An A5 flyer   
• An A4 poster             
• An A3 poster                    
• Business cards promoting the Mental Health website above

It would also be helpful if you would ensure that your staff are aware of key services available across Warwickshire to support children and young people:

Rise: Warwickshire’s emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people. Call 0300 200 2010 or visit: www.cwrise.com

Shelf Help and Sorted!: Self-help books aimed at young people to help with common concerns such as anxiety and stress or more specific concerns such as eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder and depression. The books are also likely to be useful for parents, teachers and anyone working with young people.

MiniSorted! books help younger children to understand and talk about a range of common issues such as feeling sad or worried, bullying or self-esteem. Intended for parents, carers and anyone working with young children to share. Further details about Shelf Help, Sorted and MiniSorted: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/sorted

Thank you for helping to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing support available across Warwickshire.

If you have any queries please email: phadmin@warwickshire.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Dr John Linnane
Director of Public Health and
Head of Service Public Health and Strategic
Commissioning
Warwickshire County Council

Food for Life Pupil Impact Survey

FAO. Food for Life Leads at Soil Association Food for Life enrolled settings in Warwickshire

Soil Association Food for Life is an evidence based programme which has been shown to improve children’s health, positively impact wider attainment, support local enterprise and tackle inequalities in local communities.

The Soil Association is gathering information on the programme and would really appreciate all enrolled schools completing the Pupil Impact Survey. It only takes 5 minutes and all responses will be entered into a prize draw to win £20 of B&Q vouchers for your school.

Schools who complete the survey by May 24^th 2018 will also receive an additional Skill Up, Start Cooking Pack for their setting. The link to the survey is here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GXXL3PF

For more information please contact Local Programme Manager, Valerie Meehan, on 07736 888462 or email vmeehan@soilassociation.org

Allergy awareness and food safety training available for staff

Allergy awareness is a key issue for schools, not least when it comes to school lunchtimes and protecting pupils with allergies from being exposed through to contamination. Allergy Awareness training is now being offered to staff via the Educaterers service, who took over delivery of school meals from Warwickshire County Council last year.

The online training defines what is meant by a food allergy and explains how food safety law in the UK changed in 2014, looking at common examples of food allergy and their associated symptoms.The training programme will be of particular use to school staff who work with children with allergies, especially at lunchtimes. It provides an overview of the facts about allergens, including the difference between allergies and intolerances, and hidden allergens; the 14 specific allergens that need to be declared; preventing allergen contamination; and emergency first aid.

Educaterers is also offering fast, efficient Food Safety Training for teachers, teaching assistants and other staff responsible for delivering the teaching of cooking and nutrition in infant, junior, primary and secondary schools.

The online training programme covers everything needed for anyone to safely work with food, including training on microbiological hazards, food poisoning, contamination hazards, personal hygiene and much more.

To complete these courses, all that is needed is a personal email address and computer access with an internet connection ~ which means it can be completed at work or at home. The cost is just £15 per person.

For further information or to request training, please contact Janet Blythe, Training Manager at Educaterers, via contactus@educaterers.co.uk.
Educaterers, a Local Authority Traded Company – the first for Warwickshire County Council – delivers 125,000 school meals a week across the county.

NQT CPD event – Time Saving Technology

Time Saving Technology

With workload being of real concern, in particular to new teachers, this hands-on session will look at the EdTech that serving teachers are using to reduce their workload. Technology has a role to play in teaching, marking, and data management, but using technology as a gimmick devalues what you are doing in the classroom.

Come and find out about what works from the people using it. NQTs teaching in Years 6 to 13 are welcome to attend.

Lawrence Sheriff School
Clifton Road
Rugby
CV21 3AG

Wednesday June 20th
Refreshments from 3.45
Session begins at 4 o’clock prompt and will finish at 6 o’clock.
£25 per participant

To book your place contact Chris Blay: christine.blay@lawrencesheriffschool.com

For more information view the flyer here

Supporting schools to implement the new Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education

FAO: PRIMARY SCHOOL RE COORDINATORS / PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR RE IN YOUR PRIMARY SCHOOL

Primary school teachers are invited to attend a twilight session to learn further strategies and guidance to support their school in implementing the new Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education

This is the second of two sessions organised for both Coventry and Warwickshire teachers. The first session took place on 26th April in Coventry. 

The session is FREE to attend.

WHAT WILL THE SESSION COVER

This event for RE subject leaders is to allow questions and queries about the new agreed syllabus and is designed as a follow up from the launch events in 2017. There will be a focus on how primary schools can:

• Creatively implement the new agreed syllabus
• Consider progress using the new syllabus
• Use other teaching and learning strategies in teaching RE

The majority of the meeting will be an opportunity to ask questions and work together on implementing the new syllabus. The meeting aims to give teachers confidence in improving RE in their primary school using the syllabus.

WHEN

Thursday 14th June 2018, 4.30 - 6.30pm at North Leamington School, Sandy Lane, Blackdown, Leamington Spa, CV32 6RD

HOW TO BOOK

Please complete the online booking form at the link below to confirm your place:

https://goo.gl/forms/wXDANmSkdlTW3cKk1

For any queries please contact Ruth Waterman on 01926 742075 or email sacre@warwickshire.gov.uk

Gateway Alliance - Summer Leadership Conferences

Headteachers’ Conference…

Friday 8 June 2018 - Headteachers conference 2018, Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth 

We are delighted to welcome ANDY BUCK to lead our morning session focusing on ‘Leading for Impact’.  ANDY MELLOR the newly appointed President of the NAHT (from May 2018), will be sharing his thoughts on the ‘Matters of the Moment’ for headteachers and, to end the day, we are looking forward to welcoming NICK SAUNDERS back to Warwickshire to share his work on effective communication and powerful collaboration.

For more information please see the EVENT FLYER or click here to BOOK NOW

Deputy Heads’ Conference…

Friday 6 July 2018 - Deputy head's conference 2018, Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth

We are delighted to welcome ANDY GRIFFITH to lead our morning session which will focus on the best ways to engage and motivate teachers to develop their own practice and improve performance year on year.  During the afternoon we will be joined by one of education’s most prominent assessment specialists DAISY CHRISTODOULOU.  Daisy will be sharing the thinking behind her best-selling book ‘Making Good Progress’ and facilitating a live demo of the new assessment technique ‘Comparative Judgement’ which is being used by large numbers of schools nationally

All attendees will also receive a FREE copy of Daisy’s best-selling book – ‘Making Good Progress’.

For more information please see the EVENT FLYER or click here to BOOK NOW

Booking Information…

Cost: FREE to those schools that subscribe to the Gateway Alliance Senior Leadership Offer.  Additional places, for subscribing schools, can be booked for £125 per person.  

Non-subscribing schools - Special Offer - £150 per person - if booked before end of May (RRP £250)

Click here to BOOK NOW

Or contact us on tel: 02476 347697 or email: info@gatewayalliance.co.uk

Head Teacher Briefing on Exclusions and SEN & Disability

Love Instead of Hate Conference

Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire Police are hosting a community conference called "Love Instead of Hate" on Saturday 16th June 2018 at the Life Church in Bedworth from 10am - 3:30.

This is a FREE event and is open to anyone who lives or works in Warwickshire.  The conference aims to:-

• Raise awareness and reinforce the importance of reporting hate crime
• Encourage communities to speak out against hate and report incidents
• Empower and inspire people to be actively involved in combating hate within their own community
• Update communities about the work being undertaken in Warwickshire by Partner agencies and obtain new ideas for future work

Please see the attached flyer for more information

Further details can also be found at www.reporthatenow.com

Closing the Gap/SSIF 1 Conference

We will be holding a conference focusing on Closing the Gap and the Strategic School Support Fund (Round 1) on Thursday 15th November 2018.

We are pleased to have secured Sir John Dunford as our keynote speaker.

Further details will be shared once they are confirmed.