Important Message from Service Director of Education

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Sent on behalf of Joanna Cassey,  Service Director of Education

 

Dear Colleagues

 

I am writing to appraise you of the work we are doing in light of yesterday’s announcement from the government. You will be aware that the announcement focussed on a number of key areas:

 

·       Closure of schools, colleges and EY settings

·       Provision for vulnerable pupils including those with EHCPs, those known to Social Care and children of keyworkers

 

We are working to provide guidance and clarity for you at a time of uncertainty and are currently awaiting further information from the DfE. In order to maintain a partnership approach and provide the right level of support at this critical time we are meeting regularly with the Chairs of PEB, BASH and Special Heads to maintain dialogue, focus on priority areas and cascade information between ourselves.

 

We will continue to update our Schools web page with information as and when it is received. Clearly the details of yesterday’s announcement were unprecedented and we, like yourselves, are processing this to ensure that all pupils and staff are supported through this. This is the focus of all of our work and we will provide updates to schools as we progress with our plans.

 

Please ensure that your governing bodies have sight of all substantive communications from the Local Authority.

18 March – Coronavirus – Important message from Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson

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GOV.UK

Department for Education

Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education, has asked for this message to be passed to all those who work in the education sector
The government recognises the huge importance of the role you have played in maintaining the education, training and social care of our children and young people during this challenging time. I recognise that you will have the same anxieties as the rest of the country about your health and that of your families. On behalf of the Prime Minister and the entire government, I thank you all for all of your work so far, and your continued support. I am deeply grateful for the civic spirit and dedication of everyone working in education, and I will continue to provide my full support throughout this crisis.

Next steps
It is clear that education and children’s social care settings are increasingly finding it difficult to continue as normal, as illness and self-isolation impacts on staffing levels and pupil attendance. To provide parents, student and staff with the certainty they need we are announcing that schools, colleges and early years settings will be closed to everyone except children of key workers and vulnerable children from Monday, as part of the country’s ongoing response to coronavirus.
Examples of these workers include NHS staff, police and delivery drivers who need to be able to go to work. Vulnerable children include those who have a social worker and those with Education, Health and Care Plans.
A full list of key worker categories will be published by the Cabinet Office tomorrow.
Children who do not fall into these groups should remain at home with appropriate care.
Where schools are unable to provide this reduced provision, local authorities will work with the Department for Education’s regional teams to ensure an alternative option is available.
We are expecting early years providers and sixth form and further education colleges to do the same. We are working with Her Majesty’s Treasury on the financial support required. We are also asking that independent schools and boarding schools follow the same approach.
Where possible, we would encourage settings to stay open for this purpose throughout the Easter holidays.
Many universities and other higher education institutions are already taking necessary steps to keep their staff and students safe and where possible keep providing education. We are confident vice-chancellors are making the right decisions and the Department for Education continues to support them in doing so.

Temporary suspension of Ofsted inspections
Ofsted is to temporarily suspend routine inspections of schools, colleges, early years settings, children’s social care providers and local authorities to reduce the burden on staff who are providing vital services to the nation in response to coronavirus.

Update on assessments and examinations
We can confirm that we will not go ahead with assessments or exams, and that we will not be publishing performance tables for this academic year.
We will work with the sector and Ofqual to ensure children get the qualifications they need.
My Department is working closely with local authorities, representatives of early years, schools and head teachers, regional school commissioners and bodies such as Ofsted and Ofqual about how to deliver this change as effectively as possible.
And we will do whatever is necessary to support local authorities, settings, schools and teachers through the weeks and months ahead.

Free school meal provision
We will give schools the flexibility to provide meals or vouchers to children eligible for free school meals. Some schools are already doing this, and we will reimburse the costs. As soon as possible, we will put in place a national voucher system.

Thank you once again for everything you are doing at this difficult time.
The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP
Secretary of State for Education

 

Postponed: BASG Spring Networking and Conference Spotlight on Disadvantaged

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Based on the government’s declaration that the Coronavirus (COVID -19) is a public health emergency with increasing concerns, we at Buckinghamshire Association of School Governors have taken the decision to postpone our Spring Networking and Conference Spotlight on Disadvantaged. We feel that this decision is the most sensibly one based on the current unprecedented situation that continues to develop in this country and worldwide.

We will work hard over the next week or two to rearrange a suitable date that works for the National Governance Association and their speaker as well as the venue school, Booker Park Community School and send details out to you once this has been done.

In the meantime, there is no need for you to do anything regarding your booking on Eventbrite. You will be automatically booked onto the new date when announced and can make any changes to your booking preferences then.

Meanwhile keep safe in these uncertain times.

NGA Visible Governance in Schools campaign

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Visible Governance in Schools campaign

Will you join us in championing your contribution to the education system and shining a light on the difference that good governance makes to your school/trust?

To celebrate and promote the value that good governance brings to the school system and the people that volunteer for the role, we are encouraging Learning Link users to take part in our Visible Governance in Schools campaign.

NGA believes that school and trust governance is almost always invisible when it is working well, and very much in the spotlight when things go wrong. Through this campaign we want to achieve a higher profile and better understanding of governance, and further improve the lives of children and their communities.

We’ve come up with a list of simple actions that you can take as an individual or as a governing board to highlight what you do and why you do it. Take a look at the list: https://www.nga.org.uk/getattachment/News/Campaigns/Visible-Governance/Making-school-governance-visible-ideas-for-supporters-PDF.pdf?lang=en-GB. We would love to receive photos of governors, trustees and supporters with the campaign logo, to see you use it in your board’s activities, and hear about what you do to take part in the campaign. Share your activity and photos with us using #VisibleGovernance on social media or by email to visible@nga.org.uk

Several organisations in the education sector have pledged to better recognise the importance of school and trust governance and make it more visible within their work by working with us on initiatives throughout the year and promoting the campaign. Find a full list of our supporters and what they say on the NGA news page.

Planned activities for the year include an awareness week (6 to 12 June), a resource pack to help your board be more visible at school and trust level, and a volunteer recruitment campaign with Inspiring Governance.

Find out more about the campaign: https://www.nga.org.uk/News/Campaigns/Visible-Governance.aspx

How to take part

Share your activity and photos with us using #VisibleGovernance on social media or by email to visible@nga.org.uk

Download logos and resources to use from https://www.nga.org.uk/News/Campaigns/Visible-Governance.aspx

Got any comments about the campaign? Let us know visible@nga.org.uk

 

Side By Side Conference for All Schools

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Side By Side Conference for All Schools

Following on from the recent Side by Side Conference which focused on Behaviour & Attitudes, we are pleased to invite Headteachers and Chairs of Governors to the next date arranged in March.

This conference will focus on the curriculum and deep dives in readiness for Ofsted. Presentations will be made by Headteachers from Buckinghamshire schools that have recently been inspected.

Thursday 12th March, 9.00 – 11.30
Aylesbury Rugby Club, Weston Turville
Free parking and refreshments provided

Book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/side-by-side-conference-for-all-schools-tickets-90772142923?utm_term=eventname_text

Regards,

Hazel David
Education Team
Children’s Services

Buckinghamshire County Council
4th Floor, County Hall
Walton Street
Aylesbury,
HP20 1UZ

07824 482570
hdavid@buckscc.gov.uk

BASG Newsletter No. 1 February 2020

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Bringing you a round-up of news and updates on BASG activities this first half term of 2020. And there is plenty to report on! January kicked off with the Buckinghamshire County Council Executive Director’s Briefings, where governors and headteachers gathered at County Hall and at Millbrook Combined School to hear updates on education and social care from the senior leaders in Children’s Services. The Chair of BASG, Paul Randall, made the most of his slot on the agenda to highlight the work BASG is doing with the Local Authority to keep governance in the spotlight and high up on the agenda in current and future planning. Click here to see the presentation slides from the briefings.

http://www.bucksgovernors.org/basg-news/executive-director-briefing-presentation-january-2020/

Keep an eye on our website for dates of the next briefings: http://www.bucksgovernors.org/

In February we have seen this term’s round of local Governor Network meetings, where governors from schools across the local area (or sometimes across the county!) come together in an informal setting to discuss wider issues around school governance and education and to share thoughts and concerns on local and national agendas. Feedback is gathered and the key points – safeguarding, SEND, governor training, funding and school improvement support – are escalated to the County Council Member for Education & Skills via the School Governance Consultative Board. Local Governor Network meetings are held termly in the following areas, usually over an abundance of coffee and cake!

• South Bucks

• High Wycombe

• Marlow

• Great Kingshill

• Aylesbury

• Amersham & Chesham – starting soon!

Please check the BASG website http://www.bucksgovernors.org/ for dates of next term’s meetings and do come along and join in. Here is a snapshot of South Bucks governors in action at the meeting held on 8 February 2020 at the Quaker Meeting House in Jordans.

Meanwhile, the BASG Committee continues to meet monthly, keeping an oversight of the whole governance picture across Bucks, attending meetings with the LA and, most importantly at the moment, planning the BASG Spring Event, to which every governor in Buckinghamshire is invited! Here we are during half term, organising final details:

Do come along to hear Sam Henson of the National Governance Association talk about Spotlight on Disadvantage. The NGA’s Spotlight on Disadvantage campaign is informed by research undertaken to explore the Governing Board’s role in spending, monitoring and evaluating the Pupil Premium since its introduction in April 2011. Tickets are going quickly – get yours here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spotlighton-disadvantage-sam-henson-director-of-policy-information-nga-tickets-91813507673

A subject close to all our hearts – governor training. A reminder that the County Council is hosting a series of twilight workshops, which are free of charge to all Buckinghamshire governors. All sessions are delivered by BCC specialists and held in the Mezz rooms at County Hall in Aylesbury from 18:30 to 20:00 unless otherwise stated.

• 17 March 2020: Safeguarding, led by Georgina Masefield and ESAS

• 2 April 2020: Ofsted, led by Naureen Kausar

• 29 April 2020: Safer Recruitment, led by Pat Stappard

• 5 May 2020: Equalities, led by Yvette Thomas

• 12 May 2020: PSHE, led by Carol Stottor

• 3 June 2020: SEND, led by Hero Slinn and Belinda Nunn

• 9 June 2020: Schools Finance, led by Janaki Try

• 18 June 2020: Educational Visits, led by Mike Harwin

 

The first 2 dates are available to book now:

Safeguarding:   https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/safeguarding-training-for-governors-tickets-92891042609?utm_term=eventname_text

Ofsted: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ofsted-training-for-governors-tickets-92891684529?utm_term=eventname_text

Recommended reading: as governors we are all pressed for time, but this article on the NGA website really is worth a read: https://www.nga.org.uk/News/NGA-News.aspx If we needed further confirmation on the importance of what we do, it is heartening to hear Ofsted acknowledge that “Improving governance helps break the cycle of ‘stuck’ schools”. Something we would all 100% agree with, and to have Ofsted validating our work as we move into the next half term is reassuring.

Thank you to everyone who responded to the DfE consultation on the Removal of the Outstanding Exemption. The overwhelming consensus was that the exemption should be removed and BASG have sent a collective response to the DfE confirming this.N

Free Governor Training for all Buckinghamshire Governors – Next Booking Date Open

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The Schools Team have arranged several twilight workshops which are free to all Buckinghamshire governors:

17th March Safeguarding – Georgina Masefield and ESAS
2nd April  Ofsted – Naureen Kausar
29th April Safer Recruitment – Pat Stappard
5th May Equalities – Yvette Thomas
12th May PSHE – Carol Stottor
3rd June SEND – Belinda Nunn/Hero Slinn
9th June Finance – Janaki Try
18th June Educational Visits – Mike Harwin

The first 3 dates are available to book now, the rest will follow shortly. Please book your place following the links below:

17th March Safeguarding

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/safeguarding-training-for-governors-tickets-92891042609?utm_term=eventname_text

2nd April Ofsted

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ofsted-training-for-governors-tickets-92891684529?utm_term=eventname_text

29th April Safer Recruitment

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/safer-recruitment-training-for-governors-tickets-92892370581

All sessions will be held in the Mezz rooms at County Hall Aylesbury and will be from 6.30 to 8pm unless otherwise stated.

Free Governor Training for all Buckinghamshire Governors

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The Schools Team have arranged several twilight workshops which are free to all Buckinghamshire governors:

17th March Safeguarding – Georgina Masefield and ESAS

2nd April Ofsted – Naureen Kausar

29th April Safer Recruitment – Pat Stappard

5th May Equalities – Yvette Thomas

12th May PSHE – Carol Stottor

3rd June SEND – Belinda Nunn/Hero Slinn

9th June Finance – Janaki Try

18th June Educational Visits – Mike Harwin

The first 2 dates are available to book now, the rest will follow shortly. Please book your place following the links below:

17th March Safeguarding: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/safeguarding-training-for-governors-tickets-92891042609?utm_term=eventname_text

2nd April Ofsted: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ofsted-training-for-governors-tickets-92891684529?utm_term=eventname_text

All sessions will be held in the Mezz rooms at County Hall Aylesbury and will be from 6.30 to 8pm unless otherwise stated.

Chairs & Vice Chairs of Governors Networking Meeting – Tuesday 25th February 2020

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To all Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Governors in Buckinghamshire:

There is an independent chairs network meeting coming up:
Tuesday 25th February at 7pm
Millbrook Combined School

If you would like to attend please email the facilitator, Simon Kearey.
simonkearey@gmail.com

These sessions are your opportunity to network, support one another and share experiences.

BASG are sharing this information on behalf of the facilitator, If you are holding an event that supports Governance in Buckinghamshire and would like us to advertise them for you please contact us with the relevant information.

Aylesbury Governor Network Meeting 5th February 2020 – 18.30-20.00

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The Spring Term Aylesbury Network meeting is being held on 5th February 18.30-20.00hrs at Broughton Junior School.

The meeting will provide you with an opportunity to talk with and listen to other governors about issues of the moment.

The Executive Director’s Briefings have taken place and these raise issues that are worthy of discussion.

In the past we have avoided a formal agenda for these meetings but I have become aware of, and watched the webinar on, School financial value system SFVS, and I realise that this is a very significant step. Returns have to be made by the end of February so it is a priority. However it might be useful to discuss the implication of SFVS for governors. If you have any documentation please bring it to inform our discussion.

If you wish to include something on the agenda please let me know asap.

If you would like to attend this event please confirm to me directly

Martin Baxter – mbaxter@turnfurlongmiddleschool.bucks.sch.uk

BASG are sharing this information on behalf of the facilitator, If you are holding an event that supports Governance in Buckinghamshire and would like us to advertise them for you please contact us with the relevant information.