It’s all change for Ofsted AGAIN!
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peaking to over 400 headteachers, college principals and early years professionals, Sir Michael Wilshaw praised the achievements of great education leaders over recent decades and set out how changes to Ofsted inspection are designed to support further improvement in the system.
The event, in London, is the first of eight conferences around the country designed to share the details of the new inspection model with the sector. From September, Ofsted will inspect good schools and further education and skills providers once every 3 years under a new short inspection model. Inspectors will start from a premise that the school or provider is still good and focus on ensuring that those standards are being maintained. They will check that leaders have identified key areas of concern and that they have the capacity to address them. These short inspections will typically last one day and be led by one or two of Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI), with bigger teams for further education colleges. Where HMI feel more evidence is necessary to confirm the judgement, or to establish whether the school or provider may have improved or declined, the visit will be converted to a full inspection and continue, most commonly, for an additional day. Describing the nature of the new short inspections, Sir Michael said: “Make no mistake, this is a very different inspection model to what has gone before. “The starting assumption of Her Majesty’s Inspectors will be that the school or college is good. This should engender an atmosphere in which honest, challenging, professional dialogue can take place. “Leaders will have nothing to fear from accurately identifying at the outset any
Cheif Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw
Changes to Ofsted inspections have been announced in a Government press release weaknesses in their provision - as well as the strengths - based on their own evaluation. HMI will be looking to see that the leadership has a clear understanding of the key areas for development - and a credible and effective plan for addressing these. “Short inspections will reduce the burden of inspection without losing the rigour which parents and the public rightly expect of Ofsted.” In his speech Sir Michael also announced plans to recognise ‘exceptional leaders’; outlining how, from September, when inspectors identify an early years leader, headteacher or college principal who has played a key role in turning around other institutions, Ofsted will send a letter to them acknowledging their leadership as exceptional. A copy of this letter will go to the Secretary of State and Ofsted’s Annual Report will also feature those leaders who have been recognised in this way. Sir Michael said: “Those leaders who are taking risks, putting themselves out and disseminating good practice beyond their own institution need to be celebrated as exceptional reformers.” As well as short inspections for good schools and further education and skills providers, September will see a number of other changes. A common framework for inspection is being introduced encompassing registered early
years settings, maintained schools, academies, non-association independent schools and further education and skills providers, so that common judgements and terminology can be used across all these sectors. Anyone should be able to pick up any inspection report and be able to understand it. Sir Michael also announced his intention to open up Ofsted’s complaints process to greater accountability. Each Ofsted region will set up a ‘scrutiny committee’ made up of HMI and leading headteachers, early years and college leaders not involved in carrying out inspections for Ofsted. The new school year will bring significant changes to the way Ofsted contracts with, trains and manages inspectors for schools and further education and skills providers. From September, Ofsted Inspectors, directly contracted by the inspectorate, will undertake inspections. Seven out of 10 of these inspectors will be serving practitioners from good and outstanding schools and colleges. John O’Dowd
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specialist Computing Teachers to cover PPA time in your school
Future Education in collaboration with Computing First have combined to offer an outstanding opportunity to deliver the new compulsory Primary Computing and Programming curriculum in engaging and exciting ways.
TESTING OF THE FITTEST
The offer includes specialist teachers to deliver the new, compulsory Primary Computing and Programming curriculum, with all staff being fully certificated by Future Education. The Curriculum is taught weekly over one or more days each week, releasing teachers for PPA time. The teachers use particularly engaging and exciting ways of learning the latest technologies, including for example, the opportunity to program robots. All the specialist staff are subjected to regular rigorous observations to ensure all lessons are “good” to “outstanding”. For further information call Future on 020 8776 1903 or email:contact@futureeducation.co.uk Children should be tested for fitness, as well as maths and English, to reduce inactivity, say health campaigners. Campaign group ukactive says the UK faces a “ticking time bomb” of health problems due to lack of exercise. Its report says only half of seven-yearolds in England are active for an hour a day, and says more activity should take place in the classroom. The government says it has increased funding for PE, and that primary schools offer two hours of it per week. Walking to school In the “Generation Inactive” report, researchers argue that Body Mass Index (BMI), which measures weight and height, gives little indication of a child’s physical fitness and says a child can be slim but still unhealthy.
Let’s rub out erasers in class! A university professor has claimed erasers are an ‘instrument of the devil’ and should be removed from school classrooms. Cognitive scientist Guy Claxton, a visiting professor at King’s College, London said rubbers make children feel ashamed about their mistakes The academic said schools should not make youngsters feel afraid of making errors, but to recognise and learn from them. He said, “The eraser is an instrument of the devil because it perpetuates a culture of shame and error. “It’s a way of lying to the world, which says ‘I didn’t make a mistake. I got it right first time’. That’s what happens when you can rub it out and replace it. Instead we need a culture where children are not afraid to make mistakes, they look at their mistakes and they learn from them, where they are continuously reflecting and improving on what they’ve done, not being enthralled to getting the right answer quickly and looking smart.”
“We should focus on the health of our hearts, not just the size of our waists,” say the authors. They argue that the way to improve a child’s fitness is to incorporate exercise throughout the school day. Walking to school and standing in lessons are ways in which a child’s inactivity can be improved. Former children’s commissioner Prof Sir Al Aynsley-Green said: “Whether walking, cycling or being active in and out of PE lessons, providing children with opportunities to be active throughout the day, before, during and after school, is key to engaging even the most disengaged children.”
For all your information needs visit www.southwarkheads.org.uk
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SOUTHWARK HAS SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE
T
he second Southwark School Leaders Celebratory Dinner was hosted at the Hilton Docklands Riverside Hotel on 12 June. Once again, the performance of Southwark’s schools warranted much to be satisfied about and the event was well attended by school leaders, Local Authority officers and trusted suppliers to Southwark’s educational settings. While the event is organised to be a social affair, as one mingled with guests it was evident just what an excellent networking opportunity the evening presented. Ideas, opinions, initiatives were all being quietly discussed in the relaxed and informal setting. There was a great deal of fun to be had too, with performances from Southwark’s children (and a former pupil) that demonstrated not just what a talented cohort of pupils the borough Southwark has, but also what devoted teachers there are in the borough’s schools to nurture that talent. The event was supported and sponsored by a very loyal group of proven and trusted suppliers to the borough’s schools. These businesses and organisations have repeatedly shown support to the Headteachers Council Executive and to schools both through financial sponsorship and also outreach into schools with educational programmes. One result of this support, is that this year a series of cash awards were made to schools presenting viable and sustainable enterprise schemes. These awards were a great success and the quality and scope of projects and initiatives put forward by schools was very impressive. Already, collaborative and partnership opportunities between the sponsors and the schools receiving their patronage have been formed.
Peter Chaste reports
St John’s Walworth Primary head Keith Fox sang a parady of Every Time We Say Goodbye for the LA’s Pauline Armour
The event also provided the opportunity to recognise and thank long serving headteachers and Local Authority officers who are leaving the borough. John Martin, headteacher of Bacon’s College is retiring and was presented with a parting gift and an accolade deliversed by Headteachers Executive Chair, Kay Beckwith. Jim Eshelby, one of the LA’s beacons in school improvement is retiring and his colleague Peter Nathan has left to move to the West Country. The most entertaining homily, however, was delivered in song! Keith Fox, headteacher of St John’s Walworth CoE school, serenaded Pauline Armour, long serving LA officer, with a specially rewritten rendition of Every Time We Say Goodbye I Cry A Little. The general consensus was that while Keith’s song was in tune, he should definitely not give up his day job. Pauline, for her part, was pretty much speechless!
For all your information needs visit www.southwarkheads.org.uk
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CELEBRATORY DINNER WAS HUGELY ENTERTAINING...
A
call went out to Southwark’s schools to see if some talented entertainers could be found to perform at the Annual Celebratory Dinner. The outstanding dancers and musicians that came forward definitely proved that Southwark’s got talent!
Irish dancers (above) from St John’s RC Primary under the Tutelage of Vera Jajechnyk performed a variety of individual routines that entertained an audience of school leaders, suppliers and VIPs. The amazing steel band (below) from Dulwich Wood Primary performed three songs impeccably and had onlookers swaying and tapping their feet, before giving rapturous applause.
Southwark former pupil Emily Bee stunned guests with an after dinner spectacular of hooping and humour.
It was a fond farewell that was bid to Pauline Armour, long serving LA officer whose work most Southwark Schools have benefitted from over her ten year tenure of a variety of posts. Pictured here recieving a bouquet from Yolanda Houston, Headteachers Executive Business Director.
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...AND FOR ENTERPRISING SCHOOLS IT WAS REWARDING Pictured right are Jamie Burrows, of Future Education with Vera Jajechnyk of St John’s RC Primary. Pictured far right is David Quirk Thornton making an award on behalf of Hilton Hotels to Colin Lavelle of Dulwich Wood Primary. Pictured right Councillor Jasmine Ali made a special presentation to Shaun Dellenty, deputy headteacher at Alfred Salter school, for a project to further his crusade to stamp out homophobic and other prejudicial bullying in schools. Pictured far right is Sharon Ellis of Veolia with Eileen Olieuz of Highshore Special School.
Pictured right Simon Jones from Nexus presents a cheque to Goose Green Primary School’s Sarah Hopkins and Claire Channing.
Pictured right Claire Gartland from JK Business Machines presents a second award for Highshore Special School.
Pictured far right is Prem Goyal, OBE, JP, who not only supported the dinner, but also awarded a cheque to Bessemer Grange School.
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SUPPLIERS SUPPORT SOUTHWARK SCHOOLS AGAIN
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Highshore’s Dragon’s Den
FareShare’s neighbourhood Food Collection
FareShare’s sixth Neighbourhood Food Collection takes place, in partnership with Tesco, between Thursday 2 - Saturday 4 July.
On Wednesday 10 June Highshore Special School held its first Dragon’s Den day. All pupils spent the day working on Enterprise projects on the theme of “Make Break Time Better”. £500 was invested by the Dragons. Successful projects include an ice pops business, talking tubes, a golf activity and a graffiti wall. The school gave thanks to its Dragons: Joan Forrest of Southwark Human Resources, Gary Hugman of AXIS recruitment agency and Pritesh Ghedia of IES (ICT Educational Supplies) and also to three of Highshore’s Governors: Gun Akyuz, Jo Dawson and Shane Holland who all generously gave their time on the day.
Schools set to gather at
Compass School Southwark has invited all Southwark schools to its first ever TeachMeetCSS. A TeachMeet is an organised but informal meeting (in the style of an unconference) for educators to share good practice, practical innovations and personal insights. This TeachMeetCSS will be a leadership themed event with speakers including: • Dame Alison Peacock - Executive Headteacher, The Wroxham School & Educational Research Centre • Laura McInerney - Editor of Schools Week and Guardian columnist • Brett Wigdortz OBE - CEO, Teach First • Heath Monk - CEO, The Future Leaders Trust • Rob Loe - Research Director, Relational Schools. The TeachMeetCSS will take place on Tuesday 7 of July at Compass School Southwark (Keetons Road, London, SE16 4EE). The event will begin with a networking drinks reception from 6.00pm. The TeachMeet meeting itself will take place from 6.30pm to 8.30pm with a short interval for further networking. Full details of the event can be found on the event page: http://teachmeet.pbworks.com/w/page/95759084/TeachMeetCSS and to book free tickets, please visit: http://cpdnet.org/events/teachmeet/
FareShare is seeking volunteers to give three hours of their time to play a vital role in the fight against food poverty in the UK. Volunteers are welcome to sign up on their own or as a group. In just three hours they can collect enough store-cupboard staples for five hundred meals for people in need. It is a good opportunity for school to volunteer as a group or on their own, and to meet new people. FareShare takes fresh surplus food from the food industry and redistributes it to our partner charities and community projects: last year it supplied enough food for 15.3 million meals! The Neighbourhood Food Collection makes this possible. In order to provide our charity and community food members with a reliable, varied and balanced food supply, we need to supplement the fresh surplus food with the long-life foods donated during the Food Collection. Sign up at www.fareshare.org.uk/foodcollection-2015/
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Hunt calls for radical cross party education reform
PASSING BY NUMBERS Pupils will have to score more highly to gain a “good pass” in their GCSEs, under changes to England’s exams. Candidates will have to obtain a Grade 5, equivalent to a low B or high C now, as grading switches to numbers nine to one in exams to be taken first in 2017. The aim is to make standards comparable to top-performing countries such as Finland, Canada, and the Netherlands. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says raising the bar on GCSE exams will help pupils achieve in life.
As reported by the BBC Labour’s Tristram Hunt is calling for a cross-party review to work on long-term changes to England’s exams and curriculum for 14 to 19-year-olds. The shadow education secretary wants the GCSE system updated to include both academic and vocational subjects. In a motion in the House of Commons, he will call for a “new political consensus” on education policy. “We have a long-standing mismatch between the education system and the labour market,” says Mr Hunt. The motion in the House of Commons will emphasise the common goals of wanting to improve education to drive economic growth and calls on the Government to create a cross-party review “to cover exams, educational institutions and curriculum”. Mr Hunt wants to move away from the current GCSE system, which he argues needs to be overhauled when the leaving age has risen to 18 with these no longer the final school-leaving exams. The shadow education secretary wants a broader baccalaureate system incorporating both vocational and academic exams.
News from the BBC But such a change would need to be introduced over a longer period than the next Parliament - and Mr Hunt’s move is an attempt to “begin a conversation”. Mr Hunt says “We need a new political consensus to put it right. That is why I am calling on the Government to initiate a cross-party review of 14-19 education. “We should leave nothing off the table. Our only goal should be establishing consensus on the changes needed in our 14-19 education system to secure for our country the long-term economic growth and productivity that we need to succeed.” Education Secretary Nicky Morgan promised during the election campaign there would be no more “constant upheaval or constant change” in the next five years. The major changes to the exam system and curriculum, announced in the previous coalition government, will be implemented during the next Parliament. These include phasing in a more “rigorous” set of GCSEs and A-levels, with less coursework and modules and a greater emphasis on exams at the end of two years.
The new grading system, which replaces the A to G system with a new nine-to-one numbered scale, comes as new “more rigorous” GCSEs are being introduced for first teaching this September. The new grading system has been designed to reveal the differences between candidates at the top end. Currently, candidates are expected to achieve a C to attain a “good pass”, although grades below this are still officially considered passes. The government has also appointed school behaviour guru Tom Bennett to draw up plans to help teachers address problems of “low level disruption” in classrooms.
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HEADS UP is published monthly during term time by Southwark Headteachers Executive. We would love to hear from you, so tell us your news:
Yolanda Houston T: 01797 364366 M: 07770 347616 E: yolanda@headexec.com
For all your information needs visit www.southwarkheads.org.uk