DESPITE RHETORIC ACADEMIES WILL HAPPEN The government is quietly pressing on with plans to force all English state schools into academy status by 2022, using its regional schools commissioners as behind-the-scenes arms-twisters, it was revealed in Education Guardian.
Guardian analyses academy plans
Ministers seemed to have placated restive Tory backbenchers at the time of the Queen’s speech last month by backing down on proposals for blanket conversions of all schools. Some even thought it was a U-turn. However, they still say they want England’s system to be all-academy in six years. And the powerful but shadowy RSCs seem intent on enforcing this vision, though away from parliamentary scrutiny.
Amanda Spielman has been chosen as the next chief inspector of Ofsted by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan. Ms Spielman, currently chair of exams regulator Ofqual, has been chosen for her experience in the education sector although she has never been a teacher. She has helped oversee the reform of GCSEs and A-levels and the founding and expansion of successful academy chain, Ark, during her time at Ofqual.
Despite Nicky Morgan’s academies U-turn, our schools are still in a mess A letter sent to a federation of schools in Dorset by Rebecca Clark, RSC for the south-west, only two days after the Queen’s speech, seems to urge them to join a multiacademy trust. Writing to the Chesil Education Partnership, Clark signs off by saying: “I would add that it remains the government’s objective to achieve a school system where every school is an academy by 2022. My responsibility is to ensure that the government’s goal is achieved.” Another letter sent two days after the Queen’s speech, this time to single academy trusts from Dominic Herrington, RSC for England’s southeast, said: “As we move towards full academisation, I am keen to ensure our region has enough capacity to meet the challenges ahead through the development and expansion of strong, high performing trusts.”
New Ofsted chief
She will replace Sir Michael Wilshaw, who steps down at the end of the year. Announcing the selection, Ms Morgan said: “I am delighted to recommend Amanda Spielman as chief inspector.
Neither letter went down well among all recipients. Our source for the Clark letter said the heads who received it were “pretty angry”. There are likely to be many local battles ahead for this policy. The Department for Education declined our invitation to explain or comment.
“From helping to set up one of the country’s top academy chains, to acting as a council member for the Institute of Education, to overseeing our ambitious qualification reform programme, Amanda has extensive experience at the front line of the education system, making her uniquely qualified to take up this important role. “I know that she is the right person to deliver the Education White Paper’s commitment to continue to improve the quality and consistency of Ofsted’s inspections, ensuring that it plays a central role in realising our vision of educational excellence everywhere.”
LITTLE FISH THEATRE COMES TO SCHOOLS ONCE AGAIN Little Fish Theatre has two slots available on its free year 6 tour. This is offered to all Southwark Schools on a first come first served basis. If you would like to book, please provide as many options from the following dates as soon as possible: Wednesday 13th July (afternoon) or Friday 15th July (afternoon) After successfully reaching over 40 primary schools across London in 2015, Little Fish is delighted to announce details for the return of its very successful Key-Stage 2 – “Safe and Sound” production and workshop for Year 6 pupils. Over the past 10 years “Safe and Sound” has taken place in over 85% of Southwark Primary Schools. This project contributes to your school meeting the overarching Ofsted criteria of improving behaviour and safety of pupils in schools and achievement of pupil in schools.
SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPIL FILE TRANSFER Below is the proposed schedule for Primary Schools to drop off pupil files for collection. 1. All Primary Schools will receive information on what should be included in files. 2. The agreed Deadline for files to be received is 13 JULY 2015 3. All Primary Schools will be provided with details of how the drop off scheme will work. This will include a list of AGREED PARTICIPATING SECONDARY SCHOOLS WHO WILL RECEIVE FILES FOR ALL SOUTHWARK SECONDARY SCHOOLS (total 18). 4. Primary Schools will be able to download labels for each Secondary School for the files so that they are clear and distinguishable. 5. Primary Schools will take files to the designated drop off schools where they will be received and placed in the relevant box by the agreed deadline drop off date. 6. E mails will be sent reminding Primary Schools where and when to drop of files. 7. Each Secondary School will be provided with boxes/containers marked with the Secondary school where the files will need to go. 8. It is expected that some schools will still miss the deadline set, some files may be misfiled, some files will also arrive at Secondary schools by post. 9. There will need to be an agreement for files received after the deadline and how these can be distributed.
For all your information needs visit www.southwarkheads.org.uk
Plans to shake up SEN could see units close Plans to shake up special educational needs funding could see special units in mainstream schools close, a teaching union says.
The National Association of Head Teachers said reducing the per-place funding for such units from £10,000 to £6,000 a year would be “disastrous”. It also said the plans would not address the wide disparity in funding for children with similar needs. The government says it has boosted high needs funding by £90m this year. In its report, Getting it right: Funding pupils with complex needs, the NAHT looks at the impact of the proposed changes to the funding for children with high special educational needs.
Fair distribution The changes include basing the way funds are allocated to local authorities on the number of two- to 18-year-olds in the area. This will then be modified by three factors - the number of children in bad health or on a disability benefit, low attainment and deprivation levels in the area.
Peg to Pen Pattern Making • Repitition Stepped Progression
STEP 2: Link & Lace Board
STEP 1: Giant Peg Board
But the NAHT says the proposals do not address the so-called “top up” funding for children with very complex needs, where there are big differences in funding.
STEP 3: A4 Writing Board
The variability in funding levels means children with very similar needs could attract £2,000 of education funding in one local authority but £20,000 in another. “This is clearly unacceptable and the DfE needs to develop parameters and controls to ensure that funding is fairly distributed within local authorities,” the NAHT said.
STEP 4: Pens & Work Cards
STEP 5: Pencil & Paper
STEP 6: Pen & Paper
Pattern Cards - Copy these patterns onto the Chalkboard Pattern Cards onto the Peg Board Copy this pattern
& Lace Board this pattern onto the Link Pattern Cards – Copy using circles and lines the dots a circle around photocopied dots work card card by making Copy this pattern onto the pied dots work onto the photoco Copy this pattern
Kim Johnson, president of NAHT and principal of Bradfields Specialist SEN Academy, says: “Those of us who are passionate about the education of children with high and complex needs have been pressing for this review of high needs funding for a long time. “We desperately need a new approach that creates greater consistency and transparency.
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“But we also need to be mindful that local authorities have taken very different approaches and that the transition to such an approach could result in some significant changes.”
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RUN ON SUN! Dulwich Wood Primary school celebrated the installation of new roof solar panels last Friday, writes Norah Lindsay… The solar panel project started in 2014, when Dulwich Wood School entered the national Run on Sun competition by Friends of the Earth. The competition offered the winning school a set of solar panels worth £15,000. As part of the competition the schools were asked to send in a piece of artwork, song or dance about why their school should go solar.
Peter Chaste reports Dulwich Wood was pipped to the prize by a school in Walthamstow, but Friends of the Earth was so impressed by Dulwich Wood’s efforts that they gave £7,500 to the school in order to help them buy their own solar panels. The remaining £7,500 was raised by members of the community, including the Friends of Dulwich Wood Federation, the school’s parents association, who helped by organising ‘Fruity Fridays’ and cake sales. A donation was also made by the congregation at St
Singaporean Minster of Education visits Redriff
Stephen’s church on College Road. Dulwich Wood pupils also spread the word by entertaining crowds at the West Dulwich Festival, by playing in a steel band. A day after the festival, the school received a donation worth £2,000, anonymously (with Gift Aid, the amount increased to £2,500.)
Academy pupil is bound for Eton A Walworth Academy pupil looks set to follow in the footsteps of nineteen prime ministers, as well as princes William and Harry, after being offered a scholarship to study at Eton College. Year-eleven pupil Ahmed Roble said his mind was made up to apply for the world-renowned public school in Windsor after going to an open day. The fifteen-year-old said: “I thought it was a long shot, but when I went and saw how fantastic it was I knew I had to give it a try.plished something significant.”
REDRIFF Primary School was visited by the Singaporean Minster of Education and seven Singaporean head teachers on Wednesday May 18 as part of a two week visit to Britain, writes Alex Yeates… Ng Chee Meng’s visit was part of a trip to understand the British approach to learning and in particular the use of images and models in the classroom. The visitors were invited to observe a year six maths lesson and to watch the Marvellous Mathematicians assembly.
By Heather Dace Mickey Kelly, Redriff Primary’s head teacher, said: “We were really pleased to welcome the Minister of Education for Singapore. “It was a real privilege to host our guests – it allows us the unique opportunity to learn from each other. “Singapore is regarded as one of the leading countries in terms of Mathematics and our association with them will be great for the development of our children.”
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For all your information needs visit www.southwarkheads.org.uk