Category: General news

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Outstanding Governors 2015

Outstanding Governors 2015

Left to Right: Cllr David Williams, Claire Barnard(Winner), Ian Hankin(Winner), Nicky Clarke(Winner), Marueen Bruce (Winner), Mike Scandrett(Chair HASG), Jan Paine (M.D. HfL)
Left to Right: Cllr David Williams, Claire Barnard (Winner), Ian Hankin (Winner), Nicky Clarke (Winner), Maureen Bruce (Winner), Mike Scandrett (Chair HASG), Jan Paine (M.D. HfL)

The outstanding work of school governors in Hertfordshire has been recognised again in 2015 Outstanding School Governors Awards. The awards are run by Hertfordshire Association of School Governors (HASG) and the UK’s largest, not-for-profit School Company, Herts for Learning, The awards ceremony took place on Saturday 14th November at Hertfordshire Development Centre in Stevenage and formed part of the Hertfordshire Governors Annual Conference. The Awards were presented by Councillor David Williams, cabinet member for education at Herts County Council.

The awards were established last year to publicly recognise, not only the contribution of individual school governors, but to celebrate the dedication and commitment of all governors in Hertfordshire’s 500+ schools. Schools across the county were asked to nominate governors who they believe have really made a difference and helped to improve the educational outcomes of children in their school.  Many nominations were received and reviewed by an independent panel of judges and from these; a short-list of 10 governors was drawn up. The judges visited all the nominees’ schools to gather more information. After further review 4 winners and 2 runners up were selected. Each winner attracted a prize for their school(s) of £500 and a £50 individual prize.

The four Outstanding Governor of the Year Awards went to:

Claire Barnard
Claire Barnard
St Albans Girls’ School
Maureen Bruce
Maureen Bruce
St.Mary’s Church of England
High School, Cheshunt
Nicky Clarke
Nicky Clarke
The Barclay School / Almond Hill Junior School, Stevenage
Ian Hankin
Ian Hankin
William Ransom Primary School, Hitchin

The two runners up were:

Margaret Birleson
Margaret Birleson
Ludwick Nursery School, Welwyn Garden City
Wendy Smith
Wendy Smith
Roger De Clare First School & Nursery, Puckeridge

 The other finalists were:

  • Sarah Murdoch Hillshott Infant School and Nursery, Letchworth Garden City
  • Robin Osterley Hunsdon JMI,  Hunsdon
  • Chris Partridge Parmiter’s School, Garston,
  • Sarah Starr             Wheatfields Infants and Nursery School, St Albans

 

What made the difference?

The finalist merited their selection through glowing nominations, some key elements of which are given below:

  • Claire Barnard truly epitomises the critical friend. She a consummate professional and attends every governing body meeting with knowledge, challenge and enthusiasm.
  • Maureen Bruce leads our Governing body with dedication, commitment, tenacity and vision. She is devoted to the school and the progress of its young people.
  • Nicky Clarke launched the Stevenage Inspire Federation. She was relentless in promoting the positive benefits of federation to both schools.  She took the brunt of the workload upon herself. The enormous success of the federation, is very much down to her lead.
  • Ian Hankin has grit and determination, meticulous attention to detail, hard work, dedication and care for the staff and pupils. He deserves to be recognised as he really does go above and beyond the call of duty.
  • Margaret Birleson has driven the transformation of Ludwick from a standalone nursery school to a multifaceted early years centre. Whilst chair, the school has received 3 consecutive outstanding Ofsted reports.
  • Wendy Smith during her time as a governor has overseen the change of three Headteachers and been on hand to support when necessary. Wendy holds the school to account for the decisions that are made.
  • Sarah Murdoch has pushed the governing body to become more professional and strategic in its direction. She has organised a regular programme of governor events which has raised the profile of governors.
  • Robin Osterley leads by example. Meetings are run efficiently, with an emphasis on improving outcomes and opportunities for pupils. He is very supportive but is never afraid to act as “critical friend”. He deals with difficult situations.
  • Chris Partridge has contributed far and beyond what would normally be expected of a school governor, he led a full review of the composition and direction of the Governing Body. His knowledge of the ever-changing Governors’ Handbook has become legendary.
  • Sarah Starr chaired the “Impact on Learning” sub-committee addressing the substantial number of issues raised by Ofsted. She transformed the meeting template and working practice and was also the Governor link to several important JARV meetings.

The Hertfordshire Association of School Governors is an independent organisation that supports and informs school governors, to ensure their views are heard and to promote high standards in school governance.

Herts for Learning Ltd, is the UK’s largest School company.  Developed from Hertfordshire Local Authority’s education services, the company is 80% owned by schools (20% by Hertfordshire County Council), with 98% of Hertfordshire schools now owning a share of the company.  A not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising standards and improving teaching and learning, Herts for Learning Ltd provides high quality teaching, learning, leadership and business support to schools and education settings in Hertfordshire and beyond.

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Newsbites 25th November 2015

Newsbites 25th November 2015

Some news updates that might have passed you by are listed with brief synopses and links to the sources are shown below:

News/guidance/policy

Speech: HMCI’s monthly commentary: November 2015

19 November, 2015

In his second monthly commentary Sir Michael Wilshaw looks at the role that governance plays in an increasingly autonomous education system. Wilshaw launched a call for evidence for anyone who has views and experience to contribute to inform a piece of work about the effectiveness of governance in schools.

Corporate report: Ofsted’s senior structure

16 November, 2015

Ofsted’s senior structure.

Blog: Closing the gap: test and learn

2 November 2015

At the Closing the gap: test and learn event, almost 50 teachers shared their school-led research. Robin Hall, school-based research and development manager at NCTL, explains more about the project

Healthy breakfasts ‘help pupils do up to twice as well’ in assessments

17 November 2015

The BBC is reporting a new study that suggests children who eat a healthy breakfast are more likely to do well – up to twice as well – in end of primary school assessments than those who do not. The full report published in Public Health Nutrition can be found here.

The ASCL School Leaders Survey 2015

20 November 2015

The ASCL School Leaders Survey has revealed that school leaders are facing intense budget pressures and are considering making cuts to both teaching and non-teaching positions over the coming year as they look to manage their budgets.

New study reveals 30,000 fewer children bullied in last 10 years

15 November, 2015

The study involving more than 10,000 secondary school pupils shows that:

  • 30,000 fewer children in England now face the fear of bullying compared to 2005
  • robbery between pupils has halved – last year just 1% of children reported being robbed

The full study Bullying: Evidence from LSYPE2- wave 2,  can be found here.

Transparency data: Bullying of year 10 pupils in England: estimates

15 November, 2015

A comparison of reported instances of bullying in 2005 and 2014.

Nick Gibb speech at the Freedom and Autonomy for Schools – National Association (FASNA) annual conference

12 November, 2015

Academisation is unleashing innovations across English schools, liberating teachers and driving up standards.

Exclusion guidance cancelled by Nick Gibb still not replaced after 10 months

5 November 2015

Guidance on pupil exclusions that was withdrawn eight months ago has yet to be updated by the Department for Education.

Teachers offered £10,000 above pay scale as staff shortage sparks school bidding wars

13 November 2015

The Independent is reporting that bidding wars between schools mean sought-after teachers are being paid up to £10,000 extra as headteachers compete to attract or retain the best staff.

‘Fat letter’ should be scrapped or reformed to help parents tackle obesity

10 November 2015

The TES is reporting that public health experts are calling for “fat letters” – in which teachers write home to parents to tell them their child is overweight – to be scrapped or reformed.

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Volunteer Governor in News

HCC's Horizons AUtmn 2015Volunteer Governor in News

This report about a volunteer governor was published in the Autumn edition of HCC’s Horizons publication (click the image to view the whole magazine).

Across Hertfordshire, volunteers play a part in and make a real difference to their local communities. From leading health walks to allowing carers to take breaks, volunteers are increasingly helping our residents stay healthy and thrive.

John de Braux, from Rickmansworth, volunteered to become a school governor, this is what he has to say:

Volunteer Governor John de BrauxFor me being a school governor is a very important responsibility, it has given me so many new opportunities and a sense that I am contributing in my own small way to our children’s futures for the good of the whole community. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the future of young people.

If you’re interested in becoming a school governor, or volunteering in any other role, visit our website www.hertsdirect.org/volunteering

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Consultation on Term Dates

Consultation on Term Dates for 2017/18

HfL have issued a consultation document on Term Dates for the 2017/18 academic year and are inviting feedback and comment to be submitted by 25th November 2015.  The purpose of the consultation is stated as:

Herts for Learning - AssessmentThe County Council believes that there is benefit in a degree of commonality or co-ordination of school term and holiday dates across all Academy and Maintained schools. We are therefore seeking the view of all schools on these proposals, and not only community/ voluntary controlled schools.

Hertfordshire’s dates are set based on the recommendations of the Working Party on Term Dates, which includes representatives from the head teacher associations and teaching unions and is chaired by the Assistant Director (Education Provision and Access). The Working Party makes their recommendations based on a set of principles which have been agreed with head teacher associations and the County Union Secretaries.

In recent years, the freedom that foundation, voluntary aided and academy schools have in setting term dates has led to increasing variation in school dates between schools, both across phases in any geographical area and within and between areas. Whilst the Government is not now intending to allow all community and VC schools to set their own term dates, the proportion of schools with this
freedom continues to increase.

For understandable local reasons, often different schools do wish to adopt different patterns of school dates. Some schools also wish to explore the possible educational and other benefits of nontraditional holiday patterns. For these reasons, it no longer appears possible to set a calendar for Hertfordshire which fully takes into account difference between schools and which all schools will follow.

Consequently, the terms dates working party wishes to explore a move to a more flexible system, which provides a greater degree of local choice to schools to accommodate diverse needs, but also provides commonality as far as possible in areas where all or most schools seem comfortable to follow a single set of guidelines.

The consultation document is viewable at:

To take part in the consultation visit www.hertsdirect.org/termdates1718.

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November 2015 Exchange

November 2015 Exchange

November 2015 Exchange

The latest edition of The Exchange is now available online at http://bit.ly/TE-November15.

This edition includes:

  • Allowing kids to make mistakes helps the brain grow,
  • Launch of new Teach in Herts website,
  • New school based app – MarvellousMe,
  • Two brand new services: Coaching and Office management,
  • Hertfordshire Healthy schools, healthy, happy children can achieve more,
  • Exchanging Excellence – benefits of summer school for a smooth transition,
  • What’s on – upcoming training courses.

…. and much more!

Do you have something you want HfL to cover? Get in touch!

Please contact our editorial team with queries: theexchange@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk If schools would like to receive extra copies please also get in touch. HfL welcome any feedback or content suggestions for future editions.

 

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Newsbites 29th October 2015

Newsbites 29th October 2015

Some news updates that might have passed you by are listed with brief synopses and links to the sources are shown below in 3 main groupings, News/guidance/policy, Research and good practice/statistics and Downloaded documents & articles:

News/guidance/policy

School governors and inspection

19 October 2015

Following an inspection, any governors entitled to be at the final feedback meeting should be privy to the draft inspection report.

Teacher workload: Marking Policy Review Group

The group will consider effective practice on marking in schools which raises standards for pupils without creating unnecessary workload.

Teacher workload: Data Management Review Group

The group will encourage schools to reduce the burden of data collection, building on the work of the Commission on Assessment Without Levels. 

Teacher workload: Planning and Resources Review Group

The group will consider how effective lesson planning and use of resources can raise standards without creating unnecessary workload. 

Inquiry into supply of teachers

16 October 2015

The Education Committee has issued a call for evidence regarding teacher recruitment and retention.

Written submissions are invited addressing the following points:

  • whether there is a ‘crisis’ in the recruitment and retention of teachers, including at senior levels of the profession, at a regional level, and by subject, and how the situation may develop during the 2015 Parliament
  • what the root causes of the current situation with regard to the supply of teachers are
  • what further action should be taken by the Government to tackle teacher shortages.

The deadline for receipt of written submissions is midday on Friday 20 November 2015. It is expected that the oral evidence session will take place later in the year and will inform the focus of further Committee work in this area.

MPs to investigate teacher recruitment problems

16 October 2015

The TES is reporting that MPs have announced they are going to investigate whether there really is a crisis in teacher recruitment

Teacher recruitment crisis can be averted using Skype and unqualified teachers

19 October 2015

Sir Andrew Carter, leader of the government’s teacher training review, has said schools can help avoid a recruitment “crisis” by using virtual teachers from other countries and “embracing unqualified teachers”.

Teacher shortage lesson

20 October 2015

Laura McInerney in the Guardian addresses teacher shortages, saying that recruiters should talk up the challenges of teaching in tough areas rather than talking them down, saying people are more likely to click on teacher recruitment adverts if they sell the challenge of the job rather than its social purpose. She also suggests the UK follows a model used in Europe where teachers decide how many classes they wish to teach and renegotiate their hours annually as personal circumstances change.

Attracting head teachers

21 October 2015

Head teachers of schools in struggling coastal towns are using innovative techniques to lure new graduates away from cities. A report by the Future Leaders Trust said some posts had only one or two applicants. When only one person applied for a job at Meadow Primary School in Lowestoft, Suffolk, Nadia Paczuska, the head teacher, placed an advertisement inspired by a wartime poster calling on men to enlist. She then had 155 applications.

‘Everyone knows there’s a recruitment crisis. The consensus breaks down on what we should do about it’

12 October 2015

Ahead of a special conference on teacher supply organised by Policy Exchange and supported by TES, the thinktank’s head of education asks whether anyone has a solution to the problem of recruitment

FGM reporting mandatory from next week

20 October 2015

As of 31st October, teachers, doctors, nurses and social workers will be legally required to report child cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) to the police. Legislation announced earlier this year will make such disclosures mandatory and professionals who fail to report the illegal practice in under-18s could face the sack.

Recovery of unpaid penalty notices for absence

6 October 2015

On 6 October the government announced its intention to introduce new provisions to recover unpaid penalty notices directly through parents’ child benefit and, where parents do not receive child benefit, through the courts. Local authorities will also be given a new duty to pursue all penalties. Government will set out its plans for implementing this proposal in due course and this will include a consultation. 

PM: New counter-extremism strategy is a clear signal of the choice we make today

19 October 2015

The government’s new one-nation Counter-Extremism Strategy launches to confront and defeat all forms of extremism.

Teachers to become gender champions

18 October 2015

New DfE guidelines will call for headteachers to appoint senior staff as gender champions, ban sexist words and phrases and help encourage students to study subjects traditionally more associated with the opposite gender. Janice Callow, deputy head at Fairfield High School in Bristol which was one of the scheme’s pilots, said: “We are making it clear to staff that any kind of sexist language is not acceptable. We used to say, ‘Man up, cupcake,’ we’ve stopped that. Saying, ‘Don’t be a girl’ to a boy if they are being a bit wet is also unacceptable. Language is a very powerful tool. You have to be so conscious of what you are saying to children.”

Tom Bennett: make better use of detentions to discourage disruptive behaviour

18 October 2015

The Telegraph is reporting that the Government’s behavioural tsar Tom Bennett has urged schools to make better use of detentions as he says today’s teachers are too soft to keep badly behaved students back after class.

Volunteer squads to report sexist language in schools

18 October 2015

The Sunday Times is reporting that new government-backed guidelines are being sent to all schools in England this week to urge head teachers to ensure that sexist phrases become as unacceptable as racist language

Schools mental health anti-stigma campaign: Make Time 4 Mental Health

Time to Change will be running a mental health anti-stigma campaign during November. They are asking every secondary school in England to take their pupils through the Make Time 4 Mental Health programme, aimed to make it easier to talk about mental health. The free resources consist of 4 ‘scripted’ 10 minute sessions which can be delivered in an assembly or class room setting.

The case for statutory PSHE education

21 October 2015

The PSHE Association Chief Executive launches a new report setting out the latest compelling evidence for making PSHE education a statutory part of the curriculum. The full report A curriculum for life can be found here.

DfE: Intervening in failing, underperforming and coasting schools:

21 October 2015

The DfE are launching a consultation on proposals to allow the government to intervene quickly in failing schools.

Research and good practice/statistics

Science teachers most likely to consider quitting the classroom, research says

23 October 2015

The Independent is reporting new research suggesting science teachers are the most likely to consider quitting the classroom with many feeling overwhelmed by having to run practical lessons. The full report Why Teach by Pearson and LKMCo can be found here

Research and analysis: School improvement: effective school partnerships

15 October, 2015

Research into collaboration and partnerships between schools.

Father says parents have ‘nothing to fear’ after magistrates throw out term-time holiday case

16 October 2015

The BBC is reporting that a father at the centre of a legal battle has said parents who take children on holiday in term time have “nothing to fear” after magistrates dismissed the case against him.

Not all academies are the same – don’t assume they will all boost results

14 October 2015

New research on schools that have converted to academies since the coalition government suggests they are unlikely to see the same positive results as the original converters under labour. The full report can be found here

World Health Organization (WHO) collaborative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) England National Report

September 2015

This Department of Health funded study included over 5000 young people from across England.

The full report can be found here: http://bit.ly/1MqnnrG

The report paints an important picture about the health and wellbeing of young people in England today and how young people’s health has changed over the last decade. Traditional risk behaviours such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and fighting are declining – with many showing the lowest reported prevalence since 2002. However healthy behaviours such as physical activity and healthy eating have not mirrored these positive changes over the last decade. The report also highlights young people’s emotional wellbeing as an area for concern.

You will find quotes from young people embedded throughout the report. Youth engagement is an important element of the HBSC England study, and it is important to capture young people’s interpretation of the findings.

Please take a look at the report and share within your networks. Publicity is very welcome! The team will be tweeting from the @HBSCEngland account using #HBSCEngland – please feel free to join in and retweet!  Below are suggested tweets including key search terms:

  • How has the #health and #wellbeing of #YoungPeople changed over the last decade? http://bit.ly/1MqnnrG #HBSCEngland
  • #HBSCEngland latest report on #adolescent #health & #wellbeing and social determinants http://bit.ly/1MqnnrG
  • Hot off the press! #HBSCEngland report on #adolescent #health from 2002-2014 http://bit.ly/1MqnnrG

National Statistics: Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2014 and spring 2015

20 October, 2015

This release reports on pupil absence in primary and secondary schools across the autumn and spring terms of the 2014 to 2015 academic year.

National Statistics: Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2013 and spring 2014

20 October, 2015

Levels of overall, authorised and unauthorised absence by school type, with indicative statistics on persistent absentees.

Per pupil spending ‘to fall by 8%’ says Institute for Fiscal Studies

21 October 2015

The BBC is reporting that spending per pupil in schools in England is likely to fall by 8% in real terms over the next five years, the Institute for Fiscal Studies warns. The report by the Institute of Fiscal Studies can be found here

Download Articles & reports

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Key Role of Governors

cometGovernors play a key role in the success of all our schools

The following article, written by Michael Scandrett, Chair of the Herts Association of School Governors, was published in the 3rd September edition of The Comet:

Comet article 3rd September 2015 - key role of school governorsDespite what you may hear to the contrary, our education system in the UK is not all doom and gloom.  In fact, we have an education system of which we should be rightly proud, and in Hertfordshire we have a track record of excellence that rates us among the best in the country – as recent successes at GCSE and A-level help to demonstrate, although that’s not to be taken as the only measure of a successful school.

However, that success does not happen by accident.

It is all due to the dedication, commitment, caring and professionalism of our headteachers, teachers, caretakers, lunchtime supervisors, nursery specialists, classroom assistants and the myriad of others who deliver their best for our children.

They are worth their weight in gold. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

The school governor, though, is one role that does not always get the credit it deserves.

All schools, including academies, have a governing body made up of men and women from the locality, from all walks of life, and with the role of holding the school to account and ensuring that standards are maintained.

Governors are unpaid posts yet form a key part of a school leadership team but they are not there to run schools – that falls to the head teacher.

However, they are accountable for the appointment and performance of the headteacher, to steer the school vision with its
aims and objectives, and to ensure financial best value and support to enable the staff to provide an excellent learning environment.

In Herts we have more than 500 schools, including academies.  This means that there are more than 5,000 governors across the county, but about 10 per cent of the posts need to filled. Our schools need people like you!

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a school or academy governor, email kathy.dunnett@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk or alternatively check out the website at www.hertsdirect.org/governors.

Remember being a governor is not just about attending meetings. It is much more about being part of your local school and local community while making a contribution towards the development and learning of young people who are the citizens of tomorrow.

Governors are there to ensure that schools are run well, to shape their future and that children thrive and enjoy learning. Being part of that is a reward in itself. And if you are already serving in this role, you should be proud to be a governor – I know I am.

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Sex crimes in schools

school sex crimes report by BBC

High numbers of alleged sex crimes in schools

This week, the BBC reported on the figures from a freedom of information request to UK police forces on the number of alleged sex crimes in schools. The information revealed that between 2012 and 2015, there were 4,000 alleged physical sexual assaults – a fifth of which were carried out by children. Of the 4,000 sexual assaults, there were 600 instances of rape.

Both senior police and NSPCC officials suggested that there may be significantly more unreported instances. The Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, called for:

Personal Social Health Economic Education with a relationships and sex component to be part of the national curriculum.

Currently, sex and relationship education (SRE) is only compulsory in maintained secondary schools. NGA in its evidence to the House of Commons Education Select Committee in 2014 recommended that it should also be compulsory in primary schools. Although the Select Committee agreed in its report on the subject, the government has chosen not to adopt the recommendation.All schools should have effective safeguarding policies and practice. The NGA will shortly be publishing safeguarding guidance for governors. In the meantime there are a number of questions governors can ask senior leaders.

Questions

  • Do we keep children safe and healthy?
  • Do we meet the statutory health and safety requirements?
  • How does the school ensure it keeps up to date with relevant health and safety regulations and guidance?
  • Is there a designated health & safety co-ordinator; safeguarding/child protection governor?  are governors and staff aware of who this person is?
  • How often are safety inspections carried out and are the outcomes reported to the governing body?
  • Are the school’s procedures for dealing with a breach or incident clear?
  • Are staff clear about the procedures for dealing with health and safety emergencies?
  • Does the school have clear and proportionate procedures in place for approving (risk assessing) school trips/outdoor activities?
  • How are child protection issues monitored, do we have a child protection coordinator (name, contact details)?
  • Are staff aware of the procedure that needs to be followed when they have concerns about child protection?
  • Have staff and governors received appropriate child protection/safeguarding training?
  • Do we run e-safety awareness training for staff, governors, pupils and parents?
  • Have we ensured we have sought information to identify any members of staff who may be disqualified under the new disqualification criteria in early years?
  • Does our curriculum include PHSEE and specifically information on sexual health and consent if appropriate?  (Depending on age).
  • Do you have the opportunity for visiting experts? (School Nurses).
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Schools Budget Pressures

Simon NewlandSchools Budget Pressures

This is the keynote topic of our next Forum on 8th October which will be presented by Simon Newland, Assistant Director (Education Access & Provision).  The following update has been issued as pre-reading for your information and in order to give you an opportunity to prepare questions of importance to you and/or your school.  Headteachers are also welcome to this Forum.

Background

It is evident that over the next parliament school budgets will come under considerable pressure. The Schools Budget Medium Term Financial Forecast in Hertfordshire shows a 2.3% reduction in 2016/17 rising to 6.2% in 2019-20. To support schools in preparing to absorb these budgetary reductions, Hertfordshire County Council plans to work with HfL and representatives of Schools on a collaborative project to develop models and tools to ensure that budgets balance. The reality of the extent of the cuts is that a range of measures will be needed to support schools.

The key issues that schools will face with these reductions differ by phase. The greatest challenge in the primary sector will be the viability of smaller schools. Logically smaller schools have smaller budgets, smaller staffing budgets and less flexibility in structures. The reality for small schools with budgets of £0.5m or less having to save £30,000 a year is that they will be unable to sustain their staffing structures and will need to somehow reorganise to ensure a balanced budget. In the secondary sector pressures are likely to be felt most acutely in within sixth form provision. Currently sixth forms in Hertfordshire with fewer than 230 pupils are struggling to remain viable and the funding reductions are likely to increase this number to 250 or more. Thus sixth form provision at smaller secondary schools is likely to become unviable and these schools will somehow need to reorganise their provision.

These challenges will be greatest in smaller secondary schools initially but as the cumulative impact of the reductions builds, all schools will need to consider how they are organised and how they procure goods and services to ensure their budgets balance.

Herts for Learning - AssessmentInitial discussions have indicated two areas where the Council and Herts for Learning can work with schools in a drive to improve savings, efficiency and value for money:

  1. Efficient Structures. It is evident that a 6% cut cannot be achieved without considering staffing structures. A reduction in funding of this magnitude will necessitate reorganisation in almost all schools. Larger schools are likely to achieve this internally but smaller schools will need to look towards models of collaboration and federation. In the secondary sector the greatest pressure is likely to be on sixth form provision.
  2. Value for Money. Whilst driving greater efficiencies in goods and services procured by schools is unlikely to equate to 6%, some level of savings can be realised at all schools. Providing schools with benchmark information on school budgets and useful information around central and national contracts will in many cases enable them to realise better value for money.

Schools that have concerns about their finances can seek advice from their current financial advisers.  It is important that school leaders and governors work closely together to safeguard school budgets in the present time and as far as possible, for the foreseeable future.

For further support and advice, please contact the relevant teams in HfL (Finance, Schools HR, School Effectiveness Teams, Governance; and Catherine Tallis, Senior Officer (Education Access & Provision) Children’s Services, Hertfordshire County Council – 01992 555971, catherine.tallis@nullhertfordshire.gov.uk.

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Local Pensions Member Schools

herts-county-councilLocal Pensions Member Schools – Substitute Member Required

HCC are seeking a substitute governor member to the HCC Local Pensions Board.  Board members will be paid reasonable expenses for their attendance at board meetings.  If you would like to be considered as the member to represent schools and employers on the Local Pension Board then please send a CV together with a completed Expression of Interest Form setting out your relevant skills and experience to catherine.tallis@nullhertfordshire.gov.uk no later than 21/10/15.

Background Details

Hertfordshire County Council established a Local Pension Board at the beginning of the Financial Year 2015/16. Regulations required all local administering authorities to establish a Local Pension Board by 1 April 2015, and the Board to be operational within four months of establishment. The Hertfordshire County Council Pension Board is part of the governance arrangements for the Hertfordshire Pension Fund as an oversight body. The Pension Board will is responsible for assisting the Administering Authority or Scheme Manager in securing compliance with:

  • The Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations;
  • Any other legislation relating to the governance and administration of the Pension Fund;
  • Requirements imposed by The Pensions Regulator in relation to the Pension Fund; and
  • Ensuring the effective governance and administration of the Pension Fund.

The constitution of the Hertfordshire Board includes a member and substitute member to represent schools and employers.  It was agreed by Schools Forum earlier in 2015 that members will be nominated by them.  The current substitute member has taken up the role of member and Schools Forum is now inviting applications from School Staff and Governors interested in becoming the substitute member.

Ideally the substitute member will have knowledge and understanding of public sector pensions and the Local Government Pension Scheme.

It is proposed that members of the board will serve for a term of four years and that a board member can sit on the Board for no more than three terms of office.

Board members will be paid reasonable expenses for their attendance at board meetings.

If you would like to be considered as the member to represent schools and employers on the Local Pension Board then please send a CV together with a completed Expression of Interest Form setting out your relevant skills and experience to catherine.tallis@nullhertfordshire.gov.uk no later than 21/10/15.

The appointment process is by invitation to any interested and suitably qualified school staff and governors, with the final appointment being approved by the Chair and Vice Chair of Forum based on a recommendation from Hertfordshire County Council’s Pensions, Treasury and Client Team. The Pensions, Treasury and Client Team will review expressions of interest and CV’s make a recommendation based on the experience and skills detailed in the expressions of interest and CVs. The nomination of the substitute member will be at the discretion of the Chair and Vice Chair of Schools Forum and will be subject to approval by the Deputy Chief Executive.

Role Description

1. Role and responsibilities of the Pensions Board/Substitute member:

1.1 The members of the Local Pension Board will assist Hertfordshire County Council as Scheme Manager:-

  • To secure compliance with the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) regulations;
  • any other legislation relating to the governance and administration of the Scheme;
  • To secure compliance with requirements imposed by The Pension Regulator in relation to the Scheme; and
  • In such other matters as the LGPS regulations may specify;
  • To secure the effective and efficient governance and administration of the LGPS for the Hertfordshire Pension Fund;
  • To Provide ongoing evaluation of the governance, delivery and monitoring mechanisms of the LGPS administrator, the LPFA, and recommend improvements where required so that members and employers interests are safeguarded;
  • To ensure the scheme administrator, the LPFA, supports members with a range of tools to improve their understanding of their pension benefits;
  • To provide the scheme manager with such information as it requires ensuring that any member of the Pension Board or person to be appointed to the Pension Board does not have a conflict of interest.

1.2 As a member of the Pension Board you will help ensure that the Hertfordshire Pension Fund is managed and administered effectively and efficiently and complies with the code of practice on the governance and administration of public service pension schemes issued by the Pension Regulator.

2. Qualities required for the role of a Pensions Board member

2.1 To be considered, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the qualities, skills and experience to meet all the essential criteria for appointment, specifically:

  • You must be a member of the Hertfordshire Pension Fund or represent an active employer body;
  • You must have a good knowledge of public sector pensions and the capacity/ability to undertake additional learning specifically with regards to the Local Government Pension Scheme;
  • You must be aware of the requirements of The Pension Regulator’s public service schemes Code of Practice;
  • You should be able to comprehend financial reports and data;
  • You must be able to act impartially in the interests of both employers and members;
  • You must be able to act prudently, responsibly and honestly;
  • You must be an effective communicator and team player to promote excellent working relationships within the Local pension Board and gain the confidence of its stakeholders including the Scheme manager.
  • You must be able to commit to a term of membership of four years.

2.2 You must be able to attend up to four meetings each year and up to two training sessions each year.