Hertfordshire School Governors
By governors for governors
The Future for MATsIn order to help schools rise to the challenge of the MAT and shared efficiency agenda, Herts for Learning is hosting a MAT forum on the morning of 12th March. Aimed at senior leadership and governance colleagues, whatever your position in the MAT or Federation journey, for those considering and for those already in established MATs. Continue reading “The Future for MATs – A Half Day Forum Event”
March 2016 ExchangeThe March edition of the paper is now in schools, with a spotlight on school business managers including how to become a consultant with HfL, information on the upcoming Teach in Herts Teacher Recruitment Fair, and also news from Hertfordshire schools and Herts for Learning. Continue reading “March 2016 Exchange”
January 2016 HfL Chairs’ BriefingThis briefing contains:
Chairs Service – 07580 884610/01438 843082
Helpdesk – 01438 843038
http://www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/team/governance
http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/edlearn/getinvolved/governors/
Venues and times:
1st February 2016 – Ramada Hotel, Hatfield, 6.30 networking and refreshments, for 7.00 p.m. start
11th February 2015 –- Theobalds Hotel, Cheshunt, 6.30 networking and refreshments, for 7.00 p.m. CANCELLED
David Kilgallon – Current Political Schools Landscape
Multi-Academy Trusts, Federations and Cooperatives
The meetings are free for up to 2 governors from schools which subscribe to the Chairs Service. To book: http://www.hertsdirect.org/actweb/WDC/sseo/template_001.cfm?pageID=28&template=courseDetails&courseID=CSM01
These networks are recommended for Chairs, Vice Chairs and Chairs of Committees particularly. Those attending should feed back to their governing body. When you receive this briefing, you may like to forward it on to your Vice Chair and Chairs of Committees and also your Headteacher. If you have any queries about the Networks or topics you would like discussed, please contact kathy.dunnett@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk
The independent is reporting that during an appearance on BBC2’s Newsnight on Monday, Sir Michael Wilshaw, chief inspector of schools in England and head of Ofsted, was asked if he would back the banning of the coverings in schools, to which he answered: “Yes, I would.”
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan announces package of measures to protect children from extremism
The Education Committee’s report on the role of Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) finds that more work is needed to improve the transparency, accountability and working relationships of RSCs. Eight RSCs were appointed in 2014 with responsibility for approving and monitoring academies and free schools in their region.
Schools Week has published an article on The 24 recommendations in the Regional Schools Commissioner report – and what they really mean
A tool to provide schools in England with an indication of their efficiency compared with similar schools.
DfE guidance: Dealing with issues relating to parental responsibility
Departmental advice about dealing with issues relating to parental responsibility.
Information to help headteachers, principals and governors of academies plan for the academic year ahead.
Information to help local-authority-maintained schools plan for the academic year ahead
Information to help free schools, university technical colleges (UTCs) and studio schools plan for the academic year ahead
Information to help pupil referral units plan for the academic year ahead
Useful information to help academies plan for the academic year ahead
Useful information to help local-authority-maintained schools plan for the academic year ahead
Useful information to help free schools, university technical colleges (UTCs) and studio schools plan for the academic year ahead
Useful information to help pupil referral units plan for the academic year ahead
The BBC is reporting that an academy chain is scrapping the current form of governing bodies for its schools in England.
http://www.nga.org.uk/Home.aspx
Schools with sixth forms are going through a time of transition. Over the next few years governing boards will be faced with difficult decisions around the 16-19 curriculum offer, budgeting, collaborations and, in some cases, the future sustainability of a school’s sixth-form. NGA has responded by producing a new comprehensive guide to assist boards in making these decisions. Although aimed at those governing in schools where a sixth form provision already exists, the guidance will also help boards considering the viability of opening new provision in their school. See website for details.
Make sure your governing board and school leaders are informed about the free resources on the NCTL open access platform There is a range of useful toolkits and guides.
Inspiring the Future has released two new videos to showcase how its free online matchmaking service works to connect prospective governors with schools and colleges nationwide. Volunteers sign up to become a governor or trustee, giving their location and listing the skills and experience they can bring to a board. Governing boards seeking new governors can view all the volunteers in their area or specify the skills they’re looking for, connect with volunteers directly and begin the process of recruiting. http://www.inspiringthefuture.org/inspiring-governors/governors-sign-up-as-a-volunteer/ Click here to see the new videos
Our next designation round will open on Monday 22 February 2016. We’re looking for high quality, experienced chairs that have the capacity and expertise to support other chairs to improve their governing bodies. We’re particularly interested in chairs with experience of governance in multi-academy trusts. This round will be targeted geographically to ensure we have NLGs in the areas with the greatest need. Hertfordshire is a targeted area.
If you know any colleagues who meet the eligibility criteria, please encourage them to visit our web pages for potential applicants.
Schools Financial Value Standard Return 2015-16
All maintained schools must submit a Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS) Return for the year ended 31 March 2016 to their local authority. In Hertfordshire, returns must be emailed to the Shared Internal Audit Service (SIAS) at sias@nullhertfordshire.gov.uk by 15 April 2016.
Returns should be completed in excel using the 2015 template on the Grid at http://www.thegrid.org.uk/info/internal_audit/sfvs_guidance.shtml. This allows SIAS to analyse and use the data contained in all returns and comply with the requirement that data in the forms is used to inform audit coverage.
The template contains the Department for Education’s current SFVS guidance for completion of the 2015-16 return.
In order to complete the return, governors must consider the financial controls operating in the school over the past twelve months. Dependent on arrangements in an individual school, the completion of the return should be an agenda item for either the full governing body or the finance committee. Once complete, the return should be emailed to sias@nullhertfordshire.gov.uk. A paper copy signed by the Chair of Governors should be kept at the school.
Further guidance on the SFVS can be found at http://www.thegrid.org.uk/info/internal_audit/.
Details of ‘Completing your SFVS Return’ courses can be found by e-mailing gov.courses@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk/
Individualised guidance can be purchased from SIAS at a cost of £350 per day should your school need personalised support.
If you have a query that can’t be answered from the information provided on the Grid, then please contact Sally-Anne Pearcey on 01438 845516 or email sally-anne.pearcey@nullhertfordshire.gov.uk.
Following the success of the first Teach in Herts Teacher Recruitment Fair in 2015, the Board of Herts for Learning has committed to proactively help fund and support Hertfordshire schools once again, by running a second teacher recruitment fair on Saturday 19th March 2016 at Hertfordshire Development Centre, Stevenage.
All Hertfordshire shareholding schools are once again invited to attend and exhibit on a stand free of charge.
The event is restricted to HfL shareholding schools only and no third party agencies will be permitted to attend.
Stands at the event can be booked from Monday 18th January 2016. To book for your school/cluster of schools, please email teachinherts@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk. Space is limited and stands will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Closing date for booking a stand is Monday 7th March 2016. Guidance on putting a stand together will be provided by the Herts for Learning Events team and will emailed to you once your stand booking has been confirmed.
The recruitment fair will be open between 10.00am and 3.30pm and attending schools should have staff available on their stand for the whole day. Many attendees that arrived mid-afternoon last year were disappointed to find a number of schools had left prior to the end of the event. Wherever possible, materials for your stand should be delivered to Hertfordshire Development Centre during the afternoon of Friday 18th March.
Further information and marketing materials to promote the recruitment fair through governor, staff and parent networks will be sent out to schools over the coming weeks. We would appreciate it if you could disseminate these widely to promote the event and help to make it a success for all.
The January/February edition of the paper is now in schools, with a spotlight on science including ideas for science week, how to take part in Safer Internet Day 2016 and also news from Hertfordshire schools’ and Herts for Learning.
This HfL monthly newspaper has something for all staff based in schools and school governors, whether looking for a little light reading on current educational news or for courses to further your professional development.
The link to the online version can be found here: bit.ly/TE-JanFeb16
This edition also includes:
Do you have something you want us to cover? Get in touch! The Exchange Team – 01438 844331
If you or your chair of governors would like to receive extra copies for the governing body please get in touch. We welcome any feedback or content suggestions for future editions.
Call Jessica Broadbent / email on 01438 844 331 / Jessica.broadbent@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk
They are running events on the following date and times:
10th March at Robertson House, Stevenage:
(Sessions are 1.5 hours)
10-11.30am
1.30-3.00pm
4.00-5.30pm
7.00-8.30pm
http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/edlearn/getinvolved/governors/infoforchairs/
For all Chairs – new, experienced, Chairs of Governors, Vice Chairs and Chairs of Committees.
It is advised to undertake the whole course, as the skills are built up throughout the two terms that it runs, from January to July every year. Book now on the website.
| CRW1 | Advanced Chairs: Report Writing | 25/02/2016 | Thursday | 6.30-9pm | Ware Priory |
| CLS1 | Advanced Chairs: Leadership Skills | 09/03/2016 | Wednesday | 6.30-9pm | Hilton, Watford |
| CRP2 | Advanced Chairs: Reflective Practice | 19/04/2016 | Tuesday | 6.30-9pm | Holiday Inn, Hemel |
| CDD2 | Advanced Chairs: Dealing with Difficult People | 04/05/2016 | Wednesday | 6.30-9pm | Barnwell, Stevenage |
| COM3 | Advanced Chairs: Coaching & Mentoring | 17/05/2016 | Tuesday | 6.30-9pm | Holiday Inn, Hemel |
| CMD3 | Advanced Chairs: Mediation | 07/06/2016 | Tuesday | 6.30-9pm | Barnwell, Stevenage |
| CCH4 | Advanced Chairs: Change Management | 15/06/2016 | Wednesday | 6.30-9pm | Hilton, Watford |
| CNV1 | Advanced Chairs: Investigations | 30/06/2016 | Thursday | 6.30-9pm | Ramada, Hatfield |
Hertfordshire Association of School Governors
http://www.hertsgovernors.org/
January 2016 ExchangeThe January/February edition of the paper is now in schools, with a spotlight on science including ideas for science week, how to take part in Safer Internet Day 2016 and also news from Hertfordshire schools’ and Herts for Learning.
This HfL monthly newspaper has something for all staff based in schools and school governors, whether looking for a little light reading on current educational news or for courses to further your professional development.
The link to the online version can be found here: bit.ly/TE-JanFeb16
This edition also includes:
Do you have something you want us to cover? Get in touch!
If you or your Chair of Governors would like to receive extra copies for the governing body please get in touch with Ryan Fisher at Ryan.Fisher@nullHertsforlearning.co.uk who welcomes any feedback or content suggestions for future editions.
BBC Radio 4: The EducatorsBCC radio 4 is running a new series of the Educators. The latest episodes are below:
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:
19 October 2015
Following an inspection, any governors entitled to be at the final feedback meeting should be privy to the draft inspection report.
The group will consider effective practice on marking in schools which raises standards for pupils without creating unnecessary workload.
The group will encourage schools to reduce the burden of data collection, building on the work of the Commission on Assessment Without Levels.
The group will consider how effective lesson planning and use of resources can raise standards without creating unnecessary workload.
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:
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.
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
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”.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
19 October 2015
The government’s new one-nation Counter-Extremism Strategy launches to confront and defeat all forms of extremism.
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.”
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.
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
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.
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.
21 October 2015
The DfE are launching a consultation on proposals to allow the government to intervene quickly in failing schools.
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
15 October, 2015
Research into collaboration and partnerships between schools.
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.
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
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:
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.
20 October, 2015
Levels of overall, authorised and unauthorised absence by school type, with indicative statistics on persistent absentees.
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
Exchanging Excellence® is a framework for sharing best professional practice. It is the umbrella programme for all of the work Herts for Learning (HfL) are doing, and plan to do in the future, to find and share best practice and professional learning with our shareholders and customers on a range of current and relevant topics.
The Exchanging Excellence® framework is split into six themes for schools to easily identify different areas of good practice. Under each theme you will find case studies and resources to help identify interesting practice taking place in Hertfordshire schools and beyond.
Find out more at:
Taking place Monday 7th July 2014, 9.30am to 4.00pm at the Hertfordshire Development Centre, Robertson House, Stevenage, SG1 2FQ.
This evidence-based cross phase conference is a must for ALL Hertfordshire schools as we bring together and celebrate best practice that is having the most impact in Closing Gaps and improving outcomes for pupils both nationally and across the county.
National Pupil Premium Champion, John Dunford (pictured), will be our keynote speaker and delegates will be able to choose from a range of practical and inspirational workshops which will draw upon best practice uncovered through the research phase of the Closing Gaps project, led by David Birch and Marc Rowland.
A detailed programme for the day will follow shortly.
This conference will:
The subsidised cost of attending this conference for Hertfordshire schools is £50.00 per person (including all day catering). To book your place at this event please visit www.thegrid.org/schoolworkforce/training using course code: 14CON/001A
Exchanging Excellence® is our umbrella programme for all of the work we are doing and plan to do in the future, to find and share best practice and professional learning with our customers on a range of current and relevant topics. For further information:
Email: exchanging.excellence@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk
Visit the HfL web site: www.hertsforlearning.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter: @HertsLearning #HfLExchEx
Herts for Learning launch new best practice programme for Hertfordshire schoolsExchanging Excellence is an exciting new programme being run by Herts for Learning (HfL) for Hertfordshire schools. It is the umbrella programme for all of the work HfL are doing and plan to do in the future, to find and share best practice and professional learning with their customers on a range of current and relevant topics.
HfL are launching the programme with a cross phase project to find practice that is having most impact in improving outcomes for pupils eligible for pupil premium; whilst ensuring that other groups continue to be stretched and achieve at least expected progress.
This first project within the Exchanging Excellence programme is called “Closing Gaps” and will be taking place over the next few months.
The project is being led by David Birch and Marc Rowland. They will be working with the Teaching Alliances, other school leaders and HfL staff, identifying practice where there is evidence of most impact, in schools and settings in different circumstances and geographical areas across the county. They will draw upon work that is already taking place in specific phases, such as the primary phase RANGe project (Raising Achievement Narrowing Gaps effectively) and work being led by the Teaching Alliances; bringing all of the relevant professional learning together, identifying common themes and threads and supplementing that with evidence based research taking place nationally.
Information about the project and its findings will be shared and exchanged under the Exchanging Excellence section of the HfL website and regularly updated. There will be opportunities to attend conferences in the summer term to hear more about the findings and to examine the practice that might be most relevant and useful to your school or setting.