Month: May 2017

Categories
School Admissions Schools

Early Transfer Form (ETF) – important reminder

FAO all Haringey primary schools

 Thank you to all schools who have already submitted their Early Transfer Form (ETF) and uploaded it via the S2S website.

 

There are still a number of schools who have not submitted their form. If you are not aware of the process for transferring Year 6 pupil information to their Year 7 destination school then I ask that you kindly read the attached letter dated 24 March which was sent to all schools in the internal post. A reminder email was also sent to all schools on 11 May 2017.

Secondary-Transfer-ETF-letter-to-Primary-schools

 

The deadline has now passed and so it is essential that we receive this information by no later than Tuesday 6 June 2017. If we do not meet this new deadline then this will create difficulties for secondary schools in making preparations to welcome your year 6 pupils.

 

If you are experiencing any difficulties in completing the spreadsheet then I would be grateful if you could please contact my colleague Chi Tsang (telephone 020 8489 2553) who will be able to assist you further.

 

We will be contacting you individually if we have not received this information by the new deadline.

 

Many thanks,

 

Carlo Kodsi, Team Leader School Admissions

Categories
Safeguarding School Admissions Schools

Children Missing Education (CME) protocol and new roll return

FAO all Primary and Secondary Schools

The CME statutory guidance (external link) published in September 2016 sets out key principles to enable local authorities in England to implement their legal duty under section 436Aof the Education Act 1996 to make arrangements to identify, as far as it is possible to do so, children missing education (CME).

Like many of our neighbouring authorities, Haringey has devised a new protocol to ensure that we are fulfilling our statutory duty and safeguarding responsibility to all children known to us. I would be grateful if you could please take 5 minutes to read the attached protocol (external link) .

I would like to thank all schools who participated in the roll return pilot we rolled out a few weeks ago. This is now being rolled out to all Haringey maintained and independent schools following the half term break in the week commencing 5 June 2017. All schools who did not participate in the pilot will be sent the new roll return via email by the end of this week.

As well as the critical safeguarding imperative of ensuring that children are appropriately tracked and monitored and referrals sent to the appropriate service, the purpose of the new roll return is to ensure that we keep up to date figures on the availability of school places in the local area. This enables us to advise parents of pupils moving into the area or wishing to transfer schools of the number of vacancies in the relevant year group.

Please do not hesistate to contact me if you have any queries

Kind regards

Carlo Kodsi, Team Leader School Admissions

Categories
Health and Safety Schools

Emergency plan activation review from St Aidan's

On 19 April St Aidan's was required to activate its emergency plan following an explosion and a serious fire at a property opposite the school. Head teacher Anne Etchells was asked to provide feedback to other schools on how the school dealt with a major emergency situation and the lessons learned.

You can read her full report here: Emergency plan activation review- Anne Etchells 23 05 2017

Categories
Schools Smarter Travel

Book your support session for 2017 School Travel Plan

 

URGENT

Book your support session for the 2017 School Travel Plan. The deadline for accreditation is 28 June 2017.

Register with STARS (external link). Verify your email and let us know you have registered. Carry out your hands up survey now.

 

We are available to help you upload all your information to make sure your school has an up-to-date travel plan accreditation. This helps your community to have a voice about travel and traffic concerns in your area.  Your school will be eligible to apply for additional funding streams from Transport For London such as cycle grants for schools, cycle and scooter parking, walk to school packs and much more.

 

Contact Wendy.thorogood@haringey.gov.uk as soon as possible to book your time slot for support.

 

hands up Survey Sheet 2017

 

Categories
Finance Schools

Changing the date on which an employer pays its employees

Concerns were raised recently at the Schools Consultative Group by Support Staff Unions. Following a change in payroll provider, it was reported that a number of schools had made changes to the dates on which some support staff receive their monthly salary.

A change to the date on which an employer pays its employees will amount to a change to the terms of the employees' contract. This means that the change needs to be agreed with the employees concerned before it is implemented. An employer that proceeds to make such a change without agreement will be acting in breach of contract, a course of action which could lead to resignations followed by claims of constructive dismissal.

If a school wishes to change the date on which it pays employees, then the school will need to consult all affected employees (or their representatives) with a view to reaching agreement on both the change itself and the way in which it will be implemented. If, for example, due to the amount of notice given for the change in pay date, staff incur additional costs, (i.e. as a result of changing direct debit payments), it may be appropriate for the school, as a one-off arrangement, to agree to meet those costs.

Following consultation, if some or all of the employees involved still refuse to agree to the change, further advice should be sought from the schools HR provider.

Additional advice is available from ACAS:  Varying-a-contract-of-employment-Acas-leaflet

 

 

Categories
Governance Schools

DofE releases figures for allocation of Initial Teacher Training places

The Department for Education has published the allocation of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) places and Teacher Supply Model (TSM) for the academic year 2017/18 (external link). The TSM gives an approximate figure of the number of newly qualified teachers needed in 2018/19.

The department sets a higher number of allocations compared to the number of NQTs actually required.  This is to account for providers who don’t successfully fill their places and the trainee drop-out rate; as well as to accommodate trainees who don’t pursue employment in state funded schools.

The release was covered in the TES (external link) which states that “the government’s target for postgraduate trainees is 1,600 higher than last year.” At the same time, TES refers to UCAS figures that show that by April 2017 there was a drop of 6% in the number of people who had applied for teacher training.

There is clear evidence of a growing shortage of teaching staff across the board. 

 

Categories
Schools Traded Services

Michael Welton appointed new manager for Traded Services

Michael Welton has been appointed as the new manager for Traded Services, effective from 1 April. Michael previously managed the Education Welfare Service, which he will continue to oversee.

This year’s Traded Service offers are now available to browse and purchase via the Traded Services online portal (external link).

The price of most of our services has been held at last year’s level as we recognise the current pressure on school budgets.If you cannot find what you are looking for, or if your school has need of a service that is not currently on offer, please let Michael know, as Traded Services aims to provide cost effective solutions to all of your school’s requirements.

Categories
Traded Services

Traded Services offers for 2017 – 18 now available

Traded Services offers for 2017 – 18 are now available to view and purchase via our online Traded Services portal (external link). 

 

We are very aware that schools’ budgets are under pressure: we have therefore priced our services at the same level as last year, and in some cases have reduced prices.

 

Please contact service managers or Michael Welton for further information: Michael.welton@haringey.gov.uk  020 8489 2441

 

 

Categories
Governance Schools

The future of assessment

LKMco and Pearson have published an interim report on the future of assessment (external link)  The report reflects the views of teachers, pupils, parents and governing boards. The report puts forward a number of initial conclusions based on the feedback received so far. Those which will be of particular interest to governors and trustees include:

  • assessment impacts workload and schools need to ensure that their policies and expectations are realistic;
  • concern about the impact of statutory tests on pupils’ and teachers’ wellbeing;
  • teachers do not feel their professional judgement is valued highly enough;
  • teachers, parents and young people are concerned that assessment is impacting on the content of the curriculum;
  • more should be done to share best practice across the system;
  • there was particular concern about how assessments are impacting pupils with special education needs.

A final report will be published later in the summer.

Would you like to have your say on assessment?

The online consultation, which will feed in to the final report, remains open to all governors and trustees serving in primary and secondary schools in England. You don’t need to be an assessment expert to take part; the consultation comprises three short questions about your views on assessment, and some brief questions about you. It will take between 5 and 10 minutes to complete.

Take part in LKMco and Pearson’s online consultation here (external link)

Categories
Events Schools

Schools invited to visit Wood Green Crown Court

Have you considered organising a school trip to Wood Green Crown Court? The team at Wood Green Crown Court is keen to encourage visits by students. This unique educational experience could inspire students to consider a career in law, as well as increasing their awareness of the role of the Justice process in the wider social system.

 

A range of curriculum opportunities:

  • Visits to support A level Politics students and GCSE Sociology students, with particular reference to the criminology aspect of the syllabus;
  • Visits to support Citizenship students and curriculum links across other areas;
  • Outreach work for students who may be struggling with a negative view of the judiciary, including but not limited to those at risk of making poor lifestyle choices;
  • The opportunity for a Judge to visit a school, followed by the students visiting the Court;
  • Younger pupils can visit the building, meet a Judge and gain a sense of the process.

Educational visits are subject to a few provisos:

  • Children under 13 cannot sit in on actual hearings. The evidence and issues in a trial can be disturbing and a Crown Court hearing is a solemn and serious process where the state puts a defendant on trial.
  • Older children, if appropriately accompanied, will be able to sit in on trials and other formal hearings and have an opportunity to discuss the process with the Judge.
  • Younger children are welcome to visit the Court building and the courtrooms and to meet a Judge.

If you would like further information, or to plan your visit, please contact:

Mrs Zeb Johnson,  Operations Manager at Wood Green Crown Court, HM Courts & Tribunals Service

Email: zeb.johnson@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk