Month: March 2018

Categories
Governance

Mentally Healthy Schools – website launch

‘Mentally Healthy Schools’ is a free and easy to use website which features evidence-based practical resources to “improve awareness, knowledge and confidence in promoting and supporting pupils’ mental health”.

The website is a legacy project of the Heads Together mental health campaign, which brings together The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry with charity partners including the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, Place2be and Young Minds.

The website is currently tailored to the curriculum of primary schools in England but most resources will be universal and available later this term. The website features a wealth of information to help tackle stigma, raise awareness and provide help for children and young people with mental health challenges, covering four main areas: teaching resources, risks and protective factors, mental health needs, and a ‘whole school approach’ for school leaders.

The website features a section on the key role of those governing (external link)

Categories
Governance

DfE announces review into school exclusions

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced a review to enable it to gain a better understanding of the inequalities surrounding the school exclusion system. The review will look at the challenges faced by the children most likely to be excluded from school, including those with special educational needs, as well as building on evidence showing children who receive an education in alternative provision settings, are “less likely to be in education, employment or training post 16”. 

The review, led by Edward Timpson MP, former education minister, will explore school approaches to exclusions, seeking views from parents, teachers, school leaders and children.

The DfE hopes that the measures announced will address existing inequalities and help to improve the educational outcomes for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils.

Access the open consultation on the review here (external link)

Categories
Schools

Devonshire Hill Primary School in top 2% for progress

We are delighted to report that Ms Julie D'Abreu, the head teacher of Devonshire Hill Nursery and Primary School, has received a letter of congratulations from The Right Honourable Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for School Standards, in recognition of the school's succcess in improving results. The school is amongst the top 2% in England in terms of progress between Key Stage 1 and the end of Key Stage 2.

Letter from Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP to Devonshire Hill Nursery and Primary School

Categories
Governance

Governance leadership development programme

The Department for Education (DfE) has contracted organisations to provide a professional development programme until March 2020.  Each provider’s offer, including the duration, may be different, and governors should consider which programme suits both them and their governing body’s needs best.

The programme is suitable for those in governance leadership roles, like chairs, vice chairs or committee chairs.

The programme aims for:

  • increased capacity to improve the effectiveness of governing boards in line with the Competency framework for governance (external link)  (particularly boards’ ability to provide strategic leadership and data-driven accountability for educational standards and financial performance)
  • greater involvement of governance leaders in sustainable and relevant peer-to-peer support networks that enable encouragement, support and sharing good practice with one another

The format of the training will vary between different providers, but they are all required to ensure that you are supported and challenged.

Find out which providers cover Haringey (external link).

 

Categories
Health and Safety Schools

Could you spot the signs of an abusive partner?

VAWG and young people flyer

Many people still do not know what Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) actually means, what the many different forms of violence are and how to spot the first signs of abuse.

 

Haringey Council is working in partnership with young people to raise awareness around VAWG because we believe the voices of young people need to be heard if we are to end VAWG in Haringey.

 

If you want to help end violence against women and girls then please promote this opportunity to young people in your school or college (age 14-25) by asking them to spend five minutes filling out this survey (external link). 

 

As a thank you for joining this movement, we have a £50 voucher to give away to one young person!

If you have any questions about this piece of work, please contact VAWG@Haringey.gov.uk

 

VAWG and young people flyer

Categories
Events Schools

FFT Aspire training for Summer term – places still available

FFT Aspire still has places available on their summer term training courses, see the FFT Aspire website (external link).

Courses held in London include:

FFT Aspire Introductory Course  – 17 April, 26 June

Making ASP ASPire–ing  – Primary and Secondary Schools – 10 May 

FFT Aspire ADVANCED Course – 27 June (Primary), 28 June (Secondary)

Developing secondary subject leadership: Using FFT Aspire to support and improve middle leaders in your school – 22 June

Categories
Schools

Free fun event 23 March at Lordship Rec

Laughter yoga 23 March 2018

Please click on the link above for information on a free fun event at Lordship Recreation Ground (at the Shell Theatre)  on Friday 23 March at 1.30pm, to include a laughter yoga session!  Please share with your families and young people.

Laughter yoga 23 March 2018

 

Categories
Events Schools

UNISON training seminar for school based members

UNISON is holding a training seminar for school based members on 23 April 2018 at The Cypriot Centre in Wood Green. The aim of the seminar is to increase locally based representatives' capacity and knowledge of their roles. The event is initially being opened to up to two representatives per school. For further information please contact Haringey UNISON on 020 8489 3351. Topics covered will include school funding reform, academies and the future of schools.

We encourage all schools to facilitate the attendance of UNISON members at this event which is trade union training, as such those attending should be granted paid time off to do so. Trade unions play an important part in our schools and we value their input in both supporting individual members and dealing with the increasing range of issues in schools.

Thanks in advance

Sean Fox

UNISON Joint Branch Secretary & Employeeside Secretary

NEC Member for Greater London

PO Box 68081

London N22 9JB

Direct Line 020 8489 1172

General Enquiries 020 8489 3351/020 8489 3320

 

 

Categories
Events Schools

The Grove consultation meeting – rescheduled for 13 March

Owing to last week’s severe weather conditions, unfortunately we had to cancel the Grove consultation meetings at Heartlands High School.

 

These two meetings are rescheduled for Tuesday 13 March, taking place at 10.30 – 11.30am and at 6.00 – 7.00pm, both at Heartlands High School.

 

If you require any further information, please contact Leslie Boodram on 07733 323568 or 020 8826 1230 x 395.

 

Background:

A public consultation is now open about The Grove – a new Special School for children and young people aged 5-19 with autism. The consultation will close on 14 March 2018.

The new school will open in September 2018. Initially, primary pupils will be taught within separate accommodation located at St Mary’s Primary School, Rectory Gardens, Hornsey. Secondary pupils will continue to be taught at Heartlands High School, Wood Green, in the purpose-built accommodation previously occupied by the school’s Designated Autism Provision.

In 2019 the school will move to its permanent home on Downhills Park Road, N17, which was previously a school building. The building is undergoing a complete refurbishment to create a state- of-the-art, specialist provision for Haringey children, funded by the Department for Education.

Please see the consultation leaflet, which gives further information about Heartland Community Trust’s plans for this new school and progress so far.  The Grove_Consultation Leaflet_201801

Visit the consultation web page (external link)

Complete the online questionnaire (external link)

Categories
Governance

DfE announces Advanced Maths Premium for schools

The Department for Education (DfE)  has revealed details of a new fund, the Advanced Maths Premium, devoted to helping schools to increase the number of pupils taking up Maths beyond GCSE level. This initiative was first announced in last year's autumn budget. From autumn 2018, schools and colleges will receive an additional £600 premium for “each additional pupil taking the one-year AS Maths or the Core Maths qualification”; this potentially brings a total amount of £1,200 for each pupil studying the subject across a two-year A-level.

It is hoped that the new fund will help support schools to increase the number of girls and pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds selecting A-level Maths.

Read more about the Advanced Maths Premium (external link).