Autumn 2017 Heads & Governors’ Update

Autumn 2017 Heads & Governors’ Update

The Autumn 2017 Heads & Governors’ Update takes place on Tuesday 21st November, at Beales Hotel in Hatfield, from 6.00pm to 8.00pm.  These updates provide:

  • a direct information stream from Hertfordshire County Council to school leaders and governors.
  • a regular update on current DfE and Ofsted initiatives alongside local and national priorities.
  • important information which is relevant to all schools and academies, regardless of their phase or status.
  • high quality executive summaries of key information, with appropriate follow up materials clearly identified and sign-posted.

The Agenda Continue reading “Autumn 2017 Heads & Governors’ Update”

Annual Governor’s Conference 2017

Annual Governor’s Conference 2017

Taking place on Saturday 11th November 2017, from 9.00am to 15:00pm, this year’s Governor’s Conference features keynote speakers:

  • Dame Alison Peacock, Chief Executive of Chartered College of Teaching, and
  • Nigel Risner, Motivational Speaker.

The venue is the Hertfordshire Development Centre, Stevenage, SG1 2FQ.  Registration & refreshments Continue reading “Annual Governor’s Conference 2017”

Recruiting School Governors

Recruiting School Governors

Andrew Doran attended an HfL course a while ago and, building on his experience of this course, has written the following illuminating article about how he went about recruiting.  This article has been reposted with permission; Andrew often posts commentary, random thoughts (such as this humdinger “Does the Friendly Giant really need the prefix ‘Big’? Isn’t that just a given? “), and Continue reading “Recruiting School Governors”

Robert Gordon

Robert Gordon

Hertfordshire County Council has announced the death of Robert Gordon, leader of the County Council since 2007.

Following this very sad news Robert’s wife, Susie, has been in touch to confirm funeral arrangements as below:-

The funeral will take place on Monday 30 October at 2.00pm at St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 1BY.  Light refreshments will be served afterwards.  Susie has said that all are welcome to pay their respects. Continue reading “Robert Gordon”

HASG Summer Update 2017

HASG Summer Update 2017

As previously advertised, the Summer Update for Heads and Governors, which was arranged by the HASG, took place on 21st June.  The briefing covered several topics and was lead by Marcus Cooper the Senior Education Manager in Hertfordshire. (Who we learned  was moving on to pastures new at the end of term).

Marcus gave us updates from the Herts perspective covering Ofsted the DfE and Safeguarding. Debbie Orton, the Head of Integrated Service for Learning, also took a slot to talk about the ISL reorganisation.  You can download the presentations by clicking the following link:

One item covered was the division of responsibilities between HCC and HfL; the following booklet might be of use in understanding the distinctions:

NewsBytes – Bombs, Governors & Statistics

NewsBytes – Bombs, Governors & Statistics

A selection of news items of interest for governors addressing threat from bombs, SEN, supply teachers, removal of school governors, coasting schools and a manifesto gap.

Schools Week: Schools urged to remind staff of ’emergency plans’ after Manchester bomb scare

25 May 2017 – Schools Week is reporting that schools have been reminded to keep staff up-to-date with procedures in their individual plans for emergencies after a school was Continue reading “NewsBytes – Bombs, Governors & Statistics”

Headteacher & Governor Briefing – 21st June 2017

Headteacher & Governor Briefing – 21st June 2017

Representatives from Governing bodies are invited to attend the next Headteacher & Governor briefing.

You may be aware that in early 2016 we held the first joint Headteacher & Governor briefing.  Marcus Cooper, and his team, hold regular Headteacher updates and we have worked in conjunction with them to deliver one additional briefing aimed specifically at school governors.

Please feel free to join us on Wednesday 21st June 2017 at 6.00pm, at Continue reading “Headteacher & Governor Briefing – 21st June 2017”

FrontFoot News – March 2017

FrontFoot News – March 2017

These March 2017 FrontFoot news updates cover a range of educational areas of interest including matters of policy, media, research and statistics.  This report includes items about 2-tier GCSEs, more free schools, SEND, tracking of social media, writing assessments, careers, breakfast clubs and much more.  Click the links below to go to specific categories of interest; when there, the headings link to the full article. Continue reading “FrontFoot News – March 2017”

Reducing Teacher Workload

Reducing Teacher Workload Poster

Reducing Teacher Workload PosterReducing Teacher Workload

The Department for Education have provided an update on their policy towards reducing teacher workload.   Lord Nash, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the School System, has issued the following letter introducing this:

Letter from Lord Nash

Dear Colleague,

REMOVING UNNECESSARY WORKLOAD FOR TEACHERS

We are committed to removing Continue reading “Reducing Teacher Workload”