Category: Training

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January 2016 HfL Chairs’ Briefing

Herts for Learning - AssessmentJanuary 2016 HfL Chairs’ Briefing

This 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/

Chairs Networks

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

News Reports

Independent: Head of Ofsted, Sir Michael Wilshaw, backs the banning of Muslim girls’ veils in schools to ensure ‘equality for women

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.”

DfE press release: New drive to protect children from “spell of twisted ideologies”

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan announces package of measures to protect children from extremism

The Education Select Committee: Report the role of Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs)

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

DfE guidance: Schools financial efficiency: metric tool

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.

The following DfE timelines have been updated for spring 2016 :

Timeline for academies: mandatory

Information to help headteachers, principals and governors of academies plan for the academic year ahead.

Timeline for local-authority-maintained schools: mandatory

Information to help local-authority-maintained schools plan for the academic year ahead

Timeline for free schools, UTCs and studio schools: mandatory

Information to help free schools, university technical colleges (UTCs) and studio schools plan for the academic year ahead

Timeline for pupil referral units: mandatory

Information to help pupil referral units plan for the academic year ahead

Timeline for academies: useful

Useful information to help academies plan for the academic year ahead

Timeline for local-authority-maintained schools: useful

Useful information to help local-authority-maintained schools plan for the academic year ahead

Timeline for free schools, UTCs and studio schools: useful

Useful information to help free schools, university technical colleges (UTCs) and studio schools plan for the academic year ahead

Timeline for pupil referral units: useful

Useful information to help pupil referral units plan for the academic year ahead

BBC: Academy chain to scrap governing bodies

The BBC is reporting that an academy chain is scrapping the current form of governing bodies for its schools in England.

New NGA guidance: A Governors’ Guide to Sixth Forms

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.

Resources for your governors and school leaders

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.

Governor Recruitment – Inspiring the Future Website

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

Do you know other chairs of governors who could be NLGs?

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.

Local Opportunities and Information

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.

Teach in Herts Teacher Recruitment Fair 2016

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 Exchange – January/February edition

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:

  • information on the 2016 Recruitment fair
  • discount rates for Encyclopaedia Britannica
  • how schools can benefit from a new budget toolkit
  • Hertfordshire school contacts British astronaut Major Tim Peake
  • P2P pilot launches in secondary school
  • and much more!

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.

Training Opportunities

WRAP

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

More Chairs Stuff

http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/edlearn/getinvolved/governors/infoforchairs/

Chairs Advanced Training

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. 

CRW1Advanced Chairs: Report Writing25/02/2016Thursday6.30-9pmWare Priory
CLS1Advanced Chairs: Leadership Skills09/03/2016Wednesday6.30-9pmHilton, Watford
CRP2Advanced Chairs: Reflective Practice19/04/2016Tuesday6.30-9pmHoliday Inn, Hemel
CDD2Advanced Chairs: Dealing with Difficult People04/05/2016Wednesday6.30-9pmBarnwell, Stevenage
COM3Advanced Chairs: Coaching & Mentoring17/05/2016Tuesday6.30-9pmHoliday Inn, Hemel
CMD3Advanced Chairs: Mediation07/06/2016Tuesday6.30-9pmBarnwell, Stevenage
CCH4Advanced Chairs: Change Management15/06/2016Wednesday6.30-9pmHilton, Watford
CNV1Advanced Chairs: Investigations30/06/2016Thursday6.30-9pmRamada, Hatfield

 Hertfordshire Association of School Governors

http://www.hertsgovernors.org/

 http://goo.gl/j2ycXz

 

 

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January 2016 Exchange

January 2016 ExchangeJanuary 2016 Exchange

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:

  • information on the 2016 Recruitment fair,
  • discount rates for Encyclopaedia Britannica,
  • how schools can benefit from a new budget toolkit,
  • Hertfordshire school contacts British astronaut Major Tim Peake,
  • P2P pilot launches in secondary school,
  • and much more!

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.

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School Food Standards

School Food Standards

Milk Alliance promoting School Food StandardsThe School Food Standards, as you may be aware, came into force in January 2015 and legally require all schools, excluding academies established between September 2010 and June 2014, to make milk available to children at any time during the school day.

The School & Nursery Milk Alliance has produced a guidance briefing (reproduced below) to ensure that school governors are best positioned to fulfil their legal duty to require their schools to comply with the standards.  This will also enable children in their schools to enjoy the health, educational and social benefits for milk.

The Alliance’s briefing provides context to the requirements and offers advice on ensuring that children choose to drink milk – for example, by providing it as a mid-morning snack, and ensuring that it is chilled and appropriately packaged. References to the EU School Milk Scheme and the Nursery Milk Scheme as ways of helping schools meet the requirement are included. The Alliance has also outlined the health, educational and societal benefits of milk as a further incentive.

Adhering to the School Food Standards

Ensuring that children in your school receive the benefits of milk

Advice for school governors

The government’s Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014, which came into force in January 2015, require that schools must provide milk at least once during the school day. Milk is a healthy, nutritious and natural drink for children and young people, providing them with the nutrients and other benefits needed to help them thrive in school. The School and Nursery Milk Alliance is keen to ensure that as many children as possible benefit from milk in school, and so has compiled advice for school governors on complying with the standards, as well as background to the legislation itself.

The scientific community, the European Union and the Government all recognise the value of milk. From January 2015, all schools – with the exception of academies or free schools founded between September 2010 and June 2014 – are legally required to provide milk to children once during the school day. Over 1,400 academies and free schools that are not legally required have also signed up to the standards voluntarily.

Your duties as a school governor: milk must be provided once during the school day

Regulation 9 of the Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 outlines that:

  • Lower fat milk and lactose reduced milk (sub-group D1) must be made available on every school day at a time during school hours.
  • For the purposes of this regulation, “school hours” means any time during a school session or during a break between school sessions.

Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/1603/regulation/9/made

A school’s governing body is responsible for ensuring compliance with the standards, according to the Department for Education’s guidance, School food in England: Departmental advice for governing bodies (2015).

The EU School Milk Scheme can assist with cost of providing milk to children over five, with schools receiving a subsidy of 4.4p per 250ml (Oct. 2015) and parents financing the difference. Free milk can be provided to under-fives via the Nursery Milk Scheme. Further information:  https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-school-milk-subsidy-scheme-guidance and http://www.nurserymilk.co.uk/.

Getting the most out of milk: advice and action for ensuring uptake

The School Food Standards recognise the benefits of milk to children during the school day. The School and Nursery Milk Alliance would like to see school governors ensuring that their schools comply with the standards, and that they actively work to ensure that as many children as possible drink milk during the school day. Better uptake is likely if the milk is:

  • Provided as a mid-morning snack – Milk is an ideal mid-morning snack due to its high satiety effect (it is filling and combats hunger) – conversely this makes it less suitable as a drink provided with lunch. Milk is also refreshing, providing children with extra energy needed to focus effectively through to lunch time. For some children it may be their first meal of the day, with 2013 research by Kellogg’s finding that 10% of children go to school hungry at least once a week.
  • Chilled – Chilled milk tastes nicer, which makes it more appealing to children. Some Alliance members have reported that some children find the taste of warm milk off-putting. Simply providing a jug of milk on the side at lunchtime is unlikely to make it appealing to drink.
    • Get in contact with local suppliers using DairyUK’s Find Me A Milkman (findmeamilkman.net), and they will assist you with supply. Alternatively, visit www.coolmilk.com.
    • Ensure that you have fridges available to keep milk chilled. Schools participating in the Nursery Milk Scheme may receive a free fridge from some suppliers.
  • Appropriately packaged – Cartons enable easier milk consumption. Pouring milk takes up more time and leaves more washing up for staff.
    • Purchase single-serve cartons of 189ml (⅓ of a pint). This is a suitable quantity for a primary school child, as determined in the Welfare Food Regulations 1996, with less chance of spillage and the packaging can be recycled.

Beyond legislation: the health, educational and societal benefits of milk

Milk has an array of benefits which should be considered alongside the legal requirement to provide it:

  • Vitamins and minerals that ensure healthy teeth, bones and skin – Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, and C, as well as minerals like zinc and calcium. These minerals help guard against gum disease and tooth decay, as well as mouth sores and bleeding gums.
  • Natural and filling – Milk has a high satiety value (it is filling and therefore ideal as a mid-morning snack), is free of harmful free sugars and has a relatively low fat content (1.7% for semi-skimmed milk). These factors make it ideal an ideal element of a healthy diet, which combats childhood obesity.
  • Good for the British countryside – School milk is an additional market for the many British farmers who help maintain Britain’s green countryside.

About the School and Nursery Milk Alliance

The School and Nursery Milk Alliance was formed in 2011 with the long-term aim of ensuring as many children enjoy the health benefits of milk as possible. It works with the government, public health bodies and organisations across the health, dairy and children’s sector to encourage the uptake of milk.

Contact:

For more information about the School and Nursery Milk Alliance, please contact snma@nullsnma.org.uk or get in touch via 020 7089 2607. You can also visit our website at www.snma.org.uk.

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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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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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All Change for The Exchange

Training Times relaunches as The ExchangeTraining Times Relaunches as The Exchange

Following feedback from schools last term, Training Times has been rebranded over the summer, and is now The Exchange.   The September/October edition of the paper is now in schools, with a spotlight on radicalisation, and September Ofsted changes alongside Hertfordshire schools’ and HfL news.

As you will notice, the paper is now slightly smaller, and has been redesigned by HfL’s graphic designer, Niall Hargrave. There are more news stories, more Hertfordshire schools’ stories, and you will now receive the paper folded to make it easier to handle in the staffroom.

The link to the online version can be found here:

This HfL monthly newspaper has something for governors and staff based in schools, whether looking for a little light reading on current educational news or for courses to further your professional development.

This edition also includes:

  • Hertfordshire’s success in Stonewall Equality Index 2015
  • the right to be forgotten!
  • Exchanging Excellence –  Closing the gap and a Hemel schools’ Transition project
  • HfL’S maths fluency project
  • top ideas for use in the classroom

… and much more!

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

Please contact our editorial team with queries: theexchange@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk

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.

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Free FFT Aspire Dashboard Webinar

fft aspire

Free School Governor Dashboard Webinar from FFT Aspire

Due to demand, an extra FFT Governor Dashboard webinar has been added to the autumn term series of free webinars. Education data specialists, FFT, are set to host the online event for school governors on Tuesday 13 October at 2pm.

The FFT Governor Dashboard, has been developed in partnership with the National Governors’ Association and the Wellcome Trust, and is now available through FFT Aspire, FFT’s new reporting and data tool for schools, local authorities and academy trusts.

All subscribing schools can download the Governor Dashboard from FFT Aspire, and share it easily with governors.  Alternatively, governors can be provided with their own account, giving access to not only the Governor Dashboard but also a range of other information to aid their ‘support and challenge’ role.

Through a simple, six-page dashboard, governors can see how their school attainment and pupil progress compares to the national average, how it performs in different subjects, and whether any specific groups of pupils are under-performing, making it the ideal overview for planning towards Ofsted and Estyn inspections too.

The online events which last for thirty minutes will allow you to interact with webinar hosts and presenters by asking questions. FFT Managing Director Paul Charman says:

The great thing about the online sessions is that you can log on from anywhere – your own school, workplace or home – without the need of an outside venue.

The free webinar: FFT Overview for School Governors takes place on October 13, at 2pm.

To book a place on the free webinar please visit http://bit.ly/Governorwebinar.

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Governance Case Studies

Governance Case Studies

The ‘National Leaders of Governance – East of England‘ have recently published 3 case studies that will be of interest to Herts Governors:

School to School Governance Support in Luton

This case study, written by Craig Smith, NLG Central Beds, discusses  a soft federation of seven secondary and one 11-18 special school, called Luton Futures, working collaboratively together to improve outcomes for learners. The federation has been in operation since 2011 and has developed real impetus – so much so that after starting as a Heads forum it further developed with LFIGs (Luton Futures Improvement Groups) designed to focus in on and support specific areas. These LFIGs were developed from 2012 onwards and focused on areas such as Teaching and Learning, Literacy, Data, SEN, Behaviour, Business Managers. In 2013 the model was extended to cover Governance and an LFIG Governors Group was set up – to offer peer to peer support to the Chairs of Governors of the eight schools and to support leadership development across the federation.

Read the full article here.

Teaching school alliance support for governance in Suffolk

Written by Victoria De Naeyer, this study discusses Samuel Ward Academy Trust, a multi-academy trust with a family of academies in Suffolk. The trust consists of 3 secondary academies, 3 primary academies and a special school. The Suffolk Borders Teaching Alliance was established in September 2015, led by Samuel Ward, and is made up of 15 schools in the locality. Samuel Ward has embraced its responsibilities for school to school support and system leadership as it relates to governance and is really having an impact on raising governance standards across its trust and wider teaching school alliance.

Read the full article here.

Developing governance system leaders in Hertfordshire

Written by our own Kathy Dunnett, this study discusses the evolutionary process from the creation of Herts Leaders of Governance, through to National Leaders of Governance and leading on to Strategic Leaders of Governance; this latter group has grown from a small kernel of 6 in 2012 to nearly 40 now helping schools in Hertfordshire to meet their objectives.

Read the full article here.

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Training Times – March 2015

Training Times front page March 2015Training Times – March 2015

The March edition of Training Times is now in schools, with a spotlight on Herts for Learning’s science and MFL teams.

The link to the online version can be found here: Training Times March

This HfL monthly newspaper has something for governors and staff based in schools, whether looking for a little light reading on current educational news or for courses to further your professional development.

This edition includes:

  • “Grit Gets Grades” – a look into the new focus on character education and what two Hertfordshire schools are doing to give pupils grit
  • Science and MFL – how can these teams support you?  An introduction to the Lead advisers for Science (Joanna Conn) and Modern Foreign Languages (Jackie Rayment), their background and priorities.
  • Dame Carol Ann Duffy, Britain’s Poet Laureate, entertained at HfL’s national poetry conference, “The Power in Poetry: Language as Play” in March.
  • The Early Years pupil premium – School Leaders said they were inspired at HfL’s “Ready for Early Years Premium and Ofsted Inspection of Early Years” conference in February.
  • HfL’s new SBM service – headed by Natalie Dalvarez, the service aims to support school improvement, raise teh profile of SBMs and help standardize a role that is still new to many schools.

…and much more!

If 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.

Please contact HfL journalist Jessica Broadbent at jessica.broadbent@ hertsforlearning.co.uk with your feedback or if you would like your school to be included.

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Training Times – July 2015

Front page of July 2015 edition of Training TimesTraining Times – July 2015

The July 2015 edition of Training Times is now in schools, with a spotlight on mental health, Exchanging Excellence and our Vulnerable Groups Achievement team alongside the usual HfL and schools’ news.

The link to the online version can be found here: http://bit.ly/TT-July15.

This edition includes:

  • mental health – the pressures facing young people:
    ‘Homework ban to save pupils from depression’, read one headline in The Times last month; ‘Give children a good start in life’, pleaded top national mental health organisations to the new government in the wake of the general election.
  • new Head of School Recruitment Services has now joined HfL:
    Justine Hammond joined HfL on 1st July.
  • Exchanging Excellence – an impressive journey from RI to outstanding at Brockswood:
    The school is one of the first in the country to move straight from RI to outstanding between only two inspections under the current framework.
  • HfL’s first Investor in Parents award winners, Newberries Primary:
    Anna Traxon, Headteacher, commented “We are delighted to have been awarded with Investor in Parents status and to be the first school in Hertfordshire to receive the accolade.”
  • National Conference for school business managers:
    Organised by HfL last month, this national conference on the topic of being creative and inspirational during times of challenge & change, had three keynote speakers and 12 workshops.

…and much more!

Changes ahead

Following feedback from the recent Training Times survey, we are currently reviewing and refreshing the format, content and name of this publication for September.

If 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. Please contact our Journalist Jessica Broadbent at jessica.broadbent@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk with your feedback or if you would like your school to be included.