TRAINING TIMES hertsforlearning.co.uk JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 Issue 8 Embedding British Values – the importance of context Herts for Learning Ltd is a not for profit company owned by Hertfordshire schools and the Local Authority. Providing improvement and business services, it is dedicated to improving standards of education in Hertfordshire and beyond. Education this month Pui Him Ip Herts for Learning Researcher Are schools teaching British values? – Oxford University Press blog http://bit.ly/1snIEJf Jessica Broadbent Herts for Learning Journalist Sir Trevor McDonald OBE used his deep understanding of global current affairs to open Herts for Learning’s first national conference on 3rd December 2014, Embedding British Values: preparing young people for life in modern Britain. The conference was held in response to the government agenda to embed British values within the National Curriculum. Sir Trevor, ITN’s first black journalist, is best known as the News at Ten anchorman. He contextualised the concept of British values and advised the audience on how these could be embedded within educational settings. Sir Trevor said that before we can understand British values, we must be able to understand the world. He argued that in a digital age where we have excessive access to information, it is essential to teach young people to challenge what they read to be able to see a broader global picture. “My first view is that young people today face enormous difficulties, which arise from the great confusion of areas from which one can get information. How to choose them, and what to make of them, is the problem”. With the way we receive news evolving into short, easily accessible pieces of news there is a danger of losing a sound understanding of the information received, particularly with the individual agendas of journalists. “Context is desperately important”, he said, in broadening young people’s understanding of the world they live in. The internet provides “bite size bits” that don’t tell the whole story or provide context. From his own personal experiences as a journalist, Sir Trevor said he has often found the context of his interviews to give him just as much as the interviews himself. His interviews with Saddam Hussein and Nelson Mandela both showed this to him. Visits to Iraq and South Africa gave him an impression of the people, the country, and in the case of Iraq “a whole regime”. His first hand experiences gave an invaluably deep understanding of what was going on. “British values are important in an international context, as we go round the world encouraging people to be like ‘us’ and have our values”, he went on to say. Those values mean little unless put into the context of the globalised world; young people will only understand a value system if they are able to see these values set in contrast to those held in other countries, and at other times in history. “The most important thing you can do, is to get [pupils] to read much much more widely to understand context, and much more widely than just our daily newspapers and the internet”. “With that kind of investment in understanding, then their reach is up to the stars and beyond”. Peter Martin, Regional Further and Higher Education Coordinator at Prevent, followed Sir Trevor with an overview of the Prevent strategy. Prevent is one of the four elements of CONTEST, the government’s counter terrorism strategy. Peter’s role includes developing links with the Channel process (which aims to provide support to individuals at risk of being drawn into violent extremism) and accountable safeguarding boards. Several workshops were on offer. These included sessions by: School Improvement Professional and trained Ofsted inspector Andy Clark, who focussed on the important aspects of British values that schools need to “Values are never just abstract ideas, but are expressed and experienced through emotions. And they are not ideologically neutral.” consider as they plan for inspection or In this blog, historian Stéphanie Olsen self-review; Headteacher Emma Flawn, reminds us that the current debate on who explained how Camps Hill Primary teaching British values is not new. Looking School has woven the key British values back, we can learn that we are still unable into their Golden Threads curriculum; to answer the central question at the Herts for Learning’s Lead Teaching heart of this debate: what emotions do we and Learning Adviser for Anti-Bullying want our children to learn and why? If the Karin Hutchinson, who asked dele- current debate is to lead to constructive gates to question the implications of outcomes, it is time for all sides to dig below the word ‘tolerance’, a concept loaded the surface and sketch out some cogent with tensions that fly in the face of what principles for answering this question. we are trying to achieve under equalities legislation; Humanities Consultant Christine Lloyd Staples, who explored In search of British values how to build pupils’ sense of identity – The humanities blog, University of Exeter of what it means to be British through http://bit.ly/1yHxxCg history and geography. Saira Khan, star of the first series “We will never break out of the current of The Apprentice, closed the day with cycle of confusion about British values an enlightening account of her life as until we allow ourselves to think differa British Asian Muslim woman. She ently about them.” described the ways in which growing When we think about the core British up in Britain and holding British values values, who do we consult? Are the have helped her to recognise and voices of the diverse ethnic communities realise her potential. included? The researchers in this blog Knowledge is crucial, she argued, sought to discover the articulation of to a successful multicultural commu- British values in British Asian communities nity which “does not demand and called for an attempt to understand assimilation, but does however require British values through engagement and integration”. She urged teachers to dialogue with diverse British communities. learn about their children and their backgrounds, involve all parents and tap into the interests of all commun Being British ities represented within the school. – Broken pencils are pointless Saira recorded personal messages http://bit.ly/1zeR4aZ for teachers to take back to their schools on tablets and phones, encour- We often encounter an overwhelming aging children to explore British values sense of negativity about life in Britain: and aim high. the NHS is failing, education inequality is deepening, etc. This blog captures a short HfL’s next national conference is: story of changing attitudes in children The Power in Poetry – Language as Play towards being British. In the midst of all with Carol Ann Duffy and Roger McGough the political and social controversies Tuesday 3rd February generated by British values, this story is a refreshing example of what really matters in all this: helping children to appreciate To book your place please visit: the significance of being British. http://bit.ly/powerinpoetry Inside this issue Financial Services for Schools The pick Latest HfL headlines Herts Schools This month’s spotlight team is FSS. The team supports all areas of school finance for both maintained schools and academies. What’s on this term? HfL is running SRE and anti-violence workshops, launching P2P in schools, and holding various conferences. We also review SITSS’ termly SIMS update meetings for school users. In other news… HfL’s Coaching service is launched this month; Confident Teens is a hit with young girls; and Early Years advisers explain the effects of children’s centre recommissioning. This month we are showcasing the impressive international work being done across the county, numerous school accolades, and Hertfordshire’s first group of Mini Vinnies. p.2 p.3 pp.4,5&9 pp.10&11 2 Herts for Learning Training Times January/February 2015 Meet our FSS team Jessica Broadbent Herts for Learning Journalist The freedoms and responsibilities of schools to make decisions about their use of resources has been a key theme of education policy and this continues to develop apace. This, combined with an increasingly challenging financial climate, means that it is ever more crucial to ensure schools have access to strong financial management. HfL’s Financial Services for Schools (FSS) team provides a comprehensive support service to schools and academies covering all aspects of finance and budget management, reporting and planning. It provides guidance and technical support on the use of financial management and planning software, including the procurement of software on behalf of schools. A key part of FSS is the Service Delivery team, led by Senior Service Delivery Manager Barbara Elliott. This team provides regular bookkeeping and financial management services to over 340 schools. Barbara is supported by four Service Delivery Managers. Too numerous to mention by name but critical to supporting schools is HfL’s team of Financial Advisers who, in addition to delivering regular services, are up to date with the latest developments and guidance in schools finance, whether that be Hertfordshire’s requirements or that of the DfE or the EFA. In addition to delivery of the regular service contracts the team also delivers several hundred hours of training to schools, including courses on the use of systems, financial management courses for governors and senior leadership teams in all phases of schools. The other key area of FSS is the Finance Strategy team, led by Finance Strategy Manager Louise Shaw (ACA). The team is newly established and its objective is to lead on the development of services to schools and in particular to deliver excellent but cost effective services to academies of all types. The team consists of highly experienced advisers who work in both maintained schools and academies of all phases. The team also provides support to schools in financial difficulty and other complex projects. The Finance Strategy team includes the Systems team, led by Systems Manager Stephen Luff. This team has responsibility for the FSS supported software for financial planning and management. The FSS helpline forms Herts for Learning Training Times January/February 2015 The pick Up and coming 3 What’s on and what you might have missed part of this team and provides telephone and email support to schools on financial software and general financial queries. The Systems team issues bulletins to schools to provide guidance on meeting reporting requirements and to update schools on news. Depending on the level of activity this can be as many as 20 bulletins a year. The team is currently leading on the upgrade of schools financial planning software from FPS net to FPS web which provides an enhanced user experience. See article below for more details. For more information about the team and all FSS services and training courses please see: www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/team/ financial-services-schools Spring term at HfL Hertfordshire’s SRE Summit: Meeting Young People’s 21st Century Needs Herts for Learning is organising a unique opportunity for all concerned in sex and relationship education: Hertfordshire’s SRE Summit. This conference is fully funded by Hertfordshire County Council and is to take place on Friday 27th February 2015 at Hertfordshire Development Centre. In 2012, 49% of primary age children in Hertfordshire did not feel they knew enough about growing up and body changes, only 34% of secondary age children rated their school lessons on sex education as ‘quite’ or ‘very useful’ and 41% of Year 10 boys and 57% of Year 10 girls said there is pressure on young people to have sex, according to the Health Related Behaviour Questionnaire. Results from this questionnaire revealed that young people’s knowledge and understanding of sexual health and the laws around sex is poor. This lack of understanding can contribute to low outcomes for Hertfordshire’s younger generations. This conference brings together staff from Hertfordshire’s primary, secondary and special schools/academies and colleges with colleagues from youth services, public health, NHS, police and voluntary organisations, giving delegates the opportunity to make connections with local services that can support the delivery of SRE. It will enable all partners involved in delivering or supporting the SRE curriculum to update themselves on this important and currently fast moving agenda. Delegates will receive full updates on curriculum guidance for SRE and consider how young people’s experien ces of relationships and sex are changing. Keynote speakers include PSHE Association Chief Executive Joe Hayman, and Sam Beale from Brighton & Hove City Council, winners of the Stonewall Education Equality Index 2014. They will be addressing issues including access, transition, inclusion, age appropriate SRE, and safeguarding agendas such as e-safety, domestic violence, relationship abuse, FGM and grooming. To book your place on this conference please visit: http://bit.ly/TTHGfL Course code: 14CON/009A Price: Free Updated Parent2Parent® programme – available to schools in April Conferences Barbara Elliott Cheryl Faint Louise Shaw Barbara is a Senior Service Delivery Manager and has worked with FSS since 2001. She is responsible for ensuring that FSS services to maintained schools are timely and support schools in meeting their financial reporting and management responsibilities. She line manages the four area Service Delivery Managers: Liz Smith (West), Nirvan Shirvani (South), Cathy Reyner (East) and Karon Liles (North). As a key member of the FSS management team, Barbara works with Louise Shaw to inform the development of FSS services and also FSS training products. She is currently looking at improvements FSS can bring to its reporting services ahead of what FSS believes will be an increasingly challenging financial climate for schools. Previously Barbara was a bursar at a secondary school in Welwyn Garden City. She has also been a governor at two schools and has a degree in French, German and Economics. She began with FSS as a financial adviser in 2001, before becoming a member of the FSS management team. She has extensive experience in education finance. Cheryl is the Head of Financial Services for Schools (FSS) and has worked in the area of Schools Finance since 2006. Her mission is to ensure that schools of all types who are supported by FSS receive high quality and cost effective bookkeeping and accountancy services, as well as informed advice on the financial management of schools. She works closely with other key advisory teams in HfL to develop linked up services to support Headteachers and Governing Bodies. Having joined FSS in September 2013, Cheryl was previously Finance Manager in the School Funding Team in Hertfordshire County Council and this experience has enabled her to understand Hertfordshire requirements and also how developments in school funding affect schools. She is a fully qualified Chartered Management Accountant, and prior to joining Hertfordshire County Council worked in manufacturing industries with a particular focus on cost reduction programmes. She also has extensive experience in producing company accounts. Currently Cheryl is looking at how the team can develop its services to better support leadership in schools. Louise is the newest member of the FSS team and joined in November 2014 as a Finance Strategy Manager. Her main role is to lead on the development of FSS services to schools with a particular focus on services for academies. She is also the lead on the further development of FSS consultancy services including services to schools in financial difficulty. Louise is a qualified chartered accountant and has joined the team from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). She studied French and History at university before beginning her work with the public sector. Louise also leads on the coordination of FSS’s response to developments which affect schools’ financial management and planning. This includes coordinating developments in the financial responsibilities of academies with the development of software solutions. The role also incorporates leading on specific projects, such as ensuring FSS gives high quality support to schools impacted by changes to children’s centres. Louise is particularly keen to talk to academies about how FSS can support their financial management and reporting responsibilities. National Conference – The Power in Poetry: Language as Play Tuesday 3rd February 2015 Theobalds Park, Cheshunt 14CON/011A Ready for Early Years Pupil Premium and Ofsted Inspection of Early Years Wednesday 4th February 2015 Hertfordshire Development Centre 14EAY/055P Hertfordshire’s SRE Summit: Meeting Young People’s 21st Century Needs Friday 27th February 2015 Hertfordshire Development Centre 14CON/009A Full Steam Ahead! Moral Compass Realigned Hertfordshire secondary headteachers conference Thursday 5th – Friday 6th March 2015 Ashridge Business School 15CON/002S Growing Minds Conference – a day with James Nottingham Tuesday 17th March 2015 Fielder Centre, Hatfield 14ASS/088A For further information about our upcoming conferences please contact Danielle Wallington on: [email protected] An introduction to FPS web FSS is currently working on the upgrade of its financial planning software solution for Hertfordshire maintained schools from FPS net to FPS web. Many academies will already be familiar with the FPS web version of the software for academies. FSS is working to make the FPS web version for maintained schools available to Hertfordshire maintained schools. The FPS web offers many improvements on the FPS net version of the software, including improved functionality to plan staffing costs more accurately, web based access and the ability to share reports within specified access rights and improved reporting, including a dashboard of key performance indicators. FSS will continue to tailor the software to Hertfordshire characteristics, including building in assumptions for inflation, Hertfordshire’s funding formula and ensuring that such areas as the MFG calculations are operating correctly. The team is also looking carefully at assumptions to be built into the software for 2016-17 for funding. This work is supported by the Education Funding Team, who has significant expertise in the area of school funding. The system was piloted by a number of school business managers from a variety of maintained schools and the feedback was very positive. The objective is for schools to be migrated to FPS web in the spring term with the 15-16 version of the software being available in schools on or before 28th February 2015. More information on the project plan and product is available on the Hertfordshire Grid for Learning: http://bit.ly/FPS-Feb For school business managers and bursars who do not receive regular contract services from Financial Services for Schools and have an in house financial management arrangement will be interested the course “An introduction to FPS web”. An introduction to FPS web: 14FSS/090A Tuesday 3rd February 2015 For more information and to book your place on the course please visit: www.thegrid.org.uk/schoolworkforce Parent2Parent®, the innovative new programme for parents, has been piloted across a number of schools in Hertfordshire during the autumn term. The response to the pilot from schools and parents has been really positive, with 100% of partici pating parents stating that they felt motivated or inspired by the programme. The pilot has enabled us to trial different methods of delivery, and we are now proud to offer this programme to all primary schools. From April, schools can access a trained HfL lead who will deliver six tried and tested modules to parents. The programme can be offered within an individual school or to a cluster/group of schools. Once parents have completed the programme they are able to apply to become trainers themselves, so they can deliver the programme to other parents in their school/cluster of schools. Full details on the updated programme will be sent to schools over the coming weeks, along with details on how to subscribe. If you would like further information on the Parent2Parent® programme, please contact Julie Garstang: 01438 844853 or [email protected] Secondary phase INSET: preventing violence and abuse Herts for Learning has secured new funding to deliver its successful three hour training programme for teaching staff focussed on ‘Preventing violence and abuse in teenage relationships’. The programme is being funded in the spring term 2015 by Hertfordshire County Council’s public health team. This innovative programme is in line with the Department of Health’s requirement that young people should develop positive values and a strong moral framework that will guide their decisions, judgement and behaviour, as stated in the ‘Framework for Sexual Health Improvement in England’ 2013 and 2014 supplementary guidance for schools’ SRE. It also responds to significant shifts in the sexualisation of young people and our increased understanding of the risks, nature and impact of domestic violence, sexual exploitation and abuse. The training is delivered in individual schools either for targeted SRE and pastoral staff or as whole staff training. It focusses on how to integrate preventative work into the curriculum, and on key understandings and core messages that all staff need. Delegates will be given curriculum strategies and support to focus young people’s attention on the causes of exploitative relationships, the laws around these issues, key principles on which to base healthy Recently at HfL SIMS updates SIMS users from schools across the county attended the SIMS user group meetings at the end of the autumn term. These updates are tailored for nursery, primary and secondary settings independently, and are run by members of HfL’s School IT Systems Support Team (SITSS). Meetings are informal, allowing school staff to pose their own questions and bring queries from other staff back at school. The SITSS team outline the changes to SIMS and address in detail any current developments that may affect the way SIMS is used. They also pick out key questions that the SITSS service desk team have been receiving, pre-empt future problems and advise on how to prevent these. The sessions are accompanied by quick demonstrations and step-by-step explanations of more complex updates. “The meetings are useful to update users on things they might have missed, and hear what other SIMS users have to say”, one delegate said, “it’s useful for the relationships, and the skills to be able to respond to violence in their own and others’ relationships. Training is available for up to 16 secondary schools and four further education colleges across Hertfordshire before the end of March 2015. The cost of training is only £50 per school. To arrange a training programme for your school or college please contact Sandra Willetts: [email protected] or: 01438 844795 In case you missed anything… whole school as we go back and pass on the important information and new ideas”. This term, the nursery meetings covered school census and school workforce census feedback; Anycomms+; an explanation of the updated Early Years Foundation Stage Toolkit, covering both templates and reports; attainment on entry and exit; the new SIMS school report; and SIMS hints and tips. The primary meetings talked through HfL’s new assessment resources; the school census and school workforce census feedback; how to update user accounts on System Manager; the new SIMS autumn school report; and the new dinner money reports. The secondary meetings addressed developments including changes to SEN; how to add new user accounts on System Manager and change students’ enrolment status; the SITSS percentage attendance vulnerable groups report; and OV8 and reporting issues. Schools are also invited to share their own experiences and use of SIMS. This term, Liz Hughes from Kings Langley School gave a short overview of the benefits they have seen in using the service desk online. The spring term user group meetings will take place in March and are free to attend. To book on to your local group please visit: http://bit.ly/TTHGfL Course codes Primary: 14SIT/119P - 123P Secondary: 14SIT/116S - 118S Nursery settings will receive an email with an invitation to attend the user group in the spring term and will need to reply to this if they wish to book a place. 4 Herts for Learning Training Times January/February 2015 Other news from HfL Herts for Learning Training Times for making a difference. In a recent survey of Hertfordshire headteachers undertaken by HfL, 77.5% of respondents stated that they were interested in buying coaching support for themselves or for other members of their team. There has never been a more demanding time to be a headteacher or a senior leader in school. We recognise this, and have been working with an independent coaching organisation to train a cadre of accredited coaches who can support colleagues committed to developing and sustaining their performance. Through the new Coaching service, headteachers and aspiring senior leaders within schools can contract the services of an accredited coach. All coaches are certified to ILM Level 5, and once subscribed to the service, headteachers/senior leaders will be able to select the coach that best meets their professional needs from a selection of biographies provided by HfL. An initial Coaching service package comprises three two-hour sessions with a coach (90 minutes face-to-face time plus 30 minutes preparation time per session) with additional sessions arranged on a pay-as-you-use basis. Coaching service costs Initial 3 session package Additional sessions £500 £150 per session Coaching sessions will take place at an appropriate venue agreed between the coach and the headteacher/senior leader. For further information on HfL’s Coaching Service or to subscribe to the service please contact Helen Allen: 01438 844823 or [email protected] SITSS reaccredited by Capita HfL’s School IT Systems Support (SITSS) team has been reaccredited by Capita as a SIMS provider for the next two years. Phil Neal, Managing Director of Capita, presented the team with their reaccreditation at a ceremony in December. “The accreditation process is very important to us because our software depends on good support”, said Phil. If understood well and used appropriately by management teams in schools, SIMS is a tool that can assist school improvement and help to improve outcomes of children. In order to become reaccredited, HfL had to complete a rigorous self-assessment and gather schools’ feedback on the SIMS service. The Capita Accreditation team also made visits to both primary and secondary schools to review how well they make use of SIMS, and gather evidence of how SITSS has contributed to this. “It’s clear that Hertfordshire schools appreciate the support that you give”, Phil said, “it’s a service to be proud of”. To thank them for their participation in the Capita evaluation survey, participating schools were entered into a prize draw. Ladbrooke JMI School in Potters Bar were the lucky winners of a digital camera, and were presented with their prize by MIS Project Manager Maralyn Pomeroy. The school are going to use the camera to assist with their ‘flight’ topic work next term; they are planning to use digital images and videos to accompany their written work and enhance their ICT skills. Office Manager Gemma MacCormack is new to Hertfordshire, having previously worked in a London borough school. She said her transition has been helped by the use of SIMS, how easy it is to operate and the support on offer by SITSS. Confident Teens a hit with pupils services to their families. Centres will gather and use data collectively (for example on new births in their area), and will share local knowledge gained over the past seven years. In Hertfordshire, smaller groups have been formed than in other local authorities (around two to four children’s centres per group), so the offer remains local for each family. HfL is commissioned by HCC to secure overall effectiveness and promote quality improvement. The current quality profile of centres in Hertfordshire is well above the national profile, with 75% of inspections at least good compared to less than 67% nationally. HfL and HCC are confident that the reorganisation period can be managed Megan Wilcox with minimal disruption to services for Hertfordshire’s families. The new lead agency contracts will be monitored by HfL children’s centre improvement partners (CCHIPs) and HCC Childhood Support Services officers, building upon the robust systems already established and recognised as exemplary by Ofsted: “The local authority reviews the centres’ performance termly, and the challenging targets and insightful advice have been instrumental in bringing improvement” and “Working closely with a skilled local authority improvement partner has helped the centre undergo a successful period of rapid development in the last year.” Teams from HfL and HCC will be on hand to support centres through the changes. In HfL the Schools HR team will be working to support lead agencies with the TUPE process and restructuring of centre teams; the Financial Services for Schools (FSS) team will be supporting budget planning for schools that are lead agencies; and School IT Systems Support (SITSS) will be supporting the database and IT solutions. HfL with Phil Neal Karen James Pupils at Confident Teens workshop Primary schools have been required since September 2014 to provide foreign language teaching to every year group in KS2 and to ensure that teaching focusses on substantial progress in one language. To support schools with this, HfL has developed a Primary Languages Quality Mark (PLQM), which can help to audit, embed and evaluate the foreign language provision in a school. The PLQM moves through a series of incremental stages and guides a school towards best MFL practice. It also helps them to meet the new National Curriculum requirements, as set out in the Programme of Study for KS2. Schools can apply for a quality mark at bronze, silver or gold level by submitting an evidence-based portfolio. The PLQM measures curriculum planning and design; achievement, assessment and reporting; subject leadership and management; wider opportunities including international dimension as well as transition, continu ity and progression. Schools will need to provide evidence that they can meet the requirements and criteria for each level of the award. The award levels are cumulative (therefore to apply for the silver award, criteria for the bronze award must also be met). The awarding panel will consist of Catherine Cheater, who has over 30 years’ experience and is renowned nationally and internationally as a teacher, consultant and author in the field of primary modern languages, as well as Yvonne Kennedy, SLE and Jackie Rayment, Herts for Learning Languages Adviser. For further information on PLQM see http://bit.ly/TTPLQM or contact: [email protected] Ladbrooke JMI school pupils with Year 5 teacher Chris Ward The HfL Early Years team will be providing workshops on managing change, delivered locally on request from children’s centres. These follow a recent successful children’s centre worker conference. A ten week future leaders training programme is also being run to support children’s centre managers to adapt to change and develop their systems further. For more information about managing change workshops please contact Caroline Chalke: caroline. [email protected] In addition to this HfL training, the normal range of children’s centre CPD will continue alongside extra communication briefings for new and former lead agencies and staff. The CCHIP team includes: Megan Wilcox, Caroline Chalke, Lucy Chadwick, Lucy Connolly, Deborah Godbold, Gill Grainger, Lucky Khera, Mireille Macraild and Susan Tanton. For more information about groupings see: http://bit.ly/hccr15 New primary HfL non-executive director Herts for Learning is pleased to announce that Karen James, Headteacher at Ludwick Nursery School, has been elected as the new primary phase non-executive director (NED) on the HfL Board as of January 2015. Karen said, “I was keen to join the HfL Board, recognising the hugely positive impact that HfL has had on Hertfordshire schools. It is a great privilege to be elected as a non-executive director to represent Hertfordshire primary schools.” Karen brings a wealth of educational experience, having been a The teenage years are testing, at best. During the sessions girls are asked – consequently these images are unrealistic comparisons for their own, to think about what makes them unique In December a group of Year 9 girls from changing, bodies. This helps to increase amongst the other 7 billion of us on the Marriotts School in Stevenage took part their own body confidence and appreciin a session to explore issues surround- planet. They are encouraged to clarify ing confidence. After their two hours, what they are good at, and set them- ation of their individuality. selves some short and longer term goals. Assistant Headteacher Lesley Tether they left saying, “It was excellent, I have commented, “This workshop enabled a sense of confidence and feel more “I learnt that you need a plan to achieve the girls to reflect on how they feel positive and ambitious for the future”, your goals or it’s just a dream”, said one about themselves and look forward to a Year 9 girl. and “I found out that I am not the only positive future. Highly recommended.” They then look to others doing the one who doesn’t feel confident”. things that they aspire to, discussing It was one of the new workshops For more information or to book offered by Herts for Learning in partner- female role models in fields includa workshop at your school please ship with confidence specialists, Confi- ing sport, literature and current affairs, contact: julie.garstang@ inspiring them to see the importance of dent Teens, which ran in a number of hertsforlearning.co.uk never giving up on their goals. Hertfordshire schools last term. The In contrast, they take a look at aim is to teach young girls how to magazine images of celebrities and understand themselves better and value how these are invariably airbrushed their individuality. Supporting primary language quality provision Children’s centres recommissioning – what this means for you... Hertfordshire is retaining 82 children’s centres – in spite of a reduced budget – by recommissioning, grouping centres and reducing the number of lead agencies. This is good news for schools as well as children, families and Early Years settings because the early intervention and support facilitated by the centres is increasing the proportion of children ‘ready for school’. This reorganisation means that all families with young children can still access a centre locally, and additional support will be readily available to those in greatest need. Children’s centres will work even more closely with others who deliver services for young children and their families such as GPs, schools, health visitors and midwives. Megan Wilcox, Herts for Learning Early Years Adviser and Children’s Centre Lead, has been working closely over the past nine months with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and Hertfordshire Public Health to prepare for the recommissioning. The new groupings will allow centres to collaborate to offer a wider range of 5 Other news from HfL Unlock your potential through HfL’s new Coaching service For many years, good coaching practice has been associated with high performance and success in sports. Many business organisations are now also using coaching to help get the best performance from their senior leaders and management team. A qualified coach is trained to get the best out of a person, to understand their abilities and to unlock their potential. They are not consultants, who are generally paid to deliver systems and programmes. Coaches enable people and capabilities to develop and grow within an organisation and are recognised January/February 2015 Hertfordshire headteacher for eight years, played an active role on Schools Forum and worked in partnership with other schools as a national leader of education (NLE). The vacancy for primary non-executive director arose as Kim Frazer stepped down from headship and has therefore resigned from the HfL Board, as outlined in the November edition of Training Times. Karen is excited about the role, and commented, “I am looking forward to being involved in shaping the future direction of the company as it goes on to achieve further success.” Teach in Herts TEACHER RECRUITMENT FAIR Sponsored by Herts for Learning and the National College for Teaching and Leadership Saturday 14th March 2015, 10.00am to 4.00pm Hertfordshire Development Centre at Robertson House, Stevenage To support you with your recruitment, Herts for Learning (HfL) and the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) are hosting a teacher recruitment fair on Saturday 14th March. The event, which will be supported with a local and national advertising campaign to attract a wide range of people wishing to Teach in Herts, will be funded by Herts for Learning and will include a series of workshops, each focussed on a different aspect of teacher recruitment: • NQT support in Hertfordshire • improving your subject knowledge • progress your career in Hertfordshire • advice surgeries for individuals • returning to teaching • applying for your first teaching job • upskilling for those wanting to re-train from other professions • why teach in Hertfordshire • mature entrants to the profession • living and settling in Hertfordshire – benefits and practical advice The NCTL will also be running Train to Teach sessions, which will guide attendees through the routes into teaching and will share invaluable information on applying for training. Schools Direct providers will be available and accessible on the day alongside the NCTL sessions. Attendance at this event is FREE and a shuttle bus will run between the Hertfordshire Development Centre and Stevenage train station. The Oak room has been reserved for Hertfordshire schools/school clusters to host an exhibition stand, on which they can: • promote their school/school clusters to prospective candidates • advertise their current teaching vacancies • meet people interested in entering or returning to the teaching profession Guidance on putting a stand together for the event will be provided by Herts for Learning. Exhibiting is restricted to Hertfordshire schools only and further information will be sent to schools shortly and will be posted on the HfL website. If your school/cluster of schools is interested in taking a stand at the event please book by emailing: [email protected] #teachinherts Please note that exhibition space is limited. Spring term 2015 Training programme overview For more information about the Herts for Learning training programme or to book your place on a course please visit: www.thegrid.org.uk/schoolworkforce/training/courses/booking.shtml 14COM/011P 06-Mar-15 Phonics and spelling at Key Stage 2: pulling it all together 14ENG/093A 18-Mar-15 14COM/012P 24-Feb-15 Using data for school improvement Key Stages 1 and 2 14ASS/082P 23-Mar-15 New to the EYFS 14ASS/081P 10-Mar-15 Primary Computing Professional Development: Computing subject leaders’ spring 2015 update (South/ West) 14COM/013P 23-Feb-15 Growing Minds Conference – a day with James Nottingham 14ASS/088A 17-Mar-15 Growing minds – a two day course about ‘mindsets’ 14ASS/103A 17-Mar-15 Year 6/7 moderation cluster 1 14ASS/117A 06-Feb-15 Year 6/7 moderation cluster 2 14ASS/110A 30-Jan-15 14ASS/108A 29-Jan-15 Year 6/7 moderation cluster 5 14ASS/106A 28-Jan-15 Year 6/7 moderation cluster 6 14ASS/107A 28-Jan-15 Year 6/7 moderation cluster 7 14ASS/113A 04-Feb-15 Year 6/7 moderation cluster 8 14ASS/114A 04-Feb-15 Year 6/7 moderation cluster 9 CONFERENCES Year 6/7 moderation cluster 4 DT Year 6/7 moderation cluster 3 Primary Computing Professional Development: Computing subject leaders’ spring 2015 update (North/ East, Longmeadow) 14COM/014P 26-Feb-15 Hertfordshire’s SRE summit: meeting young people’s 21st century needs 14CON/009A 27-Feb-15 National Conference: The Power in Poetry - Language as Play 14CON/011A 03-Feb-15 Level 2 food hygiene 14DET/006A 12-Feb-15 Developing progression geographical skills and fieldwork 14GEO/002P 29-Jan-15 “Going places” with human and physical geography at KS1 and KS2 14GEO/003P 25-Feb-15 KS2 history – prehistoric Britain, ancient worlds and early civilisations New HT induction programme making effective use of data New headteacher network meeting 14HIS/004P 05-Feb-15 14MAN/043P 25-Feb-15 14EAY/054P 05-Mar-15 New curriculum: developing understanding and progression in calculation 14MAT/105P 26-Jan-15 New curriculum: developing understanding and progression in calculation 14MAT/106P 27-Jan-15 Making numbers real using Numicon: action, imagery, conversation, structure and generalisation 14MAT/107P 12-Mar-15 Addressing mathematical misconceptions in Key Stage 1 14MAT/110P 10-Mar-15 Addressing mathematical misconceptions in Key Stage 2 14MAT/111P 19-Mar-15 Developing a robust wholeschool approach to assessment in mathematics 14MAT/112P 10-Feb-15 Primary headteachers seminars: spring 2015 14MAN/092P 24-Feb-15 Developing a robust wholeschool approach to assessment in mathematics 14MAT/113P 11-Feb-15 Primary headteachers seminars: spring 2015 14MAN/093P 25-Feb-15 The reasoning rich classroom – Key Stage 1 14MAT/114P 06-Feb-15 Primary headteachers seminars: spring 2015 14MAN/094P 26-Feb-15 The reasoning rich classroom – lower Key Stage 2 14MAT/115P 04-Feb-15 Primary headteachers seminars: spring 2015 14MAN/095P 02-Mar-15 The reasoning rich classroom – upper Key Stage 2 14MAT/116P 02-Feb-15 14EAY/048P 17-Mar-15 Primary headteachers seminars: spring 2015 14MAN/096P 03-Mar-15 14MAT/117P 26-Mar-15 The teaching assistant’s role in the EYFS classroom Numicon: extending and enhancing current practice 14EAY/053P 25-Feb-15 Effective school improvement planning – a key Ofsted indicator 14MAN/102P 10-Mar-15 14ASS/112A 03-Feb-15 Independent schools forum 14EAY/054P 05-Mar-15 Developing assessment at a strategic level 14MAN/114P 26-Jan-15 Tackling mathematics learning difficulties by teaching visually and actively 14MAT/119S 10-Feb-15 Year 6/7 moderation cluster 10 14ASS/111A 03-Feb-15 Ready for Early Years premium and Ofsted inspection of Early Years 14EAY/055P 04-Feb-15 14MAN/115P 27-Jan-15 Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day – mathematics 14MAT/120P 24-Mar-15 Year 6/7 moderation cluster 11 14ASS/115A 05-Feb-15 Developing assessment at a strategic level 14EAY/056P 09-Feb-15 Developing assessment at a strategic level 14MAN/116P 28-Jan-15 Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day – mathematics 14MAT/121P 25-Mar-15 Year 6/7 moderation cluster 12 14ASS/116A 05-Feb-15 Early Years outcomes moderation session 14EAY/057P 10-Feb-15 14MAN/120A 12-Feb-15 14MAT/122P 26-Mar-15 Year 6/7 moderation cluster 13 Conducting effective support staff appraisals Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day – mathematics 14ASS/104A 27-Jan-15 Early Years outcomes moderation session Early Years outcomes moderation session 14EAY/058P 10-Feb-15 Leadership lite bites 1–6 14MAN/124A 24-Feb-15 Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day – mathematics 14MAT/123P 26-Mar-15 Early Years outcomes moderation session 14EAY/059P 11-Feb-15 Leadership and management styles 14MAN/125A 27-Feb-15 Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day – mathematics 14MAT/126P 23-Mar-15 Early Years outcomes moderation session 14EAY/060P 12-Feb-15 Work/life balance 14MAN/126A 5-Feb-15 Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day – mathematics 14MAT/127P 24-Mar-15 Year 3 and 4 grammar: the fine detail and application Defining leadership growth 14MAN/127A 18-Mar-15 14MAT/128P 31-Mar-15 14ENG/073P 11-Feb-15 Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day – mathematics Year 5 and 6 grammar: the fine detail and application 15MAT/005P 01-Apr-15 14ENG/074P 09-Feb-15 Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day – mathematics Planning new curriculum units for fiction and non-fiction in Years 3 and 4 14MAT/094P 24-Feb-15 Hertfordshire Year 5 mathematics challenge 14MAT/124P 18-Mar-15 14ENG/075P 02-Mar-15 Creative and cross-curricular approaches to teaching mathematics Planning new curriculum units for fiction and non-fiction in Years 5 and 6 14MAT/095P 27-Feb-15 Hertfordshire Year 5 mathematics challenge 14MAT/125P 18-Mar-15 14ENG/076P 09-Mar-15 New curriculum: subject knowledge for new areas in the upper Key Stage 2 mathematics curriculum Moving level 5 writers to level 6 in Year 6 14MAT/096P 02-Feb-15 Hertfordshire Year 5 mathematics challenge 14MAT/137P 18-Mar-15 14ENG/079P 17-Mar-15 How to deliver the skills of problem solving at Key Stage 1 Can’t write, won’t write! – Key Stage 1 14MAT/098P 03-Feb-15 Hertfordshire Year 5 mathematics challenge 14MAT/139P 24-Mar-15 14ENG/080P 26-Mar-15 Key mathematical subject knowledge and practical ideas: securing fluency for times tables Can’t write, won’t write! – Key Stage 2 14MAT/140P 23-Mar-15 14ENG/081P 26-Mar-15 Hertfordshire Year 5 mathematics challenge Guided reading at Key Stage 1: developing fluent readers 14MAT/138S 25-Feb-15 14ENG/082P 12-Feb-15 Mathematics subject leader development day – secondary Guided reading at Key Stage 2: developing thinking readers 14ENG/083P 12-Feb-15 Reading and writing in MFL: literacy strategies for Key Stage 2 14MFL/021P 18-Mar-15 Teaching assistants: spotlight on phonics and spelling 14ENG/084P 25-Feb-15 MFL in mind: growing better language learners 14MFL/022S 04-Mar-15 Eurovision: music in MFL Using Fischer Family Trust in Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 14ASS/118S 9-Mar-15 Better behaviour – better learning1 14BFL/028A 29-Jan-15 Supporting better behaviour – supporting better learning 14BFL/031A 10-Feb-15 Supporting better behaviour – supporting better learning 14BFL/034A 12-Mar-15 Understanding and improving boys’ learning 14BFL/037A 03-Mar-15 Understanding and improving boys’ learning 14BFL/035A 05-Mar-15 Lifting the lid on learning – developing independent learners 14BFL/036A 10-Mar-15 Promoting and supporting the learning behaviour of our children and young people – are we there yet? 14BFL/038A 19-Mar-15 Exploring cultural awareness through storytelling and the visual arts 14BME/020P 03-Mar-15 Raising BME achievement by promoting outstanding spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development 14BME/021P 05-Mar-15 Leading on BME/EAL achievement 14BME/022P 12-Feb-15 Algorithms and all that in the new 2014 computing curriculum 14COM/002P 15-Mar-15 Computing short courses: teaching computing at KS1 14COM/004P 04-Feb-15 Strengthening subject knowledge through fun approaches to teaching grammar for teaching assistants Effective literacy support for teaching assistants 14ENG/085P 12-Mar-15 14ENG/086P 06-Feb-15 Key mathematical subject knowledge and practical ideas: securing fluency for times tables 14MAT/099P 04-Feb-15 Key mathematical subject knowledge and practical ideas: securing fluency for times tables 14MAT/100P 05-Feb-15 Key mathematical subject knowledge and practical ideas: what’s the problem with word problems? Using the Singapore Bar method 14MAT/101P 17-Mar-15 Key mathematical subject knowledge and practical ideas: what’s the problem with word problems? Using the Singapore Bar method 14MAT/102P 18-Mar-15 NQT 14ASS/105A 27-Jan-15 MFL Effective and efficient planning in the EYFS MATHEMATICS 14DET/010S 24-Mar-15 EARLY YEARS Metal machine safety course: S2HS and S6HS (three days) SEND 14MAT/104P 16-Mar-15 SEND lite bite – HDC: person centred approaches 14SEN/041A 03-Mar-15 SEND lite bite: provision – HDC 14SEN/044A 02-Mar-15 New to the role of teaching assistant 14SEN/040A 02-Feb-15 14NQT/039P 05-Mar-15 Implementation workshops for new special educational needs code of practice (0-25) 14SEN/042A 24-Feb-15 Fun, focussed and effective primary science for NQTs 14NQT/040P 10-Mar-15 Secondary SEND good practice morning 14SEN/043S 02-Mar-15 Embedding fun French in the primary classroom for NQTs 14NQT/041P 17-Mar-15 SIMS new users 14SEN/098A 26-Jan-15 Active and engaging strategies for teaching primary RE – a tool kit for NQTs 14NQT/042P 19-Mar-15 SIMS Dinner Money 7 new users 14SEN/099P 30-Jan-15 Teaching high quality PE for NQTs in Key Stage 1 14NQT/049P 25-Feb-15 Teaching high quality PE for NQTs in Key Stage 2 14NQT/050P 26-Feb-15 NQTs: teaching for independence in KS1 (literacy focus) 14NQT/045P 24-Mar-15 NQTs: teaching for independence in KS2 (literacy focus) 14NQT/046P 25-Mar-15 NQTs: teaching for independence in KS1 (mathematics focus) 14NQT/051P 24-Mar-15 NQTs: teaching for independence in KS2 (mathematics focus) 14NQT/052P 25-Mar-15 NQTs: teaching for independence in KS1 (literacy and mathematics focus) 14NQT/053P 24-Mar-15 NQTs: teaching for independence in KS2 (literacy and mathematics focus) 14NQT/054P 25-Mar-15 Teaching computing at Key Stage 1 for NQTs 14NQT/070P 10-Feb-15 Teaching computing at lower Key Stage 2 for NQTs 14NQT/071P 12-Feb-15 RLSS National Rescue Award for swimming teachers and coaches The write path for NQTs: successful strategies for developing writing in Years 5 and 6 14NQT/027P 24-Feb-15 Inclusion matters for primary NQTs 14NQT/037P 11-Mar-15 Mathematics: developing a problem solving classroom for NQTs in KS1 14NQT/038P 04-Mar-15 Mathematics: developing a problem solving classroom for NQTs in KS1 SITSS Safeguarding in a digital world: eSafety for primary schools Number sense: developing a progressive road map to mental fluency PE 14ENG/092P 20-Mar-15 MATHEMATICS Year 1 phonics and spelling: what’s new and what’s not Using iPads in your classroom: a teaching tool for the 21st century 14ASS/109A 29-Jan-15 ENGLISH 14COM/010P 10-Mar-15 14ASS/080P 25-Mar-15 ENGLISH BEHAVIOUR FOR LEARNING BME Safeguarding in a digital world: eSafety for primary schools Using data for school improvement Key Stages 1 and 2 Year 6/7 moderation cluster 14 COMPUTING 14ENG/105P 26-Feb-15 14MAT/103P 19-Mar-15 PSHE 14ASS/079S 19-Mar-15 14COM/009P 28-Jan-15 Practical and engaging approaches to teaching reading comprehension in the new curriculum Key mathematical subject knowledge and practical ideas: what’s the problem with word problems? Using the Singapore Bar method RE Update for secondary assessment coordinators Social stories, enhanced through the use of iPads 14ENG/094P 26-Jan-15 SCIENCE 14ASS/077A 10-Mar-15 14COM/008P 04-Mar-15 Leading change in English: raising standards through the new curriculum SEND Proving progress within lessons in Key Stage 2 and 3: assessment to enhance learning Enhancing the learning of computing through iPads GEOG 14ASS/071A 06-Mar-15 14COM/005P 24-Feb-15 HISTORY ASSESSMENT Analysing your RAISEonline data (Key Stages 1, 2 and 4) Computing short courses: exploring technology in the EYFS LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT 14ART/007P 09-Feb-15 COMPUTING ART Dynamic group work for display: enriching the primary environment NQT Contact Mark Green, Training Programme Coordinator: 01438 844788 or [email protected] Training Times – January/February 2015 Structuring Basedata in exams 14SIT/100S 02-Feb-15 SIMS Personnel 14SIT/101A 11-Feb-15 SIMS Personnel staff performance module 14SIT/102A 09-Feb-15 Maximising the use of Exams Organiser 14SIT/103S 13-Feb-15 SIMS Student list reporting 14SIT/104P 27-Feb-15 Attendance 14SIT/105A 02-Mar-15 Attendance reporting 14SIT/106A 02-Mar-15 SIMS Reporting (basic) 14SIT/107A 03-Mar-15 Primary Assessment Manager 7 follow-on 14SIT/108P 05-Mar-15 Primary Assessment Manager 7 follow-on 14SIT/109P 05-Mar-15 Using SIMS to evidence impact of interventions 14SIT/110S 09-Mar-15 14PED/006A 10-Mar-15 Scheduling using Nova-T6 14SIT/111S 13-Mar-15 RLSS national rescue test award update 14PED/007A 11-Mar-15 Using SIMS to manage SEN 14SIT/112A 16-Mar-15 Everything you need to know about PSHE and the new National Curriculum SIMS Personnel staff performance module 14SIT/113A 18-Mar-15 14PSE/019P 20-Mar-15 Making effective use of AM7 for SENCOs 14SIT/114P 30-Mar-15 Everything you need to know about PSHE and the new National Curriculum 14PSE/020P 17-Mar-15 Nova-T6 curriculum model 14SIT/115S 06-Feb-15 14PSE/021A 28-Jan-15 14SIT/116S 02-Mar-15 Accredited referral training SIMS secondary user group – Wheathampstead Accredited referral training 14PSE/024A 02-Mar-15 SIMS secondary user group – The Oval 14SIT/117S 04-Mar-15 SIMS secondary user group – Cottered Village Hall 14SIT/118S 05-Mar-15 Free RE – creative ideas for tired teachers 14RED/007P 05-Mar-15 Primary user group – Wheathampstead 14SIT/119P 09-Mar-15 Active and engaging RE 14RED/009P 12-Mar-15 Primary user group – Greenwood Park 14SIT/120P 10-Mar-15 Primary user group – Baldock 14SIT/121P 12-Mar-15 Primary user group – Little Hadham 14SIT/122P 13-Mar-15 Primary user group – Potten End 14SIT/123P 17-Mar-15 SIMS Special School User Group – Greenwood Park 14SIT/131A 16-Mar-15 Providing for the more able primary scientist 14SCI/012P 12-Feb-15 Secondary science subject leader updates 14SCI/013S 17-Mar-15 New and aspiring primary science subject leaders 14SCI/014P 05-Mar-15 Take away SEN training – social, emotional and mental health 14SEN/031A 25-Feb-15 Take away SEN training – communication works 14SEN/033A 29-Jan-15 SEND briefing 15MFL/001A 01-Apr-15 14SEN/034A 19-Mar-15 SEND briefing Jolies Phoniques plus 14MFL/023A 25-Feb-15 14SEN/035A 24-Mar-15 SEND briefing 14SEN/036A 25-Mar-15 EYFS NQT induction programme – spring starters 14NQT/015P 03-Mar-15 SEND lite bite – Apsley 2: person centred approaches 14SEN/039A 02-Mar-15 Herts for Learning Training Times Spring term 2015 School Business Manager overview Training Times – January/ February 2015 SIMS FMS modules SIMS FMS is a double entry ledger based accounting and financial management system suitable for all schools and academies. Module 2 – SIMS FMS module 2 – accounts payable 27th January 2015 / 14FSS/074A This course demonstrates how day to day financial activities are transacted on FMS. Module 3 – general ledger 29th January 2015 / 14FSS/075A This course demonstrates the functionality of the General Ledger within FM. Module 4 – accounts receivable 5th February 2015 / 14FSS/076A The aim of this course is to demonstrate the functionality of the accounts receivable module within FMS. Module 5 – reporting modules and month end procedures Module 7 – asset management (for academies only) The aim of this course is to demonstrate the Asset Management functionality within FMS and how this can be used to record asset and depreciation. New resources added to web subscription service HfL has made several additions to the Primary core teaching, learning and assessment resources. The resources were launched at the end of the summer term 2014 to support primary schools with new approaches to mid-term planning, and include hundreds of new curriculum resour ces not previously available. The resources are available to primary schools through an annual web subscription service. At their launch, they included: planning and progression materials for English and maths; a suite of Early Years materials; a new approach to assessing and tracking pupil progress from Year 1 to Year 6; new assessment templates and reports linked to SIMS AM7. Over 400 primary schools from across the UK have already subscribed School Management review - £525 Available to support academies with establishing how efficient or effective their office/academy management is; to check they are Ofsted ready for business processes and to review academy systems to see if there are areas that can be improved on or money saved. The review includes: • a full day process audit in your academy • a report for the headteacher/governors OR face-to-face feedback with action points for your school Review content includes: single central record; purchasing and procurement; asset management; health and safety compliance; community liaison and parental links; communications; staff structures and management (non-teaching staff). For more information please contact Full Steam Ahead! Moral Compass Realigned Hertfordshire secondary headteachers conference Natalie Dalvarez, Head of School Business Manager Services: [email protected] or 07812 322815 Thursday 5th – Friday 6th March 2015 Coming soon! Training courses that school business managers may be interested in... Unit 1 – Developing and sharing vision and values 25-Feb-15 14MAN/130A Unit 2 – Dealing with the change process 03-Mar-15 14MAN/129A Unit 3 – Effective team building 22-Apr-15 15MAN/025A Unit 4 – Personal effectiveness – environment, time and people 20-May-15 15MAN/026A Unit 5 – Building skills and confidence in others 10-Jun-15 15MAN/027A Unit 6 – Managing conflict and difficult people 01-Jul-15 15MAN/028A The six modules may be followed in their entirety or selected to meet individual requirements. For more information please contact Julie Garstang: [email protected] or 01438 845111 Ashridge Business School, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire HP4 1NS To book your place on this conference please visit www.thegrid.org.uk/schoolworkforce Conference code: 15CON/002S For further information please contact Danielle Wallington, Events Coordinator email: [email protected] or telephone: 01438 844535 to the service and new resources are being added all the time. During the autumn term the following were added: • • • • English – new planning support, book band guidance and guidance for parents; maths – a new evaluation tool; science – assessment criteria and long terms plans; assessment – new reporting tools In addition, a new Embedding Fundamental British Values audit and QAF (quality assurance framework) has been introduced, which has been designed to help audit how a whole school curriculum provides opportunities to learn about and embed fundamental British values. Also included are resources designed to support with comprehensively assuring the quality of work that is taking place. Further resources will be added throughout 2015, which will include long term plans and assessment criteria for history and geography, exemplification for English and maths, booklists for poetry and non-fiction, a mental calculation policy plus updates for AM7. Schools are charged an annual fee to subscribe to the service and are able to download all of the documents published during the period (year 1 runs until 31st August 2015). Subscription cost is from £350 per year, based on pupil numbers. Recommend a non-subscribing school and get £50 cashback: Subscribing shareholder schools can recommend the service to a non-shareholder school that has not previously subscribed. The non-shareholder school will benefit from shareholder prices and the shareholder school will receive £50 cashback. For further information on the services, to view sample documents or to subscribe, go to: www.hertsforlearning.co.uk Alternatively, email: [email protected]. HfL advisers certified as leaders in maths 11th February 2015 / 14FSS/078A Save the date 9 Other news from HfL 9th February 2015 / 14FSS/077A This course demonstrates all reporting functionality, including the Financial Reporting suite, within FMS. January/February 2015 Sam and Karen Congratulations to HfL mathematics teaching and learning advisers Samantha Burns and Karen Gordon, who have recently been certified as Professional Development Accredited Leads by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM). The accreditation follows their work over the past year to complete the NCETM Professional Development Lead Support Programme. This recognises that their professional development is of national standard. The programme involves planning, execution and evaluation of school projects to trial innovative classroom techniques. Samantha and Karen focussed on delivering CPD around the use of manipulatives in teaching secondary algebra; additionally, Karen focussed on developing skills in primary problem solving. Their evaluations included reflection with schools on the sessions and the reception of new ideas. They looked into the effect of new methods on children in the classroom, and explored how these could be cascaded in the schools in which they had been trialled. For more information about the programme please see: www.ncetm.org.uk/resources/39629 Congratulations SENCOs! Congratulations to all Hertfordshire SENCOs and TAs receiving awards at the Eastern Leadership Centre (ELC) ceremony in December. In 2014 over 60 Hertfordshire SENCOs received their National Award for SEN Coordination, Advanced SENCO Award or SENCOs as Leaders Award, and 12 TAs completed their Level 4. It is mandatory for new to role SENCOs to complete the National Award for SEN Coordination within their first three years of being in post. HfL provides this year long course, led by Angela Scott, Regional Lead for SEND at ELC and Achievement Adviser (SEND) at HfL, and Val Hazell, Achievement Adviser (SEND/Most Able) at HfL. The course is administered by the Eastern Leadership Centre in partnership with HfL, with the University of Hertfordshire as the awarding body. The National Award focusses on the nationally prescribed learning outcomes and enables new to role SENCOs to meet the requirements outlined in the SEND Code of Practice (2014). SENCOs experience seven face-to-face training days, which also provide valuable opportunities to network with other colleagues across Hertfordshire. There is a high level of support and supervision given to help SENCOs complete the practical tasks. These form the basis of the two assignments that address the master’s element of the course. Candidates’ confidence and grounding in the 49 learning outcome areas is supported through the use of an innovative Self Evaluation Tool which helps SENCOs to plan their learning journey. The award is largely practical, and involves reading and research around areas of interest and delivery of ideas and small projects. If effective, these projects often grow to become part of the whole school improvement plan. Successful completion of the course means that SENCOs gain both the National Award for SEN Coordination and 60 master’s level credits from the University of Hertfordshire. They then have the opportunity to progress their studies through an Advanced SENCO Award, an Advanced SENCO as Leaders Award and onto a final dissertation to gain an MA in Education and Leadership. This progression route is unique to the partnership in the East, of which Hertfordshire (through Herts for Learning), is a partner. There are a number of SENCOs from across Hertfordshire currently pursuing the full master’s degree, with HfL’s first cohort set to complete their dissertations this summer. To find out more about the Awards and how to develop your own practice as a SENCO, please contact: [email protected] SITSS Apple Device Management System Are you thinking of buying some iPads (for staff or students)? Do you need help setting up your existing Apple devices, managing them, making them secure or installing apps? Look no further... SITSS’ Apple Device Management System (ADMS) is a service that helps schools to maximise their iOS devices (such as iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad) so that they can be used to their full potential in the classroom by staff and students. Now successfully installed in over 100 schools, this service is growing exponentially. The service is delivered by Apple Certified Professionals from the School IT Systems Support team (SITSS). The team can assist either on-site or remotely with updating apps, updating device settings, setting up restrictions for pupils/staff to ensure school users are safe, and configuration of a central location to save work. The service helps to make devices classroom-ready for all teachers by installing apps covering different curriculum areas, in liaison with HfL’s eDevelopments Adviser and Apple Distinguished Educator, Chris Carter. The team can then synchronise the devices so each is identical in terms of settings and apps. Once set up, extra devices (be it more iPads or personal devices) can be seamlessly added and synced at a later date. SITSS will also provide bespoke training and comprehensive support to suit the needs of a school. For more information please contact the SITSS service desk: 01438 844777 option 1 then option 3, or email: [email protected] @SITSSApple ***Watch out for the new teacher app for SIMS being released early 2015*** Business plan The executive summary of the Herts for Learning business plan can be found on the HfL website: http://bit.ly/HfLshareholders 10 Herts for Learning Training Times January/February 2015 Herts for Learning Training Times January/February 2015 11 Latest Herts schools news Latest Herts schools news High Beeches Primary School in national Sunday Times rankings Herts Sports Awards 2014 High Beeches Primary School in Harpenden was named the top Hertfordshire state primary school in the Sunday Times Good School Guide 2014, coming 53rd in the country. Other Hertfordshire schools to make the top 100 included the Haberdasher’s Aske’s Boys’ School, St Hilda’s School and Two Waters Primary School. The Good School Guide provides “a fully searchable database of Britain’s leading schools” (Sunday Times). The scores are based on the percentage of children attaining Level 5 in English (reading, grammar and writing) and maths. Tables are based on last year’s results; High Beeches achieved 87%, 87% and 50% Level 5 in reading, grammar and writing respectively, and 83% Level 5 in maths. Parents and children were excited to see their school in the rankings. “It’s great to be recognised for all the hard work of everyone in the school, our pupils, teachers, governors and families”, said Headteacher Paul Driver. Congratulations to all Hertfordshire schools included! 2014 – a year of international success 2014 saw international work highly praised in Hertfordshire’s primary, secondary and special schools. Many schools were recognised by the British Council, gaining awards such as Link2Learn and the International School Award (ISA). These accolades are a testimony to the continuing hard work in international education that goes on across Hertfordshire. Jackie Rayment, HfL’s MFL Adviser and International Coordinator, said, “It is wonderful to see more Hertfordshire schools attaining recognition for their outstanding global learning. Here at HfL we celebrate, encourage and give practical support to schools developing and embedding the enriching international dimensions of teaching and learning.” Celebrations were in order last term for Little Hadham Primary School in Little Hadham, who received the Link2Learn Newcomer Award 2014. The Link2Learn Awards, supported by HSBC’s Global Education Programme, recognise and reward UK schools and International Coordinators for their work in forming and sustaining international school partnerships. The award followed their achievement of the ISA Foundation Certificate in the summer. The school has formed links with schools both abroad and at home, in Greece, France and Watford. Using the knowledge of one of their MFL coordinators, who is a Greek national, their Key Stage 2 pupils have made links with pupils in two Greek schools. They have had the opportunity to learn Greek during lunchtime clubs, in preparation for a future Skype conversation. Year 2 and 3 pupils have also been learning from their partner schools in France; Headteacher Liz Stockley hopes to run a joint design and technology project between the schools in the future. Little Hadham is making the most of having a link school fairly close by, too. The connection is overseen by the school council, and both schools visited each other in the summer term, where they were given tours and had a tea party. The aim of this connection is to allow pupils from both schools to experience diversity without the need to go abroad. Next term they plan to make visits to explore each other’s local areas, with pupils from Little Hadham giving tours of their village, and then visiting a mosque in Watford. What’s next for Little Hadham? They are applying for their ISA Intermediate Certificate – Accreditation stage here they come! HfL’s Andy Griffiths with the BASE staff and their award Keith Coughlin with teachers from Brandles’ Kenyan link school supplying footwear for pupils, who currently play sport barefoot. Woodfield School received the ISA in October and has continued to foster an international focus in the curriculum. The students have held three international days around food, music and sport. A school recipe book was created from the international food day; international music day gave students the opportunity to learn African music and dance as well as music from a variety of countries; and international sports day saw pupils participating in country-related sports, such as a cricket race for Sri Lanka and a football race for Brazil. International and Global Education Coordinator Andrea La Grue said, “Our international projects have allowed our students access to a world beyond home and school. As a special needs school, I am very proud of our students and staff for ‘thinking outside the box’ to enable us to explore, experience and share international learning.” Since winning their award school staff have been involved in a European Education Conference for ‘eTwinning’ School Award winners, and are in the process of applying for a European funded Erasmus plus application to fund further collaboration with schools across Europe. Headteacher Gill Waceba said, “It has been brilliant to see the development of international work across the school and the positive impact on learning.” Goffs School was awarded the ISA last year and maintains partnerships with schools in Ghana, Spain, France and Italy. As part of their work towards the ISA they held a very successful ISA drop down day for Year 7 and 8, where students experienced a little of the cultures from each of their partner countries. During the day pupils were introduced to a brief history of Ghanaian food, music, festivals and celebrations, and learned some basic Twi – one of Ghana’s main languages. The Ilusion Flamenca Dance Company held flamenco sessions, an insight into French culture was given through interactive French Revolution re enactments and pupils were challenged to create a football kit for the Italian world cup team. Specialist Schools Coordinator Mark Holding said, “We know how much students and teachers will enjoy this day, but the aim is to continue to enhance their cultural awareness and understanding in a bid to make them more rounded individuals for the future.” For more information about the ISA see: https://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org 30 Year 5 pupils from St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School in Stevenage have become the first Mini Vinnies in Hertfordshire, following an enrolment ceremony last term. Pupils pledged to help make a difference in the world by caring for others in the school community and beyond. Formed by The Society of St Vincent de Paul, ‘Mini Vinnies’ is a relatively new programme that engages children in the work of the society. With the slogan ‘turning concern into action’, Mini Vinnies are encouraged to embark on their first steps as possible ‘Vincentians for life’. “Being a Vincentian is all about rolling up your sleeves and getting on with it”, said Dee Mansi, Mini Vinnie Coordinator for the Diocese of Westminster, at the enrolment ceremony. Led by Key Stage 1 teacher Val Hargrave, the group plan to meet fortnightly to discuss what they want to For a full list of this year’s winners see: www.sportinherts.org.uk/page/ sports-awards-441 do and how they can build upon the work they are already doing to help their peers and others in society. They have badges to wear which make them recognisable to other students, who are encouraged to come to them if they feel in need of help. They are already planning charity fundraising events, too. “Mini Vinnies is about helping to give hope to people who are vulnerable”, said one Year 5 pupil, and another: “We want the group to make the world a better place, and to teach people about Jesus”. The school plan for the current Year 5 cohort to cascade their knowledge to current Year 4s who are interested in being Mini Vinnies, and who will then join them in their roles as they move into Year 5. To find out more about Mini Vinnies and how to get involved, see: www.minivinnies.org.uk Strathmore Infant and Nursery School in Hitchin has become the first in Hertfordshire to be awarded the Achievement for All Quality Mark. Headteacher Bernadette Holmes was presented with the award on behalf of the school in the autumn term. Achievement for All is an independent, not for profit charity and its schools programme is part-funded by the Department for Education. The programme focusses on improving outcomes for vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils, including those from low income families, those identified with special educational needs, and looked-after children. The programme takes two years and schools decide their own approach to completing it. Strathmore decided that their initial focus would be on their ‘reluctant writers’; the second year they focussed on Pupil Premium pupils. Bernadette said, “Parental involvement has been a key factor for the school. Information sessions and visits St Alban and St Stephen Catholic Junior School in St Albans Flamstead End School in Cheshunt Sheredes Primary School in Hoddesdon Longlands Primary School and Nursery in Broxbourne The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School St Albans Morgans Primary School & Nursery in Hertford The Orchard Primary School in Watford Our Lady Catholic Primary School in Hitchin Woodlands Primary School in Borehamwood to the school are offered to all parents. In addition, we have used ‘structured conversations’ with parents of targeted pupils to form a complete picture of the child, then worked in partnership with families to support the children’s learning. As a result of a strengthened relationship with parents, gaps have been closed and all children have benefited”. For more information about the award please see: www.afa3as.org.uk Young debaters make it to Rotary Club district semi-finals! Congratulations to pupils from John F Kennedy School in Hemel Hempstead, who have made it through to the district semi-finals of the Rotary Club Youth Speaks Competition taking place in February. Three teams from the school took part in the heats on Tuesday 18th November 2014, organised by English and Drama Teacher and PSHCE Coordinator, Miss Fish. The school’s three teams represented Years 9, 11 and 12. They debated topics ranging from the need for parenting classes, the serious world of phobias and how social media has had a positive impact upon our lives. The Year 9 team were victorious in the Intermediate Category, whilst the Year 12 team won the Senior Category. All students had worked incredibly hard in recent weeks in preparation for the competition, and all three teams were praised for their interesting talks and ability to speak in public. Hertfordshire schools to have qualified include: Bournehall Primary School in Bushey Pupils reading the Mini Vinnie pledge Achievement for All at Strathmore! Pupil Premium Awards 2015 Congratulations to all Hertfordshire schools who have qualified for the Key Stage 2 category in the Pupil Premium Awards 2015, winning £1,000. The schools selected have been dubbed by judges as some of “the most improved schools in the country in terms of the attainment and progress of their disadvantaged pupils since 2011”. Some have also been invited by David Laws MP to apply for one of many larger prizes, including the national award of £100,000. School are so proud of the staff who work in our SEN BASE Department and we were all delighted to hear that they won a fabulous trophy at the Herts Sports Awards in December. Their ongoing work and support for our PNI students in particular and the contribution they make to disability sport can only be described as exem plary. Each and every day they make a real difference to children’s lives and, on an ongoing basis, provide superb opportunities for them to develop in sport and indeed all areas of the curriculum. They truly go the extra mile.” Mini Vinnies set to change the future For the full list of winners see: https://schoolsonline.britishcouncil. org/accreditation-and-awards/isa/ link2learn Brandles School in Baldock, Woodfield School in Hemel Hempstead and Goffs School in Cheshunt were also amongst the Hertfordshire schools to receive the ISA in 2014, in recognition of their work to bring the world into the classroom. The award invites schools to form a partnership with schools overseas in order to teach pupils about life in other countries and develop them as global citizens. Brandles School were presented with their award last term and received funding from the British Council in December as a part of their Connecting Classrooms work. The funding is to be used to enhance the school’s partnership with a school in Kenya. As part of this partnership pupils have written letters to their peers at the school, including an ‘our typical day’ project. They hope to incorporate their learning around the African culture into history, geography, PE, art, science and computing lessons. “It’s a great opportunity to compare lifestyles and cultures”, said International Coordinator Keith Coughlin. They are going to use the extra funding to pay for a trip to the UK for the Kenyan teachers, following a trip made by Keith in the summer. On returning from his visit Keith has set up a charity to raise funds for the school: From One Hand To Another (www.fohta.org.uk). The money from this will go towards Congratulations to the BASE staff from Bushey Meads School who won the Contribution to Disability Sport Group Award at the annual Herts Service to Sport Awards in December 2014. The award was sponsored by Herts for Learning, and presented to the team by HfL’s Chief Finance Officer, Andy Griffiths. The annual Herts Service to Sport Awards evening is organised by the Herts Sports Partnership to acknowledge and celebrate the massive contribution that volunteers and clubs make to Hertfordshire Sport. Jeremy Turner, Executive Principal of the Bushey St James Trust and Headteacher of Bushey Meads School commented, “Everyone at Bushey Meads John F Kennedy debaters Good luck for the district semi-finals! The regional, national and high aspiration awards will be presented by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in March. For more information about the awards see: www.pupilpremiumawards.co.uk If you have any events coming up that you would like us to cover, get in touch with Jessica Broadbent: 01438 844331 or [email protected] Promoting and supporting the learning behaviour of our children and young people – are we there yet? Thursday 19th March 2015, 9.00am to 4.00pm Hertfordshire Development Centre at Robertson House, Stevenage, SG1 2FQ A growing number of schools are highlighting the development of pupils’ learning behaviour as a key element for school improvement. Ofsted have significantly increased their focus on pupil engagement, resilience, independence and attitudes to learning. This conference will comprise engaging, motivating and thought provoking speakers including workshop contributions from local headteachers and senior leaders involved in promoting both learning behaviour policy and practice. Keynote speakers Jess Thom is co-founder of Touretteshero, which was set up after she was diagnosed with Tourettes whilst she was in her twenties. Jim Roberson is an education speaker focussed on helping young people, teachers, school leaders and parents to rethink what they do and why they do it. The aims of this course are to: • • • clarify what Ofsted are looking for when judging ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ behaviour and safety access effective approaches for promoting and supporting the learning behaviour of young people be confident to take the next steps in transforming their teaching and learning environment For further information please contact Tara Catt, Senior Support Officer email: [email protected] or telephone 01438 844863 To book your place on this conference please visit www.thegrid.org.uk using course code 14BFL/038A Price per delegate: £142 (£162) “Creative, curious and courageous: embracing the leadership challenge!” Thursday 18th June 2015, 9.15am to 4.00pm The Auction House, Luton LU2 0AH A con nation a prim ferenc l e fo ary and dep r hea assista uty dte ach nt ers This one day national conference will explore the leadership role of deputy and assistant headteachers in the context of current educational change and challenge, including how to: • maintain and develop creativity, providing pupils with an inspiring curriculum that develops both key skills and values – but which at the same time has the potential to unlock doors to future life chances • remain curious about the relationship between pedagogy and leadership and the impact on this of high quality professional development • be empowered to risk-take, searching out opportunities to actively research, apply and evaluate new ideas and thinking. Keynote speakers Jonathon Lear – award winning teacher, educational consultant and creator of Guerrilla Education. Described as having a “breathtaking understanding of how to engage even the hardest to reach of children”, Jonathon is known for delivering inspiring and creative inset days both in the UK and internationally. Professor Guy Claxton – author of What’s the Point of School? and the founder of Building Learning Power, a global influence on education. Matthew Syed – British journalist, broadcaster and author of Bounce, a book described as “a must-read for anyone interested in the science of success, and the mindset and culture that support it.” £185 Early bird booking offer. Book by 18th April 2015 For further information please contact Danielle Wallington, Events Coordinator email: [email protected] or telephone 01438 844535 If you have any feedback or suggestions about Training Times, would like to include a news story in the next issue, or you would like any additional copies please contact Jessica Broadbent: [email protected] All information correct at time of going to press.
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