December 2014 - My Christmas Blog

The Primary Schools Christmas concert

Once again this annual event was a great success. Our children and young people did us proud and sang a range of Christmas songs to a high standard. Particular thanks go to Peter Chivers and our Music and Arts Service for their leadership of the event and the support they provided to schools. I was particularly delighted to hear the fabulous input from our special schools this year and the introduction of makaton alongside the music and singing.




The Primary Schools Christmas Concert

Adoption Support

It was a pleasure to chair this month’s steering group joined by adopters, headteachers and professionals across all agencies to develop our Brighton and Hove Adoption Passport. The passport will clearly outline the services available for our adopted children and signpost parents and professionals appropriately. We are challenging all services to review their processes and practice to become‘adoption competent’ and we hope to go live with this new passport in April.

Children's Services Partnership Forum

I joined partners at the Brighthelm Centre for our second Children's Services Partnership Forum to discuss young people and mental health. Richard Chamberlain (Deputy Headteacher, Student Development) from Blatchington Mill School provided us with an open and honest account of the mental health issues faced by young people in school. Partners were able to hear about our developing approach to adolescents. The table top discussions have left us with lots of suggested 'quick wins' and longer term ideas to explore.

Ofsted

Ofsted published their annual reports on 10/12/14; a strong message from Sir Michael Wilshaw that standards in secondary schools nationally had ‘stalled’ and need to improve. More needs to be done to narrow the gap in achievement between disadvantaged pupils and their peers. Although the quality of teaching in the further education sector was highlighted as an area of improvement, it is not always equipping learners with the skills they need to succeed in work. Locally in Brighton and Hove we still have a way to go to close the gap and to achieve all good and outstanding schools across the city. HMCI concluded that the essential ingredients of success are: strong leadership, a positive learning culture, good teaching, robust accountability and a determination to improve the lot of every child, regardless of background or ability.

Congratulations to Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School for their Ofsted judgement of good. It was good to see the emphasis in the report on strength of leadership. This was clearly evident on my visit to the school this month as was the focus on teaching and learning, and continual improvement.

Safeguarding in schools

At this month’s LSCB I presented on safeguarding in schools. The report was well received, with the chair of the board commenting on the thorough nature and detail covered in the audits. It was fedback how positive it is that all schools are completing the self-evaluation and finding it a helpful process to quality assure regarding appropriate safeguarding practice. It was also agreed that in delivering the audit going forward a greater emphasis on child sexual expoitation would  be welcomed.


Secondary and continuing education partnership meeting

We had the opportunity to look in more detail at our secondary standards and the gaps in achievement for some of our vulnerable groups. Lesley Falmer our regional HMI link also attended to share some of the changes in the ofsted framework. Discussion took place on the initial findings from the SEND/Behaviour reviews. The next meeting is on 9/2/15 and our focus will be child sexual exploitation, radicalisation and our wider equalities work.

Hove Junior School opening event

It was an absolute pleasure to attend the official opening of the Holland road site for Hove Junior School. We were joined by Parents/Carers and friends of the school for some amazing Christmas singing from the children.



Children at Hove Junior School

Cambridge Primary Review Trust

Hilary Ferries (Head of Standards and Achievement), invited all headteachers to the The Cambridge Primary Review Trust event ‘please tell us what the next government should do – or not do – in order to help schools provide the best possible primary education for all the nation’s children’. Marcelo Staricoff (Headteacher, Balfour Primary School) and some of the children from Balfour met with other south region members to discuss this and their ideas have been passed on to Robin Alexander (Chair of the Cambridge Review Primary Trust), to put to the different political parties to try and influence policy.

Brighton Museum Project

One example of providing excellent opportunities for children was the recent project by Brighton Museum where children from some of our primary schools studied the work of Magnus Volks, including the ‘Daddy Long Legs’. Following a day looking at his work which included a ride on the Volks Railway and speaking with local engineers, the children then designed their own craft to take people on the journey from Brighton to Rottingean. Classes have worked with The Toy and Model Museum, Volk Electric Railway, The Keep, Royal Pavilion & Museums and STEM. Some of the models were displayed at the museum for thepublic and are pictured here.

 

Models designed by primary school children

Goodbye

Mandy Miller, School Partnership Adviser, will be leaving our team in the LA at the end of term. Mandy has worked with us for a long time and made such a positive difference to many schools across the city. Liz Owen, PSHE Adviser, is also leaving the Council after 14 years at the end of term. 

 

Mandy Miller (left) and Liz Owen

We wish both of them well and thank them for their commitment to schools and children and young people in the city.

Sparkle disco

This wouldn't be a Christmas blog without a mention of some festive fun. I had the pleasure of joining my five year old at her primary school for the early evening sparkle disco. The children had an amazing time and I don't think I've seen so much sparkle in one room!

Finally, may I take this opportunity to thank everyone for your work over the last year to contribute to continued improvement for our schools and children and young people. My best wishes to you all for the festive season.

Keep in touch and follow me on Twitter (@JoMLyons)

Jo

November 2014

Looking back over November

School visits

It’s been a privilege to visit a number of schools again this month and to see and share the good and outstanding practice. On my visit to Carlton Hill Primary it was wonderful to hear about their Eco work. The Farm at the school is a central part of their playground so children can see what's growing throughout the year. It was good to be able to see the jams, pickles, sauces the children had made and know that the money raised is invested back into The Farm. I was not surprised to hear that the school have the Eco green flag award and in the last two years have come first and second in the ‘Brighton in Bloom’ competition for their school grounds.

Jams, pickles and sauces made by
children at Carlton Hill Primary School

The Farm at Carlton Hill Primary School



 

 

 

 

 

 

Ofsted

 

I am delighted that Hillside School received an outstanding judgment from Ofsted. The report, which came out this month, highlighted the exceptional practice in the school to educate and meet the needs of some of our most vulnerable children and young people with complex needs. Congratulations to the staff, pupils and parents at the school. Congratulations also to Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School and Downs Park Special School who have both maintained their judgment of good.
 

Being Taken Over on the 21^st November

‘Take Over Day’ - an initiative lead by the Children’s Commissioners' office gives young people from the city the opportunity to take over someone’s role for the day. My team were joined by a Year 10 student, Issy Khayal from Patcham High, who reviewed the council's approach to supporting anti-bullying work in schools.  It was enlightening to be ‘Taken Over’ by Issy; as she skilfully interviewed me and quickly showed she understood the agenda and my role here in the council. Issy was positive about the work we do and in particular was impressed by the data we have in the Safe and Well at School Survey reports. Thank you Issy.



Children's Take Over Day

Reading Strategy

This month our work has begun to develop a new strategy for reading. We are aware how essential it is for daily life including to access education and employment. There is much to celebrate about reading across the city but equally more that we can do to allow everyone to benefit from the rewards of reading.  We must provide the support needed for those children and adults who struggle with reading and ensure all our young people leave school at a good reading standard. I joined Sally Mcmahon (Head of Library Service) and other colleagues at the inspiring Jubilee Library to review our previous strategy and plan ahead. We hope to be able to involve you all in these developments in the new year leading to a launch later in the spring.

 

 

 

Our focus for anti-bullying week this year was Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). Some great materials were developed by Personal Social Health and Economic Education (PSHE) lead teachers and PSHE co-ordinators. Dorothy Stringer used these materials in assemblies and PSHE lessons. Hertford Junior School discussed disability and how the differences that may be caused by a disability should not be a reason for unkindness. Moulsecoomb Primary focused on race equality messages and produced posters with support from Show Racism the Red Card. Blatchington Mill produced a powerful display featuring positive images of disabled staff and students with a clear message of 'see the person, not the disability'. Thanks to schools for your continued commitment to anti-bullying work and to participating in the Safe and Well at School Survey.



Display at Blatchington Mill

Gold Star Awards

I thoroughly enjoyed joining children and young people, their parents and carers at the annual awards for our Children in Care. I was proud to hear the great achievements and see some fabulous performances. The star guests ‘Only One Direction’ were a particular favourite and brought great excitement to the room. Thank you to the Virtual School team for all their hard work to make this event such fun and a real success!



Gold Star Awards ceremony
at the Hilton Metropole

 

  

More awards!

I’m delighted to announce that this month SoundCity, Brighton and Hove Music Education Hub, has won national acclaim for its work inspiring children and young people into music. The National Music Council, which promotes the cultural and educational benefits of music, has awarded Brighton and Hove  City Council’s Music & Arts service-led SoundCity the Diploma of Merit.  The work of Soundcity continues to inspire the city’s young people with the power of music. This national award affirms the leadership we provide with our work with other key organisations in the pursuit of music making in our city.

 

The importance of the role of Designated Teacher for Children in Care

Over 25 staff attended the networks for primary and secondary designated teachers this month.  The focus of this meeting was on using the pupil premium effectively; personal education plans and pupil premium for children who have previously been in care.  These meetings will now take place termly and aim to support schools and share best practice on delivering the very best education to Children in Care and those who have previously been in care.

 

Personal Education Plans

Thanks to all those who took place in the consultation on the new Personal Education Plan (PEP) for Children in Care.  We had very valuable feedback from a range of schools, young people, carers and social workers.  We are now finalising the documentation and plan to launch in the Spring term.

Race Equality in schools

The Changing Ethnic Demographic in Brighton & Hove – How prepared are Brighton & Hove Schools? (Global HPO, February 2014). This report identified areas causing concern including the recruitment and retention of black and minority ethnic (BME) people on school staff and governing bodies, the underachievement of some groups of BME students, and challenges about whole school approaches to race equality. Work on our three year action plan to address these issues is moving forward and im pleased we are seeing some improvements in the achievement data for some target BME groups and school governors committed to increasing representation on governing bodies. However, there is much more that we can all do. It is vital that we engage and communicate this via our clusters of schools and ensure race and equality items are intrinsic to all your agendas so that we can work together to address all the issues raised.

Keep in touch on twitter or email me.

 

Best wishes

Jo