Christmas Blog - Ending 2016 on a high!

Our schools, colleges and early years’ providers in the city are most certainly ending the year on a high. Outcomes at all key stages have much improved and Ofsted are judging Brighton & Hove's schools and education provision more positively than before with increasing percentages of good and outstanding judgements. For Primary school outcomes we are 22nd from the top of all LA’s. Every Child Counts (ECC), Every Child a Reader (ECR) and Talk for Writing in primary schools has also grown from strength to strength in 2016 and it’s good to see these interventions are having a direct impact on our city's results. Secondary education is also showing significant improvement, with the challenge partner programme and the successful teaching school bid in place to ensure further improvement. There has been strong leadership regarding our work to improve outcomes for our disadvantaged groups. Gaps are closing, however the gap in B&H remains wider than the national and we all agree outcomes for these children and young people should be better.  This will continue to be a major focus of work in 2017 so that no child in our city is left behind. Maths also remains a particular challenge for us and will be the focus of our head teacher event in February.

Financial pressures
With the outcome of the national schools funding formula and high needs block consultation just released, school finances remain a challenge and something which will continue into 2017 and beyond. I hope the partnership will galvanise to ensure all its resources can be used as effectively as possible and we can take a citywide strategic approach that supports all. We will be looking with all partners in the New Year at creative solutions to generate income and ensure we have effective and efficient services that are value for money. I look forward to seeing headteachers and school bursars on 24 January 2017 at Sussex University when we will continue the debate on school finance and budget pressures so we can all better understand the issues, and the recent funding changes and plan for the future.

Music, Arts and Culture

The Massed Choir at the Brighton Centre, conducted by James Redwood

Our music and arts service continues to deliver outstanding provision and lead our strategic approach to creativity and culture for our children and young people. I was very fortunate to witness our talented children and young people singing their hearts out at the Brighton Centre on 5 December. Over 1,200 young singers, from 43 schools across Brighton & Hove, formed a massed choir to the delight of a sell-out audience in this, the biggest event in the Music & Arts calendar.  The concert also included the Brighton &

Brighton & Hove Youth Big Band accompanied by the Massed Choir

Hove Music and Arts Woodwind Ensemble and the Brighton & Hove Youth Big Band. The concert featured original compositions from pupils at Downs View school and clarinettist Aiden Bryson, a year 7 Vandean pupil. Thank you to all the colleagues in schools and the choir trainers who prepared the children. Congratulations to all performers - this was a glittering and dazzling demonstration of the musical talent we have in abundance here in Brighton & Hove.  I am already looking forward to next year’s concert – Monday 11 December 2017!







SoundCity (Brighton & Hove’s Music Education Hub) shortlisted for major music education award 

Part of the Orchestra 360

I am also delighted to announce that SoundCity (Brighton & Hove’s Music Education Hub) has again been shortlisted, this time for the Music Education Major Award. SoundCity is not just a music hub but an integral part of Brighton’s ambitions for wellbeing, employment and digital skilfulness – all being delivered through music. The overall winner will be presented at the Music Education Expo 2017. A big thank you to all SoundCity partners and supporters – and good luck!






Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
It's been a good year for our SEND partnership with an extremely positive Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection. Strong provision and practice were recognised across our city with good outcomes for our children and young people with SEND. This year we have successfully brought together our separate learning support services into one integrated service, the Brighton & Hove Inclusion Support Service (BHISS). The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) pilots are working well and are beginning to show impact for young people as well as supporting school staff to better understand mental health. The SEND review is well underway with agreed plans in place supported by committee, following an extensive consultation and co-production with partners, parents and young people. Further reports will go to the January and March  Children and Young People and Skills Committee in 2017.

Children in Care (CIC) & Adopted children
I'm very proud of our work this year with our children in care and those who are adopted or are on special guardianship orders. Our strategic approach to supporting the whole city to become Attachment Aware is beginning to have a positive impact with schools, parents and teachers showing change in practice that better meets the needs of these children and supports progress and development for all. In 2017 you will see us leading further work in this area focused on; young people’s voice, positive approaches to behaviour management in schools, and work to develop positive friendships and relationships.

Partnership working
I continue to be impressed with the desire for our schools to work collaboratively with wider partners and education services and drive forward improvement alongside a backdrop of change in the education landscape. In Brighton & Hove I'm proud we have continued to focus on continual school improvement so we have the very best education for all in our city with no school or education provider or child/young person left behind. Partnership working within school clusters and across phases is progressing at pace, with more examples of effective school-to-school support and partnerships in place that now have clear visions and improvement plans that are driving forward change. In the Spring, Hilary Ferries (Senior Advisor - Educational Partnership) will begin to report back on this term's engagement on the future development of our B&H Education Partnership.

Ofsted have been busy in the city once again this month. Congratulations to Portslade Aldridge Community Academy who have been awarded a grading of ‘Good’. St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary , Aldrington CE Primary and Carden Primary all received one day Section 8 inspections to confirm that they have retained their grading of ‘Good’. We are awaiting the final report for Brighton Aldridge Community Academy by Ofsted.

These results now mean that 91.7%  of schools in B&H are now judged to be good or outstanding, an excellent achievement.



Apprentice Ambassadors 

Our council Apprentice Ambassadors have been very busy promoting apprenticeships to schools as an alternative education pathway. Ashton Darby (Business Administration Level 2) and Georgia Easteal (Digital Business Level 3) who are both apprentices recently visited Patcham High school for a Post 16 Options day to talk to students about their experiences on undertaking an apprenticeship. They spoke to four different year 11 classes where they were able to answer any questions the students had and also give their advice on what it is like to be in full time work. Patcham High School said ‘the student feedback has been very positive and lots of students seem to be a lot more aware and understand apprenticeships far more thanks to the Apprentice Ambassadors’. The Ambassadors are very much looking forward to visiting more schools and colleges in the next year. If you would like a visit from the Ambassadors to discuss apprenticeships then please email ApprenticeAmbassadors@brighton-hove.gov.uk 

Free i360 ride for all Brighton & Hove school children
I hope you all saw the recent big announcement confirming that every single pupil attending a state school during the school year 2016/2017 in Brighton and Hove will be treated to a free ride on the Brighton i360 during their school career. Please follow this link for more information: http://britishairwaysi360.com/plan-your-visit/schools

A couple of highlights from 2016
My team were keen to remind you all of a couple of their favorite highlights from the year. The Children's Parade which is always a fantastic celebration of partnership and diversity across our schools.

Dorothy Stringer School at the Children's Parade

This year,  local charity Marlets invited local schools and colleges to be part of the exciting Snowdogs by the Sea in Brighton & Hove by offering them the opportunity to buy and decorate a Snow Pup.  Over 19 schools participated in the programme, taking their pupils on a fulfilling journey of discovery and learning using their Snow Pup sculpture as an artist's canvas for discussion, debate, research and application.  The Snow Pups were displayed in local libraries and museums and then all together at the 'Festive Farewell'.

Snow Pups on display during the Festive Farewell

Youth Employability Service (YES) Christmas Video
To get everyone in the festive mood, please take a look the YES Christmas music video, Merry YESMAS everybody! (a Slade parody): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsGLosGUsfY

Have a wonderful festive break and look forward to working with you all in the New Year.

Best wishes,

Jo

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