LGBT History Month

Portrait of artist Frida Kahlo

It was fabulous to celebrate LGBT History Month across the city this February. This year we were all encouraged to explore Peace Activism and Reconciliation. There was so much learning and creativity going on in schools, libraries and the museum to explore the theme and celebrate together.

Schools were sent some ideas and resources for marking this, including some materials from Stonewall based around the life of Frida Kahlo. We would love to hear what your school has done for LGBT History Month – please provide updates to pshe@brighton-hove.gov.uk. In next month’s blog we will also celebrate schools which have achieved Allsorts’ Rainbow Flag Award and hear more about the Rainbow Flag student event.

Celebrating Young Carers Awareness Day

 Professor Saul Becker; Provost at The University of Sussex and Patron of The Carers Centre for Brighton & Hove, presenting young carers awards

Thank you to all of the Young Carers and their families who attended our Young Carers Awareness Day Event and helped to make the event a great celebration! We are so pleased that so many of you came along (even in the snow!) to join us for the evening. Thank you to all of the school staff who nominated Young Carers for awards and attended the event, and to all of the talented entrants to the schools poster competition. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the guest speakers who presented on the night and to the staff who ran information stalls. I was privileged to join the young people and their families and have the opportunity to give out an award.
Please click the link below to see more photos from the event:  https://carershub.co.uk/news/ 

Poverty Proofing

The ‘Poverty Proofing the School Day’ project is coming to an end and our researchers are in the final few schools this term. I hope that school leaders have found it helpful to look at their schools through a lens of poverty. We are developing a page on BEEM that will include materials we think schools may find helpful moving forward. This will include reports that celebrate some of the good practice in schools, lesson plans for pupils in Key stages one to four that will support pupils’ understanding of poverty, how to ‘poverty proof’ your school trip and a network for poverty proofing champions. We want to support schools in reducing the barriers for young people and families. The BEEM page is here: http://www.beem.org.uk/Services/5103

Brackenbury Primary School took part in a ‘reverse advent calendar’, for those who felt able to bring in an item of food for the local food bank before Christmas. Have you linked to your local food bank? Have a look at their website here:  https://bhfood.org.uk/

Put yourself in the picture: become a school governor

Our Governor Support Team has recently launched a campaign to recruit more school governors. This short video offers a unique insight into what’s involved, with a couple of school governors talking about their role and how rewarding they find it: Become a School Governor (video best viewed in Google Chrome). You can find out more here: www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/governors and the team is on Twitter @BHSchoolGovs.

Posters and flyers have been sent out around the city - see above. If you have any queries or would like a list of current vacancies, tel 01273 293465 or email governor.support@brighton-hove.gov.uk. 

Youth Voice Star Award 

Some of the young people from the Youth Led Grants project

Members of the Youth Cross Party Working Group, made up of young people from various community youth groups and the BHCC run Youth Council, took part in a process to decide and distribute £88,000 to youth projects across the city. This was called the Youth Led Grants project. The applications received had to involve young people in the ideas and actual writing of the bids. The categories were improving mental health, positive youth activities, helping to reduce alcohol & substance misuse and volunteering / work experience opportunities. 23 worthwhile projects in Brighton & Hove benefited from this additional funding.

The Youth Led Grants project were then nominated for a Youth Voice Star Award (run by the British Youth Council) and won the award for Best Youth Led Project for London, South East and East.

They have now been nominated for the National Award on the 8th March – well done and good luck to everyone involved!

Congratulations Hove Junior School

Hove Junior School had a recent Inclusion Quality Mark Award (IQM) inspection and as a result they have been recommended to be a 'Centre of Excellence'.  The Inclusion Quality Mark Award (IQM) provides schools with a nationally recognised validation of their inclusive practice and ongoing commitment to further development. 

There are only 240 schools nationally that are designated a Centre of Excellence, so my best wishes to Hove Juniors as they achieve that goal. 

Here is a quote from Joe McCann, the Director of IQM: 

‘The school is very welcoming with a warm, friendly atmosphere that is evident from arrival at reception on both sites. The environment is bright and very positive with beautiful displays in the corridors and classrooms. The leadership of the Executive Headteacher, Heads of School, Deputy Head and Inclusion Managers sets the tone for the supportive, caring, inclusive framework with high expectations of all and they are rigorous in ensuring that the school’s inclusive vision, encapsulated in the motto “LEARN”, is implemented and thoroughly embedded in the life of the school.’

It continues to be a busy Ofsted time for us all. West Blatchington Primary School was inspected last month and I’m very pleased that they continue to be Good. Congratulations and well done to headteacher Rachel Simmonds and all teachers, support staff, parents and of course the children! The Ofsted Inspector said the following about City Academy the school:

‘You [Rachel Simmonds, headteacher] lead the school with energy and are totally committed to providing the best for all pupils, no matter what their background. Your high aspirations are replicated by staff at all levels. Parents and carers told me they love the inclusive feel of the school.’ 

Other inspections have taken place and we are awaiting the results for Peter Gladwin Primary, Hertford Infant and Nursery School and Hill Park Special School. It is Hill Park’s first inspection since  Hillside and Downs Park merged last September. I look forward to reporting back next time. 

On the 26 March we have arranged for Stephen Long, Assistant Regional Director for Ofsted to facilitate a meeting about the Ofsted consultation. The meeting will follow on from the Primary Headteacher meeting. This is open to all headteachers and we encourage all schools to send a representative if the headteacher is unable to attend. The link to BEEM is www.beem.org.uk/Event/88837  The meeting takes place on 26 March, 10.30-12.30am Bramber House, Falmer Campus, University of Sussex.

Welcome

Congratulations to Jo Staveley who has now been appointed as the substantive headteacher of the Bilingual Primary School. Jo was acting headteacher and we are delighted that she has taken on the substantive role. Congratulations to Jo. 

Best wishes,

Jo

Keep in touch and follow me on Twitter @JoMLyons

Find details here Twitter accounts across all council services.