The end of another academic year

It’s that time of year when our schools and some of our education and skills providers are finishing for the summer. For others across Education and Skills and the wider partnership, you may be planning for a summer holiday or a short well deserved break from work. I’d like to wish you all well and a happy and safe summer. Thank you for your continued commitment to education, skills and our children and families across the city. 

NQT Celebration Event

Skills and attributes mapping

Congratulations to all our newly qualified teachers (NQT’s) who are coming to the end of their induction year. A celebration event was held this month by Sharon Mackenzie (School and Governance Development Manager) and her team, where NQTs spent time reflecting on their achievements so far. They also learnt about next year’s appraisal process, the opportunities available to them as they move on in their careers and the skills and attributes they hope to develop (pictured). I hope you all have a well-deserved break over the summer!

Governance training & development

New Ofsted Framework

Our final event of the academic year went down well this week, with governors and clerks spending an evening discussing the new Ofsted Framework and thinking about questions they can be asking their school leaders. Governors welcomed the fact that there would be more focus on all areas of the curriculum and time was spent considering how governors can support school leaders with this change. The Governance Development Team also held a very engaging Governance Partnership Forum this month led by Gavin Thomas, Access to Education Manager. Delegates were able to share ideas about how we as a city can support some of our most vulnerable children - such as children with medical needs, school-aged mothers, those in elective home education, poor attenders, Hidden Children, excluded children etc. Thank you to all those who contributed - including governors from Longhill (pictured, with Sharon MacKenzie and Gavin Thomas). 

Longhill governors with Sharon MacKenzie and Gavin Thomas

Congratulations - Another good set of results 

A huge thank you for all the hard work of our teachers and all school staff who have prepared children for and organised a range of assessments in primary schools this summer.
The headlines in our early analysis of provisional results show that:

• At KS2 (age 11) schools in the city remain above or at national averages in reading, writing and maths. We know that there have been particular improvements in writing progress which has been an area targeted for improvement
• At KS1 (age 7) there have been improvements in reading, writing and maths attainment to be above national averages
• In early years we continue to remain in line with national averages

Well done to all the children and staff who have worked so hard across the City. We are very proud of these successes!

As part of the ongoing collaboration of the schools in the Aspirational Partners in Learning and Partnership (APLL), they held an exhibition event to showcase some of the work done by their children throughout the year. It was hosted at Longhill High School. I was delighted to be invited and join the teachers, headteachers, councillors, governors and wider partners. The simple theme was creativity. It was well and truly an amazing event with some spectacular innovative displays from all the schools involved. Lots of learning, sharing and networking was had by all. Well done APLL and the children of course! 

Brighton & Hove Virtual School annual summer conference

Sam Wilson, Virtual School lead, speaking at the conference

Brighton & Hove Virtual School held its annual summer conference this month. Dr. Margot Sunderland, award-winning author and co-director of ‘Trauma- informed Schools’ shared not only how trauma can affect a child’s ability to learn, but also how school leaders can embrace a whole school trauma informed approach. 

We also heard how our own Brighton & Hove schools have embraced this learning and used the Attachment Aware Behaviour Regulation Policy guidance to review their own inclusive behaviour practices. To find out more about the work of Trauma Informed Schools: www.traumainformedschools.co.uk

However, it was the performances from our own Brighton & Hove children in care and children previously in care that blew us away; their talent, confidence and creativity shone through their poems and songs. The children and have been working with Little Green Pig, a local creative writing charity. More info and contact details: https://www.littlegreenpig.org.uk/  , info@littlegreenpig.org.uk , 01273 457 758

The conference was a wonderful opportunity for teachers, headteachers, educational psychologists, social workers, adopters and foster carers to come together, to explore how we can each contribute to supporting the emotional and mental health needs of our children- because we know that if we do they will achieve their very best!

Sussex Teacher of the Year Awards

The Sussex Teacher of the Year Awards was a fantastic evening, all made possible by great partnerships, and a fitting celebration to trumpet the best educators and support staff in your county. 

Mark Storey, Head of Education Standards & Achievement and Emma Gale, Maths teacher, with one of her awards 

Well done to Emma Gale from Coldean Primary School for winning the awards for Maths Teacher of the Year Brighton, Hove and Mid Sussex, and Overall Sussex Primary School Teacher of the Year. See event video: https://vimeo.com/345222247 

Looking forward to next year’s event and some more winners from Brighton & Hove! 

Carden annual Eid Picnic 

Carden Nursery and Primary School hosted their third annual Eid celebration picnic again this year. There was a fabulous array of delicious food, from curries to pastries - some which had come from as far away as Kuwait! The ever wonderful Parent Teacher Association (PTA) also provided henna tattoos for numerous delighted children. This event is not only a celebration of this particular festival but a reminder of the brilliant community at the school. Huge thanks to all who organised, attended and enjoyed the afternoon. 

Miss School Miss Out – our Citywide attendance campaign

Following on from the Miss School Miss Out attendance campaign, we’ve made a video of some of our primary school pupils saying what they like best about going to school. They told us all sorts of things they enjoy – from seeing friends to sports, maths, art and playing ninjas in the playground. Take a look: https://youtu.be/sacirXUERZU 

The video is designed to be shared with parents and pupils as part of the drive to improve attendance in our schools. It can be shown in the classroom; shared on social media and sent to new parents to share with their children. Although it is subtitled, it is far better with the sound on; so please make sure you listen as well as watch! Thank you to the staff and pupils of St Peter’s Primary for their help in producing this film and for their enthusiastic responses. 
We will also be producing another video aimed at secondary pupils next term, so watch this space. 

The council's access to education team can also offer help and advice with school attendance. Email attendanceteam@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call 01273 291378. For further advice on school attendance please visit https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/miss-school-miss-out 

Official Opening of New Build at St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School

The Bishop of Chichester at the new building entrance 

On 12 July, St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School celebrated the opening of their new extension. It looks fantastic and the inclusion of a clock above the entrance gives a focal point for people coming to and from the station and into the local supermarket. Bishop Martin of Chichester led the celebration and blessed the new build. 

Thank you and Goodbyes

It’s that time of year when some of our headteachers and principals across the partnership retire or move on. We would like to thank them all for their commitment to the children and families across the city and wish them all the best for the future. 

Paul Beverton has been Headteacher of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School in Rottingdean for four years and a deputy and teacher in the city for the whole of his career so far. In September he is taking on the headship of St Thomas a Becket Catholic Primary School in Eastbourne. We wish him all the best.
Richard Bradford came to Dorothy Stringer from leading a school in Hong Kong. As well as successful headship at Dorothy Stringer he has been instrumental in partnership working overtime, chairing the Secondary Schools Partnership and one of the founder headteachers of the Pavilion and Downs Teaching School Alliance. He will be retiring at the end of term and we wish him all the best for the next chapter of his life.

Suzanne Morgan has worked in the city for 33 years as teacher, senior leaders, consultant and Headteacher. She is leaving Saltdean Primary School at the end of term.  

Our thanks to Natalie Burley who has been Acting Headteacher at Saltdean Primary School. Natalie has done a fantastic job and we wish her well as she returns to her role as Deputy Head

We are also saying goodbye to Ellen Mulvihill, Director of the Pavilion and Downs Teaching School Alliance and former Head of Standards and Achievement and Behaviour and Attendance in the city. She is leaving to take on the role of Director of School Improvement for Surrey Schools. We are looking forward to working with her in her new role. 

Paul Beverton, Headteacher of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary, Richard Bradford, Headteacher of Dorothy Stringer, Suzanne Morgan, Headteacher of Saltdean Primary School

Ellen Mulvihill, Director of the Pavilion and Downs Teaching School Alliance, Natalie Burley, Acting Headteacher at Saltdean Primary School

Best wishes,
Jo

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