All our thoughts will be with the people of Ukraine at the moment and we hope a peaceful resolution is found quickly. I know that many of you will be anxious about the escalating situation and some of you will be desperately worried about families and friends there.
Many people, including children and young people in our communities, are likely to be experiencing a range of emotions including fear, worry and concern as a result. The following link offers lots of relevant wellbeing activities: Supporting wellbeing | BEEM and there is further support on the Council website here.
A page on www.BEEM.org.uk has been set up to hold information and resources for schools to support you in supporting pupils, students and families: PSHE - serious incidents | BEEM. Please do send any feedback or any resources you have developed to pshe@brighton-hove.gov.uk.
Over the coming weeks, the Council will be working closely with key national, regional and local agencies to closely review matters and ensure we respond as swiftly as possible to any implications arising for the city of Brighton and Hove. As a City of Sanctuary we stand ready to offer our support to those fleeing persecution from the crisis in Ukraine.
We will be looking with colleagues across the Brighton & Hove Education Partnership at how we can reach out and offer our support to the people of Ukraine during this extremely challenging time.
Young Carers Action Day
Wednesday 16 March is Young Carers Action Day and I have been excited to hear more about the evening event that the Council and the Young Carers Project are hosting at The Ironworks Studio to celebrate the amazing work that young carers do. ‘Young Carers Rock’ will feature performances as well as awards for our city’s young carers, which are voted for by the young carers themselves. If you would like to attend the event, please contact youngcarers@brighton-hove.gov.uk to secure a place.
School Games Update
Well done to over 370 year 5 and 6 students from 17 different primary schools across the city who have recently taken part in the Brighton and Hove School Games Indoor Athletics competitions at BACA. 45 leaders from Blatchington Mill, BACA and Varndean College supported the events and congratulations go to Goldstone, Downs and Hertford who were the winning schools over the three weeks. It was great to hear that 45 KS3 and KS4 students took part in the School Games Badminton Competitions with Kings and Longhill progressing through to the Sussex finals which will take place in March. Good luck to both schools!
Congratulations also go to 24 students from PACA and Patcham High who have recently completed a Primary Netball Leaders umpiring workshop which enables them to umpire the Brighton and Hove Primary School tournaments taking place in March.
Youth Council Prepares for Make Your Mark Campaign
The Youth Council members have been busy planning how best to canvass schools and encourage young people to vote in the Make Your Mark Campaign, the UK’s biggest youth vote. Make Your Mark is an opportunity for 11–18-year-olds across the UK to have their say by voting on the policies they want to introduce or change.
Youth Council members have held meetings in their schools, discussing effective methods of enabling young people to vote. Follow the Youth Council's new Instagram page to get involved! http://ow.ly/FtF450HU8gM #youthvoice #MakeYourMark
A video explaining the Make Your Mark campaign has been sent out to all schools. A link to the video is here. For further information please contact Tracie James on tracie.james@brighton-hove.gov.uk
The FA #Let Girls Play Day
The FA #Let Girls Play day takes place on Wednesday 9 March. I look forward to hearing more about the different ways that schools across the city are celebrating and encouraging girls to get involved with football. For more information, please see Girls’ Football in Schools.
Don’t forget to also make sure your school is signed up to the UEFA Women’s Euro free school resources ahead of the tournament later this year. Resources and more information can be found at this link UEFA Women's EURO 2022 Schools Programme | Show Your Heart
Maths Improvement Project
I was very pleased to hear that over the last year, several primary schools in Brighton & Hove have engaged in the Maths Improvement Project. This was a partnership project between the local authority and South Coast Schools Alliance with the aim of improving outcomes for pupils in KS2, particularly those with a disadvantaged background.
This month, teachers met for the final time to share the progress, outcomes and next steps for their schools. The key words from the afternoon were: fluency; stem sentences and generalisations; retrieval and impact. Thank you to our subject leaders for facilitating these high quality sessions and to all the teachers and schools involved for their hard work and commitment.
Virtual School
The Virtual School’s annual Foster Carer Conference takes place online on 17 March. This year will see presentations on Emotion Coaching, Emotional Literacy and Sensory Attachment. In addition, the Virtual School will offer an introduction to an exciting platform called Reach for Care which will be made available to foster carers and there will be a presentation from Camille Kumar who is the B&H Anti Racist Education Strategy lead. For more information please contact hadia.saeh@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Congratulations to Hannah and Jade, two Brighton & Hove care leavers who have successfully been appointed to the role of Participation Assistants, employed by the NHS. These are 6-month Kickstart positions, and they will be working with the NHS designated nurse team across Sussex to help shape and develop health services for children in care and care leavers.
Hannah said: “I am so happy… I feel like this job is a stepping-stone to continuing participation work in the long term”. Jade added: “Being a young mum takes away a lot even though it’s magical. I’m really looking forward to doing something different after spending the last 10 years caring for my dad”.
I am also delighted to hear that the Youth Participation Board is taking exciting steps to ensure care experienced young people are meaningfully involved in Corporate Parenting Board meetings. As part of this process a co-chair role will now be filled by members of the Care Leavers Forum. For any young people interested in finding out more about the opportunities for Children in Care and Care Leavers, please contact debbie.garrett@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Congratulations to Hove Park School for retaining their Good grading at their last Ofsted inspection. The Inspector said “Pupils are proud ambassadors of the school. Pupils of all abilities and backgrounds are valued” and “Leaders have a clear vision for the curriculum... They ensure that the curriculum caters for pupils’ academic and personal development.”
Blatchington Mill School had its Ofsted inspection last week and we look forward to being able to report the results. Brackenbury Primary School’s Ofsted inspection takes place tomorrow - we wish them very good luck for the next couple of days.
Congratulations to Hannah and Jade, two Brighton & Hove care leavers who have successfully been appointed to the role of Participation Assistants, employed by the NHS. These are 6-month Kickstart positions, and they will be working with the NHS designated nurse team across Sussex to help shape and develop health services for children in care and care leavers.
Hannah said: “I am so happy… I feel like this job is a stepping-stone to continuing participation work in the long term”. Jade added: “Being a young mum takes away a lot even though it’s magical. I’m really looking forward to doing something different after spending the last 10 years caring for my dad”.
I am also delighted to hear that the Youth Participation Board is taking exciting steps to ensure care experienced young people are meaningfully involved in Corporate Parenting Board meetings. As part of this process a co-chair role will now be filled by members of the Care Leavers Forum. For any young people interested in finding out more about the opportunities for Children in Care and Care Leavers, please contact debbie.garrett@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Congratulations to Hove Park School for retaining their Good grading at their last Ofsted inspection. The Inspector said “Pupils are proud ambassadors of the school. Pupils of all abilities and backgrounds are valued” and “Leaders have a clear vision for the curriculum... They ensure that the curriculum caters for pupils’ academic and personal development.”
Blatchington Mill School had its Ofsted inspection last week and we look forward to being able to report the results. Brackenbury Primary School’s Ofsted inspection takes place tomorrow - we wish them very good luck for the next couple of days.
Goodbye
We say goodbye and thank you this month to Bob Speight who has stepped down as Principal of BACA. Over the last four years, Bob has led BACA to great success with academic outcomes improving year on year. Bob will be missed by colleagues across the Brighton & Hove Partnership but I would like to wish him all the best for the future. Stephanie Newman will take over as Interim Executive Principal until a new Principal is appointed.
Bob Speight
We say goodbye and thank you this month to Bob Speight who has stepped down as Principal of BACA. Over the last four years, Bob has led BACA to great success with academic outcomes improving year on year. Bob will be missed by colleagues across the Brighton & Hove Partnership but I would like to wish him all the best for the future. Stephanie Newman will take over as Interim Executive Principal until a new Principal is appointed.
