I was very pleased to be able to watch this year’s Children’s Parade earlier this month and to see so many of our city’s schools celebrating the start of the Brighton Festival in such a colourful and creative way. The theme of this year’s parade, which took place in collaboration with award winning community arts organisation Same Sky, was “Dream Again” and the displays and costumes created a wonderful atmosphere with amazing decorative costumes and floats on display. Well done to all of the Heads, teachers, children and families from Brighton and Hove schools who helped to create such a special event.
It’s Official - We are Outstanding!!
Care Leavers and their Personal Advisors celebrating the Ofsted judgement
I am delighted to announce that we have been awarded an ‘Outstanding’ overall grade following our March 2024 Ofsted Inspection of Children’s Services. This is a tremendous achievement and a reflection of all the amazing work that is done across Families, Children and Learning Services to support our city’s children and their families.
We have received ‘Outstanding’ sub judgements for our work with children in care; care leavers; and for the impact of leadership and management. Our sub judgement for children in need of help and protection has been raised to Good. This new judgement means that Brighton & Hove City Council now has the highest rating across 3 key areas of Children’s Services: Children’s Social Care Services; Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and Alternative Provision and Youth Justice Service. Congratulations to everyone involved in this fantastic achievement. The link to the inspection report can be found here.
Ed Sheeran Visits Fairlight Primary School
All photos were taken by Sadie www.sadie-avard.com
It has been wonderful to hear more about Ed Sheeran’s surprise visit to Fairlight Primary School earlier this month. Ed visited the school to see the amazing work they do in music education and in the creative arts with Create Music - the local Music Hub in Brighton and Hove. Ed runs a music foundation and is interested in music in schools and how it can be accessible for everyone. He arrived and spoke to the Director of Create Music, Peter Chivers, Deputy Director, Emma Collins who is the Strategic Lead for Quality and Inclusion and Damien Jordan, Headteacher about music tuition, music education in schools and about what he is doing with his foundation.
Around 60 children at Fairlight take individual music lessons every week during the school day in guitar, drums, keyboard and violin. During his time at the school, Ed visited some music lessons, including one where he learned how to play We Will Rock You on the Glokenspiel, and joined a newly formed band in the school to listen to and play a song they had created for the visit. Ed then gave a performance of three of his most famous songs for the children and staff and finished his visit by donating five of his Ed Sheeran Lowden Guitars to the school for children to use and practise with.
Apprenticeship Award Winner from Longhill High School
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Layla and Nathan
Well done to Layla Williams, Data and Exams Manager at Longhill High School for winning the Brighton & Hove City Council Apprenticeship award for manager of the year! Layla was nominated by her apprentice, Nathan Kinny, the Exams and Data Apprentice, who is on a Data Analyst level 4 Apprenticeship with Chichester College Group. Layla also completed her Data Analyst apprenticeship in March. Nathan said in his nomination: “Layla has always been an incredible mentor and teacher… Layla has been committed to the apprenticeship scheme and continues to discuss how more apprenticeships could be introduced within the school environment.” If you would like to know more about how apprenticeships can help you and your staff develop in their role please contact Gavin Graham, gavin.graham@apprenticeships@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Youth Participation Team Arts Workers…another great success for young people!
Silver Arts Award Leadership session where a trans young person with autism
taught how to draw a manga-style eye
Congratulations to the young people who recently took part in the Arts Award moderation and passed with flying colours, receiving 3 Silver (Level 2) and 5 Bronze (Level 1) awards. The young people are all out of education due to mental or physical health needs and for many this is the only formal qualification they have. Two of the young people completed their Silver Arts Award (a national Level 2 qualification – equivalent to GCSE grades 9-4) together, supporting each other emotionally to attend the sessions. Neither had attended mainstream education for many years, as alongside their autism diagnoses and sensory needs, they struggled with significant mental health issues. Both completed an Arts Leadership Project, planning, delivering and reviewing a series of digital art workshops and choosing to work on developing confidence and communication skills. One said: “My confidence improved with each session... I guess I have developed communication skills and confidence because of the arts leadership.” Well done to everyone involved in this fantastic achievement.
Leading for Sustainability day
This week, the 4th and final cohort of schools started working together on the Our City Our World programme. This involves a ‘Leading for Sustainability’ day for headteachers, governors and senior programme leads with follow up training on curriculum development, eco-anxiety and the programme framework. There was a buzz of excitement and urgency in the air as schools began planning how to ensure their pupils were well equipped to live in a changing climate and schools both mitigated against and adapted to climate change. 90% of the city’s primary schools, and over half of the city’s secondary schools are now involved in this transformative work which has been recognised nationally as a best practice approach. The programme has recently received £100k from a national charity to share the framework with 4 other local authorities in a programme named ‘Our Schools, Our World’.
Trip to Hindleap Warren
Outdoor activities at Hindleap Warren
It’s been lovely to hear about the trip that young people from both the older and younger children in care councils took to Hindleap Warren at Easter. They spent the day taking part in outdoor activities including a high ropes obstacle course called ‘the Pentagon’, and problem solving team challenges including the favourite ‘crate stack’. Young people had a brilliant time and it was a fantastic way for them to meet other children in care, build friendships and confidence in their own abilities. When asked about the day, young people said: “I enjoyed the pentagon -it was such fun but quite scary at first…and I loved the crate stack”; “Doing the high ropes backwards and blindfolded was the best bit – I didn’t know I could do that” and “I wasn’t sure about coming today but I’ve had loads of fun and have made new friends”.
The Youth Participation Team provides groups for young people in care and those with care experience. For more information please contact Debbie Garrett (07880 043396) or Debbie Tabis (07827 880771) for enquiries about the younger group.
Central Hub Brighton was recently inspected and was judged to be good. Many strengths were outlined in the report, and inspectors were very impressed with how the expert staff understand the barriers to each child’s learning so they can make good progress. They remarked “Individual pupils really matter here, and the school knows each pupil well.” We are delighted that the strengths of this provision have been recognised. They provide education for some of our most complex young people with Social Emotional Mental Health needs in the city. Well done to all involved.
Longhill High School’s recent inspection has recognised the significant positive developments at the school led by the new head and the school’s leadership. Although the school’s overall judgement is requires improvement, the many strengths of the school are recognised. The ambitious curriculum and developments in areas such as reading and PSHE were all highlighted, and staff say they feel valued and supported to make improvements to ensure consistency across the school. It was also noted that there is an “impressively wide range of extra-curricular activities” and older pupils are “ambitious for their future”. Well done to everyone at the school and we look forward to continually working in partnership with you going forward.
The Royal Spa Nursery School and City Academy Whitehawk have both received inspections this month and we await their reports.
Best wishes,
Jo
Keep in touch and follow me on Twitter @JoMLyons
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