UPDATE NO 423 02 October 2020

Ed Tech Demonstrator Programme

The Ed Tech Demonstrator Programme has produced videos and resources around contingency planning for schools in preparation for local lockdowns or self-isolating staff and pupils. Anyone can access them by visiting here.

The advice has been provided by demonstrator schools who are part of the programme and have also experienced recent local lockdowns. There is also a vast array of resources and webinars on a variety of topics.

Many thanks to those schools who have shared their work for you to use and amend as required.

Some examples from the website:

• Home learning protocol – for parents: Discovery Trust, Kibworth School – Also see the short video above for an explanation from the school.

• Contingency plan for EYFS/KS1; Contingency plan for KS2 Lockdown scenarios from Discovery Trust, Kibworth School 

• Local lockdown action plan September 2020: Heart of Worcestershire College.

• Timeline to closure – steps taken to prepare for closure due to Covid-19: Warden Park Secondary Academy

• Modes of delivery word doc PDF – remote education amended to add the ‘Tiers’: Oldham Sixth Form College.

“Middle Out” change in the Education System

Prof Greany’s paper Place-based governance and leadership in decentralised school systems: evidence from England is published in the Journal of Education Policy. It contains valuable insights about the variety and complexity of the “middle tier” in the English education system (ie LAs, MATs, TSAs etc) and how it does, or does not, contribute to school improvement.

Prof Toby Greany (University of Nottingham), quoted in School’s Week, says

Localism isn’t a problem in itself but the lack of mechanisms for sharing best practice is. “Anyone who has recently tried to explain the English education system to overseas visitors will be sharply aware of its startling complexity.” So wrote the EEF’s Becky Francis in her foreword to our 2018 report on the ‘self-improving school-led system’.

I have been reminded of Becky’s observation during lockdown, as I have been working with a team of US academics on a book chapter about the ‘middle tier’ between individual schools and central government. I frequently finish another explanation about local authorities (LAs), multi-academy trusts (MATs), teaching school alliances (TSAs) and so on, and find they are staring at me, incredulous.

Future dates for Network meetings

AD Safeguarding: Friday 11 December 2020 –  for more information from Mark Evans (contact details below)

QA Network: Wednesday 9 December. Following the recent meeting of the network, new confidential documents have been posted on the QA restricted pages – access to these pages and more information from Diane Williamson (contact details below)

SEND SE19: more information from Tracey Maytas (contact details below)

Data Benchmarking: Thursday 10 December 2020. More information from Alastair Lee (contact details below)

AD Education: Friday 27 November 2020 – 10.00am to 12.30pm – more information from Chris Owen (contact details below)

Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board: Tuesday 20 October 2020 – more information from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

NAO report on Financial Sustainability of Colleges

The NAO has published a report on the Financial Sustainability of Colleges.

The full report is here, a summary report is here, an e-briefing is here, and a press release is here

The NAO concludes

Overall, the financial health of the college sector remains fragile. Ofsted inspection ratings suggest that colleges are generally maintaining educational quality, but other evidence shows that financial pressures are affecting wider aspects of provision such as the breadth of the curriculum and levels of student support. The programme of area reviews led to structural change and had some success in making the college sector more financially secure. The Department is now formulating a strategic reform programme intended to remedy systemic long-term weaknesses in the sector. This is a welcome development but, until such a programme is in place and achieving results, we cannot conclude that the Department is responding effectively to the financial sustainability challenges that colleges are facing.

The Long Shadow of Deprivation

The Social Mobility Commission has published a report The long shadow of deprivation: Differences in opportunities across England.

The full report is accompanied by data tables and a technical annex

Where you grow up matters: in areas with the highest social mobility, disadvantaged individuals aged around 28 earn more than twice as much as their counterparts in the areas of lowest mobility (over £20,000 compared with under £10,000). Put simply, two equally disadvantaged sons with the same family background will earn very different amounts as adults, based simply on where they grew up.

Brighton and Hove named in MJ’s top ten for High Needs provision

On 30 August, Municipal Journal published an IMPOWER study which analysed oucomes against spend for High Needs provision for SEND young people aged 0-25.

The report named ten councils in the “High Outcomes/Low spend” quadrant; Brighton and Hove was the only South East Council.

Leo Jones, Director of Impower said,

“we are publishing a list of the best performers in alphabetical order, as the purpose of the Index is to spark debate and learning rather than simply encourage a narrow focus on the rankings”

The other nine councils are: Calderdale, Cornwall, East Riding of Yorkshire, Havering, Hertfordshire, Leeds, Nottingham City, Nottinghamshire, Sheffield, York

National Children and Adult Services Conference; 4th – 6th November 2020

This online event will take place over three days, with virtual sessions held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 4, 5 and 6 November. These webinars will be delivered by prominent figures in the adult, children and education sectors, including ministers, and as usual, the event will provide excellent opportunities to learn and share best practice with colleagues across central and local government.

The delegate fee is £100 + VAT per person, which gives access to all sessions over the three days.

Further information and booking details via the NCASC website here.