December 2023 For all Kent and Medway Governors, Trustees, Clerks and School Leaders Welcome to our Christmas Monthly Bulletin Please ensure this bulletin, also published on GovernorHub and The Education People website, is a standing agenda item for both your Full Governing Board, Trustee and Committee meetings.
Dear Governors, Trustees and Clerks As we come to the end of this term and the end of 2023, I wanted to wish you all a restful break and a special time with friends and loved ones, however you spend the Christmas period. I know many of you will have been on that hamster wheel, attending board meetings, Christmas fairs, nativities and trying to cover all your own personal and professional duties at the same time. It has been a busy term for us, having said goodbye to Julia and Jude, Tina and Lorraine have spent the time getting to know you all and become familiar with the new boards they are supporting. Thank you for welcoming them to your board. I am delighted that we have welcomed some new clerks to the team this term. Some of our new clerks have already had their induction with Tina and Lorraine and some will start in the new year. Welcome and we look forward to you being introduced to your schools. The summer survey closed at the end of September and we will be using the information as always to shape our offer. I am pleased however to confirm that one of the issues you raised was around the timing of the Schools Finance training has already been addressed and is now available to attend in the evening. We have also worked with the Education Safeguarding team to develop the E-learning safeguarding training as this was often oversubscribed. This has also allowed the Safeguarding Team to design a new course which is aimed at the Chair and Safeguarding Governor, going into more detail for those specific roles. Wishing you all a happy festive period and thank you for all the work you do in supporting our young people and our leaders in an ever increasing pressured world of education.
Cyber Security Awareness for School Governors Dates for Your Diary − Kent Countywide Governor Briefing - Thursday 8 February 2024 − Wednesday 8 May 2024, 6-8pm – booking available in the new year We have been very fortunate in securing Bedfordshire Police and the Cyber Security Team to attend our February Countywide Governor Briefing to provide a taster and highlights in advance of a full 2-hour session, Cyber Security - asking questions and raising awareness, scheduled for 8 May 2024 Be sure to book your place at County Governor Briefing We will advise when bookings open for the May event
Governor Services
Did you know? Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Have you ever checked out the Governor Services FAQ section on GovernorHub?
You’ll find more than 35 FAQ items covering General Governance, Clerking, Election processes and the Functionality of the GovernorHub platform. The Resources tab also has links to training, resources and useful documents and a variety of publications and briefing information.
Second Core Function - Accountability Did you see, or miss, this? ‘The Hoot’ (GovernorHub Blog) ran an article ‘5 questions to consider when thinking about challenge’ which encourages boards to reflect on what effective challenge look like in practice: − When did your board last discuss what the word challenge means to you collectively and individually? − Is the challenge on your board welcomed and appropriate? − Is the challenge on your board actually related to a lack of clear meeting focus and/or preparation? − Who determines what is challenge and what is clarification on your board? Where can we find the evidence? − What is your board's default position? Accepting without questions, constant challenge or somewhere inbetween? Has your board built Second Core Function training into the Governor Development plan?
Board Diversity - Collection and Reporting - GovernorHub The DfE encourages maintained schools and academy trusts to collect and publish diversity data about the board and any local committees. Governor information and duties – maintained schools Trustees’ information and duties - academies Governors and trustees are now able to add personal information to their profile page to contribute to a downloadable board diversity report. Reports will only contain data from board members who are allocated to the board's constitution Read Board Diversity FAQs to find out more
3 Core Functions - 3 Core Purposes There is probably little need to remind you of the 3 Core Functions of Effective School Governance: − Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction − Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff − Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent …but have you heard of the 3 Core Purposes for Academies, to be found in the Academy Trust Handbook 2023?
− Strategic leadership of the academy trust: the board defines the trust vision for high quality and inclusive education in line with its charitable objects. It establishes and fosters the trust’s culture and sets and champions the trust strategy including determining what, if any, governance functions are delegated to the local tier − Accountability and assurance: the board has robust effective oversight of the operations and performance of the academy trust, including the provision of education, pupil welfare, overseeing and ensuring appropriate use of funding and effective financial performance and keeping their estate safe and well-maintained − Engagement: the board has strategic oversight of relationships with stakeholders. The board involves parents, schools and communities so that decision-making is supported by meaningful engagement. We eagerly await an updated Governance Handbook for more on this!
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Governor Services Frequency of Safeguarding and Prevent Duty Training plus GDPR Awareness Kent Education Safeguarding and Governor Services recommend that all governors and trustees access the ‘Strategic Safeguarding Training for Governors’ eLearning course − Governors with a specific responsibility for safeguarding, including the safeguarding governor and chair of governors can then attend the live virtual training to explore their specific strategic roles and responsibilities in line with national and local policies and guidance in more depth. All governors and trustees should receive appropriate safeguarding and child protection (including online) training which is regularly updated. Additionally, there is no indication as to the frequency for GDPR and Prevent Duty training (WRAP/local context is available on our core training programme), but we recommend: − Safeguarding training is updated annually by attending the schools training at the beginning of the academic year and/or attending or completing training which covers the governors strategic overview such as The Kent Safeguarding team e-learning module (link above) − The safeguarding governor and Chair of Governors attend one of the pre-bookable sessions on the core training programme delivered by the safeguarding team. − The training and development governor to monitor attendance to ensure all governors remain up to date. − National Safeguarding Guidance for Education Settings and Child Protection Policy Templates are available and accessed from the Education Safeguarding Service The expected frequency as agreed by your board for Safeguarding Prevent and GDPR training, could be included in the Code of Conduct.
New Year, New Role, New Resolution for Development? Have you taken on a new role with your board - Chair, Vice Chair, Clerk? Our accredited development programmes could be just the support you are looking for – take a look at the course content and feedback:
− Fulfilling the Chair's Role
“I found the whole course useful and unable to pinpoint a specific area due to the amount of challenges I have encountered in my first year as chair. I would recommend this course to all that are considering becoming Chair of Governors. I think this would be a good course for all Vice Chairs too.”
“The sessions were constructive and informative - I came away feeling more confident about the areas I need to develop/improve. Pragmatic perspective, focusing on improvement over time. The observational feedback – there were some really simple important things which I wasn’t doing. Now I know, I can ensure that I get it right next time. The focus on developing relationships with other board members - I’ll work on this with our Headteacher and the vice chair. Definitely 10/10 – always a valuable use of my time. Informative and engaging.”
− Governance Professional Programme “The whole process has been very supportive and flexible. For instance, if I had specific questions to raise during the training they were dealt with in a patient and encouraging manner. Although every session was incredibly helpful and informative, the aspect that I knew least about was the legislation and constitutional regulations which was covered in the first session; this has equipped me with the confidence to support the valuable work undertaken by Governing bodies.”
“Having never done any governance work prior to this, the sessions have given me a good insight as to what to expect and where to go for advice and support; this gives you the opportunity to sit back and see what you have done and where you can improve and also what influence you can have within the role.”
Interested? Your Area Governance Officer would be pleased to hear from you (see contact details)
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Governor Services PIAS Handbook – PRU, Inclusion and Attendance Service ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance’ The KCC school attendance handbook, primarily designed for schools breaks down into greater detail the ‘Kent way’ of implementing the guidance, and what we are all expected to do in line with existing national guidance and legislation. Has your school and your governing board engaged with this essential, local guidance document?
Pay Policy - Maintained Schools - Is your Board Compliant? Has your board agreed the pay policy in line with the updated (September 2023) finance policy – which is prepared as a model policy and is the minimum required by KCC? Schools adding enhancements must ensure alignment with their terms of reference and model of governance, and KCC controls. − See page 3 bullet point 4 of the model policy in respect to your school’s currently agreed policy - to review a Pay Policy for approval by the Full Governing Body Useful documents from DfE which providing associated information: − Implementing Your School’s Approach to Pay − School teachers’ pay and conditions document 2023 and guidance on school teachers’ pay and conditions
Department for Education Pupil Premium The Pupil premium strategy statement template has been updated. To aid the updating of content in the Outcomes sections and reflect the information schools can publish about pupil outcomes in the 2022 to 2023 academic year, at this link you can also find: − Example pupil premium strategy statement (primary) − Example pupil premium strategy statement (secondary) − Example pupil premium strategy statement (special)
Schools financial value standard (SFVS) and assurance statement – action required The SFVS checklist guidance and template for recording related party transactions for 2023/2024 has been updated. Maintained School Governing Bodies are responsible for the completion of SFVS and assurance statement; please ensure that you are referring to and using the updated guidance and templates.
Increased Tutoring Support for Pupils with SEND Last year the scope of the National Tutoring Programme (NTP) to include alternative tutoring interventions for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in mainstream and non-mainstream settings was broadened (see above link, section 1.5) Schools can use NTP funding for alternative types of established, evidence-underpinned interventions for pupils with SEND, which can be tailored and targeted to meet individual needs in areas such as: − learning capabilities − sensory development − communication (including speech and language therapy) In addition, non-mainstream schools receive a higher rate of funding for tutoring - a minimum of £176.25 per pupil premium eligible pupil, compared to £67.50 per pupil premium eligible pupil for mainstream schools. Is your school taking advantage of this funding?
His Majesty The King - A Free Portrait The government launched a voluntary scheme inviting all state-funded schools, colleges and maintained nursery schools in the UK to receive one free portrait of His Majesty The King to celebrate his reign earlier this year. Eligible settings can request their free portrait, the deadline for requests is Friday 2 February 2024.
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Training Opportunities Monitoring Training for SEND Governors of Schools with an SRP - Wednesday 13 December 2023 Be Prepared for Ofsted Part 1 of 2 - Understanding the Framework (theory session) - Monday 8 January 2024 Be Prepared for Ofsted Part 2 of 2 - Preparing to meet the Inspector (practical session) - Monday 15 January 2024
Careers Education: What Governors need to know - Wednesday 17 January 2024 Every Governor is a Governor of SEND for non SEND Governors - Thursday 18 January 2024 Kent County Clerks' Briefing - Tuesday 23 January 2024 An Introduction to School Attendance - Thursday 25 January 2024 An Introduction to Supporting Refugees and Newly Arrived Pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL) in School - Monday 29 January 2024 Role of the Training and Development Governor - Tuesday 30 January 2024
Ofsted IDSR: News and Updates Use this link to access news and information about updates for each inspection data summary report (IDSR) release, including any new functionality and features
Working Together to Improve Attendance Ofsted and the DfE have produced a joint webinar providing an update on attendance for maintained schools and academies in England, including resources mentioned in the webinar
− The presentation looks at how Ofsted inspects attendance and at the DfE’s updated attendance guidance, building on messages in the webinar held in February 2022 where they considered how schools are securing good attendance and tackling persistent absence.
National Governance Association (NGA) Everyone on Board NGA and Inspiring Governance continue to challenge the under-representation of those from ethnic minority backgrounds and young people on school governing boards, This joint campaign aims to tackle the fast-growing divergence in the school system between the demographics of those making decisions in our schools and the diversity of pupils in our schools. Is your board representative of the community it serves?
Governor Services - General Enquiries 03301 651 100 Governor Services: governorservices@theeducationpeople.org The Clerking Service: clerkingservice@theeducationpeople.org Training: governorservicestraining@theeducationpeople.org Service Lead - Governor Services Suzanne Mayes Email: suzanne.mayes@theeducationpeople.org
South Kent (Ashford, Dover, Folkestone and Hythe), North Kent and Medway (Dartford, Gravesham, Sevenoaks, Medway)
East Kent (Canterbury, Swale, Thanet) and West Kent
Tina Gimber Email: tina.gimber@theeducationpeople.org 03301 651 057
Lorraine Monkhouse Email: lorraine.monkhouse@theeducationpeople.org 03301 651 061
(Maidstone, Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells)