The following message has been sent out by the Diocese of Derby: Our Bishops are delighted to extend an open invitation to our school families to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev'd Justin Welby on Saturday 13 April at Crich Monument. The site will be open to the public from 11:45. Please feel free … Continue reading Archbishop of Canterbury visit to the Diocese of Derby
Author: Bruce Levitan
Free Water Audit for Schools
As part of their Green Recovery project, Severn Trent Water are currently offering a free water efficiency audit to schools in Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire to help them save water, energy and money. The free audit will review water usage across the site. They take flow readings, look for leaks and understand usage habits. … Continue reading Free Water Audit for Schools
New governance guides replace the Governance Handbook
The Department for Education (DfE) has published two new governance guides, to replace the Governance Handbook: Maintained Schools Governance Guide Academy Trust Governance Guide The new guides change the format and streamline things, but do not include any new requirements. So Boards/Trusts do not need to take any action other than to ensure they are aware … Continue reading New governance guides replace the Governance Handbook
Microsoft announces end of Windows 10 support
Microsoft has issued the following announcement: Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14, 2025. The current version, 22H2, will be the final version of Windows 10, and all editions will remain in support with monthly security update releases through that date. Existing LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) releases will continue to receive updates … Continue reading Microsoft announces end of Windows 10 support
Upcoming training from Derbyshire S4S
Here is a list of Governor-related training for this term (and beyond) from S4S. The link next to each course will take you to the course booking page. Data Protection Governor Training6 Mar 2024 18:00 - 19:30 (online) - Link to course Monitoring & Evaluation7 Mar 2024 18:00 - 20:00 (online) - Link to course2 … Continue reading Upcoming training from Derbyshire S4S
DfE approach to teacher pay award for 2024/25
A newly published document (February 2024) sets out Department for Education’s view on the considerations for an appropriate pay award for teachers and leaders in 2024/25. It notes that "Great schools need great teachers and leaders, and a competitive salary" but then goes on to state: it is the department's view that [there should be … Continue reading DfE approach to teacher pay award for 2024/25
Responding to requests for wraparound childcare
This new guidance from the DfE will help schools and academy trusts understand how to respond to: parents’ and carers’ requests that the school their child attends considers establishing wraparound or holiday childcare childcare providers’ requests to use school facilities for wraparound or holiday provision at times when the school is not using them It … Continue reading Responding to requests for wraparound childcare
DSGA Constitution amendments
At the forthcoming AGM of the Association, the following proposed amendments to the Constitution will be voted on. If any member wishes to respond to any of these proposals, or propose any other amendments, you must do so by 7th March using our Contact form. Proposed amendments - words highlighted in bold text denote the … Continue reading DSGA Constitution amendments
Reducing Parental Conflict
Both Derbyshire and the East Midlands are hosting conferences on Reducing Parental Conflict, and Derbyshire have also released a newsletter on the subject. You can download information about them from the links below,. Derbyshire RPC Newsletter - Volume 1 Issue 1 - Jan 2024 EM RPC Conference 2024 - Flyer
Education for 11 to 16 year olds
Following a report from The House of Lords on secondary education, the government has now published a response in which it rejects most to the Lords' recommendations. This report lists each of the House of Lords Education for 11-16 Year Olds Committee's recommendations, and [provides its detailed response in each case. You can download the … Continue reading Education for 11 to 16 year olds
Access to extra-curricular provision and the association with outcomes
This new report from The Education Policy Institute focuses on the later-in-life benefits that are gained from extra-curricular clubs at secondary school. The main conclusions are: Attending extra-curricular clubs during secondary school is associated with a range of positive outcomes Participation in extra-curricular activities varies by school type Vulnerable students were less likely to attend … Continue reading Access to extra-curricular provision and the association with outcomes
Effective School Groups: Inclusion and Attainment Metrics
A new tool from the Education Policy Institute presents a set of metrics developed in order to help inform judgements about the inclusion and attainment of school groups in England. It is motivated by the notion that there is no single measure by which a school or school group should or could be judged. Instead … Continue reading Effective School Groups: Inclusion and Attainment Metrics
Primary assessments: future dates
The DfE provides guidance that summarises future assessment dates in primary schools, to assist schools with their forward planning. This covers: Academic year 2023 to 2024 Academic year 2024 to 2025 Academic year 2025 to 2026 This is available on the DfE website, here.
Flexible working in schools
The DfE has issued an updated version of its non-statutory guidance for employers and staff who want to make arrangements for flexible working. This guidance is for: employers developing flexible working policies or processing flexible working requests, including headteachers governors chief executive officers local governing bodies trustees school employees requesting flexible working local authorities providing … Continue reading Flexible working in schools
Government confirms plans to permanently remove RAAC from all schools and colleges in England
The DfE announced on 8 February 2024 that measures to permanently remove Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) from all affected schools and colleges, have been confirmed by the Government. You can read the announcement on their website here, which includes a list to all the schools and colleges affected.
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