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Communications (test)

This extraordinary Solihull Governors Association (SGA) meeting has been called to give governors an opportunity to find out more about the proposed 0.5% cut from the schools budget to support the council’s recovery plan for the significant deficit in the SEND high needs block.  

You will appreciate that recent local and national news items have reflected financial issues for our schools especially around the impact of increasing high needs costs.    

The current suspension of Parliament gives little opportunity to clarify the promised extra school funding but whatever schools may or may not receive in funding Solihull Council must present their plans for not only rectifying the deficit but also to keep the high needs spending within limits in the future, to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (EFSA). It may be that the request for the top slice will be for 0.5% for each of the next 2 or 3 years.

Solihull’s recovery plan must be presented to the EFSA by next year. Therefore the council has extended its consultation period on this proposal and the decision on the top slice of our schools' budgets will now be taken at a specially convened Schoots' Forum meeting on 12 November 2019.  This SGA meeting will form part of that consultation.  In order that you are aware of the situation and the part that you can play in this process please ensure that at least one member of your governing body attends this meeting so that the implications for your school can be fully discussed by your board and you can give an informed opinion to your Schools' Forum rep in time for the meeting on the 12 November 2019.

 

As previously announced our speakers will be :-

 

·         Steve Fenton – Head of access and development will outline the council’s recovery plan in which he will wish to include the option to top slice all schools budgets to support the high needs budget.

·         Phil Leivers - Assistant director learning and skills, will support Steve and also give a brief update on local and national issues.

 

Thank you to those who have already registered their attendance  but if you now wish to join the meeting   please contact me at chair.fgg@gmail.com  or 01564 776082 or if you have any queries.

 

Lynda Mackay

Chair SGA  

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We would like to invite you and your school to take part in a free large-scale art project in collaboration with Lichfield Cathedral and artist Peter Walker, supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

For the last three years, Lichfield Cathedral has worked with schools, organisations, community groups and churches across the district to create art installations that have been on display throughout Advent. Last year we worked with 72 schools and other groups to produce 22,000 doves of peace that were suspended in the cathedral and were visited by over 30,000 people throughout the Christmas period. Previous projects in 2017 and 2016 have included 10,000 angels and 5,000 stars.

This year we will continue our successful engagement programme with a project entitled ‘In the Image and Likeness’ that will celebrate our personal journeys, our individuality and our human commonality. Artist Peter Walker will create the installation from golden framed self-portraits suspended in the centre of Lichfield Cathedral with it forming part of our Christmas event ‘The Cathedral Illuminated 2019: The Beginning’.

We ask you and your students to take part by contributing to this central artwork ‘constellation’ as well as to join many other settings in creating your own version of ‘constellation’ in your school (guidance will be provided). We aim to have a unique series of constellations in participating schools, churches and businesses across the region that will represent a universe of diversity yet commonality, with the central installation unifying them all.

The project has multiple links into the curriculum and is suitable for all age groups, from reception to sixth formers and staff. We would like as many people as possible to be involved and will be asking settings to share images of their constellation displays via social media and the hashtag #imageandlikeness. Over 5,000 people have already taken part by completing their self-portraits during the summer at this year’s Great Exhibition.

The activity

Each pupil is simply asked to draw a self-portrait or write a short statement about their own life on a golden framed postcard that you will then use to create your own simple but effective ‘constellation’ display for your school.

What we will provide

  • A pack of 200 golden framed A5 postcards (more upon request)
  • Guidance and ideas for creating your own bespoke ‘constellation’ display at your school.Guidance for teachers on potential links into the curriculum.

For the central installation at Lichfield Cathedral

We would like to include 10 individuals from each school in the central art installation at Lichfield Cathedral. This could be individuals (children or staff) who may have a special story to tell or have an achievement to be recognised or celebrated. We would like your school to provide a simple head and shoulders photo with correct permissions along with a short paragraph on each telling their stories via email before November 8 2019  (further guidance will be provided). The photographs will be used in the central artwork and some of the stories will also be displayed.

To request further information or to register your school and order your resources please reply via email to  cathy.fellows@lichfield-cathedral.org before September 27 2019. Resource packs will be distributed before the October half term and are available on a first-come-first-served basis.

We look forward to hearing from you.

With very best wishes

Cathy Fellows | Project Manager
Lichfield Cathedral

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F.A.O. head of English and literacy co-ordinator

I hope you have all had a wonderful summer holiday and that your pupils have begun to settle into the new term.

If you have already planned to get involved with Lichfield Cathedral’s poetry competition – thank you! We will be delighted to receive your class’s entries.

Or perhaps you have not yet had the chance to look at the information. Please see the attached notes for teachers, along with a poster and entry form.

The deadline for entries is National Poetry Day, 3 October 2019 so there is still lots of time to be creative and produce some amazing new poetry. Getting involved would not only be a great way to engage your pupils, but you could also win book vouchers for your class or school library. For pupils over 17 (individual entry only), there are three cash prizes to be won.

In November, Lichfield Cathedral is hosting a poetry festival at which the winning poets will be announced and the winning poems will go on display in the Cathedral. Check out the website for more details, including the information about local, national and internationally-acclaimed poets who will be giving talks and offering workshops: https://www.lichfield-cathedral.org/

If you have any questions about the competition, please get in touch.

Find your words. The Word @LichfieldCathedral

Mr Alexander Dawson | Executive Assistant to the Dean

Lichfield Cathedral
Deanery Office
16 The Close
Lichfield
Staffordshire
WS13 7LD

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Solihull Council supports schools with learning outside the classroom opportunities and arranging a wide range of out of school activities, e.g. visits to museums, trips to the countryside, taking part in adventurous activities and residential trips etc. In preparation for new visits in the autumn term, we wanted to take the opportunity of reminding schools of the information, guidance and support which is available to ensure that educational trips and visits are safely managed and continue to be successful learning opportunities.

The guidance includes some changes to the approval of visits from 1 September 2019 to help streamline the process in the planning of educational trips. Please ensure all relevant staff including senior leaders and educational visit coordinators are aware of this information.

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The provisional key stage 2 results have been released for Solihull. they show an increase on last years figures and Solihull has moved up in the rankings in all areas. Well done to everyone.

Reading

Attainment Reading
KS2 Year Expected Standard Higher Score
Solihull 2019 77 31
2018 (77) (30)
National 2019 73 27
2018 (75) (28)
Ranking 2019 19 17
2018 (52) (38)

Writing

Attainment Writing
KS2 Year Expected Greater Depth
Solihull 2019 80 22
2018 (80) (22)
National 2019 78 20
2018 (78) (20)
Ranking 2019 42 45
2018 (53) (49)

Maths

Attainment Maths
KS2 Year Expected Standard Higher Score
Solihull 2019 82 32
2018 (77) (27)
National 2019 79 27
2018 (76) (24)
Ranking 2019 23 25
2018 (60) (35)

GPS

Attainment GPS
KS2 Year Expected Standard Higher Score
Solihull 2019 83 40
2018 (80) (36)
National 2019 78 36
2018 (78) (34)
Ranking 2019 16 29
2018 (49) (55)

Reading, writing and maths

Attainment Reading, Writing and Maths
KS2 Year Expected Standard Higher Score
Solihull 2019 68 14
2018 (66) (12)
National 2019 65 11
2018 (64) (10)
Ranking 2019 30 16
2018 (59) (30)

 

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Please register pupils on a part-time timetable by using the protocol and form located on the solgrid education part-time timetables page. The council requires a nil return at the end of every term.

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If you haven’t already done so, please remember to book your place at the deputy headteachers’ conference at Ardencote Hotel on Thursday 3 October 2019. Replies are required by Tuesday 17 September 2019.

Autumn term 2019  - please email sisstraining@solihull.gov.uk for further details
Date Course title
Wednesday 25 September 2019 New SENCo training (1of 6)
Thursday 3 October 2019 AET good Autism practice tier 2 (free training)
Thursday 10 October 2019 Developing a growth mindset in the primary classroom
Tuesday 15 October 2019 Teaching assistant toolbox – developing reading skills (1 of 3)
Thursday 24 October 2019 Supporting children and young people with relationship-based play approach
Wednesday 6 November 2019 New SENCo training (2 of 6 )
Tuesday 10  December 2019 Teaching assistant toolbox – developing spelling and writing skills (2 of 3)
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Please let us have your NQT registration forms by Friday 20 September 2019. Please, could you also let us know if you do NOT have any NQTs this year?

The registration form and all supporting information can be found on the NQT solgrid page.

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Dear headteacher,

Please find attached below a very useful presentation and an expression of interest form about a sustainable reading project with Pop Up Projects. The presentation was delivered to the council and the Solihull school improvement group on the 10 Sep 2019.

The proposed, sustainable reading project which is suitable for primary, secondary, SEN and PRU schools was delivered by Jasmine Tucker from ‘ Pop Up Projects CIC’. In light of the new focus on reading in the new Ofsted education inspection framework and the importance of reading in schools; this project or something tailored to your schools’ needs is being proposed to you for your consideration.

It was a very useful morning and a very engaging presentation. The headteachers and council advisers who were present for the presentation agreed that it should be circulated to all headteachers in Solihull. Hope you find it useful.

Regards,
Susan Hickerton
Senior School Improvement Adviser / English LA Lead

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