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TRAINING TIMES
hertsforlearning.co.uk
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
Issue 8
Embedding British Values
– the importance of context
Herts for Learning Ltd is
a not for profit company
owned by Hertfordshire
schools and the Local
Authority. Providing
improvement and
business services, it is
dedicated to improving
standards of education in
Hertfordshire and beyond.
Education this month
Pui Him Ip
Herts for Learning Researcher
Are schools teaching British values?
– Oxford University Press blog
http://bit.ly/1snIEJf
Jessica Broadbent
Herts for Learning Journalist
Sir Trevor McDonald OBE used his
deep understanding of global current
affairs to open Herts for Learning’s first national conference on 3rd
December 2014, Embedding British
Values: preparing young people for
life in modern Britain. The conference
was held in response to the government agenda to embed British values
within the National Curriculum.
Sir Trevor, ITN’s first black journalist,
is best known as the News at Ten anchorman. He contextualised the concept of
British values and advised the audience
on how these could be embedded within
educational settings.
Sir Trevor said that before we can
understand British values, we must be
able to understand the world.
He argued that in a digital age where
we have excessive access to information,
it is essential to teach young people to
challenge what they read to be able to
see a broader global picture.
“My first view is that young people
today face enormous difficulties, which
arise from the great confusion of areas
from which one can get information.
How to choose them, and what to make
of them, is the problem”.
With the way we receive news
evolving into short, easily accessible
pieces of news there is a danger of losing
a sound understanding of the information received, particularly with the
individual agendas of journalists. “Context
is desperately important”, he said, in
broadening young people’s understanding of the world they live in. The internet
provides “bite size bits” that don’t tell the
whole story or provide context.
From his own personal experiences
as a journalist, Sir Trevor said he has
often found the context of his interviews to give him just as much as the
interviews himself. His interviews with
Saddam Hussein and Nelson Mandela
both showed this to him. Visits to Iraq
and South Africa gave him an impression of the people, the country, and
in the case of Iraq “a whole regime”.
His first hand experiences gave an
invaluably deep understanding of what
was going on.
“British values are important in an
international context, as we go round
the world encouraging people to be
like ‘us’ and have our values”, he went
on to say.
Those values mean little unless put
into the context of the globalised world;
young people will only understand a value
system if they are able to see these values
set in contrast to those held in other
countries, and at other times in history.
“The most important thing you can
do, is to get [pupils] to read much much
more widely to understand context, and
much more widely than just our daily
newspapers and the internet”.
“With that kind of investment in
understanding, then their reach is up to
the stars and beyond”.
Peter Martin, Regional Further and
Higher Education Coordinator at Prevent,
followed Sir Trevor with an overview of
the Prevent strategy. Prevent is one
of the four elements of CONTEST, the
government’s counter terrorism strategy.
Peter’s role includes developing links
with the Channel process (which aims to
provide support to individuals at risk of
being drawn into violent extremism) and
accountable safeguarding boards.
Several workshops were on offer.
These included sessions by: School
Improvement Professional and trained
Ofsted inspector Andy Clark, who
focussed on the important aspects
of British values that schools need to
“Values are never just abstract ideas,
but are expressed and experienced
through emotions. And they are not
ideologically neutral.”
consider as they plan for inspection or
In this blog, historian Stéphanie Olsen
self-review; Headteacher Emma Flawn, reminds us that the current debate on
who explained how Camps Hill Primary
teaching British values is not new. Looking
School has woven the key British values
back, we can learn that we are still unable
into their Golden Threads curriculum;
to answer the central question at the
Herts for Learning’s Lead Teaching
heart of this debate: what emotions do we
and Learning Adviser for Anti-Bullying
want our children to learn and why? If the
Karin Hutchinson, who asked dele- current debate is to lead to constructive
gates to question the implications of
outcomes, it is time for all sides to dig below
the word ‘tolerance’, a concept loaded
the surface and sketch out some cogent
with tensions that fly in the face of what
principles for answering this question.
we are trying to achieve under equalities legislation; Humanities Consultant
Christine Lloyd Staples, who explored
In search of British values
how to build pupils’ sense of identity
– The humanities blog, University of Exeter
of what it means to be British through
http://bit.ly/1yHxxCg
history and geography.
Saira Khan, star of the first series “We will never break out of the current
of The Apprentice, closed the day with
cycle of confusion about British values
an enlightening account of her life as
until we allow ourselves to think differa British Asian Muslim woman. She
ently about them.”
described the ways in which growing
When we think about the core British
up in Britain and holding British values
values, who do we consult? Are the
have helped her to recognise and
voices of the diverse ethnic communities
realise her potential.
included? The researchers in this blog
Knowledge is crucial, she argued, sought to discover the articulation of
to a successful multicultural commu- British values in British Asian communities
nity which “does not demand
and called for an attempt to understand
assimilation, but does however require
British values through engagement and
integration”. She urged teachers to
dialogue with diverse British communities.
learn about their children and their
backgrounds, involve all parents and
tap into the interests of all commun­
Being British
ities represented within the school.
– Broken pencils are pointless
Saira recorded personal messages
http://bit.ly/1zeR4aZ
for teachers to take back to their
schools on tablets and phones, encour- We often encounter an overwhelming
aging children to explore British values
sense of negativity about life in Britain:
and aim high.
the NHS is failing, education inequality is
deepening, etc. This blog captures a short
HfL’s next national conference is:
story of changing attitudes in children
The Power in Poetry – Language as Play
towards being British. In the midst of all
with Carol Ann Duffy and Roger McGough
the political and social controversies
Tuesday 3rd February
generated by British values, this story is a
refreshing example of what really matters
in all this: helping children to appreciate
To book your place please visit:
the significance of being British.
http://bit.ly/powerinpoetry
Inside this issue
Financial Services
for Schools
The pick
Latest
HfL headlines
Herts Schools
This month’s spotlight team is FSS.
The team supports all areas of school
finance for both maintained schools
and academies.
What’s on this term? HfL is running SRE
and anti-violence workshops, launching
P2P in schools, and holding various
conferences. We also review SITSS’ termly
SIMS update meetings for school users.
In other news… HfL’s Coaching service
is launched this month; Confident Teens
is a hit with young girls; and Early Years
advisers explain the effects of children’s
centre recommissioning.
This month we are showcasing the
impressive international work being
done across the county, numerous
school accolades, and Hertfordshire’s
first group of Mini Vinnies.
p.2
p.3
pp.4,5&9
pp.10&11
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Herts for Learning Training Times
January/February 2015
Meet our FSS team
Jessica Broadbent
Herts for Learning Journalist
The freedoms and responsibilities of
schools to make decisions about their
use of resources has been a key theme
of education policy and this continues
to develop apace. This, combined with
an increasingly challenging financial
climate, means that it is ever more
crucial to ensure schools have access
to strong financial management.
HfL’s Financial Services for Schools
(FSS) team provides a comprehensive
support service to schools and academies covering all aspects of finance
and budget management, reporting
and planning.
It provides guidance and technical
support on the use of financial management and planning software, including
the procurement of software on behalf
of schools.
A key part of FSS is the Service
Delivery team, led by Senior Service
Delivery Manager Barbara Elliott. This
team provides regular bookkeeping and
financial management services to over
340 schools. Barbara is supported by
four Service Delivery Managers.
Too numerous to mention by name
but critical to supporting schools is
HfL’s team of Financial Advisers who, in
addition to delivering regular services,
are up to date with the latest developments and guidance in schools finance,
whether that be Hertfordshire’s requirements or that of the DfE or the EFA.
In addition to delivery of the regular
service contracts the team also delivers
several hundred hours of training to
schools, including courses on the use of
systems, financial management courses
for governors and senior leadership
teams in all phases of schools.
The other key area of FSS is the
Finance Strategy team, led by Finance
Strategy Manager Louise Shaw (ACA).
The team is newly established and its
objective is to lead on the development
of services to schools and in particular
to deliver excellent but cost effective
services to academies of all types. The
team consists of highly experienced
advisers who work in both maintained
schools and academies of all phases.
The team also provides support to
schools in financial difficulty and other
complex projects.
The Finance Strategy team includes
the Systems team, led by Systems
Manager Stephen Luff. This team has
responsibility for the FSS supported
software for financial planning and
management. The FSS helpline forms
Herts for Learning Training Times
January/February 2015
The pick
Up and coming
3
What’s on and what you might have missed
part of this team and provides telephone and email support to schools on
financial software and general financial
queries.
The Systems team issues bulletins to
schools to provide guidance on meeting
reporting requirements and to update
schools on news. Depending on the
level of activity this can be as many as
20 bulletins a year. The team is currently leading on the upgrade of schools
financial planning software from FPS net
to FPS web which provides an enhanced
user experience. See article below for
more details.
For more information about the
team and all FSS services and training
courses please see:
www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/team/
financial-services-schools
Spring term at HfL
Hertfordshire’s SRE Summit:
Meeting Young People’s 21st Century Needs
Herts for Learning is organising a
unique opportunity for all concerned
in sex and relationship education:
Hertfordshire’s SRE Summit.
This conference is fully funded by
Hertfordshire County Council and is to
take place on Friday 27th February 2015
at Hertfordshire Development Centre.
In 2012, 49% of primary age children
in Hertfordshire did not feel they knew
enough about growing up and body
changes, only 34% of secondary age
children rated their school lessons on
sex education as ‘quite’ or ‘very useful’
and 41% of Year 10 boys and 57% of Year
10 girls said there is pressure on young
people to have sex, according to the
Health Related Behaviour Questionnaire.
Results
from
this
questionnaire revealed that young people’s
knowledge and understanding of
sexual health and the laws around sex
is poor. This lack of understanding can
contribute to low outcomes for Hertfordshire’s younger generations.
This conference brings together staff
from Hertfordshire’s primary, secondary
and special schools/academies and
colleges with colleagues from youth
services, public health, NHS, police
and voluntary organisations, giving
delegates the opportunity to make
connections with local services that can
support the delivery of SRE.
It will enable all partners involved in
delivering or supporting the SRE curriculum to update themselves on this
important and currently fast moving
agenda. Delegates will receive full updates
on curriculum guidance for SRE and
consider how young people’s experien­
ces of relationships and sex are changing.
Keynote speakers include PSHE
Association Chief Executive Joe Hayman,
and Sam Beale from Brighton & Hove
City Council, winners of the Stonewall
Education Equality Index 2014. They will
be addressing issues including access,
transition, inclusion, age appropriate
SRE, and safeguarding agendas such as
e-safety, domestic violence, relationship abuse, FGM and grooming.
To book your place on this conference please visit: http://bit.ly/TTHGfL
Course code: 14CON/009A Price: Free
Updated Parent2Parent® programme – available to schools in April
Conferences
Barbara Elliott
Cheryl Faint
Louise Shaw
Barbara is a Senior Service Delivery
Manager and has worked with FSS
since 2001.
She is responsible for ensuring that
FSS services to maintained schools
are timely and support schools in
meeting their financial reporting and
management responsibilities. She line
manages the four area Service Delivery
Managers: Liz Smith (West), Nirvan
Shirvani (South), Cathy Reyner (East)
and Karon Liles (North).
As a key member of the FSS management team, Barbara works with Louise
Shaw to inform the development of FSS
services and also FSS training products.
She is currently looking at improvements FSS can bring to its reporting
services ahead of what FSS believes will
be an increasingly challenging financial
climate for schools.
Previously Barbara was a bursar at
a secondary school in Welwyn Garden
City. She has also been a governor at
two schools and has a degree in French,
German and Economics. She began
with FSS as a financial adviser in 2001,
before becoming a member of the FSS
management team. She has extensive
experience in education finance.
Cheryl is the Head of Financial Services
for Schools (FSS) and has worked in the
area of Schools Finance since 2006.
Her mission is to ensure that schools of
all types who are supported by FSS receive
high quality and cost effective bookkeeping and accountancy services, as well as
informed advice on the financial management of schools. She works closely with
other key advisory teams in HfL to develop
linked up services to support Headteachers and Governing Bodies.
Having joined FSS in September
2013, Cheryl was previously Finance
Manager in the School Funding Team
in Hertfordshire County Council and
this experience has enabled her to
understand Hertfordshire requirements
and also how developments in school
funding affect schools.
She is a fully qualified Chartered Management Accountant, and prior to joining
Hertfordshire County Council worked in
manufacturing industries with a particular
focus on cost reduction programmes.
She also has extensive experience in producing company accounts.
Currently Cheryl is looking at how
the team can develop its services to
better support leadership in schools.
Louise is the newest member of the FSS
team and joined in November 2014 as a
Finance Strategy Manager.
Her main role is to lead on the
development of FSS services to schools
with a particular focus on services for
academies. She is also the lead on the
further development of FSS consultancy
services including services to schools in
financial difficulty.
Louise is a qualified chartered
accountant and has joined the team
from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
She studied French and History at university before beginning her work with the
public sector.
Louise also leads on the coordination of FSS’s response to developments
which affect schools’ financial management and planning. This includes coordinating developments in the financial
responsibilities of academies with the
development of software solutions. The
role also incorporates leading on specific
projects, such as ensuring FSS gives high
quality support to schools impacted by
changes to children’s centres.
Louise is particularly keen to talk to
academies about how FSS can support
their financial management and reporting responsibilities.
National Conference – The Power
in Poetry: Language as Play
Tuesday 3rd February 2015
Theobalds Park, Cheshunt
14CON/011A
Ready for Early Years Pupil Premium
and Ofsted Inspection of Early Years
Wednesday 4th February 2015
Hertfordshire Development Centre
14EAY/055P
Hertfordshire’s SRE Summit:
Meeting Young People’s 21st
Century Needs
Friday 27th February 2015
Hertfordshire Development Centre
14CON/009A
Full Steam Ahead! Moral Compass
Realigned Hertfordshire secondary
headteachers conference
Thursday 5th – Friday 6th March 2015
Ashridge Business School
15CON/002S
Growing Minds Conference
– a day with James Nottingham
Tuesday 17th March 2015
Fielder Centre, Hatfield
14ASS/088A
For further information about our
upcoming conferences please
contact Danielle Wallington on:
danielle.wallington@hertsforlearning.co.uk
An introduction to FPS web
FSS is currently working on the
upgrade of its financial planning
software solution for Hertfordshire
maintained schools from FPS net to
FPS web. Many academies will already
be familiar with the FPS web version
of the software for academies. FSS is
working to make the FPS web version
for maintained schools available to
Hertfordshire maintained schools.
The FPS web offers many improvements on the FPS net version of the
software, including improved functionality to plan staffing costs more accurately,
web based access and the ability to share
reports within specified access rights
and improved reporting, including a
dashboard of key performance indicators.
FSS will continue to tailor the
software to Hertfordshire characteristics, including building in assumptions
for inflation, Hertfordshire’s funding
formula and ensuring that such areas
as the MFG calculations are operating
correctly. The team is also looking
carefully at assumptions to be built into
the software for 2016-17 for funding.
This work is supported by the Education
Funding Team, who has significant
expertise in the area of school funding.
The system was piloted by a number
of school business managers from
a variety of maintained schools and
the feedback was very positive. The
objective is for schools to be migrated
to FPS web in the spring term with the
15-16 version of the software being
available in schools on or before 28th
February 2015. More information
on the project plan and product is
available on the Hertfordshire Grid for
Learning: http://bit.ly/FPS-Feb
For school business managers and
bursars who do not receive regular
contract
services
from
Financial
Services for Schools and have an in
house financial management arrangement will be interested the course “An
introduction to FPS web”.
An introduction to FPS web:
14FSS/090A Tuesday 3rd February 2015
For more information and to book
your place on the course please visit:
www.thegrid.org.uk/schoolworkforce
Parent2Parent®, the innovative new
programme for parents, has been
piloted across a number of schools
in Hertfordshire during the autumn
term. The response to the pilot
from schools and parents has been
really positive, with 100% of partici­
pating parents stating that they
felt motivated or inspired by the
programme.
The pilot has enabled us to trial
different methods of delivery, and we
are now proud to offer this programme
to all primary schools.
From April, schools can access a
trained HfL lead who will deliver six tried
and tested modules to parents. The
programme can be offered within an
individual school or to a cluster/group of
schools. Once parents have completed
the programme they are able to apply to
become trainers themselves, so they can
deliver the programme to other parents
in their school/cluster of schools.
Full details on the updated
programme will be sent to schools
over the coming weeks, along with
details on how to subscribe.
If you would like further
information on the Parent2Parent®
programme, please contact Julie
Garstang: 01438 844853 or
p2p@hertsforlearning.co.uk
Secondary phase INSET: preventing violence and abuse
Herts for Learning has secured new funding to
deliver its successful three hour training programme
for teaching staff focussed on ‘Preventing violence
and abuse in teenage relationships’. The programme
is being funded in the spring term 2015 by Hertfordshire County Council’s public health team.
This innovative programme is in line with the
Department of Health’s requirement that young
people should develop positive values and a strong
moral framework that will guide their decisions,
judgement and behaviour, as stated in the ‘Framework
for Sexual Health Improvement in England’ 2013 and
2014 supplementary guidance for schools’ SRE.
It also responds to significant shifts in the sexualisation of young people and our increased understanding of the risks, nature and impact of domestic
violence, sexual exploitation and abuse.
The training is delivered in individual schools either
for targeted SRE and pastoral staff or as whole staff
training. It focusses on how to integrate preventative
work into the curriculum, and on key understandings
and core messages that all staff need.
Delegates will be given curriculum strategies and
support to focus young people’s attention on the
causes of exploitative relationships, the laws around
these issues, key principles on which to base healthy
Recently at HfL
SIMS updates
SIMS users from schools across
the county attended the SIMS user
group meetings at the end of the
autumn term.
These updates are tailored for
nursery, primary and secondary
settings independently, and are run by
members of HfL’s School IT Systems
Support Team (SITSS).
Meetings are informal, allowing
school staff to pose their own questions
and bring queries from other staff back
at school. The SITSS team outline the
changes to SIMS and address in detail
any current developments that may
affect the way SIMS is used. They also
pick out key questions that the SITSS
service desk team have been receiving,
pre-empt future problems and advise
on how to prevent these.
The sessions are accompanied by
quick demonstrations and step-by-step
explanations of more complex updates.
“The meetings are useful to update users
on things they might have missed, and
hear what other SIMS users have to say”,
one delegate said, “it’s useful for the
relationships, and the skills to be able to respond to
violence in their own and others’ relationships.
Training is available for up to 16 secondary schools
and four further education colleges across
Hertfordshire before the end of March 2015. The
cost of training is only £50 per school.
To arrange a training programme for your
school or college please contact Sandra Willetts:
sandra.l.willetts@hertsforlearning.co.uk
or: 01438 844795
In case you missed anything…
whole school as we go back and pass on
the important information and new ideas”.
This term, the nursery meetings
covered school census and school
workforce
census
feedback;
Anycomms+; an explanation of the
updated Early Years Foundation Stage
Toolkit, covering both templates and
reports; attainment on entry and exit;
the new SIMS school report; and SIMS
hints and tips.
The primary meetings talked through
HfL’s new assessment resources; the
school census and school workforce
census feedback; how to update user
accounts on System Manager; the new
SIMS autumn school report; and the
new dinner money reports.
The secondary meetings addressed
developments including changes to
SEN; how to add new user accounts on
System Manager and change students’
enrolment status; the SITSS percentage
attendance vulnerable groups report;
and OV8 and reporting issues.
Schools are also invited to share
their own experiences and use of
SIMS. This term, Liz Hughes from Kings
Langley School gave a short overview
of the benefits they have seen in using
the service desk online.
The spring term user group
meetings will take place in March and
are free to attend.
To book on to your local group please
visit: http://bit.ly/TTHGfL
Course codes
Primary: 14SIT/119P - 123P
Secondary: 14SIT/116S - 118S
Nursery settings will receive an email
with an invitation to attend the user
group in the spring term and will need to
reply to this if they wish to book a place.
4
Herts for Learning Training Times
January/February 2015
Other news from HfL
Herts for Learning Training Times
for making a difference. In a recent
survey of Hertfordshire headteachers
undertaken by HfL, 77.5% of respondents stated that they were interested in
buying coaching support for themselves
or for other members of their team.
There has never been a more demanding time to be a headteacher or a senior
leader in school. We recognise this, and
have been working with an independent
coaching organisation to train a cadre
of accredited coaches who can support
colleagues committed to developing and
sustaining their performance.
Through the new Coaching service,
headteachers and aspiring senior
leaders within schools can contract the
services of an accredited coach. All
coaches are certified to ILM Level 5, and
once subscribed to the service, headteachers/senior leaders will be able to
select the coach that best meets their
professional needs from a selection of
biographies provided by HfL.
An initial Coaching service package
comprises three two-hour sessions
with a coach (90 minutes face-to-face
time plus 30 minutes preparation time
per session) with additional sessions
arranged on a pay-as-you-use basis.
Coaching service costs
Initial 3 session package
Additional sessions
£500
£150 per session
Coaching sessions will take place at an
appropriate venue agreed between the
coach and the headteacher/senior leader.
For further information on HfL’s
Coaching Service or to subscribe to
the service please contact
Helen Allen: 01438 844823 or
coaching@hertsforlearning.co.uk
SITSS reaccredited by Capita
HfL’s School IT Systems Support (SITSS) team has
been reaccredited by Capita as a SIMS provider for
the next two years. Phil Neal, Managing Director of
Capita, presented the team with their reaccreditation at a ceremony in December.
“The accreditation process is very important to
us because our software depends on good support”,
said Phil. If understood well and used appropriately
by management teams in schools, SIMS is a tool that
can assist school improvement and help to improve
outcomes of children.
In order to become reaccredited, HfL had to
complete a rigorous self-assessment and gather schools’
feedback on the SIMS service. The Capita Accreditation
team also made visits to both primary and secondary
schools to review how well they make use of SIMS, and
gather evidence of how SITSS has contributed to this.
“It’s clear that Hertfordshire schools appreciate the
support that you give”, Phil said, “it’s a service to be
proud of”.
To thank them for their participation in the Capita
evaluation survey, participating schools were entered into
a prize draw. Ladbrooke JMI School in Potters Bar were
the lucky winners of a digital camera, and were presented
with their prize by MIS Project Manager Maralyn Pomeroy.
The school are going to use the camera to assist with
their ‘flight’ topic work next term; they are planning to
use digital images and videos to accompany their written
work and enhance their ICT skills.
Office Manager Gemma MacCormack is new to
Hertfordshire, having previously worked in a London
borough school. She said her transition has been
helped by the use of SIMS, how easy it is to operate
and the support on offer by SITSS.
Confident Teens a hit with pupils
services to their families. Centres will
gather and use data collectively (for
example on new births in their area), and
will share local knowledge gained over
the past seven years. In Hertfordshire,
smaller groups have been formed than
in other local authorities (around two
to four children’s centres per group), so
the offer remains local for each family.
HfL is commissioned by HCC
to secure overall effectiveness and
promote quality improvement. The
current quality profile of centres in
Hertfordshire is well above the national
profile, with 75% of inspections at least
good compared to less than 67% nationally. HfL and HCC are confident that the
reorganisation period can be managed
Megan Wilcox
with minimal disruption to services for
Hertfordshire’s families.
The new lead agency contracts
will be monitored by HfL children’s
centre improvement partners (CCHIPs)
and HCC Childhood Support Services
officers, building upon the robust
systems already established and recognised as exemplary by Ofsted: “The
local authority reviews the centres’
performance termly, and the challenging targets and insightful advice have
been instrumental in bringing improvement” and “Working closely with a
skilled local authority improvement
partner has helped the centre undergo
a successful period of rapid development in the last year.”
Teams from HfL and HCC will be on
hand to support centres through the
changes. In HfL the Schools HR team
will be working to support lead agencies
with the TUPE process and restructuring
of centre teams; the Financial Services
for Schools (FSS) team will be supporting budget planning for schools that are
lead agencies; and School IT Systems
Support (SITSS) will be supporting the
database and IT solutions.
HfL with Phil Neal
Karen James
Pupils at Confident Teens workshop
Primary schools have been
required since September
2014 to provide foreign language
teaching to every year group in KS2 and
to ensure that teaching focusses on
substantial progress in one language.
To support schools with this, HfL has
developed a Primary Languages Quality
Mark (PLQM), which can help to audit,
embed and evaluate the foreign language
provision in a school. The PLQM moves
through a series of incremental stages
and guides a school towards best MFL
practice. It also helps them to meet the
new National Curriculum requirements,
as set out in the Programme of Study for
KS2. Schools can apply for a quality mark
at bronze, silver or gold level by submitting an evidence-based portfolio.
The PLQM measures curriculum
planning and design; achievement,
assessment and reporting; subject
leadership and management; wider
opportunities including international
dimension as well as transition, continu­
ity and progression.
Schools will need to provide evidence
that they can meet the requirements and
criteria for each level of the award. The
award levels are cumulative (therefore to
apply for the silver award, criteria for the
bronze award must also be met).
The awarding panel will consist of
Catherine Cheater, who has over 30 years’
experience and is renowned nationally
and internationally as a teacher, consultant and author in the field of primary
modern languages, as well as Yvonne
Kennedy, SLE and Jackie Rayment, Herts
for Learning Languages Adviser.
For further information on PLQM
see http://bit.ly/TTPLQM or contact:
jackie.rayment@hertsforlearning.co.uk
Ladbrooke JMI school pupils
with Year 5 teacher Chris Ward
The HfL Early Years team will be
providing workshops on managing
change, delivered locally on request
from children’s centres. These follow
a recent successful children’s centre
worker conference. A ten week future
leaders training programme is also
being run to support children’s centre
managers to adapt to change and
develop their systems further.
For more information about
managing change workshops please
contact Caroline Chalke: caroline.
chalke@hertsforlearning.co.uk
In addition to this HfL training, the
normal range of children’s centre CPD
will continue alongside extra communication briefings for new and former lead
agencies and staff.
The CCHIP team includes: Megan
Wilcox, Caroline Chalke, Lucy Chadwick,
Lucy Connolly, Deborah Godbold, Gill
Grainger, Lucky Khera, Mireille Macraild
and Susan Tanton.
For more information about
groupings see: http://bit.ly/hccr15
New primary HfL non-executive director
Herts for Learning is pleased to announce that Karen James, Headteacher at Ludwick Nursery School, has been elected as the new
primary phase non-executive director (NED) on the HfL Board as of
January 2015.
Karen said, “I was keen to join the HfL Board, recognising the hugely
positive impact that HfL has had on Hertfordshire schools. It is a great
privilege to be elected as a non-executive director to represent Hertfordshire primary schools.”
Karen brings a wealth of educational experience, having been a
The teenage years are testing, at best. During the sessions girls are asked – consequently these images are unrealistic comparisons for their own,
to think about what makes them unique
In December a group of Year 9 girls from
changing, bodies. This helps to increase
amongst the other 7 billion of us on the
Marriotts School in Stevenage took part
their own body confidence and appreciin a session to explore issues surround- planet. They are encouraged to clarify
ing confidence. After their two hours, what they are good at, and set them- ation of their individuality.
selves some short and longer term goals. Assistant Headteacher Lesley Tether
they left saying, “It was excellent, I have
commented, “This workshop enabled
a sense of confidence and feel more “I learnt that you need a plan to achieve
the girls to reflect on how they feel
positive and ambitious for the future”, your goals or it’s just a dream”, said one
about themselves and look forward to a
Year 9 girl.
and “I found out that I am not the only
positive future. Highly recommended.”
They then look to others doing the
one who doesn’t feel confident”.
things that they aspire to, discussing
It was one of the new workshops
For more information or to book
offered by Herts for Learning in partner- female role models in fields includa workshop at your school please
ship with confidence specialists, Confi- ing sport, literature and current affairs,
contact: julie.garstang@
inspiring them to see the importance of
dent Teens, which ran in a number of
hertsforlearning.co.uk
never giving up on their goals.
Hertfordshire schools last term. The
In contrast, they take a look at
aim is to teach young girls how to
magazine images of celebrities and
understand themselves better and value
how these are invariably airbrushed
their individuality.
Supporting primary language quality provision
Children’s centres recommissioning – what this means for you...
Hertfordshire
is
retaining
82
children’s centres – in spite of a
reduced budget – by recommissioning, grouping centres and reducing
the number of lead agencies. This
is good news for schools as well as
children, families and Early Years
settings because the early intervention and support facilitated by the
centres is increasing the proportion
of children ‘ready for school’.
This reorganisation means that all
families with young children can still
access a centre locally, and additional
support will be readily available to those
in greatest need. Children’s centres will
work even more closely with others
who deliver services for young children
and their families such as GPs, schools,
health visitors and midwives.
Megan Wilcox, Herts for Learning
Early Years Adviser and Children’s
Centre Lead, has been working closely
over the past nine months with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and
Hertfordshire Public Health to prepare
for the recommissioning.
The new groupings will allow centres
to collaborate to offer a wider range of
5
Other news from HfL
Unlock your potential through HfL’s new Coaching service
For many years, good coaching
practice has been associated with
high performance and success in
sports. Many business organisations
are now also using coaching to help
get the best performance from their
senior leaders and management team.
A qualified coach is trained to get the
best out of a person, to understand their
abilities and to unlock their potential. They
are not consultants, who are generally paid
to deliver systems and programmes.
Coaches enable people and capabilities to develop and grow within
an organisation and are recognised
January/February 2015
Hertfordshire headteacher for eight years, played an active role on
Schools Forum and worked in partnership with other schools as a
national leader of education (NLE).
The vacancy for primary non-executive director arose as Kim Frazer
stepped down from headship and has therefore resigned from the HfL
Board, as outlined in the November edition of Training Times.
Karen is excited about the role, and commented, “I am looking
forward to being involved in shaping the future direction of the
company as it goes on to achieve further success.”
Teach in Herts
TEACHER RECRUITMENT FAIR
Sponsored by Herts for Learning and the National College for Teaching and Leadership
Saturday 14th March 2015, 10.00am to 4.00pm
Hertfordshire Development Centre at Robertson House, Stevenage
To support you with your recruitment, Herts for Learning (HfL) and the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL)
are hosting a teacher recruitment fair on Saturday 14th March.
The event, which will be supported with a local and national advertising campaign to attract a wide range of people wishing to
Teach in Herts, will be funded by Herts for Learning and will include a series of workshops, each focussed on a different aspect
of teacher recruitment:
• NQT support in Hertfordshire
• improving your subject knowledge
• progress your career in Hertfordshire
• advice surgeries for individuals
• returning to teaching
• applying for your first teaching job
• upskilling for those wanting to re-train from other professions
• why teach in Hertfordshire
• mature entrants to the profession
• living and settling in Hertfordshire – benefits and practical advice
The NCTL will also be running Train to Teach sessions, which will guide attendees through the routes into teaching and
will share invaluable information on applying for training. Schools Direct providers will be available and accessible on
the day alongside the NCTL sessions.
Attendance at this event is FREE and a shuttle bus will run between the Hertfordshire Development Centre and Stevenage train
station. The Oak room has been reserved for Hertfordshire schools/school clusters to host an exhibition stand, on which they can:
•
promote their school/school clusters to prospective candidates
•
advertise their current teaching vacancies
•
meet people interested in entering or returning to the teaching profession
Guidance on putting a stand together for the event will be provided by Herts for Learning.
Exhibiting is restricted to Hertfordshire schools only
and further information will be sent to schools shortly and will
be posted on the HfL website.
If your school/cluster of schools is interested in
taking a stand at the event please book by emailing:
teachinherts@hertsforlearning.co.uk
#teachinherts
Please note that exhibition space is limited.
Spring term 2015
Training programme overview
For more information about the Herts for Learning training programme
or to book your place on a course please visit:
www.thegrid.org.uk/schoolworkforce/training/courses/booking.shtml
14COM/011P
06-Mar-15
Phonics and spelling at Key Stage 2:
pulling it all together
14ENG/093A
18-Mar-15
14COM/012P
24-Feb-15
Using data for school improvement
Key Stages 1 and 2
14ASS/082P
23-Mar-15
New to the EYFS
14ASS/081P
10-Mar-15
Primary Computing Professional
Development: Computing subject
leaders’ spring 2015 update (South/
West)
14COM/013P
23-Feb-15
Growing Minds Conference – a day
with James Nottingham
14ASS/088A
17-Mar-15
Growing minds – a two day course
about ‘mindsets’
14ASS/103A
17-Mar-15
Year 6/7 moderation cluster 1
14ASS/117A
06-Feb-15
Year 6/7 moderation cluster 2
14ASS/110A
30-Jan-15
14ASS/108A
29-Jan-15
Year 6/7 moderation cluster 5
14ASS/106A
28-Jan-15
Year 6/7 moderation cluster 6
14ASS/107A
28-Jan-15
Year 6/7 moderation cluster 7
14ASS/113A
04-Feb-15
Year 6/7 moderation cluster 8
14ASS/114A
04-Feb-15
Year 6/7 moderation cluster 9
CONFERENCES
Year 6/7 moderation cluster 4
DT
Year 6/7 moderation cluster 3
Primary Computing Professional
Development: Computing subject
leaders’ spring 2015 update (North/
East, Longmeadow)
14COM/014P
26-Feb-15
Hertfordshire’s SRE summit: meeting
young people’s 21st century needs
14CON/009A
27-Feb-15
National Conference: The Power in
Poetry - Language as Play
14CON/011A
03-Feb-15
Level 2 food hygiene
14DET/006A
12-Feb-15
Developing progression geographical
skills and fieldwork
14GEO/002P
29-Jan-15
“Going places” with human and
physical geography at KS1 and KS2
14GEO/003P
25-Feb-15
KS2 history – prehistoric Britain,
ancient worlds and early civilisations
New HT induction programme making effective use of data
New headteacher network meeting
14HIS/004P
05-Feb-15
14MAN/043P
25-Feb-15
14EAY/054P
05-Mar-15
New curriculum: developing
understanding and progression in
calculation
14MAT/105P
26-Jan-15
New curriculum: developing
understanding and progression in
calculation
14MAT/106P
27-Jan-15
Making numbers real using Numicon:
action, imagery, conversation,
structure and generalisation
14MAT/107P
12-Mar-15
Addressing mathematical
misconceptions in Key Stage 1
14MAT/110P
10-Mar-15
Addressing mathematical
misconceptions in Key Stage 2
14MAT/111P
19-Mar-15
Developing a robust wholeschool approach to assessment in
mathematics
14MAT/112P
10-Feb-15
Primary headteachers seminars:
spring 2015
14MAN/092P
24-Feb-15
Developing a robust wholeschool approach to assessment in
mathematics
14MAT/113P
11-Feb-15
Primary headteachers seminars:
spring 2015
14MAN/093P
25-Feb-15
The reasoning rich classroom – Key
Stage 1
14MAT/114P
06-Feb-15
Primary headteachers seminars:
spring 2015
14MAN/094P
26-Feb-15
The reasoning rich classroom – lower
Key Stage 2
14MAT/115P
04-Feb-15
Primary headteachers seminars:
spring 2015
14MAN/095P
02-Mar-15
The reasoning rich classroom – upper
Key Stage 2
14MAT/116P
02-Feb-15
14EAY/048P
17-Mar-15
Primary headteachers seminars:
spring 2015
14MAN/096P
03-Mar-15
14MAT/117P
26-Mar-15
The teaching assistant’s role in the
EYFS classroom
Numicon: extending and enhancing
current practice
14EAY/053P
25-Feb-15
Effective school improvement
planning – a key Ofsted indicator
14MAN/102P
10-Mar-15
14ASS/112A
03-Feb-15
Independent schools forum
14EAY/054P
05-Mar-15
Developing assessment at a strategic
level
14MAN/114P
26-Jan-15
Tackling mathematics learning
difficulties by teaching visually and
actively
14MAT/119S
10-Feb-15
Year 6/7 moderation cluster 10
14ASS/111A
03-Feb-15
Ready for Early Years premium and
Ofsted inspection of Early Years
14EAY/055P
04-Feb-15
14MAN/115P
27-Jan-15
Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day –
mathematics
14MAT/120P
24-Mar-15
Year 6/7 moderation cluster 11
14ASS/115A
05-Feb-15
Developing assessment at a strategic
level
14EAY/056P
09-Feb-15
Developing assessment at a strategic
level
14MAN/116P
28-Jan-15
Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day –
mathematics
14MAT/121P
25-Mar-15
Year 6/7 moderation cluster 12
14ASS/116A
05-Feb-15
Early Years outcomes moderation
session
14EAY/057P
10-Feb-15
14MAN/120A
12-Feb-15
14MAT/122P
26-Mar-15
Year 6/7 moderation cluster 13
Conducting effective support staff
appraisals
Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day –
mathematics
14ASS/104A
27-Jan-15
Early Years outcomes moderation
session
Early Years outcomes moderation
session
14EAY/058P
10-Feb-15
Leadership lite bites 1–6
14MAN/124A
24-Feb-15
Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day –
mathematics
14MAT/123P
26-Mar-15
Early Years outcomes moderation
session
14EAY/059P
11-Feb-15
Leadership and management styles
14MAN/125A
27-Feb-15
Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day –
mathematics
14MAT/126P
23-Mar-15
Early Years outcomes moderation
session
14EAY/060P
12-Feb-15
Work/life balance
14MAN/126A
5-Feb-15
Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day –
mathematics
14MAT/127P
24-Mar-15
Year 3 and 4 grammar: the fine detail
and application
Defining leadership growth
14MAN/127A
18-Mar-15
14MAT/128P
31-Mar-15
14ENG/073P
11-Feb-15
Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day –
mathematics
Year 5 and 6 grammar: the fine detail
and application
15MAT/005P
01-Apr-15
14ENG/074P
09-Feb-15
Key Stage 2 level 6 revision day –
mathematics
Planning new curriculum units for
fiction and non-fiction in Years 3 and 4
14MAT/094P
24-Feb-15
Hertfordshire Year 5 mathematics
challenge
14MAT/124P
18-Mar-15
14ENG/075P
02-Mar-15
Creative and cross-curricular
approaches to teaching mathematics
Planning new curriculum units for
fiction and non-fiction in Years 5 and 6
14MAT/095P
27-Feb-15
Hertfordshire Year 5 mathematics
challenge
14MAT/125P
18-Mar-15
14ENG/076P
09-Mar-15
New curriculum: subject knowledge
for new areas in the upper Key Stage 2
mathematics curriculum
Moving level 5 writers to level 6 in
Year 6
14MAT/096P
02-Feb-15
Hertfordshire Year 5 mathematics
challenge
14MAT/137P
18-Mar-15
14ENG/079P
17-Mar-15
How to deliver the skills of problem
solving at Key Stage 1
Can’t write, won’t write! –
Key Stage 1
14MAT/098P
03-Feb-15
Hertfordshire Year 5 mathematics
challenge
14MAT/139P
24-Mar-15
14ENG/080P
26-Mar-15
Key mathematical subject knowledge
and practical ideas: securing fluency
for times tables
Can’t write, won’t write! –
Key Stage 2
14MAT/140P
23-Mar-15
14ENG/081P
26-Mar-15
Hertfordshire Year 5 mathematics
challenge
Guided reading at Key Stage 1:
developing fluent readers
14MAT/138S
25-Feb-15
14ENG/082P
12-Feb-15
Mathematics subject leader
development day – secondary
Guided reading at Key Stage 2:
developing thinking readers
14ENG/083P
12-Feb-15
Reading and writing in MFL: literacy
strategies for Key Stage 2
14MFL/021P
18-Mar-15
Teaching assistants: spotlight on
phonics and spelling
14ENG/084P
25-Feb-15
MFL in mind: growing better language
learners
14MFL/022S
04-Mar-15
Eurovision: music in MFL
Using Fischer Family Trust in Key
Stages 3, 4 and 5
14ASS/118S
9-Mar-15
Better behaviour – better learning1
14BFL/028A
29-Jan-15
Supporting better behaviour –
supporting better learning
14BFL/031A
10-Feb-15
Supporting better behaviour –
supporting better learning
14BFL/034A
12-Mar-15
Understanding and improving boys’
learning
14BFL/037A
03-Mar-15
Understanding and improving boys’
learning
14BFL/035A
05-Mar-15
Lifting the lid on learning –
developing independent learners
14BFL/036A
10-Mar-15
Promoting and supporting the
learning behaviour of our children and
young people – are we there yet?
14BFL/038A
19-Mar-15
Exploring cultural awareness through
storytelling and the visual arts
14BME/020P
03-Mar-15
Raising BME achievement by
promoting outstanding spiritual,
moral, social and cultural (SMSC)
development
14BME/021P
05-Mar-15
Leading on BME/EAL achievement
14BME/022P
12-Feb-15
Algorithms and all that in the new
2014 computing curriculum
14COM/002P
15-Mar-15
Computing short courses: teaching
computing at KS1
14COM/004P
04-Feb-15
Strengthening subject knowledge
through fun approaches to teaching
grammar for teaching assistants
Effective literacy support for teaching
assistants
14ENG/085P
12-Mar-15
14ENG/086P
06-Feb-15
Key mathematical subject knowledge
and practical ideas: securing fluency
for times tables
14MAT/099P
04-Feb-15
Key mathematical subject knowledge
and practical ideas: securing fluency
for times tables
14MAT/100P
05-Feb-15
Key mathematical subject knowledge
and practical ideas: what’s the
problem with word problems? Using
the Singapore Bar method
14MAT/101P
17-Mar-15
Key mathematical subject knowledge
and practical ideas: what’s the
problem with word problems? Using
the Singapore Bar method
14MAT/102P
18-Mar-15
NQT
14ASS/105A
27-Jan-15
MFL
Effective and efficient planning in the
EYFS
MATHEMATICS
14DET/010S
24-Mar-15
EARLY YEARS
Metal machine safety course: S2HS
and S6HS (three days)
SEND
14MAT/104P
16-Mar-15
SEND lite bite – HDC: person
centred approaches
14SEN/041A
03-Mar-15
SEND lite bite: provision – HDC
14SEN/044A
02-Mar-15
New to the role of teaching assistant
14SEN/040A
02-Feb-15
14NQT/039P
05-Mar-15
Implementation workshops for new
special educational needs code of
practice (0-25)
14SEN/042A
24-Feb-15
Fun, focussed and effective primary
science for NQTs
14NQT/040P
10-Mar-15
Secondary SEND good practice
morning
14SEN/043S
02-Mar-15
Embedding fun French in the primary
classroom for NQTs
14NQT/041P
17-Mar-15
SIMS new users
14SEN/098A
26-Jan-15
Active and engaging strategies for
teaching primary RE – a tool kit for
NQTs
14NQT/042P
19-Mar-15
SIMS Dinner Money 7 new users
14SEN/099P
30-Jan-15
Teaching high quality PE for NQTs in
Key Stage 1
14NQT/049P
25-Feb-15
Teaching high quality PE for NQTs in
Key Stage 2
14NQT/050P
26-Feb-15
NQTs: teaching for independence in
KS1 (literacy focus)
14NQT/045P
24-Mar-15
NQTs: teaching for independence in
KS2 (literacy focus)
14NQT/046P
25-Mar-15
NQTs: teaching for independence in
KS1 (mathematics focus)
14NQT/051P
24-Mar-15
NQTs: teaching for independence in
KS2 (mathematics focus)
14NQT/052P
25-Mar-15
NQTs: teaching for independence in
KS1 (literacy and mathematics focus)
14NQT/053P
24-Mar-15
NQTs: teaching for independence in
KS2 (literacy and mathematics focus)
14NQT/054P
25-Mar-15
Teaching computing at Key Stage 1
for NQTs
14NQT/070P
10-Feb-15
Teaching computing at lower Key
Stage 2 for NQTs
14NQT/071P
12-Feb-15
RLSS National Rescue Award for
swimming teachers and coaches
The write path for NQTs: successful
strategies for developing writing in
Years 5 and 6
14NQT/027P
24-Feb-15
Inclusion matters for primary NQTs
14NQT/037P
11-Mar-15
Mathematics: developing a problem
solving classroom for NQTs in KS1
14NQT/038P
04-Mar-15
Mathematics: developing a problem
solving classroom for NQTs in KS1
SITSS
Safeguarding in a digital world:
eSafety for primary schools
Number sense: developing a
progressive road map to mental
fluency
PE
14ENG/092P
20-Mar-15
MATHEMATICS
Year 1 phonics and spelling:
what’s new and what’s not
Using iPads in your classroom: a
teaching tool for the 21st century
14ASS/109A
29-Jan-15
ENGLISH
14COM/010P
10-Mar-15
14ASS/080P
25-Mar-15
ENGLISH
BEHAVIOUR FOR LEARNING
BME
Safeguarding in a digital world:
eSafety for primary schools
Using data for school improvement
Key Stages 1 and 2
Year 6/7 moderation cluster 14
COMPUTING
14ENG/105P
26-Feb-15
14MAT/103P
19-Mar-15
PSHE
14ASS/079S
19-Mar-15
14COM/009P
28-Jan-15
Practical and engaging approaches to
teaching reading comprehension in
the new curriculum
Key mathematical subject knowledge
and practical ideas: what’s the
problem with word problems? Using
the Singapore Bar method
RE
Update for secondary assessment
coordinators
Social stories, enhanced through the
use of iPads
14ENG/094P
26-Jan-15
SCIENCE
14ASS/077A
10-Mar-15
14COM/008P
04-Mar-15
Leading change in English: raising
standards through the new
curriculum
SEND
Proving progress within lessons in Key
Stage 2 and 3: assessment to enhance
learning
Enhancing the learning of computing
through iPads
GEOG
14ASS/071A
06-Mar-15
14COM/005P
24-Feb-15
HISTORY
ASSESSMENT
Analysing your RAISEonline data (Key
Stages 1, 2 and 4)
Computing short courses: exploring
technology in the EYFS
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
14ART/007P
09-Feb-15
COMPUTING
ART
Dynamic group work for display:
enriching the primary environment
NQT
Contact Mark Green, Training Programme Coordinator: 01438 844788 or mark.green@hertsforlearning.co.uk
Training Times – January/February 2015
Structuring Basedata in exams
14SIT/100S
02-Feb-15
SIMS Personnel
14SIT/101A
11-Feb-15
SIMS Personnel staff performance
module
14SIT/102A
09-Feb-15
Maximising the use of Exams
Organiser
14SIT/103S
13-Feb-15
SIMS Student list reporting
14SIT/104P
27-Feb-15
Attendance
14SIT/105A
02-Mar-15
Attendance reporting
14SIT/106A
02-Mar-15
SIMS Reporting (basic)
14SIT/107A
03-Mar-15
Primary Assessment Manager 7
follow-on
14SIT/108P
05-Mar-15
Primary Assessment Manager 7
follow-on
14SIT/109P
05-Mar-15
Using SIMS to evidence impact of
interventions
14SIT/110S
09-Mar-15
14PED/006A
10-Mar-15
Scheduling using Nova-T6
14SIT/111S
13-Mar-15
RLSS national rescue test award update
14PED/007A
11-Mar-15
Using SIMS to manage SEN
14SIT/112A
16-Mar-15
Everything you need to know
about PSHE and the new National
Curriculum
SIMS Personnel staff performance
module
14SIT/113A
18-Mar-15
14PSE/019P
20-Mar-15
Making effective use of AM7 for
SENCOs
14SIT/114P
30-Mar-15
Everything you need to know
about PSHE and the new National
Curriculum
14PSE/020P
17-Mar-15
Nova-T6 curriculum model
14SIT/115S
06-Feb-15
14PSE/021A
28-Jan-15
14SIT/116S
02-Mar-15
Accredited referral training
SIMS secondary user group –
Wheathampstead
Accredited referral training
14PSE/024A
02-Mar-15
SIMS secondary user group –
The Oval
14SIT/117S
04-Mar-15
SIMS secondary user group –
Cottered Village Hall
14SIT/118S
05-Mar-15
Free RE – creative ideas for tired
teachers
14RED/007P
05-Mar-15
Primary user group –
Wheathampstead
14SIT/119P
09-Mar-15
Active and engaging RE
14RED/009P
12-Mar-15
Primary user group –
Greenwood Park
14SIT/120P
10-Mar-15
Primary user group – Baldock
14SIT/121P
12-Mar-15
Primary user group – Little Hadham
14SIT/122P
13-Mar-15
Primary user group – Potten End
14SIT/123P
17-Mar-15
SIMS Special School User Group –
Greenwood Park
14SIT/131A
16-Mar-15
Providing for the more able primary
scientist
14SCI/012P
12-Feb-15
Secondary science subject leader
updates
14SCI/013S
17-Mar-15
New and aspiring primary science
subject leaders
14SCI/014P
05-Mar-15
Take away SEN training – social,
emotional and mental health
14SEN/031A
25-Feb-15
Take away SEN training –
communication works
14SEN/033A
29-Jan-15
SEND briefing
15MFL/001A
01-Apr-15
14SEN/034A
19-Mar-15
SEND briefing
Jolies Phoniques plus
14MFL/023A
25-Feb-15
14SEN/035A
24-Mar-15
SEND briefing
14SEN/036A
25-Mar-15
EYFS NQT induction programme –
spring starters
14NQT/015P
03-Mar-15
SEND lite bite – Apsley 2: person
centred approaches
14SEN/039A
02-Mar-15
Herts for Learning Training Times
Spring term 2015
School Business Manager overview
Training Times – January/ February 2015
SIMS FMS modules
SIMS FMS is a double entry ledger based accounting and financial management system suitable for all schools and academies.
Module 2 – SIMS FMS module 2 – accounts payable
27th January 2015 / 14FSS/074A
This course demonstrates how day to day financial activities are transacted on FMS.
Module 3 – general ledger
29th January 2015 / 14FSS/075A
This course demonstrates the functionality of the General Ledger within FM.
Module 4 – accounts receivable
5th February 2015 / 14FSS/076A
The aim of this course is to demonstrate the functionality of the accounts receivable module within FMS.
Module 5 – reporting modules and month end procedures
Module 7 – asset management (for academies only)
The aim of this course is to demonstrate the Asset Management functionality within FMS and how this can be used
to record asset and depreciation.
New resources added to web subscription service
HfL has made several additions to
the Primary core teaching, learning
and assessment resources. The
resources were launched at the end
of the summer term 2014 to support
primary schools with new approaches to mid-term planning, and include
hundreds of new curriculum resour­
ces not previously available.
The resources are available to primary
schools through an annual web subscription service. At their launch, they included:
planning and progression materials for
English and maths; a suite of Early Years
materials; a new approach to assessing
and tracking pupil progress from Year 1
to Year 6; new assessment templates and
reports linked to SIMS AM7.
Over 400 primary schools from
across the UK have already subscribed
School Management review - £525
Available to support academies with establishing how efficient
or effective their office/academy management is; to check they
are Ofsted ready for business processes and to review academy
systems to see if there are areas that can be improved on or
money saved.
The review includes:
• a full day process audit in your academy
• a report for the headteacher/governors OR face-to-face
feedback with action points for your school
Review content includes: single central record; purchasing and
procurement; asset management; health and safety compliance;
community liaison and parental links; communications; staff
structures and management (non-teaching staff).
For more information please contact
Full Steam Ahead!
Moral Compass Realigned
Hertfordshire secondary
headteachers conference
Natalie Dalvarez, Head of School Business Manager Services:
natalie.dalvarez@hertsforlearning.co.uk or 07812 322815
Thursday 5th – Friday 6th March 2015
Coming soon!
Training courses that school business
managers may be interested in...
Unit 1 – Developing and sharing vision and values
25-Feb-15 14MAN/130A
Unit 2 – Dealing with the change process
03-Mar-15 14MAN/129A
Unit 3 – Effective team building
22-Apr-15 15MAN/025A
Unit 4 – Personal effectiveness – environment, time and people
20-May-15 15MAN/026A
Unit 5 – Building skills and confidence in others
10-Jun-15 15MAN/027A
Unit 6 – Managing conflict and difficult people
01-Jul-15 15MAN/028A
The six modules may be followed in their entirety or selected to meet
individual requirements.
For more information please contact
Julie Garstang: julie.garstang@hertsforlearning.co.uk
or 01438 845111
Ashridge Business School, Berkhamsted,
Hertfordshire HP4 1NS
To book your place on this conference please visit
www.thegrid.org.uk/schoolworkforce
Conference code: 15CON/002S
For further information please contact
Danielle Wallington, Events Coordinator
email: danielle.wallington@hertsforlearning.co.uk or
telephone: 01438 844535
to the service and new resources are
being added all the time. During the
autumn term the following were added:
•
•
•
•
English – new planning support,
book band guidance and guidance
for parents;
maths – a new evaluation tool;
science – assessment criteria and
long terms plans;
assessment – new reporting tools
In addition, a new Embedding Fundamental British Values audit and QAF
(quality assurance framework) has been
introduced, which has been designed to
help audit how a whole school curriculum provides opportunities to learn
about and embed fundamental British
values. Also included are resources
designed to support with comprehensively assuring the quality of work that
is taking place.
Further resources will be added
throughout 2015, which will include
long term plans and assessment
criteria for history and geography,
exemplification for English and maths,
booklists for poetry and non-fiction, a
mental calculation policy plus updates
for AM7.
Schools are charged an annual fee
to subscribe to the service and are
able to download all of the documents
published during the period (year 1
runs until 31st August 2015).
Subscription cost is from £350 per year,
based on pupil numbers.
Recommend a non-subscribing
school and get £50 cashback:
Subscribing shareholder schools
can recommend the service to a
non-shareholder school that has not
previously subscribed. The non-shareholder school will benefit from shareholder prices and the shareholder
school will receive £50 cashback.
For further information on the
services, to view sample documents
or to subscribe, go to:
www.hertsforlearning.co.uk
Alternatively, email:
resources@hertsforlearning.co.uk.
HfL advisers certified as leaders in maths
11th February 2015 / 14FSS/078A
Save the date
9
Other news from HfL
9th February 2015 / 14FSS/077A
This course demonstrates all reporting functionality, including the Financial Reporting suite, within FMS.
January/February 2015
Sam and Karen
Congratulations to HfL mathematics teaching and learning advisers
Samantha Burns and Karen Gordon,
who have recently been certified as
Professional Development Accredited Leads by the National Centre for
Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM).
The accreditation follows their work
over the past year to complete the
NCETM Professional Development Lead
Support Programme. This recognises
that their professional development is
of national standard.
The programme involves planning,
execution and evaluation of school
projects to trial innovative classroom
techniques. Samantha and Karen
focussed on delivering CPD around
the use of manipulatives in teaching
secondary algebra; additionally, Karen
focussed on developing skills in primary
problem solving.
Their evaluations included reflection with schools on the sessions and
the reception of new ideas. They looked
into the effect of new methods on
children in the classroom, and explored
how these could be cascaded in the
schools in which they had been trialled.
For more information about the
programme please see:
www.ncetm.org.uk/resources/39629
Congratulations SENCOs!
Congratulations to all Hertfordshire
SENCOs and TAs receiving awards at
the Eastern Leadership Centre (ELC)
ceremony in December. In 2014 over
60 Hertfordshire SENCOs received
their National Award for SEN Coordination, Advanced SENCO Award or
SENCOs as Leaders Award, and 12 TAs
completed their Level 4.
It is mandatory for new to role
SENCOs to complete the National
Award for SEN Coordination within their
first three years of being in post.
HfL provides this year long course,
led by Angela Scott, Regional Lead for
SEND at ELC and Achievement Adviser
(SEND) at HfL, and Val Hazell, Achievement Adviser (SEND/Most Able) at
HfL. The course is administered by the
Eastern Leadership Centre in partnership with HfL, with the University of
Hertfordshire as the awarding body.
The National Award focusses on the
nationally prescribed learning outcomes
and enables new to role SENCOs to meet the
requirements outlined in the SEND Code of
Practice (2014). SENCOs experience seven
face-to-face training days, which also
provide valuable opportunities to network
with other colleagues across Hertfordshire.
There is a high level of support and
supervision given to help SENCOs
complete the practical tasks. These
form the basis of the two assignments
that address the master’s element
of the course. Candidates’ confidence
and grounding in the 49 learning
outcome areas is supported through
the use of an innovative Self Evaluation
Tool which helps SENCOs to plan their
learning journey.
The award is largely practical, and
involves reading and research around
areas of interest and delivery of ideas
and small projects. If effective, these
projects often grow to become part of
the whole school improvement plan.
Successful completion of the course
means that SENCOs gain both the
National Award for SEN Coordination
and 60 master’s level credits from the
University of Hertfordshire. They then
have the opportunity to progress their
studies through an Advanced SENCO
Award, an Advanced SENCO as Leaders
Award and onto a final dissertation to
gain an MA in Education and Leadership.
This progression route is unique
to the partnership in the East, of
which Hertfordshire (through Herts
for Learning), is a partner. There are
a number of SENCOs from across
Hertfordshire currently pursuing the
full master’s degree, with HfL’s first
cohort set to complete their dissertations this summer.
To find out more about the Awards
and how to develop your own
practice as a SENCO, please contact:
val.hazell@hertsforlearning.co.uk
SITSS Apple Device Management System
Are you thinking of buying some iPads
(for staff or students)? Do you need help
setting up your existing Apple devices,
managing them, making them secure or
installing apps? Look no further...
SITSS’ Apple Device Management
System (ADMS) is a service that helps
schools to maximise their iOS devices
(such as iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad)
so that they can be used to their full
potential in the classroom by staff and
students. Now successfully installed in
over 100 schools, this service is growing
exponentially.
The service is delivered by Apple
Certified Professionals from the School
IT Systems Support team (SITSS). The
team can assist either on-site or
remotely with updating apps, updating
device settings, setting up restrictions
for pupils/staff to ensure school users
are safe, and configuration of a central
location to save work.
The service helps to make devices
classroom-ready for all teachers by
installing apps covering different curriculum areas, in liaison with HfL’s eDevelopments Adviser and Apple Distinguished
Educator, Chris Carter. The team can
then synchronise the devices so each is
identical in terms of settings and apps.
Once set up, extra devices (be it more
iPads or personal devices) can be seamlessly added and synced at a later date.
SITSS will also provide bespoke
training and comprehensive support to
suit the needs of a school.
For more information please contact
the SITSS service desk: 01438 844777
option 1 then option 3, or email:
sitss.technical@lea.herts.sch.uk
@SITSSApple
***Watch out for the new teacher app
for SIMS being released early 2015***
Business plan
The executive summary of the
Herts for Learning business plan
can be found on the HfL website:
http://bit.ly/HfLshareholders
10
Herts for Learning Training Times
January/February 2015
Herts for Learning Training Times
January/February 2015
11
Latest Herts schools news
Latest Herts schools news
High Beeches Primary School in national Sunday Times rankings
Herts Sports Awards 2014
High Beeches Primary School in Harpenden was named the top
Hertfordshire state primary school in the Sunday Times Good
School Guide 2014, coming 53rd in the country. Other Hertfordshire schools to make the top 100 included the Haberdasher’s Aske’s
Boys’ School, St Hilda’s School and Two Waters Primary School.
The Good School Guide provides “a fully searchable database of
Britain’s leading schools” (Sunday Times). The scores are based on the
percentage of children attaining Level 5 in English (reading, grammar
and writing) and maths. Tables are based on last year’s results; High
Beeches achieved 87%, 87% and 50% Level 5 in reading, grammar and
writing respectively, and 83% Level 5 in maths.
Parents and children were excited to see their school in the
rankings. “It’s great to be recognised for all the hard work of everyone
in the school, our pupils, teachers, governors and families”, said
Headteacher Paul Driver.
Congratulations to all
Hertfordshire schools included!
2014 – a year of international success
2014 saw international work highly
praised in Hertfordshire’s primary,
secondary and special schools. Many
schools were recognised by the
British Council, gaining awards such
as Link2Learn and the International
School Award (ISA). These accolades
are a testimony to the continuing
hard work in international education
that goes on across Hertfordshire.
Jackie Rayment, HfL’s MFL Adviser
and International Coordinator, said, “It
is wonderful to see more Hertfordshire
schools attaining recognition for their
outstanding global learning. Here at
HfL we celebrate, encourage and give
practical support to schools developing and embedding the enriching
international dimensions of teaching
and learning.”
Celebrations were in order last term
for Little Hadham Primary School
in Little Hadham, who received the
Link2Learn Newcomer Award 2014.
The Link2Learn Awards, supported by
HSBC’s Global Education Programme,
recognise and reward UK schools and
International Coordinators for their
work in forming and sustaining international school partnerships. The award
followed their achievement of the ISA
Foundation Certificate in the summer.
The school has formed links with
schools both abroad and at home, in
Greece, France and Watford. Using the
knowledge of one of their MFL coordinators, who is a Greek national, their
Key Stage 2 pupils have made links with
pupils in two Greek schools. They have
had the opportunity to learn Greek
during lunchtime clubs, in preparation
for a future Skype conversation. Year
2 and 3 pupils have also been learning
from their partner schools in France;
Headteacher Liz Stockley hopes to run
a joint design and technology project
between the schools in the future.
Little Hadham is making the most
of having a link school fairly close by,
too. The connection is overseen by
the school council, and both schools
visited each other in the summer term,
where they were given tours and had a
tea party.
The aim of this connection is to
allow pupils from both schools to
experi­ence diversity without the need to
go abroad. Next term they plan to make
visits to explore each other’s local areas,
with pupils from Little Hadham giving
tours of their village, and then visiting a
mosque in Watford.
What’s next for Little Hadham? They
are applying for their ISA Intermediate
Certificate – Accreditation stage here
they come!
HfL’s Andy Griffiths with the BASE staff and their award
Keith Coughlin with teachers from Brandles’ Kenyan link school
supplying footwear for pupils, who
currently play sport barefoot. Woodfield School received the ISA
in October and has continued to foster
an international focus in the curriculum.
The students have held three international days around food, music and
sport. A school recipe book was created
from the international food day; international music day gave students the
opportunity to learn African music and
dance as well as music from a variety of
countries; and international sports day
saw pupils participating in country-related sports, such as a cricket race for
Sri Lanka and a football race for Brazil.
International and Global Education
Coordinator Andrea La Grue said, “Our
international projects have allowed
our students access to a world beyond
home and school. As a special needs
school, I am very proud of our students
and staff for ‘thinking outside the box’
to enable us to explore, experience and
share international learning.”
Since winning their award school
staff have been involved in a European
Education Conference for ‘eTwinning’
School Award winners, and are in the
process of applying for a European
funded Erasmus plus application to
fund further collaboration with schools
across Europe.
Headteacher Gill Waceba said, “It has
been brilliant to see the development of
international work across the school
and the positive impact on learning.”
Goffs School was awarded the ISA
last year and maintains partnerships
with schools in Ghana, Spain, France
and Italy.
As part of their work towards the ISA
they held a very successful ISA drop down
day for Year 7 and 8, where students
experienced a little of the cultures from
each of their partner countries.
During the day pupils were introduced to a brief history of Ghanaian
food, music, festivals and celebrations, and learned some basic Twi –
one of Ghana’s main languages. The
Ilusion Flamenca Dance Company
held flamenco sessions, an insight
into French culture was given through
interactive French Revolution re­­­
enactments and pupils were challenged to create a football kit for the
Italian world cup team.
Specialist Schools Coordinator Mark
Holding said, “We know how much
students and teachers will enjoy this day,
but the aim is to continue to enhance
their cultural awareness and understanding in a bid to make them more
rounded individuals for the future.”
For more information about the
ISA see: https://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org
30 Year 5 pupils from St Vincent de Paul Catholic
Primary School in Stevenage have become the first
Mini Vinnies in Hertfordshire, following an enrolment ceremony last term. Pupils pledged to help
make a difference in the world by caring for others
in the school community and beyond.
Formed by The Society of St Vincent de Paul, ‘Mini
Vinnies’ is a relatively new programme that engages
children in the work of the society. With the slogan
‘turning concern into action’, Mini Vinnies are encouraged to embark on their first steps as possible ‘Vincentians for life’.
“Being a Vincentian is all about rolling up your
sleeves and getting on with it”, said Dee Mansi, Mini
Vinnie Coordinator for the Diocese of Westminster, at
the enrolment ceremony.
Led by Key Stage 1 teacher Val Hargrave, the group
plan to meet fortnightly to discuss what they want to
For a full list of this year’s winners
see: www.sportinherts.org.uk/page/
sports-awards-441
do and how they can build upon the work they are
already doing to help their peers and others in society.
They have badges to wear which make them recognisable to other students, who are encouraged to come
to them if they feel in need of help. They are already
planning charity fundraising events, too.
“Mini Vinnies is about helping to give hope to
people who are vulnerable”, said one Year 5 pupil, and
another: “We want the group to make the world a
better place, and to teach people about Jesus”.
The school plan for the current Year 5 cohort to
cascade their knowledge to current Year 4s who are
interested in being Mini Vinnies, and who will then join
them in their roles as they move into Year 5.
To find out more about Mini Vinnies and how to get
involved, see: www.minivinnies.org.uk
Strathmore Infant and Nursery School in Hitchin has become the first in
Hertfordshire to be awarded the Achievement for All Quality Mark.
Headteacher Bernadette Holmes was presented with the award on behalf of the
school in the autumn term.
Achievement for All is an independent,
not for profit charity and its schools
programme is part-funded by the Department for Education. The programme
focusses on improving outcomes for
vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils,
including those from low income families,
those identified with special educational
needs, and looked-after children.
The programme takes two years
and schools decide their own approach
to completing it. Strathmore decided
that their initial focus would be on their
‘reluctant writers’; the second year they
focussed on Pupil Premium pupils.
Bernadette said, “Parental involvement has been a key factor for the
school. Information sessions and visits
St Alban and St Stephen Catholic Junior School in St Albans
Flamstead End School in Cheshunt
Sheredes Primary School in Hoddesdon
Longlands Primary School and Nursery in Broxbourne
The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School St Albans
Morgans Primary School & Nursery in Hertford
The Orchard Primary School in Watford
Our Lady Catholic Primary School in Hitchin
Woodlands Primary School in Borehamwood
to the school are offered to all parents.
In addition, we have used ‘structured
conversations’ with parents of targeted
pupils to form a complete picture of
the child, then worked in partnership
with families to support the children’s
learning. As a result of a strengthened
relationship with parents, gaps have
been closed and all children have
benefited”.
For more information about the award
please see: www.afa3as.org.uk
Young debaters make it to Rotary Club district semi-finals!
Congratulations to pupils from John F Kennedy School in Hemel Hempstead, who
have made it through to the district semi-finals of the Rotary Club Youth Speaks
Competition taking place in February.
Three teams from the school took part in the heats on Tuesday 18th November 2014,
organised by English and Drama Teacher and PSHCE Coordinator, Miss Fish.
The school’s three teams represented Years 9, 11 and 12. They debated topics
ranging from the need for parenting classes, the serious world of phobias and how
social media has had a positive impact upon our lives.
The Year 9 team were victorious in the Intermediate Category, whilst the Year 12
team won the Senior Category. All students had worked incredibly hard in recent
weeks in preparation for the competition, and all three teams were praised for their
interesting talks and ability to speak in public.
Hertfordshire schools to have qualified include:
Bournehall Primary School in Bushey
Pupils reading the Mini Vinnie pledge
Achievement for All at Strathmore!
Pupil Premium Awards 2015
Congratulations to all Hertfordshire
schools who have qualified for the Key
Stage 2 category in the Pupil Premium
Awards 2015, winning £1,000.
The schools selected have been
dubbed by judges as some of “the most
improved schools in the country in terms
of the attainment and progress of their
disadvantaged pupils since 2011”.
Some have also been invited by
David Laws MP to apply for one of many
larger prizes, including the national
award of £100,000.
School are so proud of the staff who
work in our SEN BASE Department and
we were all delighted to hear that they
won a fabulous trophy at the Herts
Sports Awards in December.
Their ongoing work and support
for our PNI students in particular and
the contribution they make to disability
sport can only be described as exem­
plary. Each and every day they make a
real difference to children’s lives and, on
an ongoing basis, provide superb opportunities for them to develop in sport and
indeed all areas of the curriculum. They
truly go the extra mile.”
Mini Vinnies set to change the future
For the full list of winners see:
https://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.
org/accreditation-and-awards/isa/
link2learn
Brandles School in Baldock, Woodfield School in Hemel Hempstead and
Goffs School in Cheshunt were also
amongst the Hertfordshire schools to
receive the ISA in 2014, in recognition
of their work to bring the world into the
classroom. The award invites schools
to form a partnership with schools
overseas in order to teach pupils about
life in other countries and develop
them as global citizens.
Brandles School were presented
with their award last term and received
funding from the British Council in
December as a part of their Connecting
Classrooms work. The funding is to be
used to enhance the school’s partnership with a school in Kenya.
As part of this partnership pupils
have written letters to their peers at the
school, including an ‘our typical day’
project. They hope to incorporate their
learning around the African culture into
history, geography, PE, art, science and
computing lessons.
“It’s a great opportunity to compare
lifestyles and cultures”, said International Coordinator Keith Coughlin.
They are going to use the extra
funding to pay for a trip to the UK for the
Kenyan teachers, following a trip made
by Keith in the summer. On returning
from his visit Keith has set up a charity
to raise funds for the school: From One
Hand To Another (www.fohta.org.uk).
The money from this will go towards
Congratulations to the BASE staff
from Bushey Meads School who won
the Contribution to Disability Sport
Group Award at the annual Herts
Service to Sport Awards in December
2014. The award was sponsored by
Herts for Learning, and presented
to the team by HfL’s Chief Finance
Officer, Andy Griffiths.
The annual Herts Service to Sport
Awards evening is organised by the
Herts Sports Partnership to acknowledge and celebrate the massive contribution that volunteers and clubs make
to Hertfordshire Sport.
Jeremy Turner, Executive Principal of the Bushey St James Trust and
Headteacher of Bushey Meads School
commented, “Everyone at Bushey Meads
John F Kennedy debaters
Good luck for the district semi-finals!
The regional, national and high aspiration awards will be presented by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in March.
For more information about the awards see: www.pupilpremiumawards.co.uk
If you have any events coming up that you would like us to cover, get in touch with Jessica Broadbent: 01438 844331 or jessica.broadbent@hertsforlearning.co.uk
Promoting and supporting the learning behaviour of our children
and young people – are we there yet?
Thursday 19th March 2015, 9.00am to 4.00pm
Hertfordshire Development Centre at Robertson House,
Stevenage, SG1 2FQ
A growing number of schools are highlighting the development of pupils’ learning behaviour as a key element
for school improvement. Ofsted have significantly increased their focus on pupil engagement, resilience,
independence and attitudes to learning.
This conference will comprise engaging, motivating and thought provoking speakers including workshop
contributions from local headteachers and senior leaders involved in promoting both learning behaviour policy
and practice.
Keynote speakers
Jess Thom is co-founder of Touretteshero, which was
set up after she was diagnosed with Tourettes whilst she
was in her twenties.
Jim Roberson is an education speaker focussed on
helping young people, teachers, school leaders and
parents to rethink what they do and why they do it.
The aims of this course are to:
•
•
•
clarify what Ofsted are looking for when judging ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ behaviour and safety
access effective approaches for promoting and supporting the learning behaviour of young people
be confident to take the next steps in transforming their teaching and learning environment
For further information please contact Tara Catt, Senior Support Officer
email: tara.catt@hertsforlearning.co.uk or telephone 01438 844863
To book your place on this conference please visit www.thegrid.org.uk using course code 14BFL/038A
Price per delegate: £142 (£162)
“Creative, curious and courageous:
embracing the leadership challenge!”
Thursday 18th June 2015, 9.15am to 4.00pm
The Auction House, Luton LU2 0AH
A
con nation
a
prim ferenc l
e fo
ary
and
dep r
hea assista uty
dte
ach nt
ers
This one day national conference will explore the leadership role of deputy and assistant headteachers in the
context of current educational change and challenge, including how to:
• maintain and develop creativity, providing pupils with an inspiring curriculum that develops both key skills and
values – but which at the same time has the potential to unlock doors to future life chances
• remain curious about the relationship between pedagogy and leadership and the impact on this of high quality
professional development
• be empowered to risk-take, searching out opportunities to actively research, apply and evaluate new ideas
and thinking.
Keynote speakers
Jonathon Lear – award winning teacher, educational consultant and creator of Guerrilla Education. Described as
having a “breathtaking understanding of how to engage even the hardest to reach of children”, Jonathon is known for
delivering inspiring and creative inset days both in the UK and internationally.
Professor Guy Claxton – author of What’s the Point of
School? and the founder of Building Learning Power, a
global influence on education.
Matthew Syed – British journalist, broadcaster and author
of Bounce, a book described as “a must-read for anyone
interested in the science of success, and the mindset and
culture that support it.”
£185 Early bird booking offer. Book by 18th April 2015
For further information please contact Danielle Wallington, Events Coordinator
email: danielle.wallington@hertsforlearning.co.uk or telephone 01438 844535
If you have any feedback or suggestions about
Training Times, would like to include a news story in the next
issue, or you would like any additional copies please contact
Jessica Broadbent: jessica.broadbent@hertsforlearning.co.uk
All information correct at time of going to press.