Schools Northeast Newsletter

The latest education news

FutureReady Careers Conference 2017 - BOOK NOW!

LATEST NEWS | TALKING HEADS | EVENTS | OPPORTUNITIES | JOBS IN SCHOOLS

The North East is the only region where the majority of schools inspected as section 5 visits were downgraded.

According to data published by Ofsted on January 13 (covering inspection outcomes released up to December 31), 7 out of 9 North East secondaries inspected received a lower grade, as did more than half of the region’s primary schools (51.50%).

Tougher Ofsted guidance could be drawn up for better careers advice in schools

The Government is to unveil plans for a “comprehensive careers strategy” on Monday, which were initially scheduled for the beginning of 2016. Minister for Skills Robert Halfon told a meeting in Parliament yesterday that incentives for schools to offer better careers advice will be reviewed by officials, as well as a tougher approach by Ofsted.

Strong start for first schools-led commission into pupils’ mental health

Healthy MindED, the first schools-led commission into pupils’ mental health, held its inaugural meeting on Monday. The Commission agreed its vision, scope and terms of reference, and discussed what kind of evidence they would like to ask for when the call for evidence opens later this year.

SCHOOLS NorthEast submits evidence to the inquiry into children and young people’s mental health

The Health Committee opened an inquiry into the role of education regarding children and young people’s mental health. SCHOOLS NorthEast submitted evidence to the inquiry, explaining how the newly launched mental health commission Healthy MindED will help schools address these issues.

Russell Hobby to step down as NAHT general secretary

Hobby, who has been in post for seven years and steered the union through a period of significant policy change nationally, will step down in September.

DfE bottom of the class for information request punctuality

The DfE came bottom for answering Parliamentary questions and ministerial correspondence on time. It posted what looks like the third worst FOI response time.

Schools' buying strategy

A DfE outline of initiatives to help all schools improve how they buy goods and services.

Overseas teacher recruitment drive revealed

The government is planning an international recruitment drive for specialist maths and physics teachers for the first time since the 1970s.

School admissions inadequately policed, adjudicator warns

Concerns raised that some local authorities are unsure whether school admissions in their areas are lawful.

Dramatic drop in numbers wanting to teach science and technology subjects

Admissions data shows shortage subjects hit by fall in teacher training applications with design and technology down by more than a third, and computing and ICT down by more than a fifth.

Grammar schools may ask parents for donations to cover funding cuts

A majority of grammars will be left worse off by proposed funding changes, according to analysis by the Grammar School Heads' Association.

Brexit case prompts lawyers to create citizenship lessons

The lesson resources, developed by the Bar Council and the Citizenship Foundation, explain the judiciary's role in the democratic process.

FutureReady Careers
Conference 2017

Thursday 9 February
Hardwick Hall Hotel, County Durham

FutureReady focuses on the knowledge and experiences, along with the key attributes and attitudes, a young person needs to succeed in the 21st century.

The conference will cover key themes, including: good careers guidance, school-business engagement and character education.

It will also include a business networking session attended by approximately 50 businesses.

Ministerial visit to Gateshead College as part of new industrial strategy

Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Robert Halfon visited Gateshead College as part of the launch of the Government's new industrial strategy

09
FEB

FutureReady Careers Conference 2017

FutureReady focuses on the knowledge and experiences a young person needs to succeed in the 21st century. Key themes covered include: good careers guidance, character education and business engagement. With main sponsor vInspired.

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09
MAR

White Working Class:
how can schools tackle underachievement and raise attainment?

This conference will bring school leaders from across the North East together to discuss the specific challenges and barriers to education faced by students from white working class communities

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16
MAR

SCHOOLS NorthEast Patron's Dinner 2017

SCHOOLS NorthEast Partner Schools are invited to join us for an evening of celebration, recognising the hard work of our region's school leaders and the strength of our education community. This will be hosted by our Patron Lord Puttnam of Queensgate.

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30
MAR

SCHOOLS NorthEast Regional Governors Conference

This conference will support those in school governance roles – state-maintained and academy – in carrying out their duties confidently and effectively. This event is now sold out, but please contact us to express interest in attending. Due to high demand, a second conference might be held later in the year.

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05
APR

Spring Term Ofsted Briefings

Our spring term briefings will include a themed discussion around careers education. We are delighted to be joined by Adrian Lyons HMI, Ofsted’s National Lead for economics, business and enterprise. Adrian led on the ‘Getting Ready for Work’ report. We will hold two events in two different locations in the region, to maximise the opportunity for school leaders to attend.

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22
JUN

School Business Management Conference

We are delighted to announce that the fifth annual SCHOOLS NorthEast School Business Management Conference will take place on Thursday 22 June 2017 with main sponsor First Class Supply.

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31
JAN

Create Effective Income Generation Campaigns in Just 15 Minutes

In this free 15-minute webinar Pebble will show you the most efficient way to produce a full, effective Income Generation campaign that could bring in thousands of pounds for your school.

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02
FEB

Providing your vocational solutions – NCFE webinar

The webinar will introduce you to the NCFE V Cert qualifications as well as the NCFE and CACHE 14-16 provision. You'll explore the qualifications in detail from structure to assessment and look at how NCFE can support Progress 8 and your Key Stage 4 vocational/ technical curriculum.

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03
FEB

Sage for Education

This is a Webex demonstration of the Finance Management System, Sage for Education. You will learn how to improve control and visibility with a tiered nominal structure that allows for cost centre and departamental analysis.

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Remember #Pyjamagate? About a year ago, a letter written by Skerne Park Academy head teacher Kate Chisholm made national and even international headlines. Ms Chisholm wrote for us then about the media frenzy she had unwillingly caused, but this time around she contributed to Talking Heads with a 'love letter' to the teaching profession. "The secret of staying in love with it all is reminding ourselves that we do this job on purpose and it is our choice not our burden."

UCAS released its End of Cycle Report 2016 containing analysis and research covering in depth some of the key issues for students and higher education. We pulled together the relevant statistics for our region and found that the 28.9% of 18 year olds in the North East entered higher education last year - the second lowest of the English regions after the South West. Click below to read the rest of the findings.