Heads and Governors Briefing

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• Heads and Governors Briefing
• Summer Term 2002

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Agenda

• Standard School Year
• 14-19 Education
• Implementing the Race Relations Act
• Business Items

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Standard School Year

• Alan Sapsford
• Assistant Director - Operations

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• Independent Commission on the Organisation of the
  School Year
• Proposals for a standard school year

Alan Sapsford Assistant Director
(Operations)
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BACKGROUND

• Independent Commission established by Local
  Government Association

• Rhythms of Schooling produced Sept 2000

• Further consultation and recommendations in
  December 2001

• Further report planned on August return date

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KEY PROPOSALS

• Late August - mid October 2 week holiday

• November - December 2 week holiday

• January - mid February 1 week holiday

• Late Feb - early April 2 week holiday

• Mid April - late May 1 week holiday

• Early June to mid July mid July to late
  August ( at least 5 weeks)

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POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES

• 2 week October break reduces stress

• More even distribution helps planning

• More consistency about Easter

• Public exams in April May
• hay fever
• University entrance based on actual grades

• Quicker staff recruitment

• More flexibility for families and reduced
  learning loss in summer

• Modular curriculum

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CONCERNS

• Examination Boards

• Reduced exam preparation time

• Easter arrangements

• Need to use Term 6 effectively

• Need for a national or regional approach

• Timetable for action is very tight

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NEXT STEPS

• Consultation with schools, parents and others on
  Local Government Association
• proposals 10 May -14 June
• Regional meeting 8 July
• Working Party meetings Oct/Nov
• Consultation with schools on proposed dates for
  2004 terms January 2003
• Publication of 2004 dates February 2003

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ISSUES

• Educational reasons for change
• What should the consultation process look like?
• Is this a helpful way forward?
• Will the Examination Boards change in time?
• Will there be time for any changes to be in place
  by September 2004?

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QUESTIONS COMMENTS
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14-19 Extending Opportunities, Raising
Standards

• Les Craggs
• Assistant Director, School Standards and
  Curriculum

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14-19 Extending Opportunities, Raising Standards

• AIMS
• Raise levels of achievement
• Increase participation
• Meet the needs and aspirations of all
• Motivate for lifelong learning
• Create socially responsible citizens
• Broaden skills for employability
• Create a flexible, integrated and innovative
  network of collaborating partners able to deliver
  these aims

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14-19 Extending Opportunities, Raising Standards

• ASPECTS BEGINNING, MIDDLE, END

• Review, Progression and Guidance
• Flexibility
• Disapplication
• Work Related Learning
• Vocational

• Partnership
• Most Able
• 16-19
• Matriculation Diploma
• Pace
• Timetable

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14-19 Extending Opportunities, Raising Standards
ISSUES

• Flexibility and Entitlement
• Bridging the Gap
• School Management
• Accountability

• Higher Education and Employers
• Inclusion
• Performance Tables
• Consultation
• Capacity

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Implementing the Race Relations Act

• Jan Hardy
• Minority Ethnic and Curriculum Support Services

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Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000

• The Act places a new general duty on public
  authorities (including schools) to promote race
  equality. Specific duties are laid down to
  assist schools in meeting the general duty.
• These are
• Before 31 May 2002 - to prepare a written
  statement of policy for promoting race equality.

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Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 (cont)

• Have in place arrangements for assessing
• the impact of policies, including in
• particular the impact on the attainment
• levels of different racial groups.

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The Race Equality Policy

• Should cover
• The schools commitment to tackling discrimination
  and promoting equal opportunities and good race
  relations.
• Give details of how the school will regularly
  monitor and assess the policys effectiveness.
• Clearly define roles and responsibilities.

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The policy should deal with

• Pupils attainments and progress
• Curriculum, teaching and learning (including
  language and cultural needs).
• Care and assessment.
• Staff recruitment and career development.
• The schools values.
• Pupil behaviour, discipline and exclusion.

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The policy should deal with (cont)

• Racism and racial harassment.
• Admissions and transfer procedures.
• Membership of the governing body.

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Business Items

• Teacher Recruitment
• Exit Interviews
• Education Bill
• CSF Developments 2002
• Hertfordshire Governors Annual Conference 2002

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Hertfordshire Governors Annual Conference 2002

• The Critical Friend unpacking the role
• Saturday 9 November 2002
• 09.30 - 16.00
• Wheathampstead Development Centre

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Dates of Next Briefings

• Monday 9 September - Barnwell School, Stevenage
• Tuesday 10 September - County Hall
• Hertford
• Wednesday 11 September - The Hemel Hempstead
  School
• Thursday 12 September - Wheathampstead
  Development Centre