Devon SLS Updates newsletter: Autumn Term | 21 October 2022

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Autumn Term  |  21 October 2022 

DSLS Autumn School Leadership Briefing 10 November 2022  - Sandy Park Conference Centre, Exeter Online Bookings are also now being taken for the DSLS Autumn School Leadership Briefing on Thursday 10 November 2022.  Agenda and guest speaker details to follow. Please see the Booking Form for Terms and Conditions.

DSLS Annual School Leadership Conference 2023 12 & 13 October 2022 Saunton Sands Hotel, Nr Braunton, North Devon EX33 1LQ

We are delighted to announce that bookings have now opened for the 2023 Conference.

Target audience: primary and secondary school leaders and other members of the school leadership team.

Guarantee your place at the 2022 conference. Over 40 bookings received so far!

One booking form per delegate required. Terms and conditions apply, please see the online booking form for further details. 

Consultation: Proposal to expand Braunton Academy School

Braunton Academy School, in partnership with Devon County Council, is consulting on a proposal to increase capacity from 750 to 840 places from September 2023 to ensure there are sufficient school places to support local need. READ MORE

Devon County Council are looking for volunteers to assist with panel hearings  

There are two types of panel requiring volunteers, Admission Panels and Exclusion Independent Review Panels.

These types of roles provide governors with valuable experience of how admission and exclusion statutory procedures should work. All newly appointed panel members will receive full training and will not be able to take part in hearings until trained. The next training sessions being held remotely are:

• 9th and 11th November 2022 (Admissions)
• 14th and 18th November 2022 (Exclusions)

The Role of the Independent Review Panel (IRP) is to review the Governing Body’s decision not to reinstate a permanently excluded pupil and to ensure this decision was impartial and independent.  To do that the Panel must consider the interest and circumstances of the excluded pupil, including the circumstances in which the pupil was excluded and have regard to the interests of other pupils and people working at the school.

The Role of the Admissions Panel is to decide whether a child who has been refused a place should then be given a place at their preferred school.  All parents have the right to make an appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel if their child is not offered a place at their preferred school. 

There are no specific qualifications or experience needed to become a panel member and almost anyone can take on the role.  People with all types of knowledge, background and experience are welcomed, as groups made up of diverse individuals tend to make better informed decisions.     

Panel members are expected to attend training and briefing sessions and read all of the papers that are sent to them, to play an active part in questioning all parties at the hearing.  Panel members need to have the ability to carefully consider the cases of all parties and then make a balanced and reasoned decision based on what they have read and heard.  Hearings take place during the day and usually take two to three hours. The role is voluntary, although when held in person expenses are paid for attending panel hearings and briefing/training sessions and refreshments and a catered lunch are provided.   

There are strict legal rules about who can be a panel member. There are currently vacancies within admissions for:

• Lay members – these are people who have not worked in a school in any paid capacity, although they may be (or have been) a school governor or work (or have worked) in a school as a volunteer.   
• Non-Lay members (‘Educationist’) - People who have experience in education or are acquainted with educational conditions in the area, such as teachers or teaching assistants or parents of school pupils.   

There are currently vacancies within exclusions for:

• A lay member to chair the panel who has not worked in any school in a paid capacity, disregarding any experience as a school governor or volunteer.
• A current or former school governor who has served as a governor for at least 12 consecutive months in the last five years, provided they have not been teachers or headteachers during that time.
• A headteacher, or an individual who has been a headteacher within the last five years.

Further information is available from Fred.Whitehouse@devon.gov.uk or by telephone on 01392 381362.

Meeting digital and technology standards in schools and colleges

These standards should be used as guidelines to support your school or college use the right digital infrastructure and technology. READ MORE

Information provided by the NFER to schools taking part in the 2023 NRT

This information is provided to schools that have been selected as part of a sample to participate in the statutory National Reference Test (NRT), which will take place between 20 February and 3 March 2023. READ MORE

Keeping children safe in education

Thousands of year 7s struggle with reading

Amanda Spielman, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, writes about the importance of reading – and the need to help struggling readers as they start secondary school. READ MORE

During recent webinars, Ofsted invited questions and ran a Q&A session at the end. However, there were a number of queries that they didn’t have time to respond to during these sessions. This blog addresses some of those queries. READ MORE

SWIFT News

  Click here to view the latest news from SWIFT.

Click here to read the latest news from DiAS

aHead Service Headship can be isolating and overwhelming, particularly during these challenging times. We wanted to remind you that the team of aHead Professional Partners are here to provide confidential support and guidance to school leaders. Additionally, Devon SLS member schools have access to the Devon SLS Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - free individual access to confidential information, support and counselling service plus the option of purchasing for the whole school at a discounted price. Question or need support? Contact us: E   ahead@devonsls.co.uk       T   01392 325890

Do you receive the latest news and updates from the Early Years and Childcare Service? 

Keep up to date:

• Website: https://new.devon.gov.uk/eycs/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devoneycs
• Email: digest@devon.gov.uk
• Subscribe to EYCS weekly newsletters here

Contact: Fran Butler Early Years and Childcare Sufficiency Lead, DCC

E-mail: fran.butler@devon.gov.uk

DAG Newsletter   Click here to view the latest newsletter from DAG.

School Leadership changes and Headteacher email updates

We should be grateful if you would kindly bring to our attention any known forthcoming or impending changes to school leadership roles eg. Headteacher, Head of school etc. as it is not always possible to pick these up, particularly within MATs and Federations.

Please email office@devonsls.co.uk

Additionally, to ensure that school leaders are well informed and kept up to date with important information from the Local Authority and the DfE, regular headteacher updates are being emailed directly to you via DCC.

If you are not receiving these on a regular basis please let us know via email and we'll make sure you are added to the distribution list.

E office@devonsls.co.uk     T  01392 325890     W devonsls.co.uk     Registered office: c/o Monkerton Community Primary School, Sestertius Road, Monkerton, Exeter, EX1 3WS - Registered Charity Number 1186756 Subscribe to receive these newsletters directly or manage your subscription DSLS Primary subscription     |     DSLS Secondary subscription