 Pupils of Stamshaw Infant and Junior Schools
As part of the PEP Bulletin a regular blog from senior leaders across the city will continue to be included. This month's Blog comes from Jo Cooper, Headteacher at Stamshaw Infant School.
Stamshaw is one of the most traditional areas of Portsmouth with several of its families documented in the writing of Charles Dickens! By the 1860s Stamshaw had progressed and many terraced houses were built for dockyard workers and their families. The beautiful school I lead today first opened in 1898 housing its ‘Boys’ and ‘Girls’ entrance and the spectacular bell in the tower was rung at the end of the war, the Queen’s Jubilee and again at the Millennium by members of the same Stamshaw family. Poring through the log books, kept diligently for a century, offers a fascinating insight into the lives of our children through the changing decades. I haven’t been the Headteacher here quite that long, but after seventeen years at the school I am passionate about its vibrant, loyal community and our wonderful children and their parents. I therefore knew that becoming an Academy was an enormous responsibility, not only for the current generation of children but also to contribute to the colourful and rich history enjoyed to date.
On April 1st, we joined the University of Chichester Academy Trust along with Stamshaw Junior School. With its long history of academic success and a belief that education has the power to transform society, the University has a vision that mirrors our own aspirational and inclusive values. We have been welcomed into this amazing group of schools all of whom deliver a unique education for their children. It is such an exciting opportunity for the Stamshaw Community to unite the schools and to work together and a privilege to be able to shape the future for our fantastic children and their families allowing them to continue to flourish and succeed. The Trust has been extremely supportive, friendly and helpful and I have felt involved in decisions every step of the way. Relationships and collaborative working are embraced and a partnership with other inspirational leaders excites me. The challenges in education may still remain; funding, standards, accountability, recruitment; however our future as two schools is now bright and secure. I once read that as a head you are a ‘guardian of dreams both for your children and your community’ and I feel immense pride and optimism about the future for our two Stamshaw schools.
Preparing for life and work beyond school |
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Portsmouth student elected as UK Youth Parliament member |
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Laura Spurgeon, a 14 year old student at Admiral Lord Nelson School in Portsmouth, was elected as a member of the UK Youth Parliament at the Council of Portsmouth Students (CoPS) summit earlier this week. Laura was the clear winner out of 12 candidates in the hotly contested election. In her new role she will be mentored by Portsmouth City Council and a member of the school's governing body.
There were 12 candidates that put themselves forward, from Miltoncross School, Castle View Academy, Admiral Lord Nelson School, Mayville School, Portsmouth Grammar School, St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School and Portsmouth High School.
Laura Spurgeon was a very clear winner with the other candidates running a very close contest.
UK Youth Parliament provides opportunities for 11-18 year olds to use their elected voice to bring about social change through meaningful representation and campaigning. All Members of Youth Parliament meet nationally twice a year at the UK Youth Parliament Annual Sitting and UK Youth Parliament House of Commons Sitting.
TeenTech Solent is coming to the Portsmouth Guildhall |
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TeenTech™ is a one-day event founded by Maggie Philbin, ‘Bang Goes the Theory’ and ‘Tomorrow’s World’ presenter, that aims to inspire tomorrows innovators.
The event is lively but very carefully organised. Students move in small groups, led by an industry “Ambassador” and their teacher through the Innovation Zone, Insight Exhibition and Challenge Zones.
It’s a powerful intervention just before students make GCSE subject choices, dispelling gender stereotypes and shifting perceptions of careers teenagers may have considered “difficult”, “geeky” or “boring”.
Student’s will have the unique opportunity to take part in 15-minute activities in the Insight Zone and 30-minute activities in the Challenge Zone to discover different technologies, how they work and the different technology careers that exist and are emerging.
TeenTech™ helps young people understand the opportunities in the science, technology and engineering industries, no matter what their gender or social background.
Young people from years 8 and 9 ages 12, 13 and 14 from a range of schools across Hampshire will be attending. This is a crucial age to inspire the next generation and future employees before they select their options and start making choices about their future career pathways.
TeenTech™ Solent takes place on Thursday 23rd May 2019 at Portsmouth Guildhall with schools from across the South Coast, including Portsmouth, Southampton and surrounding areas invited.
It is organised by EBP South who are running two TeenTech™ events across Hampshire.
 A range of employers will be showcasing the apprenticeship opportunities available locally at a Careers and Apprenticeship show, taking place 5pm-7pm on the 15 May at the Portsmouth Football Club. This exciting event will provide a one stop destination for careers and apprenticeships advice in the Solent area, linking employers with students and their parents or carers, in order to provide essential information on the openings available to young people.
This show is open to parents and carers, as well as professionals who work with young people, especially those who support and advise on future options. It is also open to those who are not currently studying but are interested in finding out about the career and apprenticeship options that might be open to them.
For more information, please contact: hazera.begum@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Early Years |
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Triple P Primary discussion groups - Summer 2019 - view here
Teen Triple P discussion groups - Summer 2019 - view here
Parenting 1-2-1 surgeries at Portsmouth Family Hubs - May to July - view here
Leadership, recruitment and retention |
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Portsmouth project bid - reducing teacher workload
I am working on a Portsmouth bid in response to the Education Endowment Foundation's (EEF) new funding round for projects which "maintain or improve pupil outcomes while reducing teacher workload" (see the EEF website for full details). Following discussion with the PEP Teacher Retention and Recruitment sub-group the plan is to link this to the DFE's workload reduction toolkit. We propose to take a co-ordinated approach to supporting the introduction and embedding of the Toolkit into Portsmouth primary and secondary schools during the 2020-21 school year, working with EEF on a before and after evaluation to test the impact on teacher morale, motivation etc.
EEF will be looking for evidence that a reasonable number of Portsmouth schools will want to get involved, so quick emails (Alison.critchley@portsmouthcc.gov.uk) saying, "this sounds like a good idea" would be welcomed! We will also need to demonstrate that our project builds on existing experience and expertise, so I'm really keen to hear from schools that have already used elements of the DFE toolkit, or taken other steps to reduce workload particularly in the areas of marking and assessment, so that I can include examples in the bid. Any other thoughts or offers of help welcome - the deadline is 28 June so we have a bit of time, and the bulk of the work can happen post SATs.
Alison Critchley
Education Business Partnerships Manager
Teach Portsmouth website - teacher volunteers needed for filming
The new Teach Portsmouth website is nearing completion ready for a launch later this month. We would like to include video clips from existing Portsmouth teachers explaining why they enjoy teaching in Portsmouth and what Portsmouth has to offer teachers and are therefore seeking willing teachers who would be prepared to be filmed. We will arrange the date and time to suit you. It will not take up more than half an hour of your time. Ideally, we would like to do the filming before the May half term. If this is something that your school could offer to support, please email educationSPAR@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
School Improvement |
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New Ofsted Framework session
19 June 2019 : 4 - 5.30 pm
Training & Learning Centre, The Portsmouth Academy
Nys Hardingham, Head of Admiral Lord Nelson School has had a pilot of the new Ofsted inspection framework at her school. She and Chris Doherty who is a practising Ofsted inspector has very kindly agreed to share their experience and thoughts on the new inspection framework with us.
The session will start with a presentation by Nys and will be followed by a chance for you to ask questions. This will be in an ‘Ask the Panel’ format and we invite anyone who feels they have a good understanding of the new framework to let us know so they can also be included on the panel.
Curriculum and CPD |
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 'More Able' CPD
The Portsmouth Teaching School Alliance was delighted to welcome Mike Fleetham from Thinking Classrooms this week to deliver a fantastic session for leaders of More Able pupils. Covering leadership, strategy and full of practical classroom tips, the evening was warmly received by delegates: ‘Really inspiring CPD’ ‘I’m going to use the some of the ideas not only in the classroom but in our next staff planning meeting’.
Thanks too to the National Education Union who sponsored the event, which is the first in a series of talks and training aimed at supporting teachers in Portsmouth schools to continue the excellent work they do for all young people in Portsmouth.
Language Teaching and Learning - upcoming courses
Whether you are teaching languages in primary or secondary or just passionate generally about language teaching and learning, have a look below at some of the events happening locally and further afield in the weeks ahead.
Using music, movement and dance in the Primary Languages classroom
Thursday 13 June 2019 : 4:00 pm
Cottage Grove Primary School, Southsea
ALL Portsmouth Primary Hub
Moving through languages : Schools and Universities working together
Saturday 18 May 2019
Kings College, London
This year Network for Languages London, in collaboration with Language Acts and Worldmaking, is holding its summer conference ‘Moving Through Languages: Schools and Universities Working Together’, Saturday 18 May, King’s College London, nr Covent Garden, 9.15am to approx 3.30pm. Focusing on transitions in languages learning and curriculum change, it provides educators across the primary, secondary, HE and lifelong learning sectors the opportunity to come together to talk about what works in languages teaching and learning in the UK now.
Early bird registration is £50 before 7th May, £75 thereafter. Registration includes lunch.
For further details, including a full draft programme, and to book tickets click here.
This event is wheelchair accessible but if you have any access or other queries, please email languageacts@kcl.ac.uk
2nd Biannual International Conference: Cross-curricular Language Learning: Putting CLIL into Practice
21-22 June 2019
Sheffield Institute of Education, Charles Street Building, Sheffield Hallam University
SUPL: Southampton University Primary Languages
Foreign Language Literacy in Primary Practice
Friday 19th July 2019: 9.15 am to 4.30 pm
FREE one-day event to find out more about FL literacy, creativity and challenge!
We have three inspirational guest speakers: Bernadette Holmes – Born Global, Dawn Alexander Joseph – Hackney Learning Trust – Primary Languages Coordinator and Clare Seccombe – Lightbulb Languages and FL practitioner.
You can also join workshops led by SUPL teachers exploring FL literacy practice: phonics, graded readers, authentic texts and writing. We can offer all attendees free access to an online French and Spanish resources bank.
Lunch and afternoon tea are included. Numbers are limited.
For more information or to book a place, please email Alison Porter.
D-Day 75th Anniversary celebrations
As you will be aware, Portsmouth will be the focal point of the commemorations of the 75th anniversary of D-Day in early June.
Portsmouth will be hosting a series of events to celebrate this historic occasion and the full programme can be viewed here.
Professional Development Consortium in MFL
The Professional Development Consortium in MFL was held on Wednesday 20 March 5 - 7pm at the University of Portsmouth. The University welcomed Ruth Bailey from Bristol University to talk about the Science of Learning (Vocabulary).
The report and summary of evaluations from the event are now available.
The next session is on Wednesday 3 July and will feature Steve Smith on grammar. Please take a look at the flyer. To book a place contact Tanya Riordan.
Revision lectures at University of Portsmouth
The Portsmouth Teaching School Alliance was delighted to host the second year of GCSE English Literature revision lectures at the University of Portsmouth. Covering ‘Macbeth’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’, the lectures were attended by over 250 Year 11 pupils from eight Portsmouth schools. You could have heard a pin drop as they all absorbed the expertise of the University lecturers, challenged their own thinking and asked searching questions. Given that the pupils have to learn and remember quotations from 15 poems, a 19th century novel, a modern text and a Shakespeare play, we hope this will have a positive effect on their GCSE exams later this term.
PTSA will be planning more events for GCSE revision next year, so look out for announcements in the Autumn term.
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Primary mastery specialist programme - Cohort 5 (2019/20)
Following the successful first four cohorts of the Mastery Specialist programme, the NCETM and Maths Hubs are now seeking to recruit a fifth cohort of expert primary school teachers to develop and work as Primary Mastery Specialists. The attached document gives information about the programme and how teachers and their schools can apply to be involved. The closing date for applications is Monday, 20th May at 5 pm.
Primary teaching for mastery work group (2019/20)
In 2019/20, all Maths Hubs will be running primary mathematics Teaching for Mastery Work Groups led by Mastery Specialists. This programme is for schools who have a commitment to developing a teaching for mastery approach. Although the participation involves two teachers attending events outside of the school, it is expected that these two teachers lead development across the whole school. Each Maths Hub is now seeking to recruit schools for Work Groups, each involving six or seven schools. This document gives information about the Work Groups and how schools can apply to be involved. The second round closing date is Monday 10 June 2019 when all applications received will be considered and places allocated. A third round with a later closing date may then be run for any unfilled places.
Secondary teaching for mastery work group (2019/20)
In 2019/20 all Maths Hubs are participating in a Network Collaborative Project addressing secondary mathematics teaching for mastery. As part of this project, Secondary Mastery Specialists in each hub area will be offering support to schools interested in developing teaching for mastery approaches in their maths departments. Each specialist who has completed the second year of their support and development programme will work with two departments. Maths Hubs are therefore now looking to recruit schools and their maths departments to participate in this exciting and innovative project as members of these Work Groups.
The closing date for application is Friday, 24th May at 5 pm.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have launched the Wilder Futures competition, a chance for young people to win a prize of £400 to enhance or improve a space in their local area for wildlife and people. Any one who is interested can find out more and how to enter here.
Emotional health & wellbeing |
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Transforming adolescent mental health : expert guidance & insight
The prevalence of mental health problems in children and young people continues to rise and is now a high-profile national concern. This essential one-day conference on Wednesday 26th June will provide vital policy updates and a range of expert-led sessions providing insight, guidance and examples of innovative practice.
FREE child criminal exploitation & police partnership information sharing workshop
The two hour event is intended to provide delegates with an overview of the current threat, harm and risk relating to the criminal exploitation of children and 'County Lines', highlighting the importance of partners and schools sharing non-urgent information with police through the Community Partnership Information Form (CPI).
The Southampton event on 8th May is nearly fully booked but further events are planned including one in Portsmouth in July (date to be confirmed).
Booking is not yet live for the other events but you can make contact to express an interest and you will be notified when booking is live.
Mental Health Support Teams in schools - expressions of interest
As mentioned at the recent Head teacher meetings, we are intending to bid for Mental Health Support Teams to work in schools in Portsmouth. This would be additional government funding and create new posts to work with children and young people. It is likely to be a highly competitive process which has the potential to bring significant additional resource into the city. In order to strengthen our bid we would like to our application to be supported by as many settings as possible. Schools and colleges, mainstream and special schools are all eligible to express an interest. We would ideally like to demonstrate the support of all of the settings in Portsmouth.
The turnaround time for this is, as always, tight. Please complete the EOI form below and return it to me by the 17th May 2019 or sooner if possible.
If you have any questions please do get in touch - Sarah Christopher, PEP and School Inclusion Manager.
Special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) |
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Consultation on the use of special needs capital funding
The Department for Education has allocated a capital grant to Portsmouth City Council of £537,600. The purpose of this grant is to support the creation of places and to improve provision and facilities for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (see consultation document). The Council is seeking the views of residents, especially parents of pupils with SEND, pupils with SEND, and school/academies. The deadline for responses is 24 May 2019. Feedback, comments and queries should be sent to capitalstrategy@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Education Secretary to work with sector on special needs funding
In a speech to the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) on 3 May 2019, the Education Secretary launched a Call for Evidence on the funding arrangements for pupils with complex Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and praised the work of schools, teachers and support workers for enabling those pupils to achieve great outcomes.
As we approach the Spending Review, Education Secretary Damian Hinds is asking schools and colleges for their views on how to make funding arrangements for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities more effective.
The call for evidence will run until 31st July.
Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership Chair recruitment
Due to the changes from an LSCB to a Safeguarding Children's Partnership, we are recruiting a Chair to work across both Portsmouth and Southampton. If you may be interested in the position please click on the link below to view the advert with details.
School Meals - FINAL REMINDER
Today is the deadline for schools wishing to be part of the new city-wide contract for school meals with Caterlink (see letter below), which can be purchased through the traded services website. If you have any queries please contact Christine.Matchett@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or Alison.Critchley@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
 Could you become a foster carer?
Find out more at Portsmouth City Council's foster carer recruitment event on Wednesday 22nd May at the Emirates Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth, 7-9pm. There's no need to book, just drop-in on the evening to meet the Foster Portsmouth team and some of our current foster carers.
Foster carers get fantastic satisfaction from making a real difference to the life of a child or young person. Plus they receive top quality training, continuous support and around £177-£522* a week per child in their care.
If you think you could provide a better future for a child or young person in care, then we'd love to hear from you. Please contact the fostering recruitment team on 02392 834071, visit www.foster.portsmouth.gov.uk or email fostering@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
*dependent on skills and experience
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