Preparing for study, work and life |
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Portsmouth Student Voice Day 2019
Eldon Building, University of Portsmouth, Winston Churchill Avenue
Monday 24th June 9:00am - 3:00pm
Up to 5 representatives from every school and college in the city are invited to Portsmouth Student Voice Day. These representatives should come from your school council or student voice programme.
If you are members of the CoPS or Primary CoPS Forums, your 5 delegates will be the students you have put forward for these Forums.
Portsmouth Student Voice Day is an annual event, in its 17th year, to celebrate the achievements of the city's school councils, student unions and young leaders together. Students and staff will also get the opportunity to take part in some skills-focused training on the day and hear from inspiring speakers.
Students and Staff will all receive a lunch and light refreshments throughout the day.
Student Voice Day is free for all CoPS and Primary CoPS member schools. Non-member schools are asked to make a contribution of £25 in total (for the whole delegation) to go towards the cost of their food, venue etc.
If you are interested please complete the form.
School Improvement |
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Developing reading in Portsmouth
Initial Meeting : 15 July 2019 : 4.00 - 5.30 pm
At the last School Improvement Board we agreed that developing reading should be a key focus in the city. We agreed that we would set up a sub-group to work on a plan to develop this, using expertise from all types of schools and all phases. In order to plan a way forward, we will have an initial meeting on 15/07/19, 4pm-5.30pm at the Training and Learning Centre, where we will decide
- Which aspect(s) of reading to focus on
- What expertise we already have and can build on
- How the project will run
- How we will disseminate any findings/resources etc
We will use the evidence from the EEF toolkit as there has been much research on effective strategies to teach reading.
If you or anyone else in your school/organisation would like to be involved in this project and can make the meeting on 15/07/19 please ask them to register with Kelly Flood.
Language unlocks reading report - National Literacy Trust
England is currently facing a huge literacy challenge, with two out of five children from disadvantaged backgrounds not reading at the expected level by the end of primary school, and teachers reporting an increase in numbers of children who have limited vocabulary.
To help address this challenge our Language unlocks reading report sets out a new approach for structured, targeted and explicit language learning, in the home, in early years settings and at the start of school, as a vital foundation for learning to read.
It brings together existing evidence that highlights the crucial link between children’s early language skills and life chances, and calls for sustained government leadership and multi-agency support to ensure that we unlock vital language, reading and learning opportunities for every child.
One key area for action we have identified is to address the skills gap so that all early years practitioners and teachers are equipped with the skills they need to support language learning in early years settings and at the start of school.
Curriculum and CPD |
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 The first interfaith conference at St George's Beneficial CofE - April 2019
By Year 5 students: Once in the hall, we met other children from different schools. We were given ‘Getting to know Bingo Sheets’ an icebreaker which helped us get to know each other.
The panel of representatives from other religions such as; Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Greek Orthodox and Judaism were welcomed and Mrs Jaffer introduced ‘Charity’ as the common theme for the day.
After the panel spoke we had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss about the commonalities. We learnt that Muslims and Christians give a percentage of their earnings to charities. There is a Buddhist magazine that supports children’s interests. Jewish people run schools for children and Muslims support children in poorer countries worldwide. Christian Aid is also a worldwide charity. We discussed with children from other schools about true meaning of charity and we discussed these with the panel. Normally we just associate charity with giving old clothes and some money to the poor and needy but in this conference we learnt that even helping someone in the playground or smiling is an act of charity.
Finally we all looked at different artefacts brought by our guests. We left with an Easter egg and a lot that we had learnt. We would like to thank the panel and Mrs Jaffer for organising this event.
Mary Rose Science Challenge - Years 5/6
Friday 24th May 2019 : 10am – 2pm
Come for a fun and stimulating science-based day directly related to the science curriculum. The workshop to tie in with the new exhibition: The Many Faces of Tudor England.
It is a great opportunity for young people to become an archaeologist for the day! They can learn about what can be discovered from bones. Investigate diet, fitness and work on board through the evidence from the skeletons of the Mary Rose crew.
Explore the cutting-edge science which has provided exciting new scientific evidence about where the Mary Rose crew came from.
There is a charge of £75 per group of 6 pupils.
'Are You Listening' - A Multi Arts Schools Celebration
Date: 9th July 2019
Place: Portsmouth Guildhall
Time: 1.00 pm – 3.00pm
'Are You Listening' is the first of a yearly cross phase sharing of stories giving your students a voice to celebrate their diversity and reflect on our multi-cultural and vibrant city.
This project is to raise awareness of not only the great work we do in schools in the creative field but also to celebrate our differences.
We are asking schools to share no more than a 5-minute performance, spoken word, musical act or arts installation.
We believe this funded project will provide a unique opportunity to build on your students Cultural Capital, support SMSC Education and help those engaging with Artsmark.
The afternoon will be for all schools to share their work with each other and parents if they wish to come.
12.00: Arrival and those wishing to rehearse 1.00: Performance starts 2.00: End of Performances and walk to Library to look at Art installation 3.00: Parents to pick up or return to school
Schools can submit any genre of performance and/or artwork for an exhibition at the library.
(Art work will be collected from schools on 1st July to prepare the exhibition and performances will take place on 9th July in the Guildhall studio)
We are aiming for as many schools to be involved as possible from all phases of education.
THIS IS A FREE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR STUDENTS TO PERFORM IN A PROFESSIONAL VENUE AND DISPLAY THEIR ART WORK TO THE PUBLIC!
Please contact jwisbey@alns.co.uk to register your interest/more information.
Curriculum design with Rob Carpenter - for Primary & Secondary School leaders
We are delighted to invite schools to the Portsmouth Teaching School Alliance Curriculum Design event. Our speaker and facilitator will be Rob Carpenter, CEO of the Inspire Partnership and author of A Manifesto for Excellence in Schools, who brings his experience and expertise to our event. He will be building on work done in our extremely effective and successful first Curriculum Design day. If you did not attend this first day that's not a problem as Rob has planned the day around schools at every stage of the Design process.
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My Dog Sighs Art Competition
Internationally recognised contemporary artist My Dog Sighs and Highbury College are searching for the south’s top young artists.
Youngsters have been challenged to create a painting, drawing, sculpture, digital illustration, collage or photographic image on the theme: Life Through the Eyes of a Teenager.
One lucky artist will win their very own original piece of My Dog Sighs artwork, plus an exclusive studio tour with the artist himself.
The competition is open to 13-16-year-olds who live or go to school within the PO postcode area.
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FREE distance learning qualification on offer
Highbury College is offering a range of free distance learning Vocationally Related Qualifications (VRQs). You can choose to start your VRQ at any point during the year. From the comfort of your own home you could gain a Level 2 certificate in:
- Equality and Diversity
- Information, Advice or Guidance
- Lean Organisational Techniques
- Mental Health Awareness
- Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care
- Principles of Working with Individuals with Learning Disabilities
- Principles of Business and Administration
- Principles of Customer Service
- Principles of Team Leading
- Understanding Behaviour that Challenges
- Understanding Safeguarding and Prevent
Group bookings are also available to upskill your staff.
Emotional health & wellbeing |
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Diversity in Education network meeting
Please see below the agenda for the Diversity in Education network meeting on Wednesday 15th May 3.30-5.00pm . Please note the meeting will take place at Unloc Offices at The Portsmouth College.
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'Looking down on me' puppet show
Looking Down on Me is an enchanting, touching and uplifting puppetry performance for children aged 7+, their families, and adults alike. Created in partnership with Unexpected Places.
Losing someone you love is never easy, especially when you don't understand why they've gone. Annie worries what she has done wrong, did she cause it? All she hears is that he's looking down on her... but why? A beautiful story told in a sensitive way to pull at the heart strings and leave the audience full of warmth.
If you would like our puppet show to visit your school and show this amazing production then please contact us or telephone 01794 323934. The production will last approximately 45 minutes and will cost a nominal fee of £50.
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School Attendance |
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Timpson review of school exclusion and government response
Edward Timpson CBE recently published his review of school exclusion, which makes 30 recommendations to Government to ensure exclusions are used appropriately and to support children at risk of exclusion.
The Government has also published its response to the Timpson review, welcoming the review and committing to act to make sure no child misses out on a quality education.
View the Timpson review and the government response here.
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NHS advice on illness to support attendance campaign
The NHS Wessex Healthier Together advice on illness as it relates to attendance at school is now available in both primary and secondary school sections of the intranet for schools here.
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Special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) |
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Special needs services impress Children & Families Minister
Nadhim Zahawi, MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families, visited Portsmouth today to discuss inclusion and provision for students in the city with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) and to meet with pupils and school staff to hear about their experiences first hand.
At the Admiral Lord Nelson School, a mainstream school rated 'good' by Ofsted, which has a strong inclusive ethos, head teacher, Nys Hardingham, who also chairs the city's Inclusion Group, said: "It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to show the Minister our effective provision and to discuss the difference that this is making for our students.”
Children and Families Minister, Nadhim Zahawi, said: “Our ambition is for high quality services in every local area for all children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). The Admiral Lord Nelson School is doing amazing work for children with SEND in helping them to integrate more effectively into mainstream lessons. The high needs budget is over £6bn this year – up from £5bn last year, and we will continue to work with councils to improve the education of children who need the most support.”
Cllr Suzy Horton, cabinet member for Education at Portsmouth City Council, said: "It was an honour to be able to demonstrate our commitment to SEND services to the Minister on his visit today. We are proud to co-ordinate the South East region SEND network on behalf of all 19 local areas in the South East and we continue to work with parents and carers to get their input to shape future services in a way that works best for them and their children."
A recent survey of Portsmouth parents and carers of young people aged zero to 25 with SEND showed that 85% of parents responding felt that the council listened to issues they raised, demonstrating the ongoing high levels of collaboration between the council, local service providers and parents.
To find out more about the services available for children with SEND, please visit the Portsmouth Local Offer website at http://www.portsmouthlocaloffer.org
Visual impairment should not be a barrier to independent train travel
Travelling by train can sometimes be challenging for any of us, but imagine if you cannot see? Gemma Bastable, Habilitation Specialist with the Sensory Impairment Team, has been supporting a blind student to learn how to travel by train independently so that he can travel to London to continue his studies next year.
South Western Railway has written up an article, read it here.
Post 16 and Higher Education |
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Highbury College Open Event
Highbury College is set to hold its final Open Event of the academic year later this month.
Check out all the fantastic opportunities available by coming along to the cross-campus event on Wednesday 22nd May, 4.30-7pm.
Prospective students have the chance to look around the college, talk to current students and find out about the many courses available.
There will also be advisors on hand to talk about Student Support, Learning Support and Financial Support.
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Highbury College Creative Showcase
The annual Highbury College Creative Showcase will be taking place on Wednesday 12th June 2019, 6-8pm.
The evening is when Highbury College art, design, fashion, floristry, culinary arts, public services, travel & tourism, beauty therapy, hairdressing and digital media students get to showcase their fantastic work created as part of their qualification.
Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy our students’ artwork gallery, fashion exhibition, JAMM radio show, cinema show reels, afternoon tea, field gun demonstrations, floristry displays and hairdressing & beauty therapy showcase.
To help the College’s students plan the event, please register.
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School buildings and school places |
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Mayfield School - Public Information Event
You are invited to a Public Information Event at Mayfield School on Wednesday 15th May 2019 between 3.30pm and 7.30pm. The re-build of Mayfield school is a government project which is led by the Department for Education (DfE). Kier (Regional Building, Southern) is the DfE's chosen contractor for the Mayfield School project. This is a drop-in format, where you will have the opportunity to view the architectural plans and design images for the new school building. Throughout the session, you will be able to talk to representatives from Kier, the DfE, Portsmouth City Council and the school.
Term and Holiday dates for Portsmouth Schools 2020/21
The results of the consultation with schools on the proposed term and holiday dates for the academic year 2020/2021 received 20 responses. Of these, 10 were for Option 1, 5 for Option 2 and 5 for Option 3. Governors and staff expressed opinions that aligning with the Hampshire dates was preferable as many staff have children attending Hampshire schools and there was less chance of pupils being on holiday in the last week of term.
With Option 1 receiving the highest number of responses agreeing to the proposed dates, it is therefore confirmed that the agreed term and holiday dates for the academic year 2020/2021 are:
03 September 2020 to 23 October 2020
02 November 2020 to 18 December 2020
04 January 2021 to 12 February 2021
22 February 2021 to 01 April 2021
19 April 2021 to 28 May 2021
07 June 2021 to 23 July 2021
LA Contact: Rachel Mckeever, Children Families and Education
Tel: 023 9284 1705
Powered gates/barriers (vehicles and pedestrians) : Maintenance requirements
Any installed electrically powered gates/barriers must be suitably designed, routinely maintained and subject to formal inspection procedures for compliance with UK health and safety (H&S) law.
School site management teams have a duty of care to ensure the safety of all users and others who may come into contact with workplace equipment/infrastructure (including powered gates/ barriers or other physical security measures).
Any school management team planning to install powered gates/barriers (or modify existing) must employ a competent person to ensure the supplied/fitted gates/barriers are fit for purpose and comply with relevant UK standards and legislation. In addition, provision must be made to ensure the gates/barriers are subject to routine maintenance and inspection programmes and that the school is supplied with information on safe use by the installer/supplier, again for compliance with UK H&S legislation.
Further advice can be sought from the PCC H&S Unit.
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