Education Matters October 2022

We enter a new school year already in the midst of change. Whilst we come to terms with the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we also see a new government, along with financial uncertainties.

The return to national assessments and examinations in 2022 has confirmed that many of our children and young people have lost ground in their learning throughout the last two years of disruption. All this leads to now being the right time to reassess priorities and plans to address the challenges we face. Ahead of an upcoming consultation this month on the draft Education and Learning Strategy, I have authored a short piece on the County Council’s strategic intent to support education and learning by building on prior knowledge and responding to national policy changes. I hope this helps to begin a dialogue as we work together to create specific plans to underpin the Strategy.

This edition also includes articles on how to identify successes and the benefits of effective performance management. I am grateful to Kingslea Primary School for sharing their own experiences with school improvement in light of their recent Ofsted inspection.  

I hope that you find this publication helpful in exploring your own plans and priorities and that it helps stimulate dialogue on how we can better work together to tackle some of the significant challenges we all face.

Best Wishes

Paul Wagstaff, Assistant Director Education & Skills

Education & Learning Strategy 2022-25

The Education and Learning Strategy 2022-25 gives a strategic overview of the Council’s education and learning priorities for the coming three years. It replaces the School Effectiveness Strategy 2018-22 and simultaneously embeds the current SEND & Inclusion Strategy 2019-24 at its heart.

Developed through consultation with stakeholders over seven months, the Strategy covers right through from early years and school age children to post 16 and work with the county’s most vulnerable adults. It therefore gives a clear line of sight for co-ordinating improvements in provision and outcomes throughout a child and young person’s learning journey and experiences.

The Strategy is closely aligned to the core priorities embedded in both the Council’s Strategic Corporate Plan 2021-25 and the strategic plans for the wider Department of Children, Young People and Learning.

What does the Strategy provide?

Whilst it provides clarity on the key priorities for the service and work with schools and learning providers, the detailed work plans required to achieve strategic aims are yet to be worked through. The Strategy does however provide clear direction on how the Education Service will deploy its resources to address the key challenges facing our children and young people.

Moreover, it explores how the Council aims to respond to new education policy set out in ‘Opportunities for All’ (2022) and the SEND Green Paper (2022). Whilst providing an overview of the Key Themes and Key Principles, the Strategy also lays out the particular workstreams which will be co-created with partners and stakeholders to determine how the strategic ambitions will be met.

In summary, the Strategy provides the vision and ambition. However, implementation requires all those involved in providing our children with the best start in life to work together towards achieving the Strategy’s common goals.

We hope that the Strategy will promote a dialogue between all partners, schools, and learning providers (as well as leaders and governors) in how each roll can play a key part in achieving our goals for all children and young people across West Sussex.

Paul Wagstaff, Assistant Director Education & Skills 

Why Have a Standards and Effectiveness Service in Our Current Times?

In this reflective account, Yasmin Maskatiya (Head of Standards and Effectiveness) considers the purpose and aims of the Standards & Effectiveness service in today's educational landscape.

Setting Measures - What Does Success Look Like?

The following think-piece from Duncan Edwards (Senior Education Adviser) explores our understanding of success and how we might go about setting measures and success criteria to drive school improvement.

The Benefits of Effective Performance Management

At this point in the year, the term ‘performance management’ can be heard often in schools. Governors are generally preparing for the headteacher’s performance management review, and school leaders will be preparing to meet their staff for their review meeting and set their objectives for the year. Or is it 'appraisal' we hear, instead of 'performance management'? Over the years, we have alternated between the two terms. Currently, the policy we follow from the DfE is titled ‘Teacher Appraisal and Capability’.

Regardless of the term we use, it should not just be heard at this time of the year. For a performance management process to work well, it should be embedded in the culture of the school throughout the year, with the aim of developing performance of staff and, consequently, the school as a whole. It should be an ongoing process, providing regular, timely feedback that supports improvement, with teachers able to take responsibility for improving their teaching through appropriate professional development.  

Performance management works best when it is an integral part of the school’s culture, is understood by everyone, is based on a shared commitment to supporting continuous school improvement, and recognises success. The governing body has a duty to consider the work-life balance of the headteacher and to ensure that objectives reflect this. In turn, this should cascade through the school to all staff and could be supported by the Education Wellbeing Charter.

The West Sussex Appraisal and Capability Policy, which reflects national policy, will be available to schools along with the Model Pay Policy at the end of October 2022. For those interested in developing performance management in their setting, we also offer two courses:

•  Conducting Performance Management in Schools (date to be confirmed) - aimed at those new to performance management
• Establishing a Successful Performance Management Culture (starting 22nd March 2023) 

Karen Furse - Senior Education Adviser (Leadership & Governance)

School's Voice - Kingslea Primary School

School's Voice is a NEW regular feature where we take a deep dive into a specific topic with one of our West Sussex schools. It is a chance to share good practice, celebrate successes, muse on topics pertinent to settings, and explore development journeys through an informal lense.

In this first edition, we caught up with Alexis Conway, headteacher at Kingslea Primary School on his approach to strategy, leadership and school improvement.