Education Matters - March 2024

Dear Colleagues,

As the Spring term progresses, settings in West Sussex are continuing to deliver varied and stimulating curricula. Although subject leads will be steering how the curriculum is taught in their own settings, we would like all colleagues to consider the power of their roles in shaping the educational experiences of children and young people in West Sussex.

In this edition of Education Matters, we explore themes relating to the curriculum that we deliver for our children and young people. We learn about the emergence of AI in our classrooms and the impact that this may have on children and young people. While considering the use of AI in schools, Lisa Hickman, Education, Business and Communications Manager, provides information for schools to consider concerning the processing of personal information when using AI tools. In response to the government’s announcement of plans to introduce the Advanced British Standard (ABS) to educational settings, Stephen Bush, Senior Education Adviser, provides more information about this baccalaureate-style qualification.

Alison Hannant, our Education Adviser, provides us with an insight into how Education for Safeguarding (E4S) can enable settings to deliver an age-appropriate Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum. We learn more about the positive outcomes of utilising E4S, through the excellent work taking place at Holy Trinity CofE Primary School in Cuckfield.

Finally, Simon Whitmore, Outdoor Education Officer, discusses the importance of diversifying our children and young people’s educational experiences by providing opportunities for Learning Outside the Classroom. In particular, we celebrate Buckingham Park Primary School’s work to deliver an exceptional outdoor education provision.

As you will know, this will be my final edition of Education Matters as Assistant Director of Education and Skills and I am delighted to welcome Claire Hayes to the role. Claire will be in post from 25 March 2024, and is eager to gain first hand experience of the excellent work taking place in our settings.

Best Wishes,

Steve Nyakatawa, Interim Assistant Director Education and Skills

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the classroom

Stephen Bush, Senior Education Adviser, investigates the driving factors that shape the future of AI in education in West Sussex. Stephen invites us to consider the opportunities and challenges posed by the growing prevalence of AI tools. 

In this article, we discuss how AI could reshape educators' practices, and the implications that this could have for colleagues in settings across West Sussex.

You may also find the series of blogs, produced by David Weston from the Teacher Development Trust, of interest. These aim to share emerging thinking and practice around using AI tools in education. He also provides some helpful top tips available on the TDT website.

Introducing the Advanced British Standard

In this article, we hear from Stephen Bush on the Government's initiative to introduce the Advanced British Standard (ABS) to settings across the United Kingdom. The ABS is a baccalaureate-style qualification, designed  to broaden young people's education. 

Although the Prime Minister has introduced the ABS as a possible next step for post-16 provision, the future of this qualification is unclear. 

The curriculum outside the classroom

Increasingly, schools and other settings are using the spaces outside their classrooms as an engaging resource for implementing their curriculum, with these experiences integral to planning and teaching each day.

In this article, Simon Whitmore, Outdoor Education Officer, discusses the evidenced benefits of a Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) curriculum.

School's Voice: Outdoor Play and Learning at Buckingham Park Primary School

In this edition of School's Voice, we hear from Karyn Astle, Deputy Headteacher at Buckingham Park Primary School, to learn about the school's involvement with the Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) programme. 

OPAL are a not-for-profit company, aiming to empower settings to plan and provide outstanding play. Karyn explains how the school has incorporated OPAL's concepts into their existing practice, and the impact that this has had on the whole setting. 

Improving RSHE: Education 4 Safeguarding (E4S)

In this article, Alison Hannant, Education Adviser, provides us with an overview of the challenges and opportunities we face when building and improving our relationships sex and health education provision in West Sussex.

Alison discusses how colleagues can work to support children and young people to access an age-appropriate curriculum that meets their needs as they progress through their education. 

Holy Trinity CofE Primary School's journey with Education for Safeguarding (E4S) 

In this article, we hear from colleagues at Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, about their experience of building an age-appropriate, effective Relationships Sex and Health Education curriculum.

The school provide us with insights into the benefits of using E4S to support the implementation of an RSHE curriculum, and explore how this has continued to evolve as a result of using E4S.

Education for Safeguarding (E4S) hosts a wealth of guidance and resources for colleagues in settings, supporting them to deliver an effective RSHE curriculum that meets the needs of children and young people. 

We are pleased to confirm that, for the second year, E4S is fully funded for all schools in West Sussex, allowing settings to experience the impact of this platform at no cost to their setting. We ask that settings ensure that they are subscribed to the E4S Service Level Agreement on West Sussex Services for Schools, so that they can access this funded service until April 2025. For support with purchasing the SLA, please visit the WSSfS User Guide for purchasing SLAs. 

More information about RSHE in West Sussex can be accessed on WSSfS.

For further information on E4S, please visit the E4S website or email e4s@westsussex.gov.uk.