3 February 2023 weekly update

Dear Colleagues,

Well done for getting through another eventful week.

I recently joined the Governing Body of a one form entry primary school in my home borough of Lewisham as I thought it would be helpful to experience the challenges that small schools are managing on the ground. This week I attended both a training session and a Full Governing Body meeting, which were a timely reminder of the very considerable work undertaken by this huge cohort volunteers that support schools. A big thank you to those of you that support the education in this way.

We are working on planning the next round of Headteacher Briefing meetings and the agenda will include

• An update on SEND including an input from Neerasha Singh, Chair of the High Needs Funding Subgroup of the SFF and Head teacher of Northfleet Nursery School
• A representative from the DfE’s Regional Director’s team who will update us on government policy post the Schools Bill, intentions about implementing the updated Coasting Schools Regulations (2022) and the plans for publication of the Academy Standards
• A briefing on the current Ofsted inspections and safeguarding from TEP.

A full agenda will be circulated nearer the date. I hope you have noticed we have simplified the booking system and continue to hold the events in each of the 12 districts over the year to improve accessibility, if you can think of any other improvements then do let me know.

If you haven’t booked yet - the details and booking can be seen here

Yesterday I was delighted to join the St Bartholomew’s Primary School community in Swanley to celebrate Candlemas Day mass led by Bishop Paul Hendricks, auxiliary Bishop for Kent area of Southwark. The children took a full part in the service with great confidence, the choir was enchanting and lots of parents attended as well. It was a really lovely family event and I was sorry not to be able to stay until the end. A big thank you to headteacher Giovanna Finaldi for the invitation and a shout out to the ladies in the office. I’m looking forward to going back for a proper look round the school.

I haven’t commented on any sports recently, possibly because we are living through such extraordinary political times, current affairs are an interest of mine and I’m not noticing that much else. However, one of my good friends, a huge tennis fan is just back from Melbourne where he went to see the final of the Australian Open tennis tournament (I did say he is a HUGE fan, that was the final of the four Grand Slams for him). Djokovic equalled Nadal’s record of 22 grand slams playing Tsitsipas, winning three sets to love. There was a great atmosphere with equal support from Melbourne’s Greek community for Tsitsipas and unusually also for Djokovic who was very emotional. Well worth attending, apparently!

Have a good weekend

Christine McInnes
Director of Education