The Magazine for Brooke Weston Trust Governors NEWS
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ISSUE GOVERNOR6 The Magazine for Brooke Weston Trust GOVERNORs NEWS ❝ Dear Governor, BWA Chair of Another academic year has passed at Brooke Weston Trust which Governors has, again, seen its fair share of Ofsted inspections, audits, is designated as a examinations and extra-curricular National Leader of activities – all of which, in one way or another, have required the Governance support, challenge and aspiration to improve that characterises our local governing bodies. I would also like to congratulate Brooke Weston Academy’s Chair of Governors, Phil Harris-Bridge those who have been elected as has been designated a National Leader of Governance Chairs of Governors for four of This new role, which has been really effective Local Governing our governing bodies: Michelle accredited by the National College for Bodies, we need a mechanism, not Duffy (CBA), Mark Gilding (Oakley Teaching and Leadership, means he will just to train governors but to help be called upon to advise and support them to be effective.” Vale), David Bailey (TCA) and his opposite number in other schools The NLG scheme was introduced Stephen Prati (Beanfield). I look across the region. forward to working with them in the four years ago, with the aim to help forthcoming academic year. Mr Harris-Bridge has been a school schools that either feel they need some governor for 24 years, a governor at assistance or for those instructed to Whilst we await responses from the Brooke Weston for the past eight years have some support. and a member of the Brooke Weston DfE on our proposals to expand CTS Mr Harris-Bridge added: “I relish the Trust Board. and split KSA into two standalone opportunity to be able to observe and schools, work continues to support He also sits as a non-executive director suggest improvements, whether it is the the bid submitted by Kingsley on other boards, including at Kettering way the agenda of the governing body is Special School and the Maplefields General Hospital, therefore has extensive structured, being effective as a chair, the Teaching School Alliance for the experience of strategic leadership and relationship between the Principal and working as part of a senior team. governing body, the performance data, proposed Special Free School in the degree of challenge and support He said: “Over recent years, the need Corby. We will keep you updated on expected during a meeting. progress with the bid. for improved governance has been a growing requirement, concerning the “The opportunity is there to go into Lastly, I would like to thank you all responsibilities and roles of governing other schools and academies and again for the support you continue bodies, how they conduct their see what they do, identify things that to provide to our senior leaders. I business and hold the Principal and need improving and also pick up the hope you all have a well-deserved senior leadership team to account, things that are great but which we don’t summer break. not only for the performance, but necessarily do at the moment and share ❞ also the strategy of the school. The them back here for the benefit of the National Leaders in Governance Trust. It is part of the opportunity that DR ANDREW CAMPBELL Scheme recognises that if we want being a NLG represents.” BROOKE WESTON TRUST GOVERNOR NEWS / SUMMER 2014 2 www.brookewestontrust.org New Ofsted inspection framework to come Mark Gilding, new chair of governors into effect from September Following its consultation earlier this year, Ofsted has released its new at Oakley Vale inspection handbook and framework which will come into effect from Why did you choose to take on a September 2015. governors role? I have three children at the school ranging from reception to year six and I have always had an interest in their education and education in general. I also feel that a school is much stronger and can perform at its best when there is committed involvement from all areas of the community that the school is in. What do you see as your main role as chair of governors? I understand that governors play a significant role in school improvement and leading the governing body in this is my main role. Developing the strengths and skills of our governing body is important so that we can act as a critical friend. The role of chair is often pivotal in the relationship between the governors and the principal and there are obviously statutory requirements and regulations to ensure that we meet. What skills do you think are needed The significant changes are: to become an effective governor? It is important to ask the obvious Common inspection framework: The headings under which question. Running my own business the change aligns inspection Ofsted will report are: in the art world meant that when I first 1 across early years settings, 4 • Overall effectiveness became a governor I was often lost maintained schools and academies, amongst acronyms and data sheets. non-association independent schools and • Effectiveness of leadership and Effective governors can openly discuss further education and skills providers. management both positive and negative issues when • Quality of teaching, learning and While each remit will continue to have they have the ability to interpret the assessment an individual inspection handbook which information and reports provided. It is applies the principles of the common • Personal development, behaviour and not really a skill but governors need time framework, the change is designed to welfare available - there is no better way to get provide consistency and comparability to know your school than visiting and • Outcomes for pupils across Ofsted’s education inspections. seeing what is happening. Ofsted has produced a short guide to the Short inspections for ‘good’ new framework: The Future of Education What work have you undertaken schools: from September, schools Inspection: Understanding the changes. so far? 2 that were judged ‘good’ at their This will be available under the Governor’s As a recently appointed chair of most recent inspection will receive a short Area of the BWT website. governors I am just embarking on inspection approximately every three completing the governor skills audit years. At an event launching the new handbook which will be particularly useful in and framework, HMCI Sir Michael Wilshaw appointing governors in the near future. Inspectors carrying out short inspections said that: ‘short inspections will reduce We have recently held an Ofsted will start from the assumption that the the burden of inspection without losing the feedback evening for the school to school or provider remains good, and will rigour which parents and the public rightly include everyone in what is happening. only make judgements on whether this expect of Ofsted.’ Sir Michael said that he Along with the principal we are creating is the case and whether safeguarding is thought there should be more ‘maverick’ a community forum, including parents effective. Where the inspectors believe the headteachers who are willing to try new and other community members which school may no longer be ‘good’ (either approaches in the best interests of the will meet regularly to discuss ideas and due to improvement or decline), these will children. He outlined plans to recognise feedback to the school. be converted into full inspections. ‘exceptional leaders’; from September, when inspectors identify a headteacher What ways can governors help Changes to the inspector who has played a key role in turning around shape a school? workforce: Ofsted will contract other institutions, Ofsted will send a letter I think that a school is at its strongest 3 directly with inspectors (rather to them acknowledging their leadership as when it involves all members of the than outsourcing) and bring training and exceptional. A copy of this letter will go to community and governors can be quality assurance in-house. The majority the Secretary of State and Ofsted’s Annual directly involved in the ethos and of Ofsted Inspectors will be current Report will also feature those leaders who direction of the school. leaders of ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ have been recognised in this way. education providers. 3 www.brookewestontrust.org Historic Day for the Brooke Weston Trust July 15th was a historic day for the Our CCF was set up as part of the Commander and been supported by other Trust with two fantastic events taking government’s Cadet Expansion Programme, staff volunteers. place for the first time. which aims to create an additional 100 CCFs within state schools. Second Lieutenant Isherwood said: “My The day saw the inaugural BWT Combined fellow officers and I are extremely proud of Cadet Force Passing Out Parade, with Throughout the academic year the 20 students, the progress that our Cadets have made 20 students being given their BWT CCF from Brooke Weston Academy, Corby Business since September last year. The last week of berets to mark our independence and in Academy, Thomas Clarkson Academy and our term provided the perfect opportunity the evening 150 musical students from Kettering Science Academy, have been involved for this inaugural generation of Brooke across our secondary schools performed at in drill, field craft and navigation activities. The Weston Cadets, to hold their first formal a professional theatre in the first ever BWT year was rounded off with an annual camp at independent parade. The finale to the Music Concert. the British Army’s Barry Buddon Training Camp parade included a ‘passing out’ ceremony, in Carnoustie, Scotland, with cadets taking part The BWT CCF was formed in September where the Cadets returned their Oundle in a 36-hour field exercise. 2014 and throughout the academic year we School CCF beret in exchange for the beret have been working in partnership with the Estates and Facilities Director Matt Isherwood and cap badge of our affiliated regiment, long established Oundle School CCF.