For Information

Brochures and posters are being distributed this week to all schools. There are several events which might interest staff and pupils:

• an exhibition of Black history in Barnet at Church Farmhouse Museum
• an exhibition on the life of Mary Seacole at Chipping Barnet Library
• celebration of African & Caribbean culture and heritage where you can see educational resources and information at NLBP
• Tiiwa Tiiwa - Sakoba Dance Theatre's performance at artsdepot that will include performances of Contemporary African Dance from Barnet schools. There is also a masterclass for teachers before this event.

The full programme is at www.barnet.gov.uk/black-history-month
Further information: Lloyd Gee 8359 7760 lloyd.gee@barnet.gov.uk

Lloyd Gee
Principal Cultural Development Officer

For Information

Dates of Ramadan* - 24 September to 23 October 2006

*subject to moon sighting - Source: Royal Observatory of Greenwich

Fasting is part of the yearly life of a Muslim and is a requirement on all those who have reached puberty and are healthy. Some children below the age of 12 who are particularly enthusiastic will choose to fast, perhaps only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All staff need to be aware of some of the effects of prolonged dawn to dusk fasting, for example sleepiness, mood swings and headaches. A family's sleep time can alter dramatically. Schools may wish to plan alternative activities in Physical Education which are less strenuous.

Fasting is difficult for both adults and young people and the timing of the fast, from dawn to dusk, means that all food preparation and consumption must take place over a few hours every evening and very early in the morning. This makes it difficult for parents to attend meetings or other functions in the evenings during Ramadan.

The dates of Ramadan are dictated by the lunar calendar and, therefore, move each year. It is inevitable that some examinations in secondary schools will take place during Ramadan. Staff need to be aware that some pupils may find the rigour of preparing for an examination whilst fasting difficult. Schools should consider rescheduling internal examinations.

During Ramadan Muslims are required to pray several times a day and are required to wash as a physical preparation. The washroom should be separate from the room used for prayer. It is usual for males and females to pray separately, however, if this is not convenient they may pray together but in separate groups.

Schools are reminded that pupils may be withdrawn from school for required religious observance and that such occasions are regarded as authorised absence for the purpose of registration.

Further information is within the enclosures section of this week's School Circular.

Carrie Waldren
Administrative Assistant
Minorites Achievement Project

Urgent action required

Contained within the enclosures section of this week's circular, there is a letter offering to Barnet schools a final chance to request a new Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) post. Due to the financial constraints of the funding available, colleagues should note the very short timescale in which schools must act if they are interested.

Mike Horton

School Workforce Advisor

For Information

Doreen Ahebwa has been appointed as the new Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) Co-ordinator for Barnet. She is currently based at 1 Wellhouse Lane, Barnet EN5 3DH.

Primarily, her work will be focused on helping secondary schools to develop policies on SRE and delivering SRE training to schools and out of school services. The training programmes will be targeted at teachers, school nurses, Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) co-coordinators, sessional peer educators and other agencies working with young people.

Doreen would welcome any discussions concerning SRE needs or gaps that you would like to address concerning your school.

Doreen is in the process of developing a SRE training programme and will be contacting you in due course. In the meantime, if you have any queries, need support or advice on issues relating to SRE or SRE policy development at your school and/or would like to arrange a meeting for further discussion please contact her on 020 8447 0603 or doreen.ahebwa@barnet-pct.nhs.uk. 

Elda Murray
Teenage Pregnancy Coordinator

Dave Rodgers
Healthy Schools Strategic Manager

For information only, although if lanyards are required they need to be ordered by 13 October to ensure delivery in time.

Enclosed in this week's circular is information from the Anti-Bullying Alliance about Anti-Bullying Week including posters and an order form for resources. Anti-Bullying Week culminates in Blue Friday, a non-uniform day when children, young people and adults dress in blue to demonstrate their commitment to working together to stop bullying. The theme of this year's event is the role of the bystander in bullying.

Primary schools may be interested in a new online resource associated with the film Ant Bully, which opened in cinemas this summer. It can be found at www.antbassadors.org

Dave Rodgers

Healthy Schools Strategic Manager

Elaine Crawford

Inclusive Education Team Manager

For Information

Following the presentation of the new vision and hearing screening programme, which took place at the North London Business Park, the combined hearing and vision screening in Barnet LBB schools has been specially designed to improve quality of screening, minimise disruption to education and provide an effective pupil-friendly service.

Information regarding the process and the arrangements that are in place to enable children's vision and hearing to be tested is incuded in the enclosures section of this week's School Circular.

The London Borough of Barnet has a number of secondary schools with Specialist School status. Such specialisms should be shared with other Barnet schools. You will be aware that Christ's College Finchley is a Specialist Mathematics and Computing School. As such the school is able to offer free further mathematics classes for boys and girls taking this option in Year 12 this year.

Classes will take place at Christ's College Finchley every Saturday morning from 10 am -12.30 pm. I attach the schedule of sessions for the autumn term; students can attend all of these or those most relevant to them.

If you have students who wish to benefit from attending these classes please contact Haidar Sarabi Head of Mathematics at Christ's College Finchley, East End Road Finchley N2 OSE, via email hbs@christscollege.barnet.sch.uk

If you wish to discuss further details about these classes please contact Haidar Sarabi at Christ's College Finchley: 020 8349 3581 x242

Jean Taylor
Inspector for Mathematics

Apologies for the incorrect link to Barnet's Early Years & Childcare Plan in last weeks School Circular. The correct link is www.barnet.gov.uk/chypf.htm

St Mary's C of E Primary School, Dollis Park, Finchley N3 1BT are offering the following gym equipment in good condition:

1 x beige leather gymnastics horse with adjustable leg - 160 x 35cms (and height of 90cms +)

2 blue stools - 45 x 45cms, with a height of 70cms and 85cms

1 x rectangular blue table with adjustable legs - 50 x 130cms (and height of 90cms +)

Please contact Monica Newton for more details and to arrange collection on:

020 8343 0866 (school office)

Further summaries have been placed on the BGfL website:-

• School Admissions DfES Consultation on new Codes & Regulations from September 2008, September 2006
• Continuing Professional Development in effective schools Summary of Ofsted report - Ref HMI 2639, July 2006
• Extended Services in Schools & Children's Centres Summary of Ofsted Report - Ref HMI 2609, July 2006
• Inclusion: Does it Matter Where Pupils are Taught Summary of Ofsted Report - Ref HMI 2535, July 2006
• Healthy Schools, Healthy Children Summary of Ofsted Report - Ref HMI 2563, July 2006
• School Inspectors' Letters to Pupils: Lessons Learned & Ways Forward Summary of Ofsted Report - Ref HMI 2376, July 2006

Once you have logged on to BGfL, the summaries can be found in the Document Summary Service folder under the Information for Schools tab.

Pete Comley
Assistant Information & Communications Officer

For Information

Performance Management

Revised arrangements for teachers' and headteachers' performance management will be in place by autumn 2007. Further details can be found at the following website:-

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2006_0135

Slip and Trip Incidents

The Health and Safety Executive has published information for schools about preventing slips and trips. Further details can be found at the following website:-

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/edis2.pdf

Extended Schools

The DfES has published findings from the latest research of Full Service Extended Schools. Further details can be found at the following website:- 

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2006_0133

Tackling Pupil Absence

Schools Minister, Jim Knight, has stated that schools and local authorities should continue their efforts to improve attendance. Further details can be found at the following website:- 

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2006_0136

GCE Qualification and Subject Criteria

The QCA has published results of the consultation on GCE AS/A level qualification and subject criteria. Further details can be found at the following website:- 

http://www.qca.org.uk/12265_16132.html

Pete Comley

Assistant Information & Communications Officer

• Openwide Magazine
  All Nursery, Primary and Special Schools (Not on BGFL: Hard copy in School Bag)

Openwide Magazine detailing plays and workshops available from Openwide Theatre Company. Please see enclosure in the school bag for further details.

• Flyer re: RSPB in Your School
  All Nursery, Primary and Special Schools (Not on BGFL: Hard copy in School Bag)

Information about RSPB programmes for Foundation, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Please see enclosure in the school bag for further details.

• Letter re: New Vision and Hearing Programme in Barnet Primary Schools
  All Primary Schools
  

  A letter providing information regarding the new vision and hearing programme in Barnet primary schools. Please click on the above link for further details.

• LLB flyer re: Ski Course Organiser Course
  All Secondary Schools
  

  Please find attached a flyer for a Ski Course Organiser Course, which is being provided by Clive Atkins in November 2006. It will provide the necessary information and knowledge for schools that wish to organise skiing trips to do so safely. Please click on the above link for further details.

• Guidelines for Schools on Arrangements for Muslim Pupils During the Month of Ramadan
  All Schools
  URGENT - Information for: 24 September - 23 October 2006

  'Guidelines for Headteachers and Governing Bodies on Arrangements for Muslim Pupils During the Month of Ramadan'. Please click on the above link for further details.

•  Letter and Reply Slip Request for AST post
  All Schools
  URGENT - Response required by: 2 October 2006

A letter offering Barnet Schools a final chance to request a new AST post. Please click on the above link for further details.

• 2006-07 Standards Fund: September 2006 Allocations and Autopayments
  All Schools (Not on BGFL: Hard copy in School Bag)
  

  The latest update to your schools Specific Grant Allocations sheet and the Autopayment Remittence Advice sheet showing monies paid into your school bank account on or before September 2006. Please see enclosure in the school bag for further details..

• Black History Month Poster
• Black History Month Brochure
  All Schools (Not on BGFL: Hard copies in School Bag)
  

  A poster and brochure giving details of music, dance, storytelling, activities, exhibitions and workshops through out October celebrating Black and Asian history. Please see enclosures in the school bag for further details..

• Anti Bullying Week Posters
• Anti Bullying Week Order Form
• Anti Bullying Week the Teacher Advert
  All Schools 
  

  Information from the Anti-Bullying Alliance about Anti Bullying Week including posters and an order form for resources. Please click on the above link for further details.

• Kick Start Flyer
  All Schools (Not on BGFL: Hard copy in School Bag)

A flyer providing information about a 12 week football course for girls aged 10-15. Please see enclosure in the school bag for further details.

• Letter re: Further Mathematics
• Schedule of Sessions re: Further Mathematics
  All Secondary Schools 

Information regarding further mathematics classes for year 12 students.Please click on the above link for further details.

Please click the relevant links below for all of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Flyers.

All CPD Flyers organised by Programme Strand

Primary CPD Flyers organised by Issue Date

Secondary CPD Flyers organised by Issue Date