For Information

Please see the link below to the twice-termly Director of Children's Service Report to Governors (formerly the CEOs Report), Summer 2007, for consideration at your next termly meeting of the governing body.

In line with the council's commitment to open local government, schools should make available certain information to the public. Therefore, a copy of the report should be in a place accessible to parents, school staff, pupils and visitors.

The report can be found electronically at:
Director of Children's Service Report to Governors

Sarah Beaumont
Governor Services Manager

For Information

There was a fantastic discussion at the Barnet Headteachers' Conference meeting on 25 April 2007, so I thought it would be helpful to confirm the suggestions (to date!) for our Celebrating Achievement Week.

• The week is a unique opportunity for our schools and settings to highlight the many aspects of achievement by children and young people. We should all try and make the most of this occasion.
• Schools and settings can focus on pre-planned events, to maximise their investment to date in these activities, and gain the best return for their time.
• The Local Authority will create a database of events to inform Members, officers, press and the public. To enable this all headteachers are asked to write/email to Martin Baker (copy to maria.daly@barnet.gov.uk) listing key events at their school or setting, especially where there is a photo opportunity. The sooner we know these, the earlier we can arrange the publicity.
• The Local Authority will co-ordinate a powerpoint presentation to record the essence of the week. To enable this, all schools and settings are asked to create one powerpoint slide that illustrates an aspect of achievement at their school and submit this by email to james.wills-fleming@barnet.gov.uk by 6 July 2007 at the latest. (Early submissions will give us more time to put the presentation together.) The slide should be mainly graphic or photographic with the school name and a minimal amount of text.
• It was agreed that some of the really exciting big 'ideas' would need to be carried over for possible inclusion in next year's celebration of achievement. These included:
  • large central event for all schools
  • songwriting competition.
• The Celebration Achievement Week will be reviewed in September - with a view to considering it being an annual event

Obviously all these ideas are in addition to those I included in the Issue 23 Circular of 14 March. Many thanks for your enthusiasm.

Martin Baker
Deputy Director
Children's Service

For Action

Reminder of the following event:

Assessment in the Foundation Stage
15 May 2007 8.30-11.30 am
North London Business Park/ Bldg 5 Conference Area

Jan Dubiel, Principal Officer, Foundation Stage Profile, National Assessment Agency will lead a presentation for  headteachers, senior staff of schools with Foundation Stage pupils and  Local Authority colleagues. He will give information and advice from the National Assessment Agency on the process of assessment in the Foundation Stage; using the Foundation Stage Profile to support continuity of learning in Key Stage One;  National Assessment Agency information with regard to Ofsted.

If you wish to attend and haven't already sent a reply slip, please contact Paula Hales at paula.hales@barnet.gov.uk

Dianne Lewis
Early Years Standards Inspector

For Information

Further summaries have been placed on the BGfL website:-

• School Discipline Policies and Pupil Behaviour
  Summary of DfES Guidance, April 2007
• Time for Change? Personal, Social and Health Education
  Summary of Ofsted Report, ref 070049, April 2007
• Discrimination on Grounds of Religion and Belief - Guidance for Schools
  Summary of DfES Guidance, March 2007

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

Key Stage 3 ICT Test
Countdown, the newsletter for the KS 3 ICT onscreen test, is available in hard copy and online. The April 2007 newsletter contains news of the features of the assessment materials to be launched in the Autumn, plus the latest on the 2007 pilot. Copies are being posted to head teachers and ICT-department heads, and can also be downloaded.  Details are at:
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/news/?id=1303

The Globe's 2007 production of Much Ado About Nothing
You can now download a recent production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Globe theatre as an MP3 audio recording, with interviews with the director and actors. Further details at:
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/secondary/keystage3/subjects/english/
shakespeare/globe_audio/

Joy Court
Assistant Information & Communications Officer

• PCT Letter re: Parents and Carers - National Child Measurement Programme
  All Schools (Not on BGFL: Hard copy in School Bag)
  URGENT - Action required immediately

  A letter to parents and carers regarding the National Child Measurement Programme. As highlighted in last week's School Circular, please distribute to parents and carers immediately. The intention is to start the Child Measurement Programme the week commencing 7 May 2007. Please see enclosure in the school bag for further details.

• NLSIN Newsletter - Spring 2007
  All Schools 
  

  The Spring 2007 edition of the North London School International Network (NLSIN) Newsletter. Please click on the above link for further details.

• Flyer re: University of London Observatory - Secondary Only
• Flyer re: UCL Astronomy in the National Curriculum
• Flyer re: UCL Solar Astronomy and Observatory Visits
  All Schools (Not on BGFL: Hard copies in School Bag) 

A set of flyers from the University of London Observatory, Mill Hill, regarding their schemes and visits for schools for KS2, KS3 and KS4. Please see enclosures in the school bag for further details.

• Flyer re: HACSG Workshops - Summer 2007
  All Schools (Not on BGFL: Hard copy in School Bag) 

  A flyer from the Hyperactive Children's Support Group (HACSG) regarding their workshops taking place in June and July 2007. Please see enclosure in the school bag for further details.

• Flyer re: CPD Primary Music Practitioners
  All Primary Schools (Not on BGFL: Hard copy in School Bag)
  

  A flyer detailing a Continuing Professional Development Programme for primary music practitioners from Trinity Guildhall and the Open University. Please see enclosure in the school bag for further details.

• CLEAPSS Bulletin 129
  All Secondary Schools (Not on BGFL: Hard copy in School Bag)
  

  The CLEAPSS Bulletin 129 for the Summer term 2007. The bulletin is for all technicians and teachers of science and design & technology. Please see enclosure in the school bag for further details.

• Flyer re: Holocaust Memorial Day Events 2008 - Finchley Reform Synagogue
  All Secondary Schools - Not Special (Not on BGFL: Hard copy in School Bag)
  

  A flyer detailing Holocaust Memorial Day events at the Finchley Reform Synagogue on 29 and 30 January 2008. Please distribute to Heads of History, Humanities and Religious Studies. Please see enclosure in the school bag 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