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Space 2018 Evaluation report – now available

Space 2018 evaluation report – now available

The Space project, led by the Staffordshire Commissioner, provides positive activities for young people in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. Last year, the programme ran throughout the summer holiday period July to August 2018 and is going from strength to strength with attendances increasing from just over 13,000 in 2015 to almost 30,000 in 2018.

As the evaluation report indicates, there’s been a significant decrease in police recorded youth-related incidents of Anti-Social Behaviour during the summer holiday period 2018, down 41% compared to the same period in 2017.

The Stoke-on-Trent Opportunity Area is one of the partners that has contributed to the delivery of this programme in 2018 via a direct funding contribution and as part of the ‘Essential Life Skills’ programme.

Read the evaluation report direct here or via https://staffordshire-pfcc.gov.uk/space/#staffordshire-space-report

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Geographical Association and Association for Science Education Teaching and Leadership Innovation Fund (TLIF) CPD provision in Stoke-on-Trent

The Geographical Association and Association for Science Education TLIF offer

The Geographical Association and Association for Science Education have been awarded a TLIF contract to provide fully funded CPD for primary and secondary teachers from November 2018 to develop the critical use of evidence in geography and science classrooms. The target group of schools for this offer are those that are in Ofsted category 3, but schools who are Ofsted rated 1 & 2 may be able to get involved.

The aim of this provision will:

  • strengthen teachers’ subject knowledge and build confidence and capability in curriculum planning and teaching
  • help teachers teach reformed geography and science qualifications and curricula effectively, focusing on knowledge application, the critical use of data and evidence, construction of arguments and geographical and scientific investigation
  • make more efficient use of teacher planning time through provision of practical planning tools and quality-assured curriculum plans and resources.

DfE information can be found here: www.gov.uk/guidance/develop-the-critical-use-of-evidence-in-geography-and-science and further information on the Critical thinking for achievement project here: www.geography.org.uk/Critical-thinking-for-achievement

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Opportunity Areas: ‘Building the foundations for change’ case studies

The ‘Opportunity Areas: Building the foundations for change’ document published last month provides a snap-shot of activity in each Opportunity Area across the country. This includes our very own Stoke-on-Trent case study on the Better Together project that will ensure every primary and secondary school in the city is linked with a social worker and educational psychologist to identify children and families at risk of running into difficulties. Follow this link to access the case study document.

 

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Essential Life Skills providers – now launched!

The Stoke-on-Trent Opportunity Area Partnership Board today has announced the awarding of Essential Life Skills (ELS) large grants to 12 providers. These providers will offer a range of extra-curricular activities that will compliment the direct allocations of ELS funding to schools and colleges.

The attached list of providers is here.

For more information, please contact David O’Connell: david.oconnell@stoke.gov.uk

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Date for the diary: ‘Informing and Challenging Our Practices and Pedagogy’ – Research School and Opportunity Area conference at Keele Hall, 4 April 2019

This conference will highlight the work of both the Research School and the Keele and North Staffordshire Teacher Education partnership as well as showcasing the work and impact of the Stoke-on-Trent Opportunity Area. See 4th April Conference Flyer and more information to follow.

Stoke-on-Trent schools can use their Research School wallet to access the conference. For more details, please contact Russell Spink: r.spink@knste-shaw.org.uk

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Funded professional development for school leaders

Many existing and aspiring school leaders in Stoke-on-Trent have already registered to access a fully funded National Professional Qualification (NPQ) course.

Fully funded NPQs are open to all teachers and senior leaders in the Stoke-on-Trent Opportunity Area. They are aimed at those who would like further development to be a high performing middle or senior leader. The qualifications include:

  • National Professional Qualification for Middle Leadership (NPQML)
  • National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL)
  • National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH)
  • National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership (NPQEL)

A full list of the NPQ providers can be found here.

If you would like any further information about how you or a member of staff can benefit from this offer, please get in touch.

 

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Free Breakfast Club support for schools in Stoke-on-Trent

If at least 35% of pupils in your school are recorded as eligible for free school meals, or 50% as Ever 6 Free School Meals, then you may be eligible to receive support through the National School Breakfast Scheme.

It is funded by the Department for Education, and run by Family Action, in partnership with Magic Breakfast. The programme will support over 1770 schools in disadvantaged communities, including Opportunities Areas, to improve access to healthy breakfasts and learning.

Eligible schools will receive a £500 start-up grant to set up their breakfast club, and schools who do not currently have healthy, sustainable breakfasts already in place will receive free breakfasts.

The funding for food is only available until March 2020 – but the Magic Breakfast will work with you to put a longer term, sustainable plan in place. If you want to explore the benefit of removing the hunger barrier to learning for your pupils, please click for an expression of interest form.

Further information on the programme is here and here.

 

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Research School – professional development offer to all schools in Stoke-on-Trent

The Stoke on Trent Research School will be providing a wide range of professional development opportunities throughout 2018-19. Each school/college, within the Opportunity Area, has been allocated a grant to enable engagement with the Research School courses. The funding will be held by the Local Authority and the Research School will maintain records of course attendees.

The Research School aims to lead the way in the use of evidence-based practice and to build and develop a community of teachers who work together collaboratively, critically, creatively and carefully to understand and improve the positive impact that they have on progress and achievement.

Full details of the courses on offer/booking link can be found here:

https://stokeontrent.researchschool.org.uk/category/trainingcpd/

For any enquires about the Research School courses please contact Russell Spink [Director of the Stoke on Trent Research School]. Russell.spink.stokeot@researchschool.org.uk or 01782 733119

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School Governance

Funded training programmes for school governance leadership roles and clerks

The Department for Education is providing funded training programmes to improve the effectiveness of school governance. Due to our status as an Opportunity Area, some schools are prioritised for a higher rate of funding.  There are two programmes available:

Governance leadership development programme (for those in governance leadership roles, such as chairs, vice chairs or committee chairs)

  • This programme aims to develop the skills and effectiveness of governors in maintained schools and academies.
  • Because we are an Opportunity Area, some schools are eligible for a higher rate of funding, with up to £2000 of training available, which is expected to cover most of the cost of participation. You can find out if you are eligible for a higher rate of funding here.

Providers able to operate in Stoke-on-Trent:

Governance clerking development programme (for all school, academy or trust board clerks, including new clerks, who are currently supporting one or more boards).

  • This programme aims to support governance clerks to provide professional quality clerking, ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of governing boards
  • The programme provides sustainable and relevant peer-to-peer support networks, enabling encouragement, support and the sharing of good practice.
  • Each participant is eligible for £350 of funding, which is expected to cover most of the cost of participation.

Providers able to operate in Stoke-on-Trent:

Funding

Funding for both programmes is paid directly to the training provider. There is a full list of providers here. We expect that in most cases there will be no, or minimal, cost to individuals or boards to complete these programmes.

If you wish to apply for any of these programmes, please visit the links above for further information.

Please note that places may be limited, and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you have any questions, get in touch with us at SoT.OA@education.gov.uk  or david.oconnell@stoke.gov.uk.

The Stoke-on-Trent Opportunity Area Team

 

 

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Updated list of NLEs and SLEs in Stoke-on-Trent

We have pulled together an updated list of all the city’s National Leaders of Education and Specialist Leaders of Education, which can be found here. The list will be regularly reviewed, but please do let us know via sot.oa@education.gov.uk if you would like to suggest any changes or additions.