27.05.2021 - Message from Director of Education
All Schools/ Phases
Dear Headteachers/Principals,
I hope you and your school are well and looking forward to a potentially warm or even hot half-term week if the weather forecast is correct. I attach the latest local COVID19 data as usual which continues to show a positive picture. As was said at the head’s briefing, there have been incidences in the borough and in several schools of the “Indian” variant – if there is any further news concerning this locally, we will let you know as soon as we do. It is possible that some surge testing may take place as has happened in other parts of London but this has not happened as yet. As a borough, we are still working towards the 21st June relaxation of COVID restrictions but of course this is subject to the COVID data and the government’s view of the situation at the time.
i) Public Health Appointment - Dudu Sher-Arami who has often attended Headteacher briefings has been appointed as Acting Director of Public Health – congratulations Dudu.
ii) SEYIS recruitment - SEYIS is recruiting to 3 new posts which have just been advertised. These are 2 senior adviser posts and one post focusing on safeguarding & inclusion. These posts are replacing the current posts within the school improvement section of SEYIS.
iii) Urgent Computers for Schools - I have attached the DfE update from Monday which has a specific section on laptops & routers which your IT staff needs to look at and act on as necessary. It may be that some laptops will cease to have internet access if the specific instructions aren’t followed.
iv) Local Police Newsletter – I have attached this because of the recent alleged abduction incident at a local primary school and several other items of relevance. This newsletter is also on the Hub. I hope you find this useful.
v) Headteacher Briefings - the dates for these after half-term have been sent out. The first is on 16th June and is timed to be just after any government announcements on the further opening up of society and impact on education/schools. At this meeting, Jo Fear will provide more detailed information on the changes to the Admissions Code. There will be information on the Library summer reading programme and information from our public health team on fitness activities for schools for the Autumn term. In addition, one or two primary schools will be sharing examples of good practice which have a considerable impact on their schools (further details to follow).
vi) Ofsted visit – Ofsted conducted a 2 day Section 8 visit to an Enfield primary school and the headteacher has agreed to provide some feedback as appropriate at the heads briefing too.
vii) Early Careers Teachers (ECT) - the Teaching School Hub (TSH) has just informed us that there are now 120 places on the Ambition led training for ECTs (up from the previous 70). We have asked the DfE why there aren’t places for all ECTs as is outlined on the DfE website and we should be provided with an answer this week. We will keep you updated on the changes to teaching training as we are working closely with the TSH.
I attended a cross London meeting yesterday with Sir Alan Wood where it was indicated the proposals for COVID education recovery will be announced very soon although of course there will be the issue of how this will be funded – so as they say “watch this space”. It was also good to visit this week a school originally built in 1851 - Forty Hill Primary School - and great to see their Forest School in the woods in the school grounds. Congratulations to Josh Newman the current headteacher who is moving to Hazelwood Schools in September as the new headteacher there. Tracey Kilkenny is retiring after many years of excellence service as Head of Hazelwood Schools and previously of Capel Manor. Tracey has said she wants to have more time to travel but that might just have to be in this country!
I hope you have a great half-term and get some relaxation time and of course enjoy the sunshine (and for me not playing cricket in the rain!!).
Best wishes
Peter Nathan
Director of Education
People Department
Enfield Council