Planning for the future in a changing education landscape
A well-attended virtual Head Teacher Forum took place on 2nd December 2021.
Two secondary head teachers, whose schools had been inspected by Ofsted during the autumn term, shared their experiences of the process. School websites had been used ahead of the inspection notification to understand the school, middle leaders were key in the conversations with inspectors, and the recent review of sexual abuse in schools and safeguarding was at the fore in conversations at every level, including with pupils.
Then, Lauren Ovenden, Deputy Director Educational Achievement and Inclusion, gave a presentation on the current and future positioning of the Bexley education system within the national context. She shared Bexley’s approach to building back stronger; what was in place to withstand the pressures around SEND, the upcoming Green Paper and Local Area SEND Inspection; mental health and wellbeing; inclusion; equality, diversity and inclusion including views around the Public Sector Equality Duty; workforce and wellbeing; and the OFSTED inspection framework. She invited colleagues to consider how COVID had changed the landscape for their schools and to share their views about what should be included in Bexley’s shared ambition around education as the Local Authority revises its Corporate Plan (2017-2025).
Co-chairs and lead officers of each Strategic Education Partnership sub-group shared their progress to date in relation to their action plans as well as their next steps and anticipated impact. Colleagues had time to reflect and feedback their views.
There were also updates on the Bexley Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (5-19 years) and on current school improvement projects.
