8 June 2018 weekly update

Dear Colleagues

Kent Youth County Council: Curriculum for Life Campaign

I was fortunate to be invited to the Kent Youth County Council meeting on Sunday 13 May. I met and engaged with some inspiring young people from our schools and was very impressed by their enthusiasm and understanding of tackling some of the key issues facing young people.

As an action from that day, I agreed to share with Headteachers The Youth County Council’s pledge to implement a ‘Curriculum for Life’.

Please see the Curriculum for Life presentation (PDF, 852.4 KB) and pledge letter from the KYCC (DOCX, 834.4 KB).

They are seeking your support and collaboration in taking this forward. I would like to encourage you all to take time to look at it and consider ways in which you can support this important pledge.

Ofsted Update: 92% of Kent Schools now Good or Outstanding

As we begin a new school term, I would like to summarise the position as of 1 June on the quality of education in Kent schools as reflected in the most recent Ofsted inspection judgements.

The latest Ofsted Inspection figures during this year show continued further improvements in the quality of education in Kent schools.

Overall 92% of schools in Kent are now rated good or outstanding compared to 89% nationally. This includes 22% of schools judged to be outstanding and 70% judged to be good.

This overall figures includes 93% of Primary Schools judged to be good or outstanding, 90% of Secondary schools, 91% of Special schools and 43% of PRUs in Kent. Also, 97% of Early Years Settings are good or outstanding which is solid position we have maintained.

In Kent now, 93% of pupils attend a good or outstanding school, including 93% of Primary pupils, 93% of Secondary pupils and 94% of pupils attending Special schools. This now means that 203,259 pupils now attend a good or outstanding school in Kent.

I am pleased that the positive trend in the County continues.

Summer Headteacher meeting dates

A reminder that my next round of Headteacher meetings are taking place in June and July. One of the main focuses of these meetings will be sharing an options paper on High Needs Funding which we promised following the discussions in March.

We very much hope that you will be able to attend one of the following four meetings.

The dates, times and locations for the Summer Headteacher Meetings are:

Friday 22 June 2018 - 9am for 9:30am start - 12pm - The Spitfire Ground (Canterbury Cricket Ground), St Lawrence, Old Dover Road, Canterbury CT1 3NZ

Monday 25 June 2018 - 1pm for 1:30pm start - 4pm - Oakwood House, Oakwood Road, Maidstone ME16 8AE

Wednesday 27 June 2018 - 1pm for 1:30pm start - 4pm - Mercure Dartford Brands Hatch Hotel, Brands Hatch, Colin Chapman Way, Dartford DA3 8PE

Monday 2 July 2018 - 1:30pm for 2pm start - 4:30pm - Ashford International Hotel, Simone Weil Avenue, Ashford TN24 8UX

To book a place, please email eypssupportteam@kent.gov.uk confirming your name and school, and the session you are able to join. I look forward to seeing you at these meetings.

Matt Dunkley CBE
Corporate Director
Children, Young People and Education