14 February 2019 weekly update

Dear Colleagues

Teacher recruitment and retention strategy

The government published the long-awaited teacher recruitment and retention strategy at the end of January 2019. The strategy outlines the government’s priorities ahead of the Spending Review in the Autumn term. Here’s our summary of the 11 new proposals.

1. Ofsted will soon be the only trigger for support with proposals to drop the “floor” and “coasting” measures. It means that from September a “requires improvement” judgement will be the only trigger for government support.
2. The new Early Career Framework (ECF) increases induction for new teachers to two years with £130 million to fund mentor training and 5% off-timetable for teachers in year two. The Education Endowment Foundation is funding pilots from September, before national roll-out in September 2021.
3. New specialist qualifications will be developed to further careers outside the traditional school leadership route, covering assessment, behaviour, curriculum and pedagogy. There will also be a “teacher developer” national professional qualification (NPQ) to support the ECF’s roll-out.
4. A “wholesale” review of teaching schools has been pledged with the government keen to bring more academy trusts with “proven records of driving improvement” into the picture.
5. A review of initial teacher training will spot improvements and reduce cost for providers. The DfE also wants to get academy trusts to “extend their reach”, with plans to support Teach First to work with smaller school-based providers.
6. A “comprehensive” review of the pay framework will be launched to support “more flexible and rewarding career pathways”. The School Teachers Review Body will be asked for recommendations with a view for implementation in 2020.
7. A “one-stop” teacher applications system aims to “radically simplify” the process, which currently has three separate stages. There is no date for a launch.
8. An app for teachers to promote flexible working called “Find Your Jobshare” will be created. The government is also launching an edtech competition for providers to provide innovative solutions to promote part-time working.
9. Bursaries will be reformed with payments for trainee teachers staggered. The aim is for about 40% of bursary spend in the new phased subjects to be tied into retention (with payments in year three and five). Teachers working in more challenging schools will get a bit more cash.
10. Plans to build new homes for teachers on surplus school land. If there is a demand, the DfE will work with the government’s housing department to explore whether an extension of permitted development rights is needed to speed up such developments.
11. New Ofsted hotline to report breaches of workload commitments. This will allow Headteachers to check-in with the watchdog’s central office if any inspectors breach commitments to avoid asking for data-tracking systems; specific evidence of lesson-planning and marking; or pupil targets.

Spring Headteacher Briefings

The next round of Headteacher Briefings are taking place in March and the focus of these meetings will be announced soon.

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

The dates, times and locations for these Headteacher Briefings are:

• Tuesday 19 March - 1pm for 1:30pm start to 4pm - Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel, Ashford Road, Maidstone, Kent ME17 1RE

• Wednesday 20 March - 1pm for 1:30pm start to 4pm - The Spitfire Ground (Canterbury Cricket Ground), St Lawrence, Old Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3NZ

• Thursday 28 March - 1:30pm for 2pm start to 4:30pm - Ashford International Hotel, Simone Weil Avenue, Ashford, Kent 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. An agenda will be available on the day.

Matt Dunkley CBE
Corporate Director
Children, Young People and Education