14 June 2019 weekly update

Dear Colleagues

Terms Dates change - May Day Bank Holiday 2020

I can confirm that following the announcement last weekend about moving the early May Bank Holiday from Monday 4 May 2020 to Friday 8 May 2020 in line with the 75^th Anniversary of VE day, please find the updated term dates for 2019/20.

Ofsted headline - Inspections of outstanding schools

You may have seen in this week’s School Week publication the headline Ofsted downgrades hundreds more ‘outstanding’ schools.

This was as result of data covering the period from September 2018 to March 2019 showing that just 16% of ‘outstanding’ schools inspected during that time kept their top grade. 25% dropped to ‘requires improvement’ and 5% were inadequate. The majority, 54%, fell to good judgement.

These figures come from Ofsted almost six months after they launched a clampdown on underperforming exempt schools. It has been reported that there has been renewed calls to Ofsted for the exemption to be lifted.

Role of governance under the new Ofsted framework

In a separate speech to the National Governors Association, HMCI Amanda Spielman spoke about the role of governors under the new Ofsted framework.

She advised how governors can hold the school to account for the quality and shape of the curriculum, and how governors can help ensure that all pupils (including those with SEND or from disadvantaged backgrounds) receive the benefits of the school's full curriculum offer.

She also spoke about how inspectors will take delegated responsibilities within MATs into account when inspecting governance.

Matt Dunkley CBE
Corporate Director
Children, Young People and Education