21 October 2021 weekly update

Dear Colleagues,

As we come to the end of term 1, national concern about covid infection rates is rising up the agenda. In the absence of any new government guidance, I am aware that schools in some parts of the country where infection rates are high are adopting additional measures to limit the spread of the virus including asking parents to keep children off school where there is a positive case in the family until a negative PCR has been obtained, alongside a continued emphasis on twice a week Lateral Flow Testing testing, good ventilation, frequent handwashing and in some cases reintroduction of face coverings. More on this in the next bulletin.

I am really looking forward to meeting more of you in person at the forthcoming Headteacher meetings, the first of which is on the afternoon of 1 November at the Great Danes Hotel, Maidstone. Alan Brookes and I did try to re-establish a joint meeting between KCC and KAH but we were sadly defeated by the logistics, however we are now planning for joint meetings to happen in the spring term.

Since I last wrote the Schools Funding Forum met with SEND funding a key agenda item and we have asked colleagues to discuss some of the data with you and to feedback to the next forum meeting, we are really interested in hearing your thoughts.

On Thursday evening I was delighted to attend the opening of the David Race Digital Learning Centre at The Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford and to meet some of the staff, pupils and governors, as well as members of the building team. The newly appointed headteacher welcome event took place on Friday morning and I was really pleased to have the opportunity to meet all the headteachers that attended and to take some really challenging questions from them - it was also the first time I properly met Alan Brookes.

Last week was also a bit of a personal milestone for me. Keen to compensate for all the time I now spend sitting in front of a screen, I started running earlier this year and doing Muay Thai. Last week I clocked up an unbelievable 26km over the week, culminating in an amazing sunset run along the beach at Margate. As for the Muay Thai, I can highly recommend the kicking and boxing as the perfect way to unload negative emotion - this is me with my instructor Kru Sammo, still smiling after a really tough class!

Have a good half term all!

Christine McInnes
Director of Education