23 June 2022 weekly update

Dear Colleagues,

It was good to see so many of you at the briefing meetings over the last two weeks. As promised, please find the Summer Term 2022 Headteacher Briefing presentation (PDF, 1.6 MB). Given the focus in the schools white paper on promoting evidence based practice, we were delighted that Ian Witts and Laura Howler of Kingsnorth CofE Primary, Kent’s Associate Research School, were able to contribute to the meetings. Looks like education may be ahead of the game in the area of evidence based practice according to a recent review about medical treatments which may be of interest.

When I last wrote, I was on my way to visit three secondary schools in Dover, together with Lee Round, Interim Area Education Officer. First stop Astor School to meet with David Meades and Lee Kane where we saw a selection of remarkable artwork and sculptures and discussed the existing work on social inclusion, as well as the exciting plans for the future. We then went on to meet with Jamie McLaren and governor Michelle Farrett at Dover Christchurch Academy to find out more about the school’s fully integrated approach to SEND inclusion. We were privileged to meet with a group of students who proudly told us about a range of work they had led. The final stop of the day was Dover Grammar School for Girls where we met with Bob Benson, discussed the work the school had done to support students during covid and looked around the school buildings. A huge thank you to everyone involved in a really interesting and inspiring day.

This week I was really delighted to attend the CARE Foundation Trust's Summer ‘Carol’ Concert at the Ashford International Hotel. The Trust is a group of 10 primary schools that work collaboratively and the concert was an opportunity for the Trust choir of 100 children, ten from each school to perform for the first time since covid. It was just fabulous to see and hear children having fun singing together, parents bursting with pride and staff rightly basking in the glory.

Have a great weekend.

Best wishes

Christine McInnes
Director of Education