8 October 2021 weekly update

Dear Colleagues,

We recently let you know about the rebranding of Kent Health Needs Education Service, which is now The Rosewood School and more information is available on The Rosewood School website. I am delighted to let you know that following a rigorous recruitment process Tina Hamer has been appointed to the post of Head Teacher at the Rosewood School. Congratulations to Tina, who took up the post on an interim basis last term.

October is Black History Month and an opportunity consider established narratives through a different lens. Yorkshire was at the heart of the abolitionist movement in the UK, and William Wilberforce’s role in abolition is well documented. The many prominent Black abolitionists that visited the UK, lecturing and staging anti-slavery performances, have not had such a high profile and you can read more here

The Conservative Party Conference provided an opportunity to get a sense of the government’s priorities ahead of the Budget and outcomes of the Spending Review due on 27 October. I have been following the development of the levelling up narrative, trying to understand any potential benefits to Kent and to education. It was great to hear the PM’s commitment to schools as a key component, the levelling up strategy and the praise for Brompton Manor Academy, but the commitment to a £30K starting salary for all teachers I suspect gave pause for thought to those that will be picking up the salary bill.

Since his appointment as Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, expectations that Michael Gove will define and shape this agenda are running high. Currently, Gove is signalling an enhanced role for local government and increased localism, which is in contrast to policy on the ground where we are seeing a clear narrative around reducing the role of local government, so it will be interesting to see how that circle is squared.

With all best wishes

Christine McInnes
Director of Education