Staffing Update

New appointments

Julia Wallace is now

Headteacher at Dunham-on-

Trent C of E Primary School.

We remain grateful to the

following people as they continue

in Acting Headteacher roles:

Elaine Millington, at Seely

C of E Primary School, Arnold

Laura De Martino, at St Mary

Magdalene C of E Primary

School, Sutton in Ashfield

Paul Nolan at Halam C of E

Primary School.

Duncan White and Jayne

Gibbons at Mansfield St

Peter’s C of E Primary School

www.southwell.anglican.org

Summer Term 2016

Headteachers’ and Governors’ Newsletter

From the Diocesan Director of Education

Y ou will have noticed that this term our newsletter is being

circulated a little later than usual. This is because there have

been a number of key announcements and strategic documents

produced recently by government, the National Church of England

Education Office and our own Diocesan Board of Education (DBE)

which we wish to draw to your attention. They have a direct influence

on the development of church schools within our diocese. The DBE

have been considering some of these and it is important that you are

aware of their response. These include: (i) the Memorandum of

Understanding between the National Society and the Department for

Education regarding Church of England Schools and academy status

(ii) the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham Board of Education

Academisation Policy and Strategy (iii) the Church of England

Central Education Office Small Schools Planning for the Future

Document - a practical tool for small schools and dioceses to explore

the financial viability of establishing formal collaborations and Multi

Academy Trusts. More detail arising from these can be found

elsewhere in this newsletter.

We are part of an educational system that continually changes and at

the moment seems to be in danger of fragmenting rather than working

together for the benefit of all children and young people. This can lead

to confusion amongst leaders as to where they should look to seek

direction. I believe that in such times, God wants us to be the sort of

people who look to him and “Keep Calm and Carry On.” The original

poster with those words on was produced by the British government in

1939 in preparation for the Second World War. It was deliberately

designed to raise the morale of the British public. Church schools have

been around for more than two centuries and over this time dioceses

have supported them to navigate their way through many

reorganizational and structural changes. I believe God wants us to

heed those words and raise our morale as education leaders in church

schools so that we have the courage and vision to offer our pupils the

very best educational opportunities we can so they are equipped to

“live life in all its fullness.” (John 10 v10)

Over recent months, Bishop Paul has been sharing with us his insights

as someone new to the diocese and he has been leading us as we

develop our diocesan strategy further. It has been agreed that our focus

over the next few years will be on Growing Disciples - Wider,

Younger, Deeper. Within this there is a target to commission 1000

younger leaders equipped and inspired to serve the purposes of God in

the church and society. It is great that he visited all our church

secondary schools during Lent and was able to meet with head teachers

and hear from students themselves.

Continued on page 2

New Appointment We are delighted to announce the

appointment of a full time Chief

Executive Officer for the Diocese

of Southwell and Nottingham

Multi Academy Trust. Chris

Moodie will start in the role on

Monday 4th July.

Chris comes with a wealth of

experience as a teacher,

Headteacher, Senior Managing

Ofsted Inspector and HMI. Chris

is excited to take on the role and

is keen to continue developing

the unique nature of each school

in the Trust within their

community. He is determined to

work with them to achieve the

very best education experiences

for all children.

Headteachers’ and Governors Newsletter Summer Term 2016

School Admissions

VA schools and Academies are

reminded that a copy of their

arrangements for 2017/18 should

have been sent to Sheila Barker

Sheila.barker@southwell.anglica

n.org even if there have been no

changes. Please send on if you

have not done so already.

Please would all schools ensure

that their arrangements for

2017/18 are dated with the

correct year and displayed on

their website.

National Leader of Governor Support Could a National Leader of

Governance help strengthen your

governing body?

Free NLG support is available to

all schools or academies. It can

be particularly valuable if

you have a new Chair of

Governors or if you are

undertaking your own governing

body review or self-evaluation

work.

A NLG can help facilitate self-

evaluation work so that the Chair

can participate rather than having

to manage the discussion.

To find out more click

http://

apps.nationalcollege.org.uk/

s2ssd_new/ to enable you to

contact the NLG direct or contact

us if you wish to be put in touch

with a NLG with experience of

working with C of E governing

bodies.

The Diocesan Board of Education

T he Board of Education is a statutory body which supports the

mission of church schools in the diocese and forms policies to

guide the education offered in them . It develops strategies to

carry out that mission, and ensures that, through its officers, these

strategies are translated into action. The Board promotes the work of C

of E schools and academies and celebrates and champions it the diocese,

and more widely, as an outworking of God’s love for his people.

The Board’s work has statutory, pastoral and strategic aspects to it.

Perhaps the biggest change the Board has faced in recent years is

engaging with the fast pace of education reforms, particularly related to

academies and taking on responsibility for the standards and

performance of schools. The Board seeks not only to fulfil its statutory

duties, and monitor standards, but also to nurture and develop all

involved in the life of its schools and parishes.

The Board operates on a 3 year cycle and has recently begun a new

triennium. Membership of the Board consists of 2 Bishop’s

appointment, 12 members elected by synod (6 clergy, 6 laity), and up to

six co-opted members. The current members of the Board are David

Picken (Chair of the Board of Education, & Archdeacon of Newark),

Amanda Digman (Governor & Vicar St John the Baptist, Colwick),

Heidi Shewell-Cooper (Chair of Governors at Nottingham Emmanuel

School &National Leader of Governance), Ian Griffiths (Governor at

Linby cum Papplewick Primary School & Director of Diocesan MAT ),

Jo Redfern (Exec Headteacher of Huthwaite and Selston Infant

Schools), , Liz Murray (Vicar & Chair of Governors at Elston All Saints

Primary School), Fr Matthew Askey (Chaplain at the Minster School),

Michael Arlington (Chair of Diocesan Finance Committee & Governor

Samworth Church Academy) Nicky Fenton (Assistant Curate at

Nottingham St.Ann’s with Emmanuel ), Robin Woodhead (LA Adviser

Headteacher Recruitment), Sian Hampton (Principal Bluecoat Academy

& CEO of Bluecoat Academies Trust), Tim Pullen (Vicar St Leonard’s

Wollaton), Tony Walker (Headteacher Farnsfield St Michael’s Primary

School), David Richards(Governor Christ Church Infant School

Newark)

Continued from front page

It is clear that our church schools are going to play a vital part in this

strategy as they seek to model Christian faith in action and provide

opportunities for pupils to discover for themselves more about the faith

that inspires and motivates their school. This quote from Madeleine L

Engel seems to sum up so well what we should aim to be about in our

church schools:

“We draw people to Christ……….by showing them a light that is so

lovely that they want to know the source of it.”

I pray that through the remaining weeks of this term you will be able to

take time, amongst the business, to celebrate and give thanks to God not

only for the achievements of your pupils but all the ways that those who

are part of your school community have grown and flourished over the

past academic year Thank you for all your hard work on behalf of the

children in your care.

Claire Meese

Headteachers’ and Governors Newsletter Summer Term 2016

Entire School Staff

and Students join

together for Minster

Service

Tuesday 29th March saw a whole

academy community celebrate

their Easter service in Southwell

Minster. Queen Elizabeth’s

Academy travelled in a convoy of

buses from Mansfield for this

special event.

The service was led by Stephanie

Smart (school chaplain) and Fr

Matthew Askey. Mike Smith

(Principal) played the organ. A

number of students and staff took

part and related their practical

experiences to the message of

“seek justice, love mercy and

walk humbly with God.”

This was a fantastic opportunity

for all the students to experience

worship in the setting of The

Minster, many of whom had not

had that experience before.

Bishop’s Lent Visits

D uring Lent, Bishop Paul spent a full day in each of the seven

Church of England Secondary Schools in the Diocese.

Bishop Paul said: “ I am thrilled to be spending this extended

time with students and staff learning more about the hopes and

aspirations that shape the ever increasing work of our schools. They are

a vital part of the church ministry in education, striving to provide the

best academic outcomes with a clear Christian framework of value and

faith.”

Bishop Paul was shown around the schools, joined staff for prayers,

visited classes, took part in religious studies lessons, met staff and

school chaplains, took part in student Q & A discussion groups and

spoke in staff briefings and assemblies.

The National Church of England

Academy Magnus Church of England

Academy

Nottingham Emmanuel School Samworth Church Academy

Bluecoat Academy

The Minster School Queen Elizabeth’s Academy

Small Schools Planning for the Future

R ecognising the particular challenges facing small schools at this

time in terms of viability and sustainability, the national Church

of England Education Office has produced a new planning

resource for small school governing bodies and head teachers.

This is ‘A practical tool for small schools and dioceses to explore the

financial viability of establishing formal collaborations and Multi

Academy Trusts.’ It builds on the ‘ Church of England Education

Office Working Together Report – The Future of Rural Church of

England Schools’

It comprises a spreadsheet designed as a planning tool for schools with

150 pupils or fewer to give an estimate of likely funding and

expenditure budgets for a proposed collaboration or MAT. The

spreadsheet currently holds data for eight schools which can be

populated with individual school’s data. This then generates the

estimated funding statements and expenditure budgets for each of the

schools. The “Small Schools Planning Tool” has been designed using

amounts which are driven by pupil numbers and averages based on

actual costs / expenditure. Minimal data input is required to obtain

estimated funding and an expenditure budget. There is a supporting

document which goes with the spreadsheet. We will be circulating this

around schools and it is available on our website – please click here

Church Schools and Academy Status

At the end of April a new Memorandum of Understanding between the

DfE and National Society was published following consultation with

the Central Church of England Education Office and dioceses. This sets

down the key principles that underpin decisions regarding all C of E

schools taking on academy status. Governors and leaders of church

schools need to be familiar with it. It also has information for existing

single academy trusts that may want to become part of MATs or church

academies that may want to become sponsors. Please follow the link

below to access this document.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/

attachment_data/file/517423/

Memorandum_of_understanding_between_the_National_Society_and_

DfE.pdf

In light of this new publication, the DBE have updated their

academisation policy and have worked on a strategy for the

development of trusts in the diocese in the event of large numbers of

church schools wanting to convert to academy status. These new

documents will be distributed to schools and academies shortly and will

also be available on our website. Given the high levels of interest we

have had around academy conversion from governing bodies, and

because of these recent developments, we are holding two briefings for

Headteachers and Chairs of Governors (or another key governor) to

explain our policy and strategy. This will be followed on each occasion

by a presentation from the new Chief Executive Officer of the Diocesan

Multi Academy Trust for those schools that might be interested in

joining the Diocesan MAT. The details are as follows:

Friday 15th July 1.30pm - 3.30pm at Jubilee House, Southwell

Thursday 15th September 6.30pm - 8.30pm at Jubilee House, Southwell

Schools Lent ‘Washday’ Four primary schools from across

the Diocese organised special

‘Washday’ activities through

Lent as part of a national

campaign by the Church of

England to serve the community.

The Bishop of Sherwood, the Rt

Revd Tony Porter visited one of

them - St Luke’s C of E (Aided)

Primary School, Shireoaks - to

show his support of the initiative.

The scheme involved many

options such as washing windows

for people who would find it

difficult or cleaning cars, all as a

response to human need through

service, following Christ’s

example.

Other schools involved are:

Woodborough Woods C of E

(Aided) Foundation Primary

School, where the pupils

carried out their washday

challenge at home during each

week of Lent, and raised money

for their toilet twinning

initiative.

South Wilford (Endowed) C of

E Primary School are repeating

their ‘Wilford Washday’ event.

Teacher, Jill Edmonds said: “We

are continuing our idea of

washing and cleansing our

community of Wilford again this

year. This is following Jesus’

example of washing his disciples’

feet.”

Headteacher of St Mary’s C of

E (Aided) School in

Edwinstowe, Nikki Monks said:

“St Mary’s has decided to

recognise this special time by

‘giving something back and perhaps helping to change the

world with a small act of loving

service including worship Bible

stories reflections.’

Headteachers’ and Governors’ Newsletter Summer Term 2016

Headteachers’ and Governors’ Newsletter Summer Term 2016

Dates for the Diary

JUNE

29 Secondary Headteachers/

Principals Network Meeting National Church of England

Academy

10.30 - 12.30

JULY 4 The Art of Brilliance

Magnus Church of England

Academy

More details above

£80

10.00 - 1.00pm

15 Academies Briefing for

Headteachers and Chairs of

Governors

Jubilee House

1.30pm - 3.30pm

SEPTEMBER

15 Academies Briefing for

Headteachers and Chairs of

Governors

Jubilee House

6.30pm - 8.30pm

22 Headteacher Induction

Jubilee House

29 Diocesan Launch of

Understanding Christianity

Jubilee House

Launch AM

Modules begin PM.

OCTOBER 11 Induction Training for

those new to working in

church schools

Jubilee House

Look out for our new training

brochure which will have

details of courses available

during the next academic year.

Magnus Church of England Academy

Monday 4th July

10am - 1pm

£80

Course Leader: Andy Cope

Most people in modern Britain live their lives on permanent fast-

forward - the teaching profession is especially fraught.

‘The Art of Being Brilliant’ provides an antidote to the frenzy, using

cutting edge research to explore how you can be you, brilliantly. Learn

some of the ‘secrets’ of Positive Psychology, focusing on new habits of

thinking and behaviout.

To book your place, email Ally Horne, ahorne@southwell.anglican.org

The booking form with more information about the conference is

available on our website at http://southwell.anglican.org/education/

schoolsacademies/

To book your place please email Ally Horne at

ahorne@southwell.anglican.org