Self-evaluation: an Essential Tool for Self-improvement
What were your new year’s resolutions, and are you keeping to them? The start of a new calendar year is a time that many people use to make a change, but this can only come from some form of self-reflection. Shed pounds, get fit, de-clutter; these are all common resolutions borne from the identification of …
The Name’s Protection... Data Protection
Whilst watching Daniel Craig’s final outing as James Bond, my mind wandered as I reflected on the distinct parallels between our chosen professions. The game’s Protection, Data Protection. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to infiltrate a hollowed-out volcano lair whilst simultaneously dealing with Subject Access Requests with time fuses set …
Putting the Success into Succession Planning
Sarah Beaumont BA (Hons) FRSA, Head of Governor Services at The Education Space, focuses on the importance of succession planning. The scene is set: the election of chair is the next item on the agenda, the governance professional takes the floor to invite nominations, everyone looks down at their shoes, nobody stands. Invariably, the out-going …
Do We All Need A Corporate Social Responsibility Policy?
Sarah Beaumont, Head of Governance, asks if we all need to adopt a policy on corporate social responsibility. A corporate social responsibility policy is not a statutory policy for schools and academies to adopt. However, when I recently led on developing such a policy for our organisation, I discovered how valuable it is. Hand on …
What does your school need to know about Natasha’s Law?
Coming into effect on 1st October 2021, Natasha’s Law will require schools to label all their pre-packaged food with a full list of ingredients and allergens. With high numbers of people suffering from an allergy, this legislation is being introduced to protect allergy sufferers and to give them confidence in the food they buy. What …
How Many Followers do You Need for Your Voice to be Heard?
It was announced this week that GCSE media studies will cover Marcus Rashford’s campaign to ensure all children received free meals during the school holidays. Whilst I applaud Marcus Rashford for highlighting this issue and applying such public pressure to the Government, I find it very sad that a large number of people have long-held …
1:1 Device Ratio: A Fad or the Future?
The pandemic has significantly changed life and schools have had to adapt in the way they deliver teaching and learning. Discussions around having 1:1 devices have been around since long before the pandemic, as far back as the 1990s in some schools. With the number of manufacturers offering exceptional value on devices and the pandemic …
Improvement Through Governance
On a balmy evening in early September, I was scheduled to present my Governance Review report to a Governing Board who had invited me. I was unsure that the prospect of sitting in a Zoom meeting would triumph against enjoying the sunset during a surprising London mini-heatwave, but I was pleasantly surprised by the large …
It’s great to get out: the benefits of a Governor Awayday
Sarah Beaumont, Head of Governance at NPW – The Education Space, talks about governor development, cinematic showdowns, and being on a boat. Being invited to speak at a school governor awayday today was an absolute joy for two reasons: (1) it was one of the first physical events I had attended post-lockdown, and (2) it …
COVID – What’s really happening in schools
Throughout the pandemic, the DfE has been collecting data on COVID infections in schools and sharing this with local authorities. This data is reported directly by schools via the Department for Education’s daily education settings survey. It is not the primary source of data on infection, incidence, and COVID-19 cases overall but it continues to …
