Education Noticeboard - 8 December 2022

Welcome to the Education Noticeboard. A round-up of news, guidance and key updates for education settings.

Included in this update:

  1. Director update
  2. Council’s Learn Telford programme achieves Good Ofsted rating
  3. Another Telford & Wrekin school benefits from major extension
  4. Take part in the Autism Strategy Consultation
  5. Celebrating the success and achievements of children in care!
  6. School hosts Safer & Stronger Communities project launch
  7. Wombridge pupils gain insight into employment at ‘Guess my job’ event
  8. Leader and Cabinet Members Young Person Grant Scheme 2023 launches today
  9. What will you be doing to celebrate Christmas in your school or setting this year?
  10. Reminder to use the school and settings closures line
  11. Scarlet Fever: Guidance and information
  12. An exciting permanent job opportunity in Education & Skills
  13. Room hire policy for all public sector buildings
  14. National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership – Animation Communications Toolkit
  15. Primary music songbook
  16. An opportunity to place your CPD course bookings
  17. New course – motivational interviewing for education settings
  18. Investment to shield schools from high energy bills and boost to budgets
  19. Energy efficiency: guidance for the school and FE college estate

Director update

Dear colleagues

This week there are a number of good news stories to share. I am delighted that our very own Learn Telford programme has achieved a Good Ofsted rating and the expansion work at Holy Trinity has been completed. The launch of the Safer & Stronger Communities event held at St Georges Primary School was a success and pupils at Wombridge Primary school enjoyed a session run by the Life Ready, Work Ready team, funded by the European Social Fund. An afternoon tea was also held to celebrate that Children in Care across the borough have achieved their best academic results ever, significantly above the national standard for children in care!

Two Special Education Notices have been sent out this week, and both of them have been repeated due to the importance of their content. The first is information and guidance around Scarlet Fever, given the current surge in cases and the second is a reminder to use the school and settings closure line when closures take place for any reason.

Other articles include the newly developed venue hire policy for public sector buildings, information about the National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership and DfE Updates. There is also currently a permanent job vacancy within the Education and Skills directorate, so details of this have been shared as well as CPD opportunities up to, and including, January 2023.

As we head towards Christmas, please do send stories and pictures of activities taking place in your school or setting to us. A timely reminder, with Christmas Jumper Day taking place today! We really do love to share how the children and young people in the borough celebrate.

Wishing you a good rest of the week.

Simon

Simon Wellman
Director: Education & Skills


Council’s Learn Telford programme achieves Good Ofsted rating

We are pleased to announce that our Learn Telford programme has achieved a ‘Good’ grading once again from Government watchdog Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills).

Over 800 adult learners across the borough take part in our Learn Telford courses each year, which include Functional Skills Maths and English programmes, craft, IT and language courses and Access to Higher Education programmes.

The short two-day inspection in October was the first to be carried out since 2016 when Learn Telford also received a ‘Good’ rating.

Read more and access the report on the Telford & Wrekin Council Newsroom.


Another Telford & Wrekin school benefits from major extension

Telford & Wrekin Council has been investing heavily into borough schools in recent years, to create more school places closer to home for children and young people. In partnership with the contractor Willmott Dixon, the Council has recently completed a major extension project at Holy Trinity Academy in Priorslee.

The extension at the Holy Trinity Academy includes a brand new three-storey teaching block, equipped with four science labs, 10 teaching rooms and other multi-purpose spaces to support greater student intake. The school’s dining hall has been extended, to allow for students to enjoy additional space at break-time and at assemblies. The outdoor sports areas of the school have been completely renovated to support the students’ PE curriculum and events timetable. The local community also benefits from the school’s new 3G sports pitch, available to hire outside of school hours.

Councillor Shirley Reynolds (Lab), Cabinet member for Children, Young people and Families, said: “We are strongly committed to continue to invest in schools across the borough, so every local child and young person can have the opportunity to attend their local school and to learn in a modern environment. We are delighted that another major extension has been recently completed at one of our secondary and 6th form schools, Holy Trinity Academy. The school is now able to take on more students and the local community can make use of new sports facilities available for hire during weekends and evenings. In the coming months, other borough schools will undergo refurbishments and extensions to provide the very best educational experience for our children and young people, closer to where they live.”

Angus Neal, Headteacher at Holy Trinity Academy, said: “This development led by Telford & Wrekin Council and its contractor Willmott Dixon has further expanded the fantastic facilities which we had in place for our students since 2015. We are absolutely delighted with the finished product - with the new extra classrooms, science lab, IT facilities, 3G football pitch - our students and staff have fully accessed these since September. The new facilities support our educational vision for the school and our ambition to become an outstanding school, with places available for local youngsters.”

Andrew Bell, Senior Operations Manager at Willmott Dixon commented: “We are really proud to have been involved, together with Telford & Wrekin Council, in the massive upgrade of Holy Trinity Academy’s facilities and to play a major part in creating new learning experiences, for generations to come. We have utilised modular construction for the new teaching block, to minimise disruption to the students and to ensure we complete the project in time for the new student intake in September. We are thrilled to now see the students and the teaching staff fully enjoying the new classes and their modern facilities.”

Further extension and refurbishment works are planned at other school sites across Telford and Wrekin in the coming months, as part of the Council’s “On Your Side “ongoing commitment and investments for its residents. 


Take part in the Autism Strategy Consultation

Until 2 January 2023, Telford & Wrekin Council and Autism West Midlands are running a consultation to get people’s feedback on a borough-wide five-year autism strategy, focusing on the services and support available for autistic people in the borough.

To take part in the autism strategy consultation, people have a number of options:

The draft five-year autism strategy has been developed by the Council and its partners following extensive engagement activities (through virtual sessions, online questionnaires) with 230 people - including autistic people and their families as well as carers, support workers and professionals working with autistic people. 

In putting together the draft strategy, the Council asked autistic residents, as well as those supporting them, on their views on a range of topics, such as “Health, Wellbeing and Care”, “Getting Out and About”, “Education, Training and Employment” and many others. For more details about the five-year borough-wide strategy for autistic people, visit the Telford & Wrekin Council Newsroom.


Celebrating the success and achievements of children in care!

Last week Telford & Wrekin Council Virtual School Team organised a celebration afternoon tea for year11 Children in Care.  

This year they have achieved their best academic results ever, significantly above the national standard for children in care. We couldn’t be prouder of them all!

Working in close partnership with schools, carers, foster carers and social workers, we will continue to help them thrive and exceed their potential throughout their academic journey through offers and programmes that can help with their independence and future careers.

Find out more about our commitment to children in care and care leavers visit the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2022-2025 webpage.


School hosts Safer & Stronger Communities project launch

Despite a chilly day, the Safer & Stronger Communities launch saw more than 60 people attend St George’s Primary School for the launch of the Safer & Stronger Communities project on 23 November 2022.

The project is working across Telford to develop neighbourhood action plans that, with help from residents to identify key concerns and provide measures to help resolve them with support from a neighbourhood co-ordinator.

Councillor Paul Watling, Cabinet Member for Safer & Stronger Communities said: “Having the event within the school was another great way to get different members of the community together. Thanks to everyone who came and contributed to the plans, their feedback is vital for ensuring the right solutions. We have talked about everything from parking to dog fouling to a library and even a large scale event for the community so we will see what we can achieve. The school wanted to host this event to show its commitment to the community and find ways to extend its facilities for wider use.”

Residents of all ages met with a host of community groups and teams from around the council including the Wildlife Trust, Dr Bike, the Marches Energy Group, representatives from the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), various other council services including representation from Family Connect, the fostering team and job box who were offering support with training and job opportunities.  

Sally Sixsmith, headmistress at St George’s Primary School, said: “It was great to have so many organisations in school for our families and the community to speak to. “By holding it in the school, it meant parents and carers were easily able to attend in a convenient and safe place. The event was a fantastic way to show how we can come together as a community to try to improve services for all our residents."  

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “Hearing the voice of communities is vitally important in shaping action moving forward. As PCC I am proud to invest in events like this one in St George’s where the public can have their say in building safer and stronger communities.” 

Residents can meet directly with different teams to get plans in place quickly and funding to the value of £2.5m has been made available with Telford & Wrekin Council contributing £2 million to with an additional £500,000 invested from the Police and Crime Commissioner, spread across the two year length of the project.  


Wombridge pupils gain insight into employment at ‘Guess my job’ event

Wombridge Primary School pupils are full of praise for Telford & Wrekin Council’s Life Ready Work Ready team after attending the latest ‘guess my job’ session.

Youngsters at the Telford school benefited enormously from the session which was supported by employee volunteers from businesses across the borough. The event gave children the opportunity to ask employees about their job (yes or no answers only) before they were given five minutes to guess their correct profession. Employees then described their career journey route into their current role and their training and qualifications before answering further questions from pupils.

The Life Ready Work Ready programme, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), is part of the council’s Education & Skills service and the team deliver events at primary and high schools across the borough to help young people gear up for the workplace. In addition, the Life Ready Work Ready team organises other ‘World of Work’ and speed networking events which give youngsters a better insight into employment and the different career pathways they can explore.

Pupils praised the sessions saying they really liked how employees spoke passionately about their jobs and how they gained some really interesting facts about the job they are hoping to do.

Liz Cooper, from the Year 6 team at Wombridge Primary School, said: “We are really grateful for the fantastic workshop organised by the Life Ready Work Ready team. Our pupils all had a fantastic time and found it really beneficial to speak to the volunteers and hear their stories as they consider what to focus on for a future career.”

Life Ready Work Ready already has a team of business volunteers from different local business sectors which support events and help young people to become work ready but is on the lookout for more.

Sam Harvey, Life Ready Work Ready Co-ordinator at Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “We really enjoyed delivering the session at Wombridge Primary School as we do all the activities at schools across the borough. All the students were really engaged and asked a variety of questions which made the session such a pleasure. Hopefully, it has given them food for thought about different career pathways. Employers are really supportive of these activities and we are very grateful to those who are committing their time to these activities to help young people on their career and employment journey.

Councillor Eileen Callear (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Visitor Economy, Employment and Skills said: “Preparing young people for the workplace at an early age is really important – making sure they are aware of different career pathways and the skills and qualifications they need to progress. These events ensure that students in schools across the borough are starting to think about their next steps in both the later stages of primary school and as they start their high school years. It’s fantastic to hear how much the pupils at Wombridge benefited from this latest session. These activities all aim to bridge the gap between education and the workplace and provide positive activities and experiences for young people which will stand them in good stead for employment.”

If you are an employer/employee interesting in supporting these school events or becoming a Life Ready Work Ready business volunteer, please send an email to lifereadyworkready@telford.gov.uk.


Leader and Cabinet Members Young Person Grant Scheme 2023 launches today

The Leader and Cabinet Members’ Young Person Grant Scheme will be opening today, 8 December 2022 and is open to young people aged 15 (current Year 11s) to 25 who are resident in Telford & Wrekin, or are a Telford and Wrekin Child in Care or Care Leaver who is currently not a resident in the area.   

The grant is a monetary award of up to £500 to support young people in their education, employment or training, to support starting up a new business, and to support those who are overcoming adversities particularly over the last two years.   

Previous awardees of the grant have achieved the following:  

  • Gained places on training courses. 
  • Attended university with extra funding.  
  • Bought a new laptop for studies. 
  • Invested in specialist equipment for their job.  
  • Started a business.  
  • Applied for travel funding. 

Applications will be open until the 5 January 2023 and all applicants will be contacted by the 9 February 2023 informing them whether they have been successful or not.  

Successful applicants for the grant will be invited to a celebration event in mid-March where they will receive their award.


What will you be doing to celebrate Christmas in your school or setting this year?

What will your school or setting be doing to celebrate Christmas this year?

We would love to share in the Education Noticeboard your pictures and stories about what your school or setting are doing to celebrate Christmas this year, whether it’s a school disco, a visit to the pantomime, a visit from Santa, nativity play or anything that is festive.

Please send details and photos via email to  Education.noticeboard@telford.gov.uk or tag us in your social media posts @TelfordWrekin


Reminder to use the school and settings closures line

As we move into the colder weather, just a gentle reminder to use the School Closure Line to report that your school or setting is closed for any reason (e.g. adverse weather conditions, maintenance issues etc.).

The school/settings closure line has been in operation for 12 months now. This system is user friendly and easier to use.

Each school/setting will be responsible for keeping the information up to date about their respective school/setting. 

Please note that your school or setting will need to be registered to be able to access and use the system. You will need to ensure that you have nominated /designated persons who will be given administration rights and be responsible for keeping the closure line up to date (this can be either a general admin person/email address,  head teachers, PA’s or a mix of).

We need to ensure the system remains effective, and therefore it is important that the system is kept up to date. The information displayed on closure line automatically updates the Telford & Wrekin website, this is used to keep staff, pupils, parents and the residents in Telford & Wrekin aware of the latest school /settings closures

If you have any issues with accessing the closure line or require any further information please email schoolclosures@telford.gov.uk.


Scarlet Fever: Guidance and information

You may have heard the sobering news of a six-year old child dying after contracting a Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection in an outbreak in a school in Surrey.  The common childhood illness scarlet fever is caused by this bacteria and in the vast majority of cases is a mild illness, but can sometimes be more severe.

The risk of it becoming more severe is increased if the child is at a setting where either chickenpox or influenza is co-circulating.

The Health Protection Hub have provided some key information (shared below), which we encourage you all to read.

Signs and symptoms of scarlet fever:
The early symptoms of scarlet fever include sore throat, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. After 12 to 48 hours the characteristic red, pinhead rash develops, typically first appearing on the chest and stomach, then rapidly spreading to other parts of the body, and giving the skin a sandpaper-like texture. The scarlet rash may be harder to spot on darker skin, although the 'sandpaper' feel should be present. Patients typically have flushed cheeks and pallor around the mouth. This may be accompanied by a ‘strawberry tongue’. As the child improves peeling of the skin can occur.

Single cases should be advised to seek advice from their GP. If you have an outbreak, please follow the advice below.

Recommended actions if you suspect an outbreak in your setting:
Please let the Health Protection Hub know at HealthProtectionHub@telford.gov.uk or 01952 381800 if you suspect you have an outbreak – this is defined as a credible report of 2 or more probable or confirmed scarlet fever cases attending the same setting, notified within 10 days of each other, with a link between the cases - for example they are in the same class or year.

  • Advise parent or carer to seek advice from their general practitioner.
  • Exclude the affected individual until 24 hours after commencing appropriate antibiotic treatment. If no antibiotics have been administered, the individual will be infectious for 2 to 3 weeks and should be excluded for this period.
  • Send out communications to parents (HPH will provide templates).
  • Encourage children, young people and staff to implement good hand hygiene.
  • Encourage staff, children and young people to implement good respiratory hygiene.
  • Children and staff should be reminded that all scrapes or wounds, especially bites, should be thoroughly cleaned and covered.
  • Maintain good ventilation in the setting.
  • Carry-out enhanced and more frequent cleaning, to help reduce transmission - for example twice daily cleaning of areas (with particular attention to touch points such door handles, toilet flushes and taps) and communal areas where surfaces can easily become contaminated such as handrails, with hot, soapy water and an appropriate disinfectant. Milton is recommended, used in accordance with the instructions.
  • Ensure eating utensils/plates/cups/glasses etc. are not shared and that they are washed and disinfected after use e.g. with Milton or put through a hot dishwasher cycle.
  • Wash any laundry on a hot wash.
  • Keep HPH updated, especially if/when you become aware of co-circulating chickenpox or influenza, if there is serious illness or other classes/year groups become affected.
  • Carry-out a deep clean when the outbreak is over.

A copy of this guidance is available to download, as well as a factsheet and a letter which can be used to communicate with parents and carers:

Scarlet Fever Guidance

Scarlet Fever Factsheet

Scarlet Fever letter


An exciting permanent job opportunity in Education & Skills

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the team of Business Support Officers in Education and Skills.  The post is permanent, with flexible terms and conditions, and would ideally suit colleagues with children of school age, or anyone who would prefer to work either term time only or part time across a full year.  Currently the role involves hybrid working, with some days spent working from home and some days in the office, as required.

The successful candidate will be joining a friendly, professional and supportive team, carrying out a wide range of administrative duties to meet the needs of the service area - working closely with Service Delivery Managers, Team Managers, and supporting Early Years, schools and academies. An important part of the role will be minute taking and experience in this aspect would definitely be preferred. The role involves liaising with members of the public, schools and academies, using IT systems for recording information, arranging and minuting complex meetings, supporting operational team members, as well as recommending and contributing to the development of systems and processes.

The closing date for applications is Friday 8 January 2023.  If you would like to discuss the role further in the meantime, please contact Beth Seymour on Bethany.Seymour@telford.gov.uk  Alternatively, please read the details of the job description and the terms and conditions and submit your application online.


Room hire policy for all public sector buildings

In line with our Prevent duties Telford & Wrekin Council had developed venue hire policy, with the intention that all public sector organisations will use it to support them when hiring out rooms:

Good practice for public sector organisations

This should be read alongside the expectations in KCSIE.  Para 166 and 167 for the use of school or college premises for non-school activities:

“Use of school or college premises for non-school/college activities

166. Where governing bodies or proprietors hire or rent out school or college facilities/premises to organisations or individuals (for example to community groups, sports associations, and service providers to run community or extra-curricular activities) they should ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to keep children safe.

167. When services or activities are provided by the governing body or proprietor, under the direct supervision or management of their school or college staff, their arrangements for child protection will apply. However, where services or activities are provided separately by another body this is not necessarily the case. The governing body or proprietor should therefore seek assurance that the body concerned has appropriate safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures in place (including inspecting these as needed); and ensure that there are arrangements in place to liaise with the school or college on these matters where appropriate. This applies regardless of whether or not the children who attend any of these services or activities are children on the school roll or attend the college. The governing body or proprietor should also ensure safeguarding requirements are included in any transfer of control agreement (i.e. lease or hire agreement), as a condition of use and occupation of the premises; and that failure to comply with this would lead to termination of the agreement.”


National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership – Animation Communications Toolkit

The National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) launched in October and is now available to current and aspiring nursery leaders, childminders, leaders and head teachers of school-based nurseries. 

To promote the course, an animation has been created for early years practitioners which covers key information about the course and its benefits. This is available to download.

Participants will gain skills and confidence so they can deliver high-quality education and care to support children’s development, become a better organisational leader and develop staff so they can reach their full potential.

The course is free, flexible and designed by sector experts to help professionals across the sector to develop their career.

More information about the NPQEYL and eligibility criteria can be found on the GOV.UK website.


Primary music songbook

The Music Partnership passionately believes that all children should have access to a quality music education, and, in many cases, this starts with developing a love of Singing from an early age.

‘MusicShare’ have kindly and expertly created the fantastic Primary Music Songbook, which is being distributed out to Infant and Primary schools this week.  It is available completely free of charge to all teachers, parents, and pupils for use across our region. 

In addition to this hard copy, a digital version can be downloaded from The Music Partnership’s website or the Lichfield Music Share website.

The Songbook has suggestions and approaches for vocal work at EYFS, with Key Stage 1 and for Key Stage 2.  Further training videos are available from the Music Share website to assist with developing excellent vocal practice with your pupils.

We hope you find this resource useful and enjoy these songs that can’t be found anywhere else! For more information and further support with music provision in school, please contact Telford & Wrekin Music Service.


An opportunity to place your CPD course bookings

The 2022-23 CPD Booklet is available on the Telford Education Services site.

Course bookings with a course code are made by sending a completed CPD booking form via email to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk

Other courses and briefings without a course code are usually booked by sending your email address name and school name to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk (unless stated otherwise).

 

AET Good Autism Practice (bespoke whole school session)
(EPS 107)

Tuesday 3 January
2023

9am to 12pm

Managing Employee Performance (Performance Management) 
To book, please send an email to: co-operative.admin@telford.gov.uk

Monday 9January
2023

2.30pm to 5pm

Designated Safeguarding Leads Refresher
(SG 107)

Wednesday 11 January 
2023

9.15am to 4pm

Raising Awareness of Child Protection
(SG 108)

Thursday 12January
2023

3.30pm to 5pm

Teaching and Delivering Outstanding EAL Provision for New to English Pupils and Advanced Bilingual Learners in Primary Schools
(CPD 712)

Tuesday 17January
2023

3.45pm to 6pm

ECT Induction Tutor - initial training
(CPD 520)

Tuesday 17January
2023

4pm to 5.30pm

Absence Management of Employees
To book, please send an email to: co-operative.admin@telford.gov.uk

 

Wednesday 18 January
2023

2.30pm to 5pm

An Introduction to the Early Years Foundation Stage
(EY 001)

Wednesday 18 January
2023

4pm to 5.30pm

Developing a Communication Friendly Environment in the EYFS
(EY 307)

Thursday 19 January
2023

9.15am to 12noon

Safety Intervention Refresher Training (formerly MAPA Refresher Training) - CPI accredited
(BSA 212)

Thursday 19 January
2023

8.45am to 12.30pm

Newly Appointed Safeguarding Governor Induction Training - part 1
(SG 103)

Monday 23 January
2023

5.30pm to 7.30pm

Developing the Behaviour Policy
(PSS 103)

Tuesday 24 January
2023

4pm to 5.30pm

Online Safety – a Safeguarding Responsibility
(CPD 609)

Tuesday 24 January
2023

4pm to 5.30pm

Designated Teacher for Children in Care Network Meeting (Post 16 )
To book please contact virtualschool@telford.gov.uk

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

4pm to 5.30pm

Establishing Yourself as a SEND leader, for new and returning SENCOs
(LSAT 302)

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

4pm to 5pm

Child Development: Supporting self-regulation development and positive behaviour outcomes with children in the EYFS
(EY 313)

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

9.15am to 12noon

Newly Appointed Designated Safeguarding Leads' Training (2 days) - part 1
(SG 102)

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

9.15am to 4pm

The Strategic Role of Governors
(GO 601)

Thursday, January 26, 2023

4pm to 6pm

EAL and SEND?
(CPD 601)

Thursday, January 26, 2023

1.15pm to 4pm

Safety Intervention Training (formerly MAPA training) - Part 1 - CPI accredited
(BSAT 201)

Thursday, January 26, 2023

8.30am to 4pm

Newly Appointed Designated Safeguarding Leads' Training (2 days) - part 2
(SG 102)

Thursday, January 26, 2023

9.15am to 4pm

Awareness Raising of Emotion Coaching – level 1
(PSS 0041)

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

4pm to 5.30pm


New course – motivational interviewing for education settings

Motivational Interviewing Training will be delivered by the Education Safeguarding Team and is aimed at school staff who work directly with families open to the family safeguarding model.

Wednesday 1 March 2023 - 9.30am to 12.30pm
Wednesday 22 March 2023 - 9.30am to 12.30pm

Wednesday 3 May 2023 - from 1pm to 4pm

This training will provide an overview of Motivational Interviewing, including how, as partners, we can model this strengths-based approach within the Family Safeguarding Model.

The key principles are as follows:

  • Engagement with the client, rather than doing something to them – i.e. change cannot be forced or pushed on to someone.  It has to be internal for the client in order to be meaningful and long term.
  • Rolling with resistance (NB this is not rolling over or being passive).
  • Expressing empathy.
  • Avoiding Conflict.
  • Developing discrepancy in the client’s thinking.
  • Supporting self-responsibility.

Please note that this training is limited to one free place per school, school nursery, academy and independent school.

Key Outcomes
Delegates will:

  • gain an understanding of the spirit and principles of motivational interviewing
  • gain a practical understanding of the cycle of behaviour change, and how it can encourage positive thinking about change
  • be able to use key motivational interviewing techniques in the context of conversations, both formal and informal.

To book your school’s free place, please send a completed CPD Booking Form to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk.


Investment to shield schools from high energy bills and boost to budgets

This is an update from the Department for Education

Schools and colleges in England will be allocated a share of £500 million to spend on energy efficiency upgrades, helping to save on bills during the winter months and manage energy consumption. This will not only help them save money, but it will make them more energy efficient during the cold period and increase winter resilience for future years.

Estimations show that on average, a primary school will receive approximately £16,000, a secondary school will get £42,000 and a further education college group will benefit from £290,000.  Improvements could include installing better heating controls, insulation to reduce heat loss from pipes or switching to energy efficient lighting. This builds on the Government’s Energy Relief Scheme which is supporting schools and colleges this winter, and will run until the spring.

On top of this, as announced in the Autumn Statement, the Government is investing an extra £2 billion funding for schools next year and the year after. This is the highest real terms investment in our schools in history. This £2 billion of new money will be allocated between mainstream schools and high needs funding. Local councils will get an extra £400 million for high needs budgets, to help support children with special educational needs or disabilities. Academies, maintained mainstream schools and special schools will all be guaranteed a funding boost, which will arrive from April next year.

This means average funding per pupil for mainstream schools will increase by approximately five percent overall, in the next financial year compared to 2022-23.

A typical primary school with 200 pupils will get approximately £28,000, and secondary schools with around 900 pupils will receive approximately £170,000. In total schools will be receiving £58.8 billion in 2024-25 – meaning in real terms we are putting more into schools than ever before.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: "Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine is driving up energy prices worldwide, so it is important to look at the things we can do to make classrooms more energy efficient and resilient to price fluctuations. We’re putting this cash in the hands of school and college leaders quickly, so they can decide what work is needed and so that our brilliant teachers can focus on teaching in a warm and safe environment. Education is rightly a top priority for this Government and we will continue to strive to provide every child with a world-class education. New guidance has also been published today (Tuesday 6 December 2022) to support schools to maximise energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and improve sustainability and resilience this winter and beyond."

This funding comes on top of £1.8 billion of capital funding already committed this year for improving the condition of school buildings. The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is also investing over £1.4 billion in public sector buildings, including schools over the next three financial years.


Energy efficiency: guidance for the school and FE college estate

This is an update from the Department for Education

The Department for Education (DfE) has provided guidance (which can be downloaded on the GOV.UK website) to support building users, premises managers and senior leadership teams to reduce energy, costs and carbon use.

This guidance is for:

  • building users
  • premises managers
  • senior leadership teams.

The guidance shows how schools and colleges can reduce their energy, costs and carbon use by:

  • understanding energy usage and conducting an audit to target where they can save energy
  • developing a plan using information from their energy audit to encourage good practices, behaviours and further interventions
  • implementing and managing the proposed interventions to reduce energy consumption.

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