SecretTrustChair

A Chair, doing the best I can . Not a Chair of one of ‘those’ MATs. Don’t come after me, we’re a nice one. Oh and 22 years teaching in the trenches 😂

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@Headteacherchat Still have nightmares about these things

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@branwenjeffreys This is happening where I am too. Initially admitted it was to fill their HN deficit and then magically created a programme within a couple of months to justify approaching SoS to top slice 1% of all GAG.We’re appalled and have pushed back but they’ve told us they can override

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@tes Workload, unrealistic expectations, chronic underfunding and a punitive OFSTED regime come before the lack of respect. That’s unfortunately nothing new, we’ve faced it for years.

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@JohndickensSW They’re also doing it from academies - ironically wiping out what’s left of meagre reserves, meaning that those academies in deficit are now breaking their DfE funding agreements through no fault of their own.

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@JohndickensSW This has been our experience. In fact, I have attended meetings where council staff have cited lower numbers of EHCP’s granted like a badge of honour. They are completely tone deaf to the need.

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@SchoolsWeek It is astonishing to me that the called “600 million headroom” in school budgets is being quoted like it’s a reality. When the reality in fact is that the councils are top slicing all those budgets by 1% to fill their deficits, leaving schools stripped bare.

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@SchoolsWeek @bphillipsonMP Any funding for this cannot come from more councils top slicing schools battered budgets to fill their deficits. The SEND system is broken and LEAs are adding to the issue, not helping to resolve it in the best interests of the children.

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@Edmund_B_W Sadly this is exactly how it feels, and OfSTED know it but have never acknowledged it properly before.I welcome the changes as I have enjoyed not worrying on Tues/Wed about the call for the past two weeks.The sense of relief is immense, which is also ridiculous.

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@teachwellall I’ve also seen actual OFSTED reports where it states in the first paragraph that if it had been a graded inspection, the school would have been graded lower than Good i.e RI

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@Edmund_B_W Yes, I am also still hearing examples of sniggering, tutting and eye rolling during inspections. Those people who behave in such a way are unlikely to change their spots any time soon…

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@Edmund_B_W That is particularly worrisome given the comments in the review about performance management of inspectors.

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@jon_severs @tes “Had worrying weakness in governance”. This line makes me so frustrated as a Chair whose board has worked tirelessly to jump through OfSTEDs governance hoops for fear of letting down the schools. We have lost so many great governors and trustees due to Spielman’s OfSTED.

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@branwenjeffreys @IonMike3 @WeAreNewBritain My wife didn’t go back to primary teaching after the birth of our second child. She was 36 and a brilliant teacher. The finances/childcare costs and lack of work life balance combination made it an easy decision. She misses it, but not enough to go back.

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@hezsmi @rob_kelsall With a twist of irony, OfSTED inspectors frequently challenge governors and trustees over their knowledge of the equality act and their equality and diversity training knowledge. Couldn’t make it up.

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@HarryRActon @Protect_ServeUK @WestBerkshire Other councils are trying to do this as well. It’s a widespread issue where councils in deficit are attempting to take any surplus to plug their funding holes. We are having similar issues…

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@SchoolsWeek While this is welcome, it’s also an issue at MFL A Level, the huge step up for higher German particularly (especially given specialist teacher shortages) have resulted in a drop in take up and schools replacing German for other MFL options. Counterproductive really.

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@SchoolsWeek @AspieDeLaZouch 2/2 Common sense approach is lacking, trustees are dedicated volunteers without the time to be constantly jumping through various DfE hoops under threat of funding agreement breaches. Ironically, in last round of policy changes the DfE’s own website links didn’t work

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@SchoolsWeek @AspieDeLaZouch A disproportionate amount of time is spent reviewing policies. Rules about compliance - what should/should not be published constantly changing with poor DfE comms when this happens. No allowance for even a few days even when meetings don’t align with DfE deadlines 1/2

[SecretTrustChair @ChairTrust]

@docdave60 @bphillipsonMP @educationgovuk @edvainker Yes we were…