1. CSC Headteacher Briefing
Debbie Lewis, Senior Lead for Teaching and Learning Experiences
Autumn Term 2018

2. School engagement with curriculum reform
Nearly 90% of schools have completed the Readiness tool
81% of schools in the region attended the launch training on Creating the Climate for Change
79% of schools attended the SIG sessions with pioneer schools.

3. Messages from the Readiness Tool
Schools are more confident with the 4 purposes than they are with the pedagogical principles.
Schools are more confident in securing outcomes than in developing effective teaching and learning.
All schools should aim to be at ‘developing’ level by April 2019 in order that they are ready to trial the curriculum.
Curriculum reform should be an integral part of your current school development plan.
In response to the readiness tool CSC has:
Trained all challenge advisers in the use of the readiness tool for developing schools
Produced a menu of support to show opportunities to develop teaching and learning across the CSWC
Provided three presentations to allow schools to train their staff

4. Menu of Support
For schools to select professional learning activities that supports them in curriculum reform
Bespoke support available for schools in challenging circumstances

5. Curriculum for Wales training materials for schools
Series of 3 presentations to be delivered by leaders to all staff
Essential knowledge that all staff in schools should know and be familiar with
Knowledge about exploiting the links between different aspects of reform
Exploring developing pedagogy in readiness for the curriculum reforms.

6. Curriculum Design Training
All schools ready to trial the curriculum for Wales in April 2019
Released to all schools in the Spring Term
Essential training provided to all curriculum leads in January.

7. Change Management Training
A new curriculum for Wales
A new national approach to Professional Learning
An increase in school to school working
ALN reform and a focus on Equity and Wellbeing
The development of a new Assessment and Evaluation Framework (including reforms to school inspection)
Reform of Initial Teacher Education provision
The establishment of the National Academy of Education Leadership
New Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership
Schools to be re-conceptualised as Learning Organisations
To support schools through a period of significant change CSC will facilitate Headteacher training – November, January, February and March

8. This training is accessed via Cronfa.
The course has received positive feedback for its emphasis on the practical activities that turn behavioural change from a concept into reality.
Our rationale for offering this training reflects the change required in the system at every level in light of curriculum reform.  The Successful Futures document mentions the word change over sixty times. 
Trainer: Melanie Franklin, of Agile Change Management Ltd. is also the Chair of the Change Management Institute in the UK.  She is actively working with regional consortia and leads on change initiatives in several private sector organisations and is currently developing the Change Management capability at the United Nations.

9. Central South Staff and Pupil Survey
2nd year of completion
20% of schools using sample based on KS achievement, FSM, and locality.
12 secondary schools, 51 primary
863 staff (54% return rate) split equally between phases
Senior leaders, middle leaders and class teacher
As a result of the CSC staff and pupil survey CSC will:
Respond to professional learning needs with programmes and training opportunities that meet the needs of the practitioners and leaders
Evaluate the current professional learning offer to ensure it meets the needs of practitioners
Provide training opportunities that develop pedagogy to support themes identified in the pupil survey

10. Curriculum for Wales update
The first draft of the curriculum will be released in April 2019.
Curriculum Pioneer focus is currently on refining the ‘what matters’ statements and the associated progression steps
Professional Learning Pioneers are trialing and testing aspects of this and feeding back to the AOLE groups
Further updates can be found on the blog:

11. Reducing the workload through improving feedback
The guide represents a joint commitment endorsed by Estyn, regional education consortia, local authorities, Education Workforce Council, unions representing the education workforce and the Welsh Government to support teachers and leaders to deliver effective learning and teaching.
Cross-consortia project for all schools in Wales to be able to access same high quality training
‘Good teaching means employing assessment for learning principles’. The development of this key pedagogical principle forms the basis of developing strategies to encourage children to take responsibility for their own learning, developing learner autonomy whilst reducing teacher workload.
Working collaboratively, practitioners will refine strategies for effective and efficient feedback, engaging in an evidence based approach to improving pupil outcomes and maximising impact on pupil progress.
Available via Cronfa
Best attended by leaders who can impact on policy and practice in school

12. ALN Reform All schools are invited to attend an event with a focus on:
ALN and the wider reforms;
the national school ALNET-readiness survey;
E-learning programme for increasing awareness of the Act;
WG implementation guidance;
feedback on the code of practice; and
early information on the national professional learning offer for ALNCos.
Funding will be made available for two members of staff from each school to attend these sessions. As there are significant implications for whole-school workforce development it is recommended that a senior leader attends alongside the ALNCo.

13. Digital Competence
DCF development – is this a priority in your school?
Estyn are now reporting on school progress with planning and implementing the DCF across the curriculum (Sep 18)

14. Cymraeg and the Welsh Dimension at the heart of Curriculum for Wales
Cynllun Sabothol: We are now taking names for
Cymraeg Campus has been launched and many schools are aiming for the ‘Bronze award’. This will support schools in developing a strategic direction for Welsh
Please make your staff aware of Head of Department or Welsh Co-ordinator meetings
Our DCF and Welsh support for English- medium schools is a massive hit on CRONFA – please take a look!
If you wish your school to train TA’s or other staff in Welsh yard games then please contact the Welsh team and training can be arranged.
We need every cluster to nominate a ‘Welsh Champion’. £1050 per cluster to support the role
Welsh-medium schools are aiming for the Welsh language Charter ‘Silver award’
2 Welsh-medium primary hubs, 4 English- medium primary hubs celebrating Welsh
3 Welsh-medium Secondary Hubs supporting schools in GCSE and A-level
The Urdd Eisteddfod is in Cardiff Bay in May. Can your pupil’s dance, draw, code, sing, recite, take pictures or cook? If they can, then please consider competing and contact your local Urdd co-ordinator which you will find on the website

15. Professional Teaching and Leadership Standards in place for everyone from September 2018
WG Road show with Mick Waters in May 2018
Two regional sessions for Headteachers were delivered July covering the basic concepts underpinning the new standards and was based on Mick Water’s work.
Approximately 50% of Headteachers in CSC have attended the training.
CSC will be running two further sessions on the 16th November
Further training to support you in implementing this work in your school is planned for the Spring term

16. A National approach to Professional Learning
Having a national approach will ensure:
consistency;
practitioner entitlement; and
providers will follow a design criteria.
The WG launch event for the National Approach for our region is on the 13th December in the All Nations Centre, Cardiff. Kevin Palmer is leading on this work in WG.
This information has gone out in the school bulletin and leaders were asked to save the date.

18. The School as a Learning Organisation

19. Professional learning
We have training organised for schools and we are mindful of the design criteria in the national approach. The four regions are working closely to develop consistency. CSC are currently reviewing the delivery of the training. All hubs schools were told in the summer term at the Hub networking meetings that the current number of Hubs was not sustainable.

20. Professional learning will:
contribute to the realisation of the four purposes;
advance high quality teaching and classroom practice;
build leadership at all levels and across all roles;
engage and extend relevant knowledge, skills and understanding for career long learning;
be evidence- informed, allowing the profession to use research and inquiry to inform both current and future practice;
enhance opportunities for professional collaboration – within schools, wider partners and learning communities; and
contribute to developing individuals within a supportive learning organisation culture.

21. Moving forward
At Central South Consortium we are committed to supporting our schools through the reform journey by providing a range of professional learning opportunities that address both national and regional needs.