There were many highlights during this busy week, including the Camden Learning AGM with the annual lecture delivered by the wise Profession Qing Gu, a meeting with the DfE on attendance (more on that later) and hosting the Primary Headteachers meeting ‘in person’, for the first time in nearly two years. It was both liberating and joyful seeing heads in a room, providing an opportunity for those important, informal conversations to be unleashed, after such a long time being restricted to online boxes and the good old chat function!

This week also saw the publication of the government’s Levelling Up document, containing a mixture of new and already announced policies, although appearing to come with no funding. This is the first of a series of anticipated government declarations, as we ready ourselves for the Education White Paper and the SEND Review. I guess it was no real surprise to see that the 55 newly identified education investment areas did not include any London Boroughs, but are crudely based on the lowest outcomes at the end of Key Stages 2 and 4, so were never going to include Camden. Interestingly, the government has pledged to level up education with a national mission to ensure 90% of children leave primary school by 2030 with the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Our own Education Strategy for the next period and up to 2030 also advocates best outcomes and opportunities for young people in Camden, but without the centralised top-down imposition, but instead a place where Camden Council and Camden Learning have jointly committed to funding an investment in education and growing teachers and leaders in Camden.

Furthermore last week, the DfE published a consultation on Revised behaviour in schools guidance and suspension and permanent exclusions guidance; a topic we discussed with the Camden Learning Board just last week and with Scrutiny members last month. The consultation recognises the challenges and anticipated ‘triggers’ for SEND misbehaviour, limits for student isolation and, the new guidance also states that schools and local authorities should not adopt a ‘no exclusion’ policy as an end in itself. Our ongoing discussions with the DfE on pupil attendance is integral to our local recovery plan, where corporately there needs to be a community campaign to encourage good school attendance, in conjunction with a clear Camden Learning strategic plan and a renewed school by school approach to improving attendance. Much to consider and respond to locally.

Jon Abbey

Managing Director of Camden Learning