Leadership Equality & Diversity Fund
Applications have opened for schools to bid for a share of the next round of the Leadership Equality and Diversity Fund, worth £1.8 million over the next two years. This fund supports teachers from under-represented backgrounds – including women and people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds – to progress into leadership roles. It can be used to help teachers progress into leadership who are covered by at least one of the protected characteristics as defined in the Equality Act 2010.
The Department for Education is inviting lead schools to apply for grant funding in 2018/19 and 2019/20. Funding will be awarded to one lead school in each of the regional school commissioner areas. Lead schools will be responsible for allocating funding to individual school-led projects. All projects must be designed and delivered by schools and based on an audit of local needs.
For more information and to apply, visit http://bit.ly/2CCldw0
RSE: Evidence call
The Department for Education has issued a call for evidence as it prepares to update guidance relating to the teaching of statutory relationships and sex education (RSE). RSE (relationships education in primary schools) is to become compulsory in all schools from September 2019.
A government policy statement last year said that RSE will likely focus on topics including how to recognise healthy and unhealthy relationships, how to build healthy relationships, how relationships may affect health and wellbeing, and safety online.
The call for evidence wants views about what age-appropriate content the curriculum at both primary and secondary level should include.
Digital and online safety is a key theme within the consultation as well as how schools should engage with parents and carers, especially over the right to withdraw, which is to be maintained.
The call for evidence also includes questions about PSHE. The government has suggested that it could make PSHE a statutory requirement once the RSE curriculum has been agreed.
The consultation closes on February 12. Visit: http://bit.ly/2CsixAi
Read for 100 million minutes
Following the success of Achievement for All’s Ten Million Minutes Reading Challenge in March 2017, the initiative is returning from March 1 to 9 with an increased target of 100 million minutes. The charity is hoping that between them participants can clock up 100 million minutes of reading in one week. Young people across England and Wales can log their reading minutes in class and at home. Prizes will be awarded to those schools or settings that achieve the highest reading rates per student and certificates will be available for children who hit key reading targets. Visit: www.100millionminutes.org
Own It
The BBC has launched a new internet safety website aimed at nine to 12-year-olds. Its aim is to help children develop confidence and resilience in the digital space and to become “happy, healthy and creative digital citizens”. It offers a range of empowering tips, insight, stories and advice. The BBC will be using the site to showcase the work of other trusted organisations with similar aims. Visit: www.bbc.co.uk/ownit
Voices for those in care
A national writing competition for children in care and those leaving care is being run by Coram Voice, a charity that offers a range of services for young people in and around the care system. Entitled Voices, the theme of this year’s competition is “Who or What Makes You Proud” and entries can be submitted online in any written form including poems, short stories, raps and newspaper articles. There is a 500-word limit. The deadline for entries is February 8. Visit: www.coramvoice.org.uk/voices-2018