Noticeboard

Noticeboard - 18 September 2025

This week’s noticeboard includes a message from Dr Sue Harrison, key updates on the Oracle for Schools Transition, Schools Finance and the Equal Pay Programme; upcoming training opportunities, webinars and more.

This week's noticeboard includes: 

 

A Message from Dr Sue Harrison, Executive Director of Children and Families

Dear Colleagues

It was a pleasure to see so many of you at this morning’s webinar, thank you so much for attending. I know how busy you are so it’s hugely appreciated. For those of you who were unable to attend or to act as a refresher, a recording of the session will be made available shortly. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to education@birmingham.gov.uk and we’ll be pleased to respond.

The Oracle Transition Project will conclude at the end of this month, with a final drop-in session scheduled for Tuesday, 23 September at 10:00am. This will be your last opportunity to ask questions and share feedback as we wrap up the project. Final updates will be published on the School Noticeboard on Thursday, 25 September, and will remain accessible via the links for a short time afterwards, should schools need to refer back to them. Our Post-Transition Survey will remain open until close of play on Monday, 29 September. We’d really appreciate it if you could take a few moments to complete it and share your honest, open feedback – it’s invaluable as we reflect on the project and plan for future improvements.

We’re incredibly grateful to schools for your resilience, support, and ongoing engagement throughout this journey. We know it’s been a particularly demanding time, and we truly appreciate the way you’ve managed this alongside the pressures of daily school life. Thank you all, sincerely.

I was absolutely overjoyed to receive notification from UNICEF recognising the incredible progress Birmingham schools have made over the past year towards becoming Rights Respecting. Since September 2024:

  • 6 schools have registered for the award
  • 4 schools have achieved Bronze: Rights Committed
  • 13 schools have achieved Silver: Rights Aware
  • 11 schools have achieved Gold: Rights Respecting, or have been reaccredited at Gold

This is a truly outstanding achievement and a testament to your commitment to embedding children’s rights at the heart of school life. The Rights Respecting Schools Award is not just a badge of honour, it reflects a whole-school approach to creating safe, inclusive, and empowering environments where every child feels valued and heard. I'm so proud of the fact that we have 255 Birmingham schools engaged in the Rights Respecting Schools award programme. Huge congratulations to you all!

Thank you as always for everything you do and my very best wishes for a wonderful weekend ahead.

Sue 

Oracle Transition for Schools Update

Updated documents can be found at the following links: 

For any queries or further information please contact the team at oracleschoolsrelationship@birmingham.gov.uk and they will be pleased to assist.

Thank you as always for your continued engagement and support. 

Schools Finance Updates

Cheque Book Transition

Schools Finance has worked extensively with schools over the past year to transition all schools to cheque book status. As of 1 September, all schools have now completed their transition.

As schools are aware, Schools Finance have been undertaking monthly sweeps of the ledger and invoicing or making payments to schools for income and expenditure still posted on the school’s Oracle cost centres. From 1 September, as all schools have now transitioned, this practice has now ceased. The final invoice/payment schools will receive relates to income and expenditure posted on the schools cost centre between June 2025 to August 2025. To request this backup, please email SchoolsFinance@Birmingham.gov.uk.

Going forward, schools must ensure that they have notified all suppliers (including other schools they may receive income from) of their new bank details, and all payments/charges should be made directly to/from the school’s bank account.

However, if a school becomes aware that income after 1 September has been paid to BCC instead of the schools account, schools should swiftly inform SchoolsFinance@Birmingham.gov.uk. Schools Finance will then work to identify the income in the BCC ledger and make payment to the school’s own bank account. 

Year End Working Group

Schools Finance are inviting School Business Managers/Finance Officers to join a working group focused on the year-end 2025/26 finance closedown process.  

Your input will be valuable in identifying challenges, refining processes and guidelines and ensuring accuracy in the reporting of school’s financial accounts. The team want to work closely with schools to develop the process, in a way that is mindful of statutory and corporate deadlines. 

We are looking for members from across the school phases (nursery, primary, secondary, and special) as well as representatives from external financial support services, participants must be able to communicate to their respective forums.  

The group will be led by members of the Schools Finance team and will meet monthly from September until year-end.   

If you would like to express interest in being part of the working group, please complete the form via the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/Q3r2HSV2Pv

Deadline for responses is 25 September 2025

Note: the working group is limited to 2 members per phase. Individuals who are selected to join the group will be contacted on 30 September 2025.  The introductory meeting is scheduled for 8th October and subsequent meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of each month,  (Links to calls will be provided).  Meetings will last for an estimated 90 Minutes. 

Mandatory Bank Reconciliation Training 

Bank reconciliation is a requirement set by the LA for VAT, Termly, and Year End submissions. and as such the Schools Finance Team are inviting Schools Staff to attend training calls for Bank Recs. 

The calls will run through how to complete a Bank Rec in the format the LA require. Schools are required to attend at least one of the meetings. 

Links to join the calls are below, please use them to add the call times to your calendar, the Schools Finance Team look forward to seeing you there:

25th September 2025 10:30-12:00
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 385 403 213 273 0
Passcode: 5Fe6Ay7j

30th September 2025 10:30-12:00 
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 367 032 438 424 6
Passcode: s4EA3y62

Q2 Mandatory Termly Monitoring and Training 

Schools Finance invites all maintained schools to attend drop-In sessions for mandatory quarterly financial monitoring process.

  • The Q2 document will be available via noticeboard on 2 October.
  • The Deadline for the Q2 submission is 15 October. 

Two identical online sessions are available – schools only need to attend one, but are welcome to join both if they wish

The Q2 document replaces the termly compliance.

We are also offering 1-2-1 meetings for 30mins if required.  Please email the schools finance time for a slot.
We look forward to your participation. 

Links to join the calls are below, please use them to add the call times to your calendar, the Schools Finance Team look forward to seeing you there:

7 October 2025 - 9 October 2025 (inclusive) 09:30-12:30 
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 397 372 633 951 0
Passcode: Hv6NB62y

For any queries associated with the training and/or document please contact to the team at schoolsfinance@birmingham.gov.uk 

Exclusion: The Money Following Excluded Pupils

The Money Following Excluded Pupils (MFEP) Protocol applies to all maintained and academy schools in Birmingham. It is based on the School and Early Years Finance (England) Regulations 2015, which require adjustments to the budget shares of schools when a pupil is permanently excluded. The purpose of these funding adjustments is to ensure that there is funding available to support the ongoing education of the excluded pupil. Birmingham City Council's legal duties to children of compulsory school age who may not receive suitable education due to illness, exclusion, or other reasons. It is based on several pieces of legislation and statutory guidance, including the Education Act 1996, the Equality Act 2010, and the Children and Families Act 2014.

This was taken to Schools Forum in December 2024. Where it was proposed and agreed that the exclusion from 1 January 2025 will be recouped and passed on to the relevant body.   Schools Forum Report

Schools finance have now prepared the data for Spring term and will be making deductions via the October cash sheet for maintained schools. The team will also be raising invoices for the academies in due course.  Please note there might also be recoupment of next financial year’s funding as the child would have been the at setting on the census day and would have attracted funding. Basic funding as well as Pupil Premium (Free School Meal, Post LAC and Service Child element only) will be recouped. 

For any queries please e-mail the team at schoolsfinance@birmingham.gov.uk 

Consultation 2025/26: Scheme for Financing Maintained Schools

Consultation Dates: 18th September to 10th October 2025

Local authorities are required to publish their scheme for financing maintained schools which sets out the financial relationship between the local authority and the schools they maintain.

The Department for Education (DfE) issues statutory guidance for local authorities on schemes for financing schools. The DfE guidance lists the provisions which a local authority must, should or may include. Local schemes need not follow the exact format used in the DfE guidance, except for the text of directed revisions. The DfE guidance is updated annually.

Issue 16 was published on 27 March 2025 and can be found at: Schemes for financing schools - GOV.UK

In making any changes to the scheme, the local authority must consult all maintained schools in their area and receive the approval of the members of their schools forum representing maintained schools.

 The local authority has reviewed the current scheme, which was last updated in 2017/18, to ensure that all sections are still appropriate or amended where necessary. The updated scheme can be found: Scheme for the financing of maintained schools (Draft) | Birmingham City Council

If you have any comment regarding the updated scheme, please email schoolsfinance@birmingham.gov.uk by 10th October 2025

If a response is not received it will be assumed that the school has no comment to make and agrees the updated scheme.

The timetable for this consultation is as follows:

  • 18 September-10 October 2025: Consultation with maintained schools
  • 13 October: Responses reviewed
  • 23 October: Schools Forum approve scheme
  • 24 October: Scheme Published

Equal Pay Programme Update for Schools where BCC is the Employer

Job Evaluation Update

You will receive an email on Thursday September 18th containing the following:

  1. A briefing for Heads and Business Managers sharing next steps on Job Evaluation
  2. A short briefing for you to share with your non-teaching staff giving them an introduction to the Job Evaluation Process
  3. An update for Grade 6 & 7 staff in schools regarding the equal pay programme and job evaluation for those colleagues

There is no further information to share on Pay & Grading at this time.

Dates for your diary:

  • Headteacher and Business Manager / Job Evaluation Leads Webinar: Introduction to Job Evaluation: Tuesday Oct 14th at 08:00-08:30; repeated at 16:00-16:30, pre-recorded version available for those unable to attend.
  • Non-Teaching Staff Webinar: Introduction to Job Evaluation: Tuesday Oct 21st 08:45-09:15  repeated at 15:30-16:00, pre-recorded version available for school leaders to use and/or distribute as appropriate.

School Job Information Gathering Returns: Deadline September 19th

Massive thank you to everyone for who has returned Staffing Spreadsheets, JDPSs and Job Information Questionnaires.

As the September 19th deadline approaches, please do reach out for help if you are having any issues with completing the information. We are happy to make 1:1 meetings to support and some schools have found this enormously helpful – please email eppschools@birmingham.gov.uk and we will arrange a slot.

Thank you for your continued support.

Your Final Opportunity to Gain a Master’s in Educational Leadership

Monday 22 September, 16:00–16:45

Join Professor Colin Diamond CBE, Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Birmingham, for a live webinar exploring the Senior Leader Apprenticeship in Educational Leadership. Learn how this fully funded programme can support your leadership development and lead to a Masters in Educational Leadership:

Click here to join the webinar: Join the meeting now

Background:

The Education Leadership Academy at the University of Birmingham is now recruiting for Cohort 7 of the Senior Leader Apprenticeship in Educational Leadership, starting December 2025.

This is a unique and final opportunity to gain a Masters in Educational Leadership via the apprenticeship route. As you may be aware, government policy changes mean that Level 7 apprenticeship programmes will no longer be funded from January 2026. This final cohort allows us to deliver the full programme as we have successfully done since 2019.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have welcomed school leaders from across Birmingham over the past six cohorts, and hope schools will take full advantage of this last chance to access a fully funded, high-quality leadership development pathway.

Key dates:

  • Application deadline: 10 October 2025
  • Start date: December 2025
  • Duration: 3 years (leading to a Masters in Educational Leadership)

For further information visit  Educational Leadership Level 7 Apprenticeship PGDip - University of Birmingham or contact c.diamond@bham.ac.uk

Pupil Place Planning - Proposal to Reduce PAN for 2026 Entry

The admission authority for St Patrick and St Edmund's Catholic Primary School is currently seeking a proposed PAN reduction as follows:

  • reducing from 60 to 30 for Reception 2026 entry

The business case will be sent to the Schools Adjudicator for consideration. The outcome of the decision will be published on the school’s website.

For further information, please contact Katherine Marston: k.marston@stpatandsted.bham.sch.uk

Notification of Proposed Variation to Admission Arrangements

Colmers School and Sixth Form College

Dear Colleagues,

In line with the requirements of the School Admissions Code, I am writing to notify you that Colmers School and Sixth Form College, as its own admission authority, intends to submit a request to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator to vary our determined admission arrangements.

Specifically, we are seeking to reduce our Published Admission Number (PAN) for Year 7 from 240 to 210, effective from the September 2026 intake.

This proposal will not affect any pupils currently on roll at the school. The school will, of course, continue to meet all statutory requirements, including the admission of Looked After Children, children with Education, Health and Care Plans, and those placed through the Fair Access Protocol, even where this results in admissions above the PAN.

This letter is provided for notification purposes only, as required under paragraph 3.6 of the Code. Supporting data and rationale will be submitted separately to the adjudicator as part of the variation request.

If you have any questions about this notification, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Yours sincerely,

Peter White
Headteacher
Colmers School and Sixth Form College

Sector Consultation: Review of Early Years Special Educational Needs Inclusion Funding (EY SENIF)

Thank you to those who attended one of the first sector consultation sessions to contribute to the review of ISEY ( Inclusion Support in Early Years). We are committed to fully reviewing the ISEY criteria, application and allocation process including the funding rates, ahead of the sector consultation in respect of the Early Years Entitlement rates.

All mainstream providers of  early education entitlement are invited and encouraged to join us for the next session which will be a facilitated discussion. Attendance by childminders, group PVI settings, maintained nursery schools and mainstream schools with a nursery class will ensure genuine cross sector co- production in respect of next steps. There will be an invitation some to join working groups to progress any actions identified.

Session 2: Facilitated discussion: Wednesday 24 September 2025 at 14:00 to 15:30: Join the meeting now

Supporting Inclusive Education Through Dispositions

Hosted by Birmingham SACRE

Birmingham’s Religious Education (RE) continues to champion the development of informed, empathetic citizens who can engage meaningfully with our city’s rich diversity. Central to this vision is character development, shaped by 24 shared dispositions agreed upon by local faith communities. These dispositions help students learn from and about religious traditions and worldviews, fostering personal growth, mutual respect, and inclusive learning.

Birmingham SACRE warmly invites educators and school leaders to join a webinar on Tuesday, 21 October 2025 at 15:00-16:30 to explore how this evolving approach can enrich RE across Birmingham’s schools.

Booking is via BESS: Birmingham RE Webinar – Supporting Inclusive Education Through Dispositions

Webinar highlights include:

  • Revisit the foundations of the disposition-based RE model
  • Clarify statutory RE duties and responsibilities
  • Explore inclusive RE delivery through the lens of dispositions
  • Discover the new “learning to discern” element, vital in today’s digital world
  • See sample lessons and planning strategies for effective classroom practice
  • Engage in a Q&A session on RE and Collective Worship

We’d love your feedback!

Please take a moment to complete a short survey on your experience using the Birmingham Agreed RE Syllabus: https://forms.office.com/e/AhTLXWRpfm

Early Education Entitlement

Terms and Conditions

BCC documents (Terms and Conditions) can now be found: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_lEA9CQS5pWKifz4hICKgM4n2A8zHELb/view?usp=drive_link

Checking codes – 2 year old disadvantaged / 2, 3 & 4 year old working / FSMs / EYPP: https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/oefe/birmingham/provider

Headcount Day – There is one headcount date per term:

  • Autumn – 1st Thursday in October
  • Spring – 3rd Thursday in January
  • Summer – 3rd Thursday in May

Please only add children who attend on headcount day to your census return on COLLECT, you must complete and return your EYSFF, which will be emailed out to your enquiry@ email.

Rates (March– April)

  • 3 & 4 year olds: £5.66 p/h
  • 2 year olds: £8.51 p/h
  • 9 months: £11.92 p/h

EYPP and FSMs need an eligible code.

EYPP is funded £1 per hour up to 15 hours per week.

Free School Meals (FSM) – children must be attending their EEE funded entitlement for a minimum of 5 hours during core hours (9am to 3pm)

DAF is funded at £938 per annum for eligible children.

Every EEE funded child must have a signed parent declaration form (or the equivalent paperwork) in place confirming that the parent has agreed to that funded place and that is signed each term to that effect.  We may request these if there are any duplicate claims, disputes about funding or in the case of auditing providers.

Updated Parental Declaration form 

The Parental Declaration form has been updated (version 18). This is the version all providers should be using for Autumn term. 

A copy can be found on the BCC document website: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NWLjlHCXpwZAB3rd8pHClDkwNrWDTLNU/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=106323569821079049180&rtpof=true&sd=true

All children accessing EEE funding must have a signed parental declaration form which is updated and signed by the parent and provider each term.

Tax-Free Childcare (TFC)

The government expects schools to promote and support childcare subsidies such as Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit Childcare. These help parents with the affordability of childcare, and supports schools, trusts, and PVI providers in maintaining sustainable provision.
 
HMRC has introduced a system change to ensure parents have the opportunity to pay for childcare with their Tax-Free Childcare balance through the childcare provider's payment application, making the scheme more accessible to eligible parents. HMRC are continuing to on board payment providers to the new system.  Parents should check with their childcare provider if and when they able to use TFC when paying for their care. LAs should encourage schools that deliver wraparound to check with their payment provider if/when this will be available for parents.

Schools-Based Nursery Programme – Phase 2

You may have already seen the 5th September 2025 announcement from DfE regards the roll out of Phase 2 of the Schools Based Nursery Capital Programme.

Key headlines are:

  • Up to £150,000 Capital Funding is available to support the expansion or creation of onsite nursery provision.
  • This phase supports projects ready to offer new childcare places in 2026/27.
  • Funding is available to support childcare managed by School governing bodies on primary school sites, Maintained Nursery Schools, PVI providers and Childminders delivering nursery provision on a school site.
  • The online application process opens on the 22nd September 2025 and closes on the 11th December 2025
  • Schools have to apply to DfE direct
  • Local authorities will have a key role to play in assessing the suitability of proposed projects in line with their sufficiency duty
  • Schools will need to submit an LA Approval Form signed by the LA to support their application.

Further information:

If you would like to discuss your proposal, share information and seek LA approval please contact: Kevin Caulfield, Childcare Sufficiency and Early Education Entitlement Strategy Manager at kevin.caulfield@birmingham.gov.uk.

Understanding the New RSHE and KCSIE guidance

A Practical Guide for Schools - Life Lessons Webinar with NSPCC

Join Life Lessons and NSPCC for this practical webinar designed to help schools unpack the newly updated RSHE guidance and understand how it aligns with the latest Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance.

Whether you’re updating your curriculum, reviewing your safeguarding approach, or supporting staff, students and parents through these changes, this session will give you the clarity and tools to move forward with confidence.

Key learning points:

  • Increased confidence in understanding and implementing the new RSHE guidance
  • Clarity on what’s changed and what it means for your school, staff, pupils, and parents
  • A clear understanding of how the RSHE and KCSIE guidance intersect and support each other
  • Insights into common challenges and concerns raised by other schools
  • Dedicated time to explore your own questions or challenges in guided breakout rooms
  • The chance to network and collaborate with colleagues facing similar issues.

This webinar is suitable for both primary and secondary schools.

Educational Visits Co-ordinator (Full & Refresher) Training Courses September 2025

Educational Visits Co-ordinator Revalidation Training OEAP Accredited
Date: 16th September 2025 – Start Time:  12:00 p.m. to 15:30 p.m.
Cost: £131.45 per delegate
Delivered via Microsoft Teams
Schools must book on BESS Website
General Enquiries please Email: schoolsafety@birmingham.gov.uk

Demonstration and introductions to the new eVisits system – Free Session
Date: 18/09/2025 – Start Time:  3:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Delivered via Microsoft Teams
Schools must book on BESS Website
General Enquiries please Email:   schoolsafety@birmingham.gov.uk

Educational Visits Co-ordinator Training OEAP Accredited
Date: 26th September 2025 – Start Time:  9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cost: £197.45 per delegate
Delivered at Washwood Heath Academy Primary School, Burney Lane, Stechford Lane Stetchford, B8 2AS
Schools must book on BESS Website
General Enquiries please Email: schoolsafety@birmingham.gov.uk
Note: Only refreshments are provided  (No Lunch)

Demonstration and Introductions to the new eVisits system – Free Session
Date: 01/10/2025 – Start Time:  3:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Delivered via Microsoft Teams
Schools must book on BESS Website
General Enquiries please Email:   schoolsafety@birmingham.gov.uk

“Shaping Us”: The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood

The Princess of Wales founded The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood (CFEC) after a decade of royal duties during which time she saw, first hand, how some of today’s hardest mental health challenges have their roots in the earliest years of life.

The mission of CFEC is to drive awareness of, and action on, the transformative impact of the early years aiming to change the way people think about early childhood through fresh research to identify opportunities, collaborations and campaigns that bring this issue to life.

The first five years of life lay important foundations for our future selves. This period is when we first learn to manage emotions, to care and empathise and establish healthy relationships with ourselves and others.  It is when our experience of the world around us will mould our development. What shapes our childhood will have a lifelong impact on our future mental well-being and ultimately shapes the adults we become. 

Investing in children’s social and emotional well-being is ultimately an investment in our future societal health and happiness and to achieve this all of society must play its part.

The ‘Shaping Us’ Framework is just one part of the excellent and expansive work being undertaken by The CFEC which can be used to inform your work and your best practice. More information can be found here: https://centreforearlychildhood.org/our-work/research/the-shaping-us-framework/

The West Midlands Lieutenancy is working hard to raise awareness about this important work and would welcome your interest and support. They can be contacted at: office@wmlieutenancy.org.

Shisha Study in Birmingham

Please share the following text via your school networks to encourage participation from anyone aged 12 years and above that has used shisha at least once in Birmingham.

If you have used shisha in Birmingham, we’d love your input!
Please take part in this short survey exploring how and why people use shisha: Shisha Use Survey. It takes less than 5 minutes and will help us understand how to offer relevant support. Your responses are completely private — no names needed!

For queries or further information please contact Professor Atiya Kamal at Atiya.Kamal@bcu.ac.uk

Free School Chef Training – School Chef Educator Programme

Chefs in Schools are offering free training for school kitchen teams in Birmingham from October 2025. The School Chef Educator programme is designed to support chefs in delivering excellent school food and food education, nourishing children’s bodies and minds.

This blended online and in-person training covers School Food Standards, child nutrition, food waste reduction and much more. It includes an in-person Skills Masterclass, eight online sessions (available in multiple languages), and a final Graduation Event to celebrate achievements.

There are only 15 places available and they are filling fast!

To find out more, visit www.chefsinschools.org.uk/support/training or contact Carys at carys@chefsinschools.org.uk to register your school chefs.

Free Climate Action Workshops for Primary Schools

Climate Ed is a charity offering free climate education to primary schools in Birmingham for the upcoming academic year. Climate Ed has worked with a number of Primary schools across the West Midlands in 2024-25 and are expanding their offer to more Birmingham schools this academic year. 

The programme consists of five workshops spread over five weeks and are suitable for Years 4 (in the summer term), 5 and 6, and are completely free.

Workshops can currently be scheduled for delivery in the Autumn and Spring terms.

For further information please contact Elliott McDowell, Regional Programme Coordinator at westmidlands@climateed.net. 

 

This entry was posted by Dawn Evans on 11/09/2025.

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