Thank you to all those that have taken part in the workload parties over the past six months.
Below is a summary of what we’ve achieved, upcoming changes and details of longer-term projects.
Our next Workload network will be online and is open to all staff – please try and find time to join us between 1.30-2.30pm on Tuesday 8 July 2025. Please sign-up here for an invitation.
| You said | We did |
| Safeguarding training is too demanding and there’s not enough time to finish it | Introduced an extra Inset Day and a 3-year plan with shorter safeguarding training in years two and three to reduce compliance training |
| Performance Management process needed improving | We launched a new online programme in 2024, Employee Growth & Development, to replace Performance Management |
| Parent school reports are time consuming | Primary schools now have a one-page report template and we are working towards a shortened report for secondary schools in 2025 |
| Communication between parents and school can be overwhelming for staff | Two new best practice communications guidance have been produced to support parents and carers and to support all staff |
| More focus needs to be on supporting SEND | We have partnered with the Learn SEND Hub to support schools with SEND challenges. This includes: - 1 day of training for all Headteachers - 2 days of training for SENDCoResources for all staff - SEND TA Apprenticeships |
| School staff need more support on dealing with difficult behaviour | We have introduced CPD around emotion coaching delivered by Tom Bennett |
| Finding information about different central services and access to software can be difficult | An interim Sharepoint for HTs and Admin with quick links was introduced in 2024. This will be developed further so that all staff can access the space by the end of 2025 |
| School staff receive too many duplicate requests from different Central departments | We are reviewing and streamlining our Central team processes to ensure that duplication requests no longer occur. |
| CPD requests from EG&D conversations | |
| Mental Health First Aid | - Adult and Youth Mental Health first aider training delivered by Trust Leads. - Termly mental health first aider networks. |
| Trauma and attachment training | This was delivered for both TAs and Midday Supervisors. |
| Emotional Regulation | - This formed part of the trauma and attachment training. - This formed part of the training focusing on Managing behaviours of pupils with SEND. |
| Forest Schools Leadership | Termly Forest School Leader Network |
| Leadership and Management CPD aimed at developing leadership skills | - Aspiring to Middle Leadership course - Aspiring to Deputy Headteacher training - Deputy Headteacher Network |
| Networking and Collaboration | Subject Leader networks for Primary and Secondary leaders |
| Mentoring and Coaching | Delivered through EG&D line management training |
| Curriculum Development | Subject Leader Networks for both primary and secondary staff |
| Classroom Management: strategies for effective classroom management and student engagement | - Classroom management delivered through Managing the behaviours of pupils with SEND CPD session. - Student engagement formed part of Developing your teaching practice CPD. |
| Safeguarding training | - DSL Network - Flick training |
| Accredited courses: enrolling in accredited courses for professional growth | - NPQS - SEND apprenticeship - EYFS SEND Apprenticeship |
| You said the following would help your workload | We are working on for September 2025 |
| Access to a variety of Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms | In development. A survey will be sent out to all staff to understand the use of AI in schools |
| The option to have PPA at home | We are working with Headteachers to look at guidance for this |
| Shared planning resources that can be easily adopted | A shared portal for all staff is in progress and will have portals for year groups, SEND and EYFS |
| Making best use of Arbor | Our primary schools will move from OTrack to Arbor for assessments |
| Trust Inset Days | We constantly review these days to ensure that staff receive the allocated time for training and networking |
| Improving network meetings | We are reviewing the time, location and regularity of these meetings |
| Trust-wide approach to SEND | Our Director of Performance and Standard’s SEND Lead will work with SENDCos to standardise documents |
| School staff receive too many duplicate requests from different Central departments | We are reviewing and streamlining our Central team processes to ensure that duplication requests no longer occur |
| Themes | Upcoming in the next 12-24 months |
| Flexible working options | We are undertaking a UK-wide audit of flexible working models across other educational organisations |
| Improving staff communication | We have a pilot Intranet Sharepoint that will be rolled out to all staff by the end of 2025 |
| Improving marking and feedback | We will be reviewing and revising the current toolkit which will include a video tutorial |
| Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) | We will be securing CPD on best practice around using AI |
| Exam board training | We will be including links to external training in the CPD brochure |
| Enhancing CPD | We will be increasing support staff CPD and increasing access to external speakers |
This is not an exhaustive list and we will continue with the working parties to further develop the initiatives above and introduce new initiatives that come from the further staff surveys.