EPHA Liaison Officer

My work for EPHA began in June 2010 and during this second half of the summer term my focus was very much on the development of the proposed Essex Learning Partnership (ELP).

Essentially the role of the Liaison Officer is to support and relieve pressure on headteachers and, in particular, the leadership group of the EPHA Executive, who are currently asked to attend numerous meetings by the LA.  I attend the following meetings each term:

  • EPHA Executive meeting
  • 4 Area headteacher meetings + 1 Headteacher/LA meeting
  • Partnership Board meetings x 2
  • Joint Commissioning Board meeting x 1
  • Gatekeeping Reference Group x 2
  • Enjoy and Achieve Implementation Group
  • Headteacher confidential reference group meeting

It has now been agreed that I attend the Area Development Group (ADG) meetings so that I have a direct understanding of each area's development priorities.

I also attend the Essex Learning Partnership Steering Group meetings and will soon lead a working group looking toward the next Formula Funding Review (3 years hence).  I recently produced a paper describing a fictional case study of a year 6 primary school pupil - Samantha - which served to illustrate the funding needs and differential needs between a year 6 and a year 7 pupil - a perennial issue that is still to be resolved to the satisfaction of an under-funded primary sector.

My remit as well as liaising with the EPHA Executive Leadership Team is also to consult with headteachers across the county on various issues of importance and interest.

Meetings of the Schools Partnership Board, led by Stephen Castle, Cabinet Member for schools in Essex demonstrate a desire for the local authority to work in partnership with schools - ‘An Essex solution for Essex schools'. The inevitable focus in discussions is on the need to work in different ways to achieve ‘more for less' and to foresee the ‘Future Educational Landscape for Essex'.

I have produced 2 other papers which may be of interest to headteachers. One, a summary based on a recent ContinYou presentation of Coalition education policies.  The other a summary supporting the idea of Dedicated Headship Time.

It is still early days as far as my liaison work is concerned, particularly bearing in mind that it is a part-time position (about 10 hours per week). I hope to meet many of you or to have contact in the near future.

Please contact Mike Blant at mikeblant@gmail.com with your views, comments and opinions of education in Essex.

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