Sent on behalf of Jean Thorpe, County Education Manager, and Helen Aston, Health and Safety Business Partner

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past year there have been a number of instances where it is clear that the roles and responsibilities around health and safety in schools have not been sufficiently clear.

In addition, many of you have completed the Health and Safety self-assessment document, with some of you being involved in subsequent monitoring visits.

In order to clarify the statutory responsibilities and the support available, we have arranged a series of short online meetings for headteachers and their chairs of governors/trustees, to attend; these will be led by the County Health and Safety Business Partner, Helen Aston, supported by Jean Thorpe, County Education Manager.

Given the significance of the statutory responsibility around this we expect ALL headteachers of maintained schools and their chair of governors to attend and welcome the attendance of academy leaders.

Dates: 

·       7 May – 10-11am 

·       14 May – 6-7pm

·       19 May – 3-4pm

Please complete the Health and Safety - leadership and governance briefings 2026 booking form before 6 May. 

The following quote from the Prevent Duty Guidance: Prevent duty guidance: Guidance for specified authorities in England and Wales (publishing.service.gov.uk) identifies the following: 

“The Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) or Prevent lead in the setting should receive more in-depth training, including on extremist and terrorist ideologies, how to make referrals and how to work with Channel panels. It is recommended that this training is updated at least every two years, enabling the lead to support other staff on Prevent matters and update them on relevant issues.” 

Therefore, this course will provide staff who are delivering Prevent training with the knowledge and resources to enable them to facilitate training to all staff in their schools. 

Search and book on the Learning Zone using keyword search: Prevent DSL

Price: Sub £150 / SLA £100 / Full £180 

These termly briefings aim to deepen the knowledge and understanding of headteachers and chairs of governors in respect of the current Ofsted inspection framework. The sessions are particularly targeted at schools who are likely to be inspected within the next six months. 

There will be opportunities to review information relating to the latest national and local inspection trends and patterns and consider implications for their own school. Additional input will be provided by headteachers of schools that have been recently inspected under the current framework (2025) and members of the Primary Phase Inspector team who support schools through the process.  

A senior leader and chair of governors are invited to attend but do not need to book a place. Headteachers who have booked a place will receive the course details, which they should share.  

The course price entitles a school to three places at the briefing (the headteacher, senior leader and chair of governors). 

Search and book on the Learning Zone using keyword search: Ofsted Renewed

Price: Sub £315 / SLA £145 / Full £378