9th January 2026
Headteacher Termly Briefing – Tuesday 22 January
Don’t forget to join us for the DBE Heads’ Briefing on the afternoon 22 January 14.00-15.30 on Zoom. Book your place here.
Agenda
Opening Reflection and DBE Update – Revd April Gold
Peacemakers Resource – Heather Rowlands, Director of Peacemakers
Recent Experience of Ofsted – David Briggs, CEO of Fosse MAT and Sam Welsby, Headteacher at Newbold and Tredington CofE Primary
Flourishing Together Through RE – Dr Kathryn Wright, Culham St Gabriel’s
Spotlight – ‘top tips and best practice’ – Spiritual Development – Louise Withers, Shottery St Andrew’s Cofe Primary
Closing Comments and Prayer
Pupil Voice Autumn Term 2025 – Results
A big thank you to the schools that contributed to the DBE pupil voice exercise using the easy ‘smart school council’ link. Back in September the DBE asked the question:
‘How can we try to change our tendency to put people in boxes?’
These were the voting results from both primary and secondary groups:
- Nothing – boxes are quite useful sometimes – 1 votes
- Don’t judge people on how they look but how they are as a person – 11 votes – the winning vote
- Always try and find the common ground rather than look for difference – 4 votes
- Always try learn something positive from different life experiences and worldviews – 4 votes
- Something else – please share your own answers to this question in the comments box on the next slide – 1 vote
Additional comments from pupils were:
Pupils discussed worldviews – how sometimes when people speak about world religions they put people from that religion into a box. For example when people say ‘Christians’ they mean it to say all Christians believe the same and practice their religion in the same way. When actually there is a wide diversity in religions, not just Christianity. It ignores things such as tradition, culture, upbringing, personal experiences and so on.
The DBE will respond in the next pupil voice question on spiritualy, which will be sent out soon!
ISingPOP Classroom Worship – Spring Term
Before Christmas, Heads and RE Leads were sent the Guidance Notes for the first half term of iSingPOP’s Spring Classroom Worship, focusing on the themes of Change and Joy, Episodes for the second half of the term will be added by mid-January and will explore the theme of Easter. If you haven’t had it you can look on the DBE website under Collective Worship Resources and access with the usual password.
Don’t forget that if you would like some iSingPOP work in school, or for someone to work with your pupil worship team – contact Emma at emma.kenyon@isingpop.com
New Live Training Dates for Difference for Primary Schools
Difference is a free suite of resources to help your school navigate an increasingly complex world, inspired by Jesus to embrace difference and champion a culture of hope and empathy
Find out more about Difference here.
Training opportunities are now live You can register for any of the following here:
Training opportunities are now live You can register for any of the following here:
Tuesday 13 January 2026: 10.00-12.00
Monday, 16 February 2026: 15:30-17:30
Tuesday, 3 March 2026: 10.00-12.00
For the full Headlines newsletter contact joanne.evans@coventrybe.org