Southwark schools bulletin
Welcome to the Southwark schools bulletin archive page.
March 2026
Hello everyone,
My name is Helen Woolgar, and I am the Deputy Director for Children’s Services with responsibility for Children’s Social Care. Last month, I had the pleasure of visiting a Southwark Primary School, and two experiences profoundly impacted me. First, I was reminded of how much our schools understand and advocate for their children and families, and how much I could feel that love and care for the children in their school environment. The dedication of the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Headteacher in meeting the children's needs was inspiring. Second, I was reminded of the complexity of our current social care system. Families often find themselves navigating through various teams, repeatedly sharing their stories, which can be challenging for both the families and key professionals like yourselves.
This visit left me both inspired and determined to strengthen our partnerships. Southwark is taking forward the Families First Reforms, a national programme designed to ensure children and families receive the right help at the right time through stronger early intervention, joined‑up support, and clearer safeguarding pathways. The reforms are underpinned by the Government’s Families First Partnership Programme Guide, which sets out expectations for how local areas should redesign services.
Our first Family Help Pilot Team is now operational in the East Central Multi-Ward Area (covering Nunhead, Queens Road, Old Kent Road, Peckham Rye, and Rye Lane) testing a more cohesive support model by uniting practitioners from early help and social care with a dedicated clinician. Together, we can create a more seamless and supportive experience for the families we serve.
We highlighted in the last bulletin the number of national reform programmes currently impacting our sector. Whilst we work through what the Families First Reforms mean in practice for Southwark, the Department for Education (DfE) has finally published their much-anticipated Schools White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, alongside a consultation on SEND reform, called Putting Children and Young People First. Only published last Monday there’s a huge amount of information to work through in what is a sizable document, but Schools Week have made an admirable start in pulling out the key proposals. This is well worth having a look at.
The Schools White Paper, in its aim for higher standards for all, plans to reform funding distribution to better support disadvantaged pupils and includes a new ‘good progress’ performance measure in addition to Progress 8.
The Paper also proposes that all schools join or form trusts, with councils and local area partnerships able to launch their own academy chains. Our early thinking is to take a proactive approach in Southwark to protect the strong local relationships we already have. By further strengthening our partnerships, we can foster greater stability and collaboration, ensuring our children and young people achieve the best outcomes.
The DfE has produced an information sheet on SEND reform for those leading or working in mainstream schools, which gives a quick overview of the main proposals in the consultation supporting mainstream schools to become more inclusive. Changes include introducing:
- a system of three layers of support above the universal offer – targeted, targeted plus, and specialist
- new Individual Support Plans for all children with SEND
- retaining and improving EHCPs for children with the most complex needs
- a share of the £1.6 billion Inclusive Mainstream Fund over three years
- a share of £3.7 billion of capital investment from this year to 2030 to create Inclusion Bases in mainstream settings.
Although system transformation will start this year, the legislative changes that will accompany the wider ranging reforms are not expected to be in place until 2029.
We’ll be sharing a more informed briefing note shortly with some clearer guidance on how the White Paper will impact us locally and how we can work together to respond to the consultation. Much of the detail is still missing from what are significant changes. We’ll need to continue pressing the DfE for further clarity through our Education Partnership. In the meantime, please do share your initial views with the department through their formal consultation or via social media.
I wanted to use this opportunity to promote our MASH consultation line. The number is 020 7525 1921 and it is open 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday, for advice related to children’s safeguarding. We had some recent feedback from a school who said they had helpful advice from a social worker that enabled a clear plan of next steps, ensuring the child’s voice was at the centre.
Finally, our Headteachers’ Breakfast Forum on the 11 March, kindly held at Alfred Salter Primary School, SE16, will focus on the theme of inclusion/exclusion. We’ll hear more about suspension and exclusion data and our Exclusions Prevention Toolkit. We’ll also hear more on the Exclusions Project from Councillor Ali. Please register to attend.
Helen Woolgar
Deputy Director, Children's Social Care
Quick ask – if you don’t already, please share this bulletin with your relevant staff. We hope it’s packed with useful information that will help schools stay more informed.
Key updates
This month:
- Secondary School admissions update
- Best Start in Life Local Plan consultation
- Review of social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) support in mainstream schools
- New sickness return form
- Southwark Youth Parliament elections – 23 to 26 March
- Apply for up to £60,000 green building upgrade funding by 24 April
- Be a part of our HPV vaccination pilot
Secondary school admissions update
Parents applying for secondary school places for September 2026 received emails yesterday (2 March) confirming their child’s offer and providing information on what to do next. Once again, almost all applicants have received a secondary school place at one of their preference schools through the coordinated admissions process.
- All 2,490 of Southwark’s on-time secondary school applicants have been offered a school place for September 2026.
- 2,388 (95.9%) of applicants have received a place at a secondary school of their first to sixth preference – this is an increase of 1% from the previous year.
- 2,278 (91.5%) applicants have received a place at a secondary school of their first to third preference.
- 1,793 (72%) families received a first preference school – the second highest percentage on record.
- 102 (4.1%) families without a preference have been offered an alternative school – this is a decrease of 1% from the previous year.
The number of applications from Southwark residents was slightly down from last year by 55 pupils, but the number has reduced by around 500 since 2020. As the smaller numbers of children in our primary schools feed through into secondary schools a further reduction is expected over coming years. The GLA forecasts that Southwark secondary school numbers in Year 7 will fall by around 330 pupils by 2034, compared to today.
If you would like projections and planning data for your school/s, as well as contextual information about demand in your area, please contact ric.euteneuer@southwark.gov.uk.
Have your say
>> Best Start in Life Local Plan – Deadline 15 March
We are currently developing Southwark’s Best Start in Life Local Plan, which sets out our approach towards meeting our new ambitious target – 79% of children achieving a good development level by 2028. The Government’s 2025 ‘Best Start in Life’ strategy aims for 75% of all children in the country to reach good level of development (GLD) by this time.
We are building an evidence base for the plan, understanding what’s in place, what’s working well and any gaps or pressures in the system.
As schools and early years providers, you see the impact of a strong early years offer every day, and the consequences when we don’t get things right for children and their families early, so please take a few minutes to complete our short workforce consultation:
- What’s working well for families?
- Where are the challenges are showing up?
- What would make the biggest impact to early years outcomes?
Your insight would be much appreciated: Workforce survey
Please also share with your wider school community: Community survey
SEND improvement
>> SEND Banding System Redesign – version 13
We have received valuable feedback on version 12 of our proposed banding system redesign. As a result, we have extended the public consultation to 15 March and would like to hear from you about our revised version 13 via the public survey.
Due to high demand, we will also be holding two additional online meetings for parents, carers of children with SEND, and young people with SEND. Can you please share.
>> Review of social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) support in mainstream schools
As part of our wider review of support for mainstream schools, we are undertaking a focused piece of work on the current offer for pupils with SEMH needs. This review aims to understand the graduated response in both Primary and Secondary settings, identify strengths, highlight gaps in provision, and inform future delivery models that better meet the needs of children and young people.
Olive Academies have been commissioned to lead this work, drawing on their extensive national expertise in SEMH practice and policy. Astrid Schon will be the main point of contact and will be arranging conversations to gather your insights: astrid.schon@oliveacademies.org.uk.
Please reach out to Astrid if you would like an invitation for a 45‑minute call. We would greatly value your participation. Your experience and perspective are essential in shaping a clearer and more effective SEMH support offer across Southwark.
Other updates
>> New sickness return form
Schools have a statutory duty to notify their local authority when a pupil is likely to miss 15 days (consecutive or cumulative) due to illness. This is to ensure that we can jointly agree provision for children unable to attend due to illness and assess whether Section 19 obligations may be triggered.
>> Southwark Youth Parliament elections – 23 to 26 March
We want all secondary schools and other educational establishments from Key Stage 3 to 5 to be take part in elections. For an overview of our plans, including our offer to you, please email youth.parliament@southwark.gov.uk.
>> Get involved with Southwark’s Design and Technology Network
The recent hands on Tinkercad session brought together subject leaders from ten primary schools. Led by Lil Jayawardhana, Curriculum Coordinator at St James the Great Primary School, the workshop gave teachers practical experience with CAD tools to support a more ambitious D&T curriculum. Participants left feeling more confident in teaching CAD and equipped with resources to share across their schools. The network’s next meeting will be on 11 June.
>> SAFE Taskforce funded group and individual support
Recently commissioned through the SAFE Taskforce which aims to reduce children’s vulnerability to the harms of serious violence Power 2 have a robust mentoring model that can support children to maintain their engagement in education. They have capacity to take on referrals for their mentoring programme from the summer term. If your school is interested contact the Director of Power2, Samantha Marcus to discuss costs.
>> Apply for up to £60,000 green building upgrade funding by 24 April
Southwark Community Energy Fund gives grants to local schools, faith groups and community groups for green energy projects, such as building upgrades or green technology like solar panels or heat pumps. It could also be for workshops or training to help tackle fuel poverty. In our two rounds of funding, we have provided grants to 15 projects in Southwark schools. See our information session under ‘What’s on’.
>> Southwark Climate Action Schools Network
Access funding guidance, climate education resources and expert advice to develop and deliver your school's Climate Action Plan.
>> Be a part of our HPV vaccination pilot
We are recruiting schools to participate in an HPV vaccination engagement pilot, working with Year 8 pupils to understand perspectives on the vaccine. HPV vaccination uptake is declining, increasing health risks for students. There is a financial incentive for schools, with limited spaces available. Contact public.health@southwark.gov.uk if interested.
>> UKHSA Childhood immunisations campaign
The Department of Health and Social Care, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England have launched their ‘Stay Strong. Get Vaccinated’ childhood immunisations campaign.
>> Free attendance training resource (LinkedIn)
Attendance improvement doesn’t come from a single initiative. It comes from culture, belonging, consistency, leadership and safeguarding working together. Attendance Magazine’s programme supports schools and trusts to build attendance improvement.
>> The Old Vic: Primary Play Your Part project
Project providing free brand-new plays written specifically for primary-aged students to perform, along with a range of supporting online resources and CPD sessions for teachers. The project aims to guide primary schools through the process of creating their own in-school productions.
>> Making a lasting difference outside the classroom
Children and young people in Southwark are looking for stable, caring homes – and school staff are uniquely placed to provide them. The patience, resilience and understanding you show every day can have a life-changing impact beyond the school gates. Fostering is designed to be flexible, with options ranging from short-term and emergency arrangements to longer-term care. Email fostering@southwark.gov.uk.
Governors
>> Why link governors and link visits matter
Governing boards must appoint link governors for key statutory areas and undertake link visits. Primary schools must have safeguarding and SEND (this can be covered by a committee) link governors. In addition, secondary schools must also have a careers link governor. Visits are important as they show policies in practice, provide first‑hand assurance, deepen understanding of pupils’ experiences, and support fulfilment of statutory responsibilities.
>> Why training matters
Governor training is fundamental to effective governance, building confidence and improving outcomes for pupils. Regular training equips governors with the knowledge and skills needed to challenge appropriately, provide support, and lead strategically. During a recent Ofsted visit, inspectors asked governors how they monitored and assured that all governors had completed statutory training. Take a look at our training offer.
What's on
>> RISE: Attendance and attainment conference (primary schools) – 4 and 5 March
12.30pm to 3.30pm, across two afternoons. Online. Free DfE conference for primary school headteachers and senior leader on attendance and attainment, with insights, evidence informed approaches, and effective, school-led approaches and tools leaders can apply straight away.
>> Funding for green building upgrades info session – 4 March
6.00pm, online. Find out more about Southwark Community Energy Fund’s grants to local schools for green energy projects.
>> Martyn’s Law training
Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism and related threats is running free training on Martyn’s Law, the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. Please register to attend.
- Myth Busting Martyn’s Law – 11 March, 2.00pm
- A Practical Walk Through Martyn’s Law – April 21, 6.00pm
>> RISE: Focus on mainstream inclusion conference (secondary schools) – 24 March
9.30am to 3.30pm, Tower Bridge. Free DfE mainstream inclusion conference for secondary school headteachers, senior leaders, and colleagues who lead on inclusion and/or SEND across schools, trusts and local authorities.
>> Workshop: Financial Education with The Money Charity – 27 March
4.45pm, Crystal Palace. The Empowered Futures project, together with The Money Charity, is running a free financial wellbeing training workshop for teachers and educators, to build their understanding of financial wellbeing and explore practical tools they can use. These funded spaces are limited, and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested, please email sanchika.campbell@kcl.ac.uk.
>> Workshop: Marketing Sustainable Wraparound Childcare – 30 April
9.30am to 11.30am, venue TBC. Are you looking to strengthen the long‑term sustainability of your Wraparound Childcare offer? Join us for a free practical, hands‑on training session designed to boost your marketing confidence, increase engagement with families, and help your provision thrive. To reserve your place email wraparoundchildcare@southwark.gov.uk.
>> Governors’ Forum summer date – 6 May
6.00pm, online. Please register in advance for this meeting.
>> Southwark’s Annual SEND Conference – 26 June
St. Saviour's & St. Olave's School, SE1 4AN. Bringing professionals together from across services and provisions to share good practice, learn from one another, tackle key challenges and network, under the broad theme ‘What Works: Meeting all needs in mainstream settings’ with a focus on meeting complex needs.
Please book your place on either the morning or afternoon session: