Southwark schools bulletin
Welcome to the Southwark schools bulletin archive page.
May 2025
Hello everyone,
With the end of year in sight, I hope your juggling of priorities as you tie up one academic year, whilst preparing for the next, is going well. Recruiting the right staff, supporting your pupils with their SATs, exams, and assessments, plus organising the carnival of events that are expected this term, this is undoubtedly the busiest time of the year.
To support primary school colleagues, Nikki Tilson, Principal Advisor, shared key information that will assist with the effective carrying out of national tests at the Headteachers’ Breakfast Forum last week (Phonics Screening Check, Multiplication Tables Check and reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2). Please share this information and guidance with all colleagues in school so that test processes run smoothly. It is important that all staff are fully aware of their responsibilities, especially if staff are new to the key stage.
I know secondary colleagues are fully immersed in exam and assessment season as well. I wish you all the best for the forthcoming weeks.
In addition to the national tests, Key Stage 2 writing moderation will take place in a selection of schools. If your school is being moderated, we’ll let you know about sessions on the 16 May.
We are aware that schools have received their initial allocations of reception pupils for September 2025 and know many of you are concerned that numbers are continuing to fall significantly. As discussed at the Headteachers’ Breakfast Forum, falling rolls remain a serious issue across Southwark and London more widely, with the effects now being seen in all school sectors. The council continues to work with trusts and the dioceses to manage this issue. We will let you know what our support is for schools, and make sure you’re included as we develop our strategy for managing surplus capacity in the education system.
Our next Headteachers’ Breakfast Forum will be in-person on Wednesday 18 June, from 8.15am, Tooley Street. Agenda to follow, but please hold the date in your diary.
Lastly, can I bring your attention to our free OneHub Youth festival during half-term, with workshops and performances celebrating young people in Southwark. More information below.
Richard Hunter
Principal Advisor, Learning and Achievement
Key updates
>> Using pupil premium: Guidance for school leaders
The DfE has produced new Pupil Premium guidance. This is non-statutory guidance for school leaders and those involved in managing the use of pupil premium in schools, such as academy trust leaders, trustees and governors.
>> Free school meals Transitional Protection notice
After 31 March, existing eligible children whose parents no longer meet the eligibility criteria at that point (because they are earning above the threshold or are no longer a recipient of Universal Credit) will continue to receive free school meals until the end of their current phase of education (Year 6 primary or Year 11 secondary). More information will follow as we work with the DfE to understand how we can support schools and families.
>> Free equipment from school decommissioning
We still have some items that may be useful to schools in Comber Grove, Townsend and Cobourg. Please contact SELA_decommissioning@southwark.gov.uk ASAP if you would be interested in coming to collect (among the usual items):
- table tennis tables
- a pottery kiln
- commercial kitchen equipment
- playground furniture.
>> Free Wraparound Childcare training – from 15 May
To support the Wraparound Childcare Expansion programme the council has funded free training for all schools providing wraparound childcare on their school site, whether it is full or partial provision, such as a breakfast club only. If you have a PVI provision, covering 8.00am to 6.00pm, training will be separate. The training has six online, 2-hour sessions over a year starting this Thursday 15 May. Please contact jo.hepworth@southwark.gov.uk for more information or to book a place.
>> New Companies House rules for members, trustees and governors
From Autumn 2025, Companies House is introducing mandatory identity verification for all company directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs). This is part of wider reforms to improve transparency and prevent fraud.
If you are a member, trustee, and/or Governor and also listed as a director of one or more organisations, you must take action to ensure you comply with the new rules. Identity verification is now open.
>> Laptops for Learning available
St Mary Magdalene Primary School has some of its allocated Laptops for Learning available for pupils in receipt of the Pupil Premium. Please contact poppy.charlton@southwark.gov.uk by Friday 16 May if you want to discuss collecting these.
>> New Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Nutrition Guidance from September
The Department for Education (DfE) is introducing updated nutrition guidance within the EYFS framework, replacing the ‘Example menus’ publication. Developed with nutrition and sector experts, it supports providers in offering healthy, balanced food.
>> What you need to know about child sexual abuse
The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse has published a new resource outlining key research and statistics about child sexual abuse, including what we can all do in response. This resource is for anyone who works with children in any capacity or has wider safeguarding responsibilities.
>> Reminder: HPV Vaccinations for Year 8 pupils this term
HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccination will be offered to all Year 8 pupils during the summer term. The HPV vaccine is safe, and highly effective at protecting against several types of cancer— including cervical cancer. Providers will be reaching out to schools to arrange vaccination sessions. Please support efforts to increase uptake by encouraging the return of consent forms.
>> Free food waste collections for schools
All schools in Southwark are eligible for free weekly food waste collections. Please contact southwarkenquiries@veolia.co.uk to set up the service.
>> Book a recycling education session
Would your students like to see how their recycling is processed? The Veolia Southwark Education Communications and Outreach team offers free assemblies, workshops and school visits to the recycling centre. Slots are available from November onwards. Please contact southwarkenquiries@veolia.co.uk to receive the welcome pack and book a session.
>> Southwark Governors' Association (SGA) – management committee members needed
We need more governors to join the SGA management committee to keep our schools thriving. The SGA is a great forum for governors from maintained and academy schools in Southwark, meeting once a term to discuss important issues. We have seven vacancies and would love for you to join us. We're excited to relaunch the SGA in Autumn 2025 and your participation is key to this. Please self-nominate if you’re interested.
>> Southwark Governor Training Summer 2025
Governor Services have produced a training brochure for the Summer 2025 training programme. We have sessions for new and longstanding governors, sessions which will develop your skills and specialist knowledge, and sessions aimed at chairs and leading governors. Please share with your boards. If you have a question contact selina.mcclure@southwark.gov.uk.
>> School Food Action – support to write and/or deliver school food action plans
Over the next few weeks and months, all schools will be contacted by School Food Matters with a tailored offer of support to help busy schools to either write a school food action plan, or help to deliver existing action plans. You can find out more in the link above.
>> School-based and maintained nursery breakfast funding – provide feedback
For schools who received this funding between March 2024 to present, we would like to collect your feedback to help us understand its impact and how you have used it. Your feedback is vital as it will help to inform and make the case for future funding decisions. The form has 12 questions, most of which are multiple choice. Please complete by 12.00pm, Friday 30 May.
>> Summer water safety
May to July is the peak time for water safety issues. To help your pupils and staff enjoy the water safely:
- Enter slowly and safely
- Stay within reach
- Always be supervised
- In an emergency:
- Call 999
- If you’re in trouble, float and call for help!
You can find out more about water safety from the Royal Life Saving Society’s website.
>> Applications open for the Peckhamplex Scholarship – deadline 30 May
To mark the cinema’s 30th anniversary Peckhamplex has established a bursary scheme to help young people from the local area supplement their university funding. Two bursaries are awarded in September of £1000 each per year, for a period of up to three years.
>> Applications open for the Southwark Scholarship Scheme – deadline 1 June
The Southwark Scholarship Scheme is once again accepting applications for the academic year 2025/26, to support talented ambitious young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into higher education. Applicants must be a Southwark resident, have a combined household income of less than £28,000 per year and be entering higher education in 2025 for the first time.
>> Attendance and inclusion support
As we all strive to enhance attendance rates and support our students' education, it is crucial that we understand and implement the DfE’s statutory guidance 'Working Together to Improve School Attendance' effectively. To support you we have collated a number of resources on our schools website.
What's on
>> Join Southwark’s community of foster carers to celebrate Foster Care Fortnight – 12 to 25 May
Please share with your staff, parents and carers: May is Foster Care Fortnight, a chance to celebrate how our incredible community of foster carers have transformed the lives of children and young people. If you’d like to help a child become part of a loving family, Southwark Council provides flexible placements, a generous financial package, council tax relief, and clinical support with a 24/7 helpline. There’s never been a better time to foster.
Artwork is also available to use.
>> Walk to School Week – 19 to 23 May
Take part in Walk to School Week, the annual five-day walking challenge. Through Streets for People, we’re encouraging pupils to enjoy the joys of walking, and record their daily journeys to and from school in walking diaries which have been sent to all primary schools in Southwark. Schools with the best diaries and highest number of walks win a prize!
>> Please share with students: OneHub Youth Festival – Friday 30 May
11.00am – 6.00pm, Peckham Levels. Celebrating the re-launch of the OneHub website and the young people of Southwark, our youth festival features live performances, interactive workshops, and delicious food, all of which is free! OneHub helps young people find out about local youth services, work and volunteer opportunities, and help and support.
>> School Meals Transformation programme celebration event – 10 June
11.00am-1.00pm, St Paul’s Primary School. The School Meals Transformation programme supports settings to deliver better school food through a range of activities, funding and training. We would like to celebrate all schools in the borough by providing lunch, networking opportunities and a chance to hear about our current opportunities. Spaces are limited to one per organisation.
>> Free mental health training for school staff – 26 and 27 June
Free Mental Health First Aid and Suicide First Aid training for organisations working with children and young people, including school staff.
>> Reading conference 'Turning Pages, Changing Futures' – 4 July
10.00am to 4.30pm, British Library. 'Turning Pages, Changing Futures: a conference on Reading for Pleasure, Social Justice and Opportunity' focusses on supporting children who face barriers to reading for pleasure rooted in economic inequality. Professor Teresa Cremin, Joseph Coelho and Farrah Serroukh are confirmed as speakers and there will be workshops from BookTrust and the National Literacy Trust.
>> Free Little fish theatre Year 6 summer programme – 28 July to 8 August
Rye Oak Primary School. For children supported by Early Family Help, aged 9 to 11. Designed to empower and assist children in developing crucial life skills to ensure a smooth and successful transition to secondary school.
>> Governors’ Forum dates 2025/26
Please hold the dates for this year’s Governors’ Forum in your diaries. Please register your interest.