Southwark schools bulletin

Welcome to the Southwark schools bulletin archive page. 

September 2026

Hello everyone,

Welcome back to another school year. I hope you found some time to rest and recharge over the summer. September always brings a sense of fresh beginnings and renewed purpose. A time to look ahead at what’s possible and build on the successes of the previous year. Schools are in the privileged position of being able to use this fresh momentum to make a real difference to the lives of your students. I know too you’ll be thinking ahead to the challenges you face but first celebrate the excellent outcomes our children and young people achieved last year.

Once again, attainment in Southwark is above national averages across Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Key Stage 2, GCSEs and A Levels.

Our emerging data suggests that the gap between Southwark’s performance and national indicators continues to widen as pupils progress through our schools, demonstrating how your sustained commitment to removing barriers to learning helps everyone achieve their potential.

This year's GCSE results are particularly impressive. Southwark ranks second among Inner London boroughs for Maths with 68% achieving a standard pass (grade 4+) and 52% achieving a strong pass (grade 5+) compared with 57% and 41% nationally. Even more remarkably, Southwark is ranked first in Inner London for English with 71% achieving a standard pass and 56% being awarded a strong pass, compared with 60% and 44% nationally, reflecting the exceptional work taking place in classrooms across the borough. 

A Level results were also outstanding, reflecting years of hard work and determination. In total 88% of Southwark students achieved grades C to A* this year, significantly higher than the 80.4% achieved across London, with 43.8% of Southwark’s A-level entries awarded A or A*, the fourth highest in London, against a national average of 28.3%.  

Early analysis of outcomes for care-experienced young people from the borough shows that more young people were entered for GCSE examinations and achieved grades in English and Maths, while post-16 progression remained strong, with 60% of those taking Key Stage 5 exams progressing to university. Predicted education, employment and training participation has also risen to 82%, continuing a positive upward trend. Well done to all!

We’ll look in more detail at Southwark’s progress and attainment figures at our Headteachers’ Breakfast Briefing on the 16 September. More information below. 

These achievements are a reflection of the strength of our school community and the collective commitment to excellence across the borough. I am proud of the way we grow and improve together. Strengthening our approach through the Southwark Education Partnership is especially important as we continue to implement the Government’s SEND reforms locally and anticipate what the new Government intends for the Every child achieving and thriving White Paper.

This month we launched a consultation on a major reform of our children’s social care services, to deliver the Governments Families First Partnership Programme. We hear all too often from our families, and from schools, that the current social care system needs to be simpler and more accessible, that it needs to act earlier, and have less handovers and changes of team and allocated worker. The national reform programme aims to create a seamless experience for families and partner agencies, reduce the disruption caused by moving between services, and to deliver a whole-family plan that builds on strengths to improve outcomes for children. This will mean some significant changes to the way our Family Early Help and social work services are structured in Southwark, with separate services and teams being merged into a single all-through Family Help service. We are also consulting on moving the future service into a locality model, bringing services closer to schools to create more consistent and stronger relationships. We are keen for all schools to contribute to this consultation to help us design the best system for Southwark. You can find more details on the schools’ website, including how to feedback.

The Southwark Education Partnership kicks off the year with their first two task forces from September. The Primary Fair Access Protocol implementation panel – led by Suzanne Wright, Head of School Support and Admissions, along with volunteers from Southwark’s school community (thank you to everyone who has put themselves forward) – are tasked with ensuring that our primary schools are collectively responsible for the admission of children and young people in our borough.

The Complaints Task Force – led by our Eileen Bryan, Head of Governor Services (covering for Donna Muir while she’s on maternity leave) – will make sure you have the right support and tools to tackle complaints efficiently to help reduce your workload.

Applications are still open until the 14 September to lead one of the Partnership’s two new peer-to-peer development hubs: the Challenge the Gap Hub, supporting disadvantaged children and young people with pedagogical strategies to support their progress; and the School Inclusion Hub, strengthening capacity for inclusive practice at a universal level. If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at SEP@southwark.gov.uk. Leads will be selected at the Partnership’s next Board meeting on the 24 September.

We are also beginning preparations for an annual Headteachers Conference and would greatly value your feedback to help shape the event. Can you please complete our very brief survey by 4.00pm, 18 September so we can collect your views on content, themes, format, speakers, etc to ensure the conference reflects the priorities of Southwark’s schools.

I’m pleased to introduce Ian Perring, our new School's Health and Safety Advisor. Ian further expands the knowledge and support we provide to our maintained schools. Ian will be contacting schools to arrange visits this term, but in the meantime, if you have any health and safety questions or need advice you can email him at cshealthandsafety@southwark.gov.uk.

Finally, our next Headteachers' Breakfast Briefing will be on Wednesday 16 September from 8.30am to 10.30am, online (Zoom). Please register to attend. This is an opportunity to hear relevant updates on local and national issues, including an introduction from Councillor Rebecca Corn, Executive Member for Education and Care, Partnership update, and an overview of our progress and assessment results for 2026.

Thank you for your continued dedication and leadership. I look forward to another year of collaboration and celebrating the many achievements of our schools and communities.

Alasdair Smith
Director of Children’s Services

Key updates

This month:

• Free school uniform for local families eligible for free school meals
• Keeping Children Safe in Education
• Working Together to Improve School Attendance update
• Southwark SEND Banding: Audit and Moderation Process
• Annual Southwark SEND Survey – until Friday 25 September
• Schools HR update: Pay, policies and communications
• Southwark Youth Parliament: Working with schools

Free school uniform for local families eligible for free school meals 

As we covered in July’s bulletin from September, there are changes to the statutory guidance on school uniforms that all schools need to be aware of to help make school unform more affordable for families. To help you make sense of the new requirements we’ve created a briefing note which sets out what is now expected, including two resources which can help families find lower-cost clothing.  

Over the summer, we joined together with Donate 2 Educate and the London Boroughs of Wandsworth and Merton, to obtain brand-new surplus school uniform donated by major suppliers.  

If you work with families who may benefit from free school uniform, particularly those entitled to free school meals, please help us spread the word.   

We have shirts, trousers, polos, jumpers, shorts, skirts available, limited to two of each item per child, while stocks last. PECAN, our local community partner, is running drop-in sessions across two weeks in September at the Ann Bernadt Centre. No referral is required. Families unable to attend can email the Ann Bernadt Family Hub at childrenscentre@ivydale.southwark.sch.uk, who will send an order form and arrange uniform separately. Find out more on our schools’ website. 

Policy updates

A number of new policies come into effect from the start of the new year. 

>> Mobile phone use in schools

This guidance around mobile phone use in schools became statutory on 29 June. From 1 September schools are expected to prohibit the use of mobile phones throughout the school day, including during lessons, the time between lessons, breaktimes and lunchtime, creating a mobile-free environment by default.

>> Keeping Children Safe in Education

There are substantial changes in the latest Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 (1 September) which reflect wider legislative changes including the new Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 and Crime and Policing Act 2026. In consequence, we have updated our model safeguarding policy for the 2026/7 academic year, which is available on the schools’ website where you can also find other helpful practice guidance. We’ll keep schools up-to-date about this through our Safeguarding Bulletin.

>> Working Together to Improve School Attendance update

The DfE has published an updated version of Working Together to Improve School Attendance (July 2026). While there are no major changes to attendance legislation or policy, schools should note several important clarifications and strengthened expectations:

• Stronger expectations for consistent day-to-day attendance processes and registration practice. 
• Enhanced guidance on attendance analysis, benchmarking and identifying priority cohorts. 
• Explicit recognition of young carers as a group requiring attendance monitoring and support. 
• Clearer advice on illness-related absence and the use of medical evidence. 
• Reinforcement that remote education should only be used as a last resort and as part of a reintegration plan. 
• Additional guidance on leave of absence decisions and attendance coding. 
• Greater emphasis on local authority strategic leadership and multi-agency working to improve attendance. 

Locally, Southwark will continue to strengthen attendance support through Targeted Support Meetings and improved data-sharing arrangements with schools. We have also collated a number of resources on our schools’ website to support you.

SEND improvement

>> Southwark SEND Banding: Audit and Moderation Process

All Southwark mainstream schools will have received a letter on 1 September outlining the next phase of the Southwark SEND banding process. Schools are asked to review EHCP banding information provided by the Local Authority and complete audits for all remaining EHCPs by the March 2027. Audits may be completed using either the paper-based process or organisationally approved AI tools, supported by the Southwark guidance and moderation framework. Where an audit indicates a change in banding, schools will need to arrange moderation with their linked moderator before any recommendation is considered by the moderation panel.

>> Annual Southwark SEND Survey – until Friday 25 September

The Southwark SEND and Inclusion Partnership is seeking your views on support for children and young people with SEND. Your insights will help us understand what is working well and where improvements are needed. 

Please share this information with colleagues, and the children and young people, parents and carers you support. 

Other updates 

>> Schools HR update: Pay, policies and communications

The School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document is expected by November, with any salary backdating applied from 1 September 2026. Support staff pay has been agreed, with updated NJC pay scales due in October. The Grievance Policy, Duty to Prevent Sexual Harassment Policy, Third Party Harassment Policy, and Respect at Work Statement are currently under consultation, alongside a new Resolution Toolkit. Future updates will be published weekly on the schools’ website every Friday.

>> Southwark Youth Parliament: Working with schools

This year, the Southwark Youth Parliament wants to work more closely with schools and colleges to ensure young people are aware of opportunities to influence local decision-making. We would welcome a conversation with school leaders on the most effective ways to engage students and strengthen youth voice across the borough. To share your ideas or discuss opportunities for collaboration, please get in touch: Youth.Parliament@southwark.gov.uk

>> One Hub: Helping young people access opportunities

Despite Southwark having more than 140 organisations supporting young people, many still say they are unaware of the opportunities available to them. One Hub brings together local activities, services and support in one place for young people and professionals. Please help us promote One Hub with students and staff by displaying our poster.

>> Teen digital book club

Our library service has recently launched a teen digital book club. This is an opportunity for those who love books to get together and share their passion with others. You can find all the information at the link above or reach out to Southwark’s libraries: libraries@southwark.gov.uk

>> Free Year 8 to 11 performance workshop exploring relationships, mental health and masculinity

Little Fish Theatre has been awarded funding to deliver a brand-new theatre-in-education project for three secondary schools between 21 October and 27 November. ‘Voicing Masculinities’ explores mental health, masculinity, peer pressure, racism, misogyny, online influence and the impact that harmful behaviour can have on others. Each performance workshop lasts 90 minutes and can be for up to 400 pupils. To find out more email suha@littlefishtheatre.co.uk. 

>> Free programmes to support anti-prejudice and discrimination learning

The Anne Frank Trust has funding to support Southwark schools designed to educate about Anne Frank’s life, the Holocaust and all forms of prejudice and discrimination. Antisemitism or Islamophobia workshops will run from September to March. In addition, their core programme includes a day of specific anti-prejudice topic workshops from a variety of topics on offer.  

Please contact ellie.veale@annefrank.org.uk or 07927583545 to find out more. 

>> Healthier Together: Help families access trusted NHS advice

Healthier Together is a free NHS website to help parents and carers find trusted advice about pregnancy, babies, children and young people's health. It offers practical guidance on common illnesses, advice on when and where to seek help, and information to support families to manage their child's health confidently. If you can display a poster in your school to help promote Healthier Together, please email hafsa.mohammed@selondonics.nhs.uk with ‘yes’ in the subject line, along with your delivery address.

>> Slam Jam Basketball for 5 to 11 years old

Basketball England is bringing Slam Jam to London primary schools. Designed for Years 1 to 6, it needs only a hall or hard court, and any class teacher can run a session – no basketball background required. Pupils can also train as young referees. Email londondevelopments@basketballengland.co.uk if you’re interested.

Governors

>> Donna Muir – maternity leave update

Donna Muir, Head of Governor Development, will shortly begin her maternity leave. We wish her all the very best during this exciting time. Eileen Bryan has started as Donna’s maternity cover – key contacts will be shared soon.

>> New allergy requirements

From September 2026 new statutory allergy guidance will require schools to have a standalone allergy policy, trained staff, a named allergy lead, accessible spare adrenaline auto-injectors, and individual healthcare plans where needed. Governors should oversee policy implementation, monitor training, incident reviews, emergency preparedness, and inclusive participation for pupils with allergies. 

>> Inclusion strategy publication deadline

Schools must publish an Inclusion Strategy on their website by 31 December 2026. The report should outline identified barriers to learning and participation, actions taken to address them, intended outcomes, and a review of the previous academic year. It should also explain how the inclusive mainstream fund (IMF) grant, core budget, and notional SEN budget will support an inclusive core offer. 

What's on

>> Governor’s Forum – 21 September

6.00pm, online. We look forward to seeing you at our first Governor’s Forum of the year. Please register in advance to attend.

Our upcoming 2027 Governor’s Forum dates for your diaries:

• 19 January 2027, Zoom – 6.00pm
• 5 May 2027– 6.00pm, Tooley Street

>> Fostering Discovery Hour: Discover how you can change a child’s life

Canada Water Library. You already support, encourage and inspire children every day. Could you make that difference beyond the classroom? Discover how your skills could translate into fostering at our Fostering Discovery Hour. Find out what’s involved, the support and rewards available, and ask your questions in an informal setting. Please book your place.

• 10 September – 1.30pm, or online
• 23 September – 5.30pm

>> Creative Health: Better support for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing – 30 September

3.00pm to 4.30pm, The Foundry, SE11 5RR. Southbank Centre has joined up with NHS South East London Integrated Care Board and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to launch a new strategic partnership to develop a creative health programme for local children and young people in Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. Find out more via the link above.

>> Safeguarding in schools ‘Tackling Misogyny in Schools’ webinar – 22 October

12.30 to1.30pm, online. Southwark's Youth Justice Servicewill share practical tools, activities and approaches schools can use to explore male identities, social media, the manosphere and healthy relationships with young people, based on their new gender specific group-work programme for boys, 'Real-Talk'.

>> Southwark Transition Day – 30 June

Most Southwark secondary schools will be holding their Year 7 induction days on this date, providing an important opportunity to support pupils as they prepare for the next stage of their education.