This week I highlight a Confederation of School Trusts blog on things governors might want to consider before joining a Trust, publication of NSPCC guidance on protecting LGBTQ+ pupils in sport, confirmation of an additional bank holiday on 8 May for the King’s coronation and the announcement of an Ofsted review of CEIAG in schools.

Joining an academy trust: 5 things to keep in mind
The Confederation of School Trusts (CST) is the national organisation and sector body for trusts in England.  The CST’s Director of public affairs and policy, Sam Skerritt, has written a blog suggesting what governing bodies might want to consider before joining a trust.

Guidance on safeguarding LGBTQ+ pupils in sport
The NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit has published guidance on how to effectively safeguard LGBTQ+ pupils in sport and create a supportive and welcoming culture for all. This includes advice on terminology, language and attitudes, and links to relevant resources.

Schools to close on 8 May 2023
The DfE has now confirmed that schools and settings which are normally closed on a bank holiday should close for the bank holiday on 8 May 2023 to mark King Charles III’s coronation. This date is scheduled to be the first day of KS2 SATs; the DfE says the Standards and Testing Agency will update schools on what this means for KS2 test week as soon as possible.

Ofsted announces thematic review of careers guidance in schools, further education and skills providers
Ofsted says it will review careers guidance in mainstream provision and in specialist settings, including special schools and alternative provision, and provide recommendations to improve practice. The review will be published in Autumn 2023. Inspectors will assess:

• How well school leaders fulfil their statutory duties and ensure careers education is of high quality.
• The extent to which schools engage with stakeholders, e.g. employers, and ensure that careers education contributes to local, regional and national opportunities and skills needs.
• How the curriculum helps pupils make informed choices about their future education, employment and training.