Welcome to the Berry Education Newsletter!
Stay updated with the latest statutory changes, best practices, regulatory updates and compliance requirements.
Some of this month’s Newsletter stories:
- TrustGov 2.0 Announcement (our biggest update yet)
- Pupil Premium and Recovery Premium Evaluation
- DFE Report Explores the Link Between Attendance and Attainment
🐰 The Berry Education team wish you a fantastic Easter holidays 🐰
Smarter Governance With TrustGov 2.0 – Upcoming Features!
After taking feedback from our users and working extremely hard in the background, we are happy to announce that TrustGov 2.0 (our biggest update yet) will be releasing April 25th.
Managing governance is going to be even faster, easier and more efficient with the upcoming TrustGov changes!
📅 New Calendar & Meeting Views
Global Calendar (Monthly View) → Provides a high-level overview of governance activities across your whole Trust, making long-term planning easier.
Organisation Calendar (Year-Long List View) → Offers a structured, at-a-glance view of all meetings for the entire year, helping teams spot gaps, avoid scheduling conflicts, and stay organised.
New Meetings List Screen (Focused on Current Term/Year) → Ensures users can quickly find and manage the meetings most relevant to them in the current term, rather than sifting through irrelevant past events.
🏢 Smarter Organisation Selector
The new organisation layout makes navigating between organisations faster and more intuitive, saving time when managing a large amount of schools within your Trust.
🔔 Governance Notifications Hub
Centralise all your key updates, including meeting invites and compliance declarations, into one easily accessible header. Now, staying on top of important actions and deadlines is simpler than ever, helping you save time and ensure nothing gets missed.
And that’s not all! Click the button below to learn more about all of the TrustGov 2.0 feature changes.
Pupil Premium and Recovery Premium Evaluation
The Department for Education (DfE) has released an evaluation report on the pupil premium and recovery premium, exploring how schools and academy trusts allocate and use these funds. It details the strategies implemented and examines their reported effects, offering insights into their impact on educational support.
DFE Report Explores th Link Between Attendance and Attainment
A research report by the DfE indicates that higher school attendance is linked to improved academic achievement. Pupils with higher attendance rates at Key Stage 2 (KS2) and Key Stage 4 (KS4) were more likely to attain positive outcomes in 2022-23.
The study found that missing 10 days of school in Year 6 (KS2) reduced the likelihood of meeting the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths by 25%. Similarly, for Year 11 students, it nearly halved their chances of securing a grade 5 in English and Maths.
DFE Announces £80 Million Solar Panel Funding for Schools
Approximately 200 schools will receive a share of £80 million in funding from Great British Energy to install rooftop solar panels. Installation is set to begin this summer, with an average school expected to save around £25,000 annually on energy costs.
The initiative will mainly support schools in deprived areas across the North East, West Midlands, and North West, with a minimum of 10 schools selected in each region.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, “With this investment, we are supporting teachers and delivering for young people—helping schools save thousands on energy bills so they can reinvest in providing a high-quality education for every child.”
All Councils to Recieve Funding to Restore Family Services
In 2025-26, every council in England will see their funding for preventative services more than double, following a £500 million investment aimed at strengthening family and parenting support. This initiative seeks to enable earlier intervention and safeguard children from harm.
The funding will help create a single ‘front door’ for support services in every local area, guiding families on where and how to access help. Additionally, thousands of Family Help Leads will be assigned to coordinate support for families in need.
NGA’s Annual Governance Survey 2024 highlighted the growing pressures on schools, with 51% of respondents reporting an increase in additional services over the past year to address broader societal challenges.
Commenting on the funding announcement, Minister for Children and Families, Janet Daby said: “Whether seeking help with supporting a child’s development or for substance misuse, families can feel assured that they will get the right help at the right stage”.