Capacity Building Roddensvale School A Case Study

What the inspectors said … A notable feature is the excellent ethos of celebration and the breadth of enriching curriculum activities which are offered to the pupils. There is an explicit and clear sense of purpose shared by the staff and underpinned by high expectations of the pupils.

Mission Statement We spend time developing our mission statement and aims. We spend time developing our mission statement and aims. These are child centred and that drives all that we do in raising capacity for everyone involved with the school These are child centred and that drives all that we do in raising capacity for everyone involved with the school

Background Information Roddensvale School has 85 pupils, 11 teachers and over 30 classroom assistants Roddensvale School has 85 pupils, 11 teachers and over 30 classroom assistants We have 1 VP and 2 senior managers We have 1 VP and 2 senior managers We all embrace professional development to build capacity We all embrace professional development to build capacity Governors are long serving and highly skilled Governors are long serving and highly skilled We have developed our school community as a resource We have developed our school community as a resource

We have put a great deal into staff development We audit areas of need through subject coordinators We audit areas of need through subject coordinators We target staff development matched to the needs of the school We target staff development matched to the needs of the school We link staff development to our school development plan We link staff development to our school development plan We utilize our staff expertise for in-service We utilize our staff expertise for in-service We also use our school based health professionals to build capacity We also use our school based health professionals to build capacity

We have also enabled others We organized a menu day for NEELB (Feb 09) We organized a menu day for NEELB (Feb 09) We developed a reading scheme with CCEA We developed a reading scheme with CCEA We also developed our own internal school reading scheme We also developed our own internal school reading scheme We have had associate teachers on the partnership management board. We have had associate teachers on the partnership management board. We have links with Stranmillis (3rd year music students) We have links with Stranmillis (3rd year music students)

Enabling (continued) We have delivered ABA In-service training at menu days and for the Area Learning Community We have delivered ABA In-service training at menu days and for the Area Learning Community We took an Educational Visit to South Carolina (including 12 from the Roddensvale Choir) We took an Educational Visit to South Carolina (including 12 from the Roddensvale Choir) We attend courses in England and after school We attend courses in England and after school Staff complete a proforma after every course and state how they will disseminate what they have learned Staff complete a proforma after every course and state how they will disseminate what they have learned We started an early intervention project which has led to the development of a nursery We started an early intervention project which has led to the development of a nursery We have piloted a range of courses for pupils based on need We have piloted a range of courses for pupils based on need

What do parents think? Strongly Agree AgreeDisagree Strongly Disagree N/A Dont Know My child is happy at school. 82%18%0%0%0% Staff and pupils have good relationships. 82%18%0%0%0%

This survey was anonymous Strongly Agree AgreeDisagree Strongly Disagree N/A Dont Know The arrangements for my son/daughter to settle in when he/she started school were good. 82%18%0%0%0% The school makes the interior attractive and welcoming. 85%15%0%0%0%

No money changed hands! Strongly Agree AgreeDisagree Strongly Disagree N/A Dont Know Teaching is good. 71%21%0%0%8% SENIOR PUPILS - My child is being adequately prepared for life after school. 69%31%0%0%0% I am satisfied with the progress my child is making. 71%26%0%0%3%

We are proud of the results Strongly Agree AgreeDisagree Strongly Disagree N/A Dont Know My child enjoys P.E. in school. 68%23%3%0%6% The school is welcoming to parents/carers. 79%21%0%0%0% The school keeps my informed about my childs progress. 79%21%0%0%0% The school keeps me well informed about what is happening in the school. 76%24%0%0%0%

Parents seem to value what we do Strongly Agree AgreeDisagree Strongly Disagree N/A Dont Know I feel comfortable about approaching the school with questions or a problem or complaint. 82%15%0%0%3% The school asks for parents/carer views on issues. 62%32%0%0%6% The school takes account of parents concerns or suggestions. 68%29%0%0%3% The school has a good reputation in the community. 85%15%0%0%0%

We also asked staff Strongly Agree AgreeDisagree Strongly Disagree N/A Dont Know There is satisfactory monitoring, evaluation and development of teaching and learning 9%79%3%0%9% The school identifies appropriate priorities and targets, takes any necessary action and reviews progress on them 9%70%12%0%9% The school has an explicit Mission Statement, aims and values, including a commitment to good relationships between staff/pupils/parents 21%73%0%3%3%

This also was anonymous Strongly Agree AgreeDisagree Strongly Disagree N/A Dont Know Pupils work and achievements are celebrated 36%43%21%0%0% The system of PRSD is firmly embedded in the culture of the school and helps to identify areas for continuing professional development 3%61%12%0%24% Learning resources, including the school buildings and grounds, are adequate for the curriculum and pupils 27%64%3%6%0%

This helps us prioritise Strongly Agree AgreeDisagree Strongly Disagree N/A Dont Know The school encourages positive behaviour 33%58%6%3%0% There is equal opportunity for staff development and training opportunities 9%58%18%15%0% Communication within the school is good 0%34%42%24%0%

Try this in your school! Strongly Agree AgreeDisagree Strongly Disagree N/A Dont Know I am aware of the procedures to deal with Child Protection 48%52%0%0%0% The school has a good public image 49%45%6%0%0% I am happy working in Roddensvale 27%58%9%6%0%

We have built capacity We attended our area learning community inset day We attended our area learning community inset day We established a SENCO sub group We established a SENCO sub group We coordinated the meetings and set the agenda based on the needs of the group We coordinated the meetings and set the agenda based on the needs of the group We aspire to develop this and also assist our primary schools in the area We aspire to develop this and also assist our primary schools in the area

We have experienced some barriers to building capacity We feel there is a lack of strategic planning We feel there is a lack of strategic planning There is a lack of time/money/resources There is a lack of time/money/resources We all have too much stress/pressure We all have too much stress/pressure Legal cases have been an issue and even though we won they have influenced relationships with parents Legal cases have been an issue and even though we won they have influenced relationships with parents Job Evaluation/Appointments etc have undermined staff working relations Job Evaluation/Appointments etc have undermined staff working relations

We recognised some positives for capacity building Having an informed SDP drawing from surveys and self evaluation helps Having an informed SDP drawing from surveys and self evaluation helps We try to be inclusive with policies and decision making We try to be inclusive with policies and decision making We have positively recruited staff with expertise We have positively recruited staff with expertise We aim to secure good staff working relationships We aim to secure good staff working relationships We have used professional development opportunities such as PQH to drive capacity We have used professional development opportunities such as PQH to drive capacity We find a positive mission statement and aims developed by all staff assists us We find a positive mission statement and aims developed by all staff assists us

What works for me? I have found that attending RELEVANT courses is productive I have found that attending RELEVANT courses is productive I network with like minded colleagues I network with like minded colleagues I encourage autonomy I encourage autonomy I try to develop good leaders I try to develop good leaders I delegate! I delegate! I often bring buns on Friday!! I often bring buns on Friday!! I try to get a life outside school!!!! I try to get a life outside school!!!!