Parents’ Forum 22 October 2012

Tonight’s agenda. Welcome and Introductions The concept of Parents’ Forums Protocols Updates on agenda items from 27 June Issues for discussion Next steps Date of the next forum

What is a Parents’ Forum? A group of parents and carers who meet once a term to discuss school-related issues. A Parent’s Forum provides a valuable way to listen to the ideas and concerns of families and seek their views, helping to make sure the needs of children and their families are met. Meetings led by school staff and governors, usually by the Headteacher and the Chair of Governors. A genuine opportunity for open discussion according to a pre-published agenda.

Why hold a Parents’ Forum? Regular, open communication and consultation with parents and carers are important elements in informing school improvement. This is another mechanism through which parents and carers can feed into the life and development of our school.

Sharing information. Parents and carers are encouraged to share information from Parents’ Forums with parents and carers of other children. It’s our intention to provide feedback in the school newsletter and via the school website.

Protocols for The Parents’ Forum. Agenda items should be tabled before the forum The agenda for each meeting will be published in the school’s newsletter. Parents & carers will be asked to register their interest in attending the next forum via Please note that all issues, whether you raise them yourself or on behalf of other parents/carers, should be general issues, not related to a specific child, teacher or incident. If you have specific concerns about your child your first point of contact should always be their form teacher/ head of year or the subject leader/head of department.

Issues for discussion. 1. Updates on discussion topics at the last forum Prospectus Communications ‘Strength Through Understanding’ 2. Ofsted: Ofsted April 2012 The new orders What do these mean for Linslade? 3. Homework: Changes made in April 2012 The view from home – have we got it right?

Updates: Prospectus

Updates: Communication Your concernsProgress to date Lack of customer service Staff have been made aware of your concerns. Letters are being checked by a member of SLT. Turn around time for responses We have publicised to staff and to families our intended turn around times. Lack of notice ahead of key events We aim to keep the calendar on the website up to date. Updates are in the weekly newsletter. Not knowing what is going on in school The newsletter is getting longer! Intention of publicising Head’s annual report to governors on the school website. Governors’ Newsletter on a termly basis. Information about the curriculum Still to be published: Parents’/Carers’ Guides to Year Group Curriculum! Information relating to pupil progress Autumn assessment data to be issued on Friday 16 November Consultation Evening 22 November

Updates: Strength Through Understanding It’s still with us – for now! There was a clear indication that few people really understood what the strapline means. Do we need a strapline? Concerns were expressed about the cost of changing the school’s branding. The way forward: – Consult with pupils, staff, governors, parents and carers. – Don’t act too quickly just for the sake of it; this could be a year in the planning!

Ofsted: Ofsted April 2012 The new orders What do these mean for Linslade?

Inspection judgements Linslade’s Judgements April 2012 Overall effectiveness 3 Achievement of pupils 3 Quality of teaching 3 Behaviour and safety of pupils 2 Leadership and management 3 Grade Judgement Description ( Pre September 2012) Grade 1 Outstanding These features are highly effective. An outstanding school provides exceptionally well for all its pupils’ needs. Grade 2 Good These are very positive features of a school. A school that is good is serving its pupils well. Grade 3 Satisfactory These features are of reasonable quality. A satisfactory school is providing adequately for its pupils. Grade 4 Inadequate These features are not of an acceptable standard. An inadequate school needs to make significant improvement in order to meet the needs of its pupils. Ofsted inspectors will make further visits until it improves.

Overall judgement This is a satisfactory school. It is not yet good because its leaders have not ensured that enough teaching is good across the school to support consistently good achievement, particularly in writing.

Achievement of pupils OFSTED SAID: Pupils have positive attitudes to learning. Their attainment on entry is often above the level expected for their age. All groups make satisfactory progress and leave school at the end of Year 8 with attainment that is above average in English and mathematics, although writing skills are a relative weakness. LINSLADE’S RESPONSE New base line and monitoring tests will be introduced throughout the school. More informative reporting on progress to the governing body. A focus on writing via ‘Literacy Across the Curriculum’. The appointment of a new Head of English from January 2013.

Teaching and Learning OFSTED SAID Teaching is satisfactory overall. It has some good features, such as teachers’ good subject knowledge and the setting of clear objectives for learning. Where teaching is satisfactory, too much teacher direction slows the pace of learning or the work could be more closely matched to the needs and abilities of the pupils. Marking sometimes does not provide enough guidance on how pupils’ work should improve, or ensure that pupils follow the advice given. LINSLADE’S RESPONSE: CPD on ‘Teaching and Learning’ September CPD on ‘Good and Outstanding Teaching’ and lesson observation techniques planned for 7 January Colleagues to attend training at Cedars on 26 October – this will be fed back to staff via voluntary training sessions. Formalisation of arrangements for CPD and sharing good practice from November Developmental work with middle leaders on using data to lead interventions in teaching and learning. New marking policy to be in place by January Quality assurance measures to be in place to assess impact and effectiveness.

Behaviour and Safety OFSTED SAID: Behaviour and safety are good. Both in lessons and around the school, pupils’ behaviour creates a positive learning and playing environment. They are courteous and friendly to visitors. Pupils feel safe and understand how to stay safe. The school has worked hard to maintain the rate of pupil attendance, which is above average. LINSLADE’S RESPONSE: Maintain high expectations of ALL members of the school community. Highlight punctuality to lessons – the bell has been reintroduced. Continue to develop support and guidance for all pupils as well as those deemed to be vulnerable. E.g. introduction of ‘ Early Birds’ sessions after half term. Maintain focus on high attendance. The school is now adhering to DfE guidelines to the authorisation of leave of absence in term time.

Leadership and Management OFSTED SAID: The leadership of teaching and management of performance are satisfactory. Senior staff are driving improvement and ensuring that more of the teaching is good or better. The role of middle leaders is underdeveloped in terms of monitoring the quality of teaching. The curriculum and a good range of extracurricular activities provide well- developed learning experiences that engage pupils’ interest well. LINSLADE’S RESPONSE: Introduction of new ‘Appraisal Policy ‘ and procedures. Published schedule for quality assurance to be in place by 5 November A focus on up-skilling middle managers; 9 colleagues will be attending twi-light management training sessions from November onwards. The development of a ‘Middle Managers’ Handbook’ by January Maintain wide range of extra curricular activities BUT look towards the quality of information given to parents/carers re: arrangements etc.

What does the school need to do to improve further? Accelerate the progress made by pupils and raise attainment by ensuring that teachers consistently: – use assessment information to set work that is closely matched to pupils’ abilities and needs – make sure all parts of the lesson engage and challenge pupils – give pupils written guidance on how to improve their work, and ensure they follow the advice provided. Raise attainment in English by providing regular opportunities for pupils to write at length. Strengthen the capacity of middle leaders to observe lessons and provide feedback to teachers on how they might improve. LINSLADE’S RESPONSE: Published schedule of quality assurance/monitoring at all levels. Focus on data informing planning and ensuring differentiation within lessons. Literacy Across the Curriculum. Training of all staff in observation and feedback. Senior team to monitor all aspects of QA and to feedback to governors on a termly basis.

New Ofsted Framework September 2013 Foci will be as before: – Overall effectiveness – Achievement – Teaching and learning – Behaviour and safety – The quality of leadership and management The process of inspection is intended to promote improvement. Inspectors will consider: – The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils. – The extent to which the education provided meets the needs of the range of pupils especially those with special educational needs.

However judgements have changed. Schools cannot be judged as ‘outstanding’ for overall effectiveness unless they have ‘outstanding’ teaching. An acceptable standard of education is defined as a ‘good’ standard of education. A school that is not yet ‘good’, but that is not judged ‘inadequate’, is a school that ‘requires improvement’ but where leadership and management are not ‘inadequate’, is a school with serious weaknesses. A school that is ‘inadequate’ overall, and where leadership and management are also ‘inadequate’, is a school requiring special measures. Schools that are judged as ‘requires improvement’ will normally be monitored and re-inspected within a period of two years; the timing of the re-inspection will reflect the individual school’s circumstances and will be informed by what inspectors find at the monitoring visits. If a school is judged as ‘requires improvement’ at two consecutive inspections and is still not ‘good’ at a third inspection, it is likely to be deemed ‘inadequate’ and to require special measures

When do we expect our next inspection? A school that was last inspected before September 2012 and judged to be ‘satisfactory’ is likely to be inspected, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005 (as amended), by the end of the school year 2013/14. It may also receive a monitoring inspection. We think any time between February 2013 and July 2014!

Immediate Priorities Teaching and Learning CPDPMQA Leading to Increased outcomes for all But without losing track of what makes us special! Staff morale & well-being ALLWILLNEEDTOBEEVIDENCEDALLWILLNEEDTOBEEVIDENCED

What can parents and carers do to support the school? Ensure pupils attend regularly. Encourage pupils to take a pride in their work – second best is not an option! Encourage punctuality – to school and to lessons. Supporting reading, writing and numeracy at home. Maintain a balance by telling us when we get it right ( as well as when we could do better!).

Ofsted: Any comments/observations?

Homework: Changes made in April 2012 The view from home – have we got it right?

Changes made in April 2012 In Years 5 and 6: Each child will receive homework in English and maths on a weekly basis. They will also receive either science or French homework, which is set in rotation. All pupils have a reading log and should spend a minimum of 30 minutes reading each evening. In Years 7 and 8: Homework is set in the core subjects of English, maths, science and French on a weekly basis. Pupils then complete a homework task in one additional foundation subject, which is allocated according to a published rota. Pupils should be spending at least 60 minutes on homework each evening.

Next Steps Evaluation Date of the next forum. Wednesday 6 February Discussion topics: – The format of reports – Consultation Evenings

Tonight’s agenda Welcome and Introductions The concept of Parents’ Forums Protocols Updates on agenda items from 26 June Issues for discussion Next steps Date of the next forum Thank you for coming this evening!