Post 16 Progression & Retention Parental Engagement Haybridge High School & Sixth Form In partnership with the Specialist Schools Trust

Project Schools 1.Haybridge High School 2.Wye Valley Sports College 3.Tewkesbury School 4.Wilnecote High School 5.Easingwold School 6.Salt Grammer School 7.Grange School 8.The John Kitto Community College 9.Biddenham Upper School 10.Northallerton College 11.Stantonbury Campus

Process of the Project Audit of Current Practices Case Study (new initiative) Toolkit

The Wye Valley School PARENT VOICE A New Look

Why involve parents The difference parents make Within school factors 8-20% Home factors 80%

Positive Difference Improved Academic achievement Increased Expectations Future Potential Economic Wellbeing Pupils are clear that ‘troublemakers’ do not have parental support for learning Parents need information they can use and understand More parental involvement Led by parents and staff in partnership Impacting on all areas of the school Linking to whole school areas Linking to the Governors Greater knowledge for all parents Link with Student Voice

STUDENT VOICE Student Leaders School Parliament Year Councils School Sports Council Year Councils Student Curriculum Panel Keystage groups Student Support Group Keystage Groups

SCHOOL PARLIAMENT PARLIAMENT LEADERS YEAR GROUP LEADERS YEAR COUNCILS TUTOR GROUP REPS

PARENT VOICE YEAR GROUP PARENTS PANELS TWO REPS FROM EACH TUTOR GROUP (10) HEAD OF YEAR PLUS MEMBER OF SLT

PARENTS PARLIAMENT PARENTS PARLIAMENT TWO REPS FROM EACH PARENTS PANEL (12) HEAD OF SIXTH FORM PLUS MEMBER OF SLT

SUMO 4 SCHOOLS Tewkesbury School A Personal Development Programme for Pupils with Potential Leadership Coaching Programme

Aims of the programme To tackle low aspiration and low achievement in a selected group pf Y12’s and Y10’s To raise confidence, self belief and self esteem through proven coaching techniques To involve parents in the coaching of their children SUMO Shut Up, Move OnOn Using a proven and highly successful coaching programme written by Paul McGee

How we went about this… Selected pupils who have the potential to influence others and increase their achievements and aspirations Selected Year 12’s as role models and to be coaches to the Year 10’s. Selected Year 10’s whose barriers to learning fit into the emotional intelligence area. Group & sessions with Years 10 & 12 Gave parents the chance to be involved in the coaching of their child Parent evenings / other contact

What strategies were used? In the group sessions the S.U.M.O. programme included the use of: Changing your T-shirt The BSE crisis (blame someone else) Developing fruity thinking Ditching Doris Day The Beachball

And for parents… Understanding their child’s personality Using the Beachball Addressing faulty thinking Developing emotional support at home (5 languages of love) in order to increase children’s self belief and positive attitude

Did S.U.M.O. work? All Y12’s completed the year & Increase in results Increased confidence, attendance, participation and awareness of future choices Active decisions in terms of peer groups Actual use of S.U.M.O. terms in lessons to (encouraging self and others

And parents… Positive feedback from parents at the meetings Enjoy the chance to be involved One parent expressed delight at her son making active decisions about his peer group

The future for Tewkesbury… To continue using To expand it’s use to students who have behaviour issues To continue to keep in touch with the last years leaders and coaches / coachees SUMO Shut Up, Move OnOn

Developing Parental Engagement Wilnecote High School

Key Objective To develop closer links between school and home, as a way of improving sixth form attainment 6 th Form increased rapidly – 45% Yr 11 Cohort Pass rate 93% Satisfactory results compared to Alis and CVA data

School Context Lack of parental support The catchment area Income is lower than the national average Higher lone parents Only 12% of the parents been through any form of higher education Low skilled jobs, unemployment being below the national average 30 – 40 % of the sixth form are eligible for EMA.

The Project To empower parents to fully support their children Production of a parental handbook Induction Evenings and Workshops Student shadowing It was felt that once parents valued sixth form education and felt able to support it, we could then move on to empowering parents into being an active part of the process. The main aim for this early part of the project is:-

Given out at Induction evening Used until Christmas Too much too soon! Changes:- A4 Folder Sections given out at appropriate times Additional useful information given – timetable, calendar etc Parental Handbook

Excellent attendance Established clear links BUT – follow up workshops not working due to lack of communication in the interim Induction Evening

Student Shadowing Ideal – parents attend lessons alongside the student – fully understand demands Barriers – staff and students unhappy, parents find it daunting

The Future Following on from the initiatives To enhance the frequency and quality of the dialogue between home and school To raise awareness with teaching staff of the importance of post 16 parental support Empower parents to be proactive by forming a parent’s council

Post 16 Progression & Retention Update Next Year