Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children Walter Disney

What’s it all about?

What does Investors in Pupils mean? People who put lots of energy and effort into making something better. You!

Investors in Pupils all started in Leeds in the Midlands and it is an award that is being taken on by many schools across the country. It is building on the elements of Investors in People, but it is an award just for schools. We are excited that it is new to Wales and if we achieved the award this summer we will be the second school in Wales.

Why are we working towards the award at Rhydypenau? Investors in Pupils At its heart is pupil voice and pupil participation. Investors in Pupils helps pupils find out about their school, the jobs of everyone in it and that the school has a budget. It supports them in setting targets for the class and for themselves whilst recognising the importance of the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved in their education, and how they as pupils can make a difference.

Why are we doing it? Investors in Pupils ( I.i.P.) schools say that their children are happier, better behaved and know more about their own and others’ learning. We already have so many aspects of this award in place. “Pupil voice is at the heart of our school!” Susie, yr 6.

What impacts do schools see as a result of doing the standard? These are very varied but include: Resources being more respected, because pupils understand that everything has a cost. Support staff are more respected because pupils understand that they have an equally important job to do, as everyone else. Pupils become more involved in school life. Pupils start to like targets and understand why everyone needs them! It helps schools identify examples of good practice in individual classes and make them consistent across the school.

Investors in pupils The importance of pupil voice and children feel like their ideas are being heard and valued. Children are at the heart of learning! Children to have pride of their school and teachers work in partnership with children and parents.

Participation means that it is my right to be involved in making decisions, planning and reviewing any action that might affect me. Having a voice, having a choice ‘Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011

Investors in pupil areas: Learning Induction Behaviour Attendance Classroom management

‘The 5 Areas’ Click to find out what each Area is all about. Learning – for Investors in Pupils, everyone chooses their own learning target to work towards. It can be for anything at all that you find tricky, not just writing or number work. You’ll find out about some of the learning that the grown-ups in school do too. Induction – this word is to do with how we make visitors or new people feel welcome in our classrooms and school. Your room should have a special “Induction Book” to show them all about you and your class. Behaviour – every class agrees a set of rules or a “Mission Statement” which says how you want your class to be. Everyone must try hard to make their class the best it can be. The lunchtime supervisors and other grown-ups in school might visit your class to talk about the behaviour they see, and how we can all help make it even better. Attendance – this word is to do with coming to school and coming on time. It is also about being in the right place at the right time in school, such as coming in after playtimes. Classroom Management – this is to do with keeping your learning space clean and tidy. Your class could agree on a goal to try harder with something if there is a specific problem in your room. Can you think of one goal to aim for, for each of these 5 Areas? Write down your ideas… they could be your first set of “Class Goals”.

Research commissioned by the Welsh Governmentin suggests that: Developing children and young people’s participation in decision-making has benefits for individuals, organisation and communities. Children and young people who participate in decision- making enjoy enhanced self-esteem and motivation, gain important personal,social and organisational skills, and become familiarwith group and democratic processes

Induction books Class Handbook Each class have made their own class handbook aimed at helping new children and staff settle into the school routine. School day times – break, lunch, assemblies Classroom rules, school rules A page on each child. “All about me page”. Name of school/ logo / classroom monitors Where to find resources Class timetable PE clothing- PE days Photos of your classroom, topics Reward systems School clubs Adults who work in the class Adults who work in the school

Areas within our classroom: Class mission statements Class target Individual targets Handbook/ induction booklet Roles and jobs in the class. I.I.P Signs up everywhere! Pupils should know the roles of the staff at the school (including Governors). Have an understanding of budget. (running assemblies.

Here are the schools that have achieved the award. We could be the second in Wales!

If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn

☻A☻A school council is a group of pupils- voted in- representatives from year 3 to year 6 ☻T☻Take forward projects ☻I☻Involved in making decision regarding the School Development Plan ☻A☻Attend Governing body meetings ☻P☻Pupil voice The school council must: ☻R☻Represent all pupils and include as many people as possible; ☻T☻Take time to listen to all pupils and communicate their views; ☻F☻Feed back to pupils about what happened about their views; ☻M☻Make things happen – or explain why they can’t!

☻ Organise the fruit tuck shop ☻ Introduce and decide winners for competitions ☻ Show visitors around our school

☻ Interview new teachers to the school ☻ We chat with Mrs Carney about lunches ☻ We look through suggestion boxes and discuss the ideas ☻ Stage area

☻ Decided upon the gazebo ☻ Half term assemblies ☻ Investors in Pupils- shadowing staff, budget, creating class booklets

☻ Saying what you think about what and the way you learn; ☻ Being asked your views through, questionnaires, circle-time and suggestion boxes ☻ We are such an important part of our school!

If you would like to know anymore about pupil voice have a look online.

Rhydypenau Eco School

What Does Eco Schools Cover? There are 8 main topics: Litter Energy Water Transport BiodiversityWaste Reduction Healthy Living School Grounds

Our Eco Code Designed by Cerys Lewis of 5E

Our Eco Committee These children have been voted in by you to become members of our Eco Committee. Talk to them if you have any Eco ideas or are interested in joining Eco Club!

Our Eco Club These children are the children who attend the lunchtime Eco Club on a Wednesday. Approximately children attend and they complete a range of activities: Litter picks Maintaining the conservation area Picking vegetables/fruit in the allotment Developing the Ty Twt area Planting seeds and trees

We need to achieve 3 things over the next 2 years: 1.Build a Ty Twt Eco (Little Eco House) from as many different recycled materials as we can! 2.Get fun new bins for the playgrounds. 3.Use less electricity! Action Plan Update March 2014

How are we doing? The foundations are in, and we have begun to construct the walls using old pallets and plywood which was donated by a local company. 1. Build the Ty Twt Eco

2. Buy Fun New Bins! How are we doing? We had a ‘WEAR GREEN FOR EC0’ day on the last day of term (APRIL 11 TH ). We raised £192 to put towards the cost of fun new bins! The PTA have also said they will help us by giving us some additional money!

3. Use Less Electricity! How are we doing? Eco Club have been working hard to sticker all of the light switches in our school! We have met with Mr Preece from Cardiff Council and he is helping us to monitor our energy usage! DO NOT SWITCH ME ON! SWITCH ME ON BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE TO! TRY TO ONLY USE ME!

Please Help Us! Even if you’re not in Eco Club you can still help! Please turn off any electric item that is not being used and if you see any litter in the school ground pop it in the bin! Eco Schools Wales will be coming in to assess us in May or June, and they will spend a day in the school asking you questions about Eco and what we are doing! Make sure you know!!