1. Parents’ Forum Thursday 14th June 2016

2. Parents/Guardians of the School
In Attendance
Parents/Guardians of the School
Councillor Teresa Sims, Chair of Governors of the School
Mrs Joanne Davies, Assistant Director, School Effectiveness St Helens Council
The Senior Leadership Team of the School

3. Developments Since March 17th Meeting
Ofsted Section 5 Monitoring Visits in March and June
Local Authority School Improvement Board Meetings
Industrial Action
Behaviour and Rewards Policy
New Website Finalised
Parent Mail to be fully run out in September

4. Industrial Action
On the 13th July 2016, the Head teacher and Chair of Governors of the school met with senior representatives of the NASUWT and the Archdiocese of Liverpool to discuss the recent disputes at the school. The discussions were facilitated by ACAS. As a result of these discussions the NASUWT have agreed to end the strike action at the school and end the continuous action short of strike action related to the local dispute. All parties have agreed to the issuing of this joint statement which further commits all parties to working constructively together towards the effective removal of special measures at the next Section 5 inspection due in the Autumn Term. Accordingly, none of the parties represented at the meeting anticipate that any further disruption will take place in the foreseeable future.
We hope this statement provides reassurance to parents that the important education of pupils at the school will continue without any further disruption.

5. Why has the Rewards and Sanctions Policy not rewarded good behaviour?
Questions/Queries
Why has the Rewards and Sanctions Policy not rewarded good behaviour?
On the Reward Trip
The eligibility criteria was inappropriate
A more transparent solution is required which rewards good behaviour
The whole event caused upset and has demotivated pupils
The school response
Recognition of parental and pupil concern and to offer a full apology to parents and pupils
To consider more regular rewards to motivate pupils
To plan a Rewards trip next half term which captures and rewards more pupils

6. Queries/Questions
2. Why has the School amended its Curriculum and its Options choices?
To ensure that all pupils can access a suitably challenging curriculum
To ensure that the curriculum offer is consistent with the National focus surrounding the E Bacc qualification and Progress 8 measure
The school response
The school must improve its communication of Options choices
The school has introduced a Learning Area structure from September which accommodates all subjects currently on offer

7. Queries/Questions The school response
3. What will the school do to ensure that the setting of homework becomes more consistent?
Learning areas will be supported by school leaders to raise the quality and consistency of homework from September
The school response
Governors will take a particular interest and receive reports
The QA calendar will be amended to spot check homework levels
Line management of learning areas being amended
Show my work is a good start but further monitoring is required

8. Queries/Questions School response
4. What is the school doing about supply staff?
A designated member of SLT to manage and monitor the quality of work set
Sickness levels have been tackled and long term supply has been cut
School response
School retains only one long term sickness issue
New staff employed in affected areas

9. Report End of Year Target/Result
5. How confident or cautious should parents feel to trust the accuracy of end of year outcomes….? 

10. School Response
Targets have been set this year to go beyond the government’s “expected progress” (which is based on pupils progressing 3 levels from the end of Year 6 to the end of Year 11.)  We have set targets for pupils based on at least 4 levels of progress across the full 5 years and each end of year target reflects this.
For next year, pupil targets are being reviewed in line with government changes which include the new GCSE 9-1 grading system to maintain challenge.
Pupil levels are subject to a departmental moderation process that occurs 3 times per year.  There has also been a wide range of external validation used across the school - e.g. visits from exam board moderators and cross-school moderation.

11. Communication (Mr Toal)
1. New Website
Non-Conform
(Providers of St Cuthbert’s and St Edward’s Liverpool)
2. New Communication Portal
Parent Mail

12. Other Important Updates
Validation from School Improvement Board on positive changes
The creation of a Teaching and Learning team to further improve standards
Linking with other local schools to effect positive changes
Re-structuring of the SLT to focus on key areas and increased capacity
Creation of a Behaviour lead in SLT to develop improved standards
Strong links with Primary schools continue
We know that Section 5 is due next term (November/December)

13. Other Important Updates
Appointment of new school Chaplain
Re-structuring of departments into Learning Areas
Section 48 Diocesan Inspection due in October
School participating in regular monitoring visits from the LA from September
Our predicted outcomes are positive