by Governors on 22 July 2010
Dear Parents,
Staffing: The Governors have appointed Mr Tim Coates as class teacher in Key Stage 2 for September. He was able to come into school last Friday to meet his class, as were Mrs Walmsley, Miss Ough and Mrs Barton. We are looking forward to welcoming them to our school and to working with them. We are pleased with the structure and balance of the staffing at both Key Stages as the result of the new appointments and feel that another good working team is evolving.
On Wednesday the Governors will be interviewing candidates to replace Mrs Kaz French as leader of the After School Club. Mrs French is in Holland at the moment, visiting her mother who is seriously ill. She has done excellent work to organise and run the after school activities. We would like to thank her and to wish her well.
Our love and thanks also go with Ms Price, Miss Winton and Miss Gordon for happy and successful futures in their new schools and to Mrs Bodenham, Mrs Harris and Mrs Hanks for long and happy retirements. We will remember them all with great affection.
Assessment: The Key Stage 2 SATs results achieved by the Year 6 pupils are as follows -
English: Level 4 and above 64%, Level 5 20%.
Reading: Level 4 and above 76%, Level 5 44%.
Writing: Level 4 and above 54%, Level 5 18%.
Maths: Level 4 and above 66%, Level 5 26%.
These results reflect the extremely hard work of staff and pupils in a slightly less academic cohort than the previous one. Most of the pupils have achieved the targets set for them by the school and have made good progress from the end of Year 2.
The Governors work with the teachers and Mr Hirst to analyse the children’s targets and achievements and to use the data to inform future learning. The process is a national requirement. It is rigorous, time consuming and essential to ensure as far as possible that children achieve their full potential at all ability levels. Mr Hirst and the Senior Management Team monitor teaching and learning and report to the governors. Our two subject coordinators, Ms Offer for English and Miss Gordon for Maths have worked with staff to provide improved resourcing and a high quality of curriculum delivery. All subject coordinators report to the Governor Curriculum Committee. We have recently received reports on Maths and on Assessment in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1.
The Governors would like to express their thanks to the teachers and the teaching assistants for their dedication throughout the school over the year. Good results at the top are not achieved only in the children’s final year, but by what is done in every class as the children go through from the Foundation Stage to Year 6.
The Travel Plan: The Governor Environment Committee is making enormous efforts to improve on our traffic problems in Grove and Lee Road. We will all need to be particularly vigilant next term while the much needed building work takes place at the Pre School.
The Health and Safety Inspector from Oxfordshire has written to say that the school has maintained its high standard. We were relieved and pleased by her report. An Action Plan to deal with issues raised in the report is now being implemented.
The Budget: monitored by the Finance Committee is on course and has been adjusted to cover revised staff salaries.
The Parent Questionnaire: The data from the questionnaire is now on the website and Mr Hirst has explained in his newsletter that further consultation on it will be carried out next term. Many thanks to the 85 parents who took part. I have attached a short analysis of the comments for you all to consider.
Members of the Governor Strategy Committee would be interested to know how to involve more of you. Please remember that we like you to give us your ideas through the Suggestion Box in the office.
We are still awaiting the results of the Children’s Questionnaire.
Finally: When I read the Newsletters or come into school, I am always struck by the wide range of activities and challenges given to the children in sport and other areas to broaden their experiences – which make ours such an exciting school. Well done children, staff and parents! Well done PTA for you excellent work. Well done Headteacher and staff! Have a wonderful holiday and come back refreshed to Sonning Common Primary or to new secondary schools.
I would like to say a very special thank you to the Governors for all they have done for the school this year.
Yours sincerely,
JMJ.Million
Jackie Million, Chair of Governors.
by Governors on 5 July 2010
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the Parent Survey. We’ve had a lot of very good comments along with the survey which the governors are reviewing and will report back as soon as we’ve had a chance to assimilate and produce an action plan.
We were encouraged by the number of positive comments that we were given.
To give you some initial feedback, we include the statiscal data from the survey. There were 85 responses over 7 days.
| I believe that standards of achievement are high. |
Agree ---> Disagree
|
| 1 - |
Agree |
43 |
…… |
51% |
| 2 |
|
36 |
…… |
42% |
| 3 |
|
2 |
…… |
2% |
| 4 - |
Disagree |
2 |
…… |
2% |
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. |
-
| I believe that standards of achievement are high. |
Agree ---> Disagree
|
| 1 - |
Agree |
32 |
…… |
38% |
| 2 |
|
42 |
…… |
49% |
| 3 |
|
8 |
…… |
9% |
| 4 - |
Disagree |
1 |
…… |
1% |
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. |
-
| I believe pupils and teachers respect one another. |
Agree ---> Disagree
|
| 1 - |
Agree |
45 |
……. 53% |
| 2 |
|
34 |
…… 40% |
| 3 |
|
4 |
……… 5% |
| 4 - |
Disagree |
0 |
……… 0% |
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. |
-
| I am made to feel welcome in the school. |
Agree ---> Disagree
|
| 1 - |
Agree |
55 ….. |
65% |
| 2 |
|
24 ….. |
28% |
| 3 |
|
2 ……. |
2% |
| 4 - |
Disagree |
2 …… |
2% |
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. |
-
| I believe the school has strong links with the community. |
Agree ---> Disagree
|
| 1 - |
Agree |
50 ….. |
59% |
| 2 |
|
22 ….. |
26% |
| 3 |
|
9 ….. |
11% |
| 4 - |
Disagree |
1 ….. |
1% |
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. |
-
| I believe the Values of the school contribute to the education of the children. |
Agree ---> Disagree
|
| 1 - |
Agree |
55 ….. |
65% |
| 2 |
|
21 ….. |
25% |
| 3 |
|
6 ….. |
7% |
| 4 - |
Disagree |
0 ….. |
0% |
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. |
-
| I am happy to approach staff if there is a problem. |
Agree ---> Disagree
|
| 1 - |
Agree |
57 ….. |
67% |
| 2 |
|
21 ….. |
25% |
| 3 |
|
4 ….. |
5% |
| 4 - |
Disagree |
0 ….. |
0% |
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.
|
-
| I believe the school is open to innovation in its approach to education. |
Agree ---> Disagree
|
| 1 - |
Agree |
48 ….. |
56% |
| 2 |
|
27 ….. |
32% |
| 3 |
|
8 ….. |
9% |
| 4 - |
Disagree |
0 ….. |
0% |
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. |
-
| I feel boys and girls are given equal opportunities to reach their potential. |
Agree ---> Disagree
|
| 1 - |
Agree |
59 ….. |
69% |
| 2 |
|
15 ….. |
18% |
| 3 |
|
8 ….. |
9% |
| 4 - |
Disagree |
0 ….. |
0% |
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. |
-
| I feel the school promotes positive attitudes to all people regardless of abilities. |
Agree ---> Disagree
|
| 1 - |
Agree |
50 ….. |
59% |
| 2 |
|
23 ….. |
27% |
| 3 |
|
8 ….. |
9% |
| 4 - |
Disagree |
0 ….. |
0% |
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. |
by Governors on 5 July 2010
| I feel the school promotes positive attitudes to all people regardless of race. |
Agree ---> Disagree
|
| 1 - |
Agree |
66 ….. |
78% |
| 2 |
|
13 ….. |
15% |
| 3 |
|
2 ….. |
2% |
| 4 - |
Disagree |
0 ….. |
0% |
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. |
-
| I believe communication between the school and parents is good. |
Agree ---> Disagree
|
| 1 - |
Agree |
24 ….. |
28% |
| 2 |
|
45 ….. |
53% |
| 3 |
|
9 ….. |
11% |
| 4 - |
Disagree |
5 ….. |
6% |
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. |
-
| My child has a positive attitude to school. |
Agree ---> Disagree
|
| 1 - |
Agree |
52 ….. |
61% |
| 2 |
|
20 ….. |
24% |
| 3 |
|
9 ….. |
11% |
| 4 - |
Disagree |
1 ….. |
1% |
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. |
-
| I think the school listens to my views. |
Agree ---> Disagree
|
| 1 - |
Agree |
43 ….. |
50% |
| 2 |
|
25 ….. |
29% |
| 3 |
|
9 ….. |
10% |
| 4 - |
Disagree |
4 ….. |
5% |
People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.
|
-end-
by Governors on 18 May 2010
Governors were invited to the school on the morning of 18th May to see a visit by BBC Radio Berkshire. They were visiting the school to include live on-the-air interviews with children and staff on the morning show. They were inspired by the School’s ‘SCPS Radio’, an innovative enterprise pioneered by Matt Lovegrove, the ICT Co-ordinator.
Maggie Philbin, who has presented Tomorrow’s World, interviewed children in a special assembly and the interviews went out live on the Andrew Peach morning show at Radio Berkshire. Shannon and Emily were interviewed and described how their idea for a newspaper evolved into a full school radio station. Chris Hirst, the headteacher, and Penny Snowdon, head of the PTA gave their support to the project and were also interviewed live on the proramme as were a couple of parents. Maggie was very popular, with swarms of fans getting her autograph before she left.
The BBC technician Colin Evans, who gave up a day off to help transmit the show, said “it was always a pleasure to come into schools”. Colin also does a gardening show at the radio station.
Glyn Davies, the governor responsible for school publicity, ensured good coverage for the event.
This was a very successful morning with excellent exposure for the school. Sonning Common Primary offers some very good opportunities for young people to make a difference, and now the listeners of Radio Berkshire all know it.
Here are a few photos from the day:
-
-
Matt shakes hand with Colin Evans
-
-
The SCPS Radio Team by the BBC Radio Berkshire van
-
-
Maggie by the outside broadcast van
-
-
Maggie signing an autograph
-
-
Colin talking with a couple of keen students
Andy Lovell, ICT Governor
by Governors on 22 April 2010
On Wednesday 21st April we had a visit by Peter Callow who gave a presentation to Staff and Governors on Ofsted’s Revised Framework for Inspection which came in force in September 2009. He gave an animated and well informed talk, often regaling us with his experiences of inspections over the years. As a previous headmaster, and more recently as an inspector he has had a wealth of experience to call upon.
A lot of ground was covered in just an hour-and-a-half. On the revised Framework the key points are:
- Increased focus on attainment, with new definitions of attainment, achievement and progress
- Increased emphasis on ‘the school’s capacity for sustained improvement’
- Importance of all the ‘outcomes’ for pupils
- A focus on the outcomes for different groups of pupils, as well as individuals
- Closer attention to ‘the effectiveness of safeguarding procedures’.
Schools judged to be good or better at their last inspection are likely to be inspected once every five years. At the three year mark they will get a confirmation letter that it will not be inspected in the following year unless there is a particular reason.
The period of notice will be one or two days, which is shorter than previously.
Self Evaluation Form
The Self Evaluation Form (SEF) is a detailed self-evaluation questionnaire which all schools are required to keep up to date. The new SEF is linked to a new evaluation schedule which will be used for inspections. The SEF should be used to help guide an inspection team to see the strengths of the school. It should promote and celebrate what you are good at.
Recommendations
Peter recommended that all staff and governors should get to know their school and be able to demonstrate that knowledge. This would be done by showing familiarity with the strengths and weaknesses of the school from published figures and records of attainment.
He encouraged us to gather evidence that backed up any judgements and assertions on how good we were. In particular, he emphasised the use of case studies, as being a very powerful demonstration of successes.
Increasingly, inspectors will be talking to children to see how well they understand their own individual targets.
Even with low achieving cohorts, the inspectors will be looking for those things that will improve the life chances of those children when they leave school.
In summary, an inspection will be looking for the biggest capacity to improve. The three main areas it will look for:
- Quality of Self Evaluation
- The track record of improvement
- The school’s ability to overcome barriers
