Annual Governors Report to Parents

Annual Governors Report to Parents

School Governors

Name / Position
Mrs. A Morgan / Chairperson
Cllr. M L James / LA
Mr. Emlyn Williams / LA
Mrs. L Frame / Headteacher
Mr. Daniel Hawkins / Teacher
Mrs. C Tait / Parent Governor
Mrs. Claire Nicholls – De Freitas / Parent Governor
Mr. A Spedding / Parent Governor
Mrs. M Hunt / Community Governor
Mr. M.G Rhys Thomas / Staff Governor
Mrs. A Wilson / Clerk

Chairperson of Governors: Mrs Anita Morgan

Clerk to the Governing Body: Mrs Amanda Wilson

School Address: Llangiwg Primary School

New Road

Ynysmeudwy

Swansea

SA8 4PJ

School telephone number: 01792 863274

You may contact the above by letter or by phoning the school.

The Annual Governors Meeting is held in July

New Parent Governors will be elected once the three governors have completed their period of service. Election leaflets for Parent Governors will be distributed to every parent in school shortly before this time.

Staffing Structure 2012/2013

Head teacher: Mrs Linda Frame

Teaching Staff:

Teacher / Class / Number
Mrs. Sara Thomas / N/R / 11/8
Mr C Jones / R/1T / 8/7
Mrs. Caryl George / Y1/2 / 26
Mrs. Linda Frame/
Mrs K Thomas / Y3/4 / 19
Mr. Daniel Hawkins / Y5/6 / 21

Teaching Assistants:

Member of Staff / Post / Hours employed
Mrs. Lisa O’Brien / NNEB / 32.5hrs
Mrs. Alison Blackler / TA Level 2
Supervisory Assistant / 27.5hrs
5 hrs
Mrs. Karen Thomas / TA Level 2 / 15hrs
Mrs. Mary Fair / TA Level 2 / 27.5hrs
Mrs L Thomas / TA Level 2 / 27.5hrs

Ancillary Staff:

Member of Staff / Post / Hours employed
Mrs. Amanda Wilson / Admin Officer / 25 hrs
Mr. Rhys Thomas / Caretaker / 10hrs
Relief Cook / 20 hrs
Mrs. Ann Thomas / Kitchen Assistant / 10 hrs
Mrs. Cath Evans / Cleaner / 10 hrs
Mrs. Ellen Steadman / Cleaner / 10 hrs
Mrs Enfys Harris / Peripatetic Welsh Teacher / 1 hr every three weeks
Ms. Jane Thomas / Peripatetic Brass Teacher / 1 hr
Mr. Huw Jones / Music Coach / 2.5 hrs
Drama Coach / 5 hrs

1. Annual Meeting of the Governing Body.

The Annual meeting of the Governing Body was held on Monday 16th July 2011.

2. Results of the National Curriculum Statutory Assessments.

We take great pride in the children’s results at the end of the Foundation Phase and KS2. The school has performed very well when compared with local and national results. See Appendix 1 for a more detailed analysis.

3. Appointed Governors.

Councillor Mike James – Governor appointed by the LA 01/08/08 – 01/08/12.

Former Councillor Mr. Emlyn Williams – Governor appointed by the LA 11/-5/09 – 11/05/13.

4. Statement of the Financial Situation and the School Budget.

Appendix 3 gives a summary of the financial situation and the school budget.

No expenses were paid to the governors during the year since they do not claim subsistence costs or travelling costs.

5. National Curriculum Statutory Assessments

The schools National Curriculum (NC) Statutory Assessment results for KS2 are contained in Appendix 4

See Appendix 4

6. Additional Learning Needs

The school has a revised policy for pupils who have additional learning needs (ALN) or special educational needs (SEN) and who meet the criteria for additional support within the school setting and, when appropriate from special educational professionals provided by the Local Authority (LA).

The school aims to ensure that any child’s additional learning needs or special education needs are identified as early as possible thereby enabling them to fully access a broad, balanced and relevant education based on the Desirable Outcomes for pupils in the Foundation Phase (3-7 years) and the National Curriculum for pupils in Key Stage 2 (7-11 years).

Play Plans and Individual Educational Plans are written with the pupils and parents / carers. The targets for improvement are agreed and monitored by the teacher, the pupil and the parents / carers.

Pupils on the ALN register are monitored closely to ensure that appropriate progress is made. A range of strategies and resources support pupil’s learning and development.

The finance that is delegated to school for ALN purposes is used to pay staffing costs and to enrich the resources for teaching and learning.

Target groups have been established to support pupils on a daily basis.

Teaching Assistants are fully included in the process of planning, preparation and assessment. Teaching Assistants are also part of the process of performance management. Their professional development is monitored to ensure appropriate training is provided as appropriate.

During the academic year school has benefited from the support and guidance provided by a number of special educational professionals. These professionals have also undertaken assessments of specific pupils. They include:

Dr. Jane Maine – Educational Psychologist

Mrs Debbie Riall – Outreach Worker for Autism

Mrs Martha Rees – Advisory Teacher for Visually Impaired

Mrs. Jenny Davies – Occupational Therapist

Mrs. Jan Wanless – Occupational Therapist

Ms. Debra Douglas – Speech and Language Therapist

Mrs. Llinos Hopkin – Advisory Teacher for Speech and Language

Mrs. Hayley Lurvey – Teacher Development Officer for Learning Difficulties

The school Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) - Mrs. Linda Frame

Diagnostic tests are administered throughout the year as and when required. During the month of May each year National Foundation for Education Research (NFER) tests are undertaken by pupils in years 1-6. The test results enable the Local Authority to monitor school performance in English and Mathematics.

6c. Attendance

The Attendance and Punctuality Campaign continued this year. The campaign has had an obvious and positive effect, with most parents / carers phoning the school to report their child’s absence. Pupils’ attendance and punctuality is much improved, although a minority of pupils persist with unsatisfactory attendance and / or arrive late for school. There remains room for further improvement.

Attendance / 2011 / 2012
Attendance / 92.4 %
Authorised Absence / 7.5 %
Unauthorised Absence / 0.1 %

7. Setting Pupil Targets

Pupil targets are set on several levels. Individual pupils and teachers set their own targets regularly (as and when they are achieved) and record these on the front of their work books (Maths / English books) and on their I.E.Ps. Targets for the development of individual pupils are set in consultation with parents during monthly meetings.

These targets can be seen in children’s books and on Individual Education Plans or Play Plans, as appropriate.

Formal targets for achievement against National Curriculum Levels are set for pupils in Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6.

These targets are reported to the Local Authority.

The schools National Curriculum (NC) Statutory Assessment results for KS2 are contained in Appendix 4

See Appendix 4

8. Destination of School Leavers.

All Year 6 pupils will attend Cwmtawe Community School when they leave Llangiwg in July 2012.

9. Developing and Strengthening Links with the Community.

School maintains very good relations with the local community and during this year steps were taken to strengthen this relationship. These include making regular visits to Dan y Bryn Residential Care Home to share items from concerts and other learning experiences as well as inviting residents to attend school events.

Visitors to the school also help to strengthen links with the community. These include the School Community Police Office, PC Puckett; PCSO Mark Jones; the local fire brigade; local artist and writer Carole Hopkin; local historian John Richards; Meryl Hunt; secretary of Swansea Canal Society; Roger Dutton, projects officer at the Riverside Centre; librarians from Pontardawe Library; representatives from Neath Port Talbot Credit Union; representatives from Swansea City Football Club and the Ospreys Rugby Team and representatives from local and national organizations and charities.

10. Governors Targets for the School

The school Governors have a clear vision of how the school should develop over the next academic year. A summary of these targets is included in Appendix 2.

In addition, the Governors have set the following local targets for the school in 2013;

§  Improve Level 4+ Oracy outcomes to match the All Wales average

§  Increase the percentage of pupils achieving Level 5 in Mathematics by 10%

§  Increase the percentage of pupils achieving Level 4+ in Welsh Second Language by 10%

§  Increase the attendance figure to 93%

11. Cultural, Sporting and Other Successes.

The Governors take great pride that pupils at Llangiwg Primary School have excelled in various ways.

In September 2011, KS 2 pupils participated in the inaugural football tournament organized by the Cwmtawe Rotary Club.

Two pupils in Year 5 are Young Ambassadors for sports and have achieved a Bronze Award. They have organised various events to encourage pupils in KS2 to participate in sports such as squash, indoor bowls and golf.

In July the school held a ‘Mini Olympics’ event during which they paraded through Pontardawe bearing the Olympic torch and flags of ten countries. Pupils from Nursery to Year 6 took part in individual track and field events and were awarded gold, silver or bronze medals or a medal for endeavour as appropriate. The event was extremely successful and all parents / carers enjoyed the experience.

Cultural Achievements.

Pupils in KS2 have worked with a storyteller and write and produced their own stories which they have read to their peers and to visitors.

Several pupils have won art competitions organized by Tesco in Pontardawe. Customers are always delighted to see art work by pupils at Llangiwg.

A number of pupils in KS2 passed their brass instrument examinations.

Joshua Bath – Grade 1 Gold

Sophie Coates – Grade 1 Gold

Ceara Davies – Grade 1 Silver

Nia Probert –Grade 1 Gold

Joseff Nichols-De Freitas – Grade 3 Distinction

In March, school was visited by a Chinese teacher who gave pupils a presentation on China, its history, culture and economic success. Pupils were also included in a Tai Kwon Do demonstration.

Pupils in Y5/6 visited the Theatre Royal to watch dancers from Africa.

All pupils have contributed to drama workshops with Theatr Na Nog and Bombastic Productions.

Pupils in Year 5/6 have worked with a professional poet and read their poems to the residents of Dan Y Bryn Residential Care home. The poems have been published and every Year 6 pupil has been given a copy of the poetry book which contains their poems.

KS2 and Y2 pupils visited London and spent several hours at the Natural History Museum. They also had a flight on the London Eye and a coach tour of all the main sights.

Pupils in Reception and Year 1 went on a safari at West Midlands Safari Park.

Nursery pupils visited the Wetlands and Wildfowl Trust in Llanelli.

Pupils continue to visit Pontardawe Arts Centre, Pontardawe Library, Llangiwg Church, St Peter’s Church, the Riverside Centre and various sporting and leisure facilities in and around Pontardawe,

Care in the community is an important part of the school curriculum and we are extremely grateful for the continuing generosity. The following sums of money were contributed to the charities named below:

Children in need - £80

Barnardos - £50

Wish Upon a Star - £90.10p

Other Achievements.

School has achieved the first part of a two year assessment towards Phase 4 of the Healthy Schools Award.

A film crew from the Welsh Government spent a day filming all pupils under taking various types of reading activities. The footage has been edited and will be included in a training DVD which will be used by Estyn and the Welsh Government.

We appreciate the religious and secular addresses that are given in our assemblies by members of the community and we would like to thank them for their interesting and thoughtful contributions.

During July we have hosted work experience for four pupils from Cwmtawe Community School and one pupil from Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera. School has also provided placements for students from Swansea Metropolitan University, Neath Port Talbot College, Swansea College, Gorseinon College and Neath Port Talbot Skills and Training.

We maintain our connections with the local police by participating in the Crucial Crew event. PC Puckett supported our PSE programme and PCSO Mark Jones initiated a ‘Deputy Sherriff’ scheme involving pupils in Year 5.

Year 5/6 pupils have attended events and activity days organized for them by Cwmtawe Community School, These include:

§  Skills Day

§  Transition Day

§  Sports Day

§  Cwmatwe’s annual musical production

12. Review of School’s Policies and Strategies.

During the year, school took positive steps to review a number of policies and strategies.

Changes are made in response to new requirements or when the Welsh Assembly Government change / add to the compass of school work.

The following policies have been updated during the year:

Curriculum, English, Mathematics, Art, Geography, Music, Religious Education, Assessment for Learning, Behaviour, Global Citizenship, Sex Education, Sustainable Education, Performance Management, Safeguarding and School Letting.

During the school year, we have continued to update curricular schemes of work so as to conform to the requirements of the National Curriculum and the Foundation Phase outcomes. In implementing the schemes of work, we keep a balance between thematic and subject education.

Our arrangements for assessing pupils’ progress have been reviewed. Good practice has been added to satisfy current practice.

Our means of tracking pupil progress involves using INCERTS, portfolios of levelled work and Pupil Learner Profiles in Year 2 and Year 6.

It is school policy to invite governors to visit school to monitor standards and discuss new developments with class teachers, subject leaders and the headteacher, Governors are made aware of schemes of work and how they are applied and presented. Governors are also informed how pupils’ progress is tracked and recorded and how assessment for learning strategies are used to improve the quality of teaching and learning as well as raising pupil’s attainment.

Responsibilities for subjects across the curriculum have been delegated to all members of the governing body. Governors work closely with subject leaders to monitor standards.

Self Evaluation and the School Development Plan.