LEIGH ACADEMY

PARENTS’ FORUM

Minutes Of meeting held on Monday 16th November 2015

Attendees:

Academy staff: - Julia Collins-Principal Chaucer & Darwin,

Faye McGill-Principal Brunel and Da Vinci

Parents:

BRUNEL: -Natalie Bayford, Alice Nolan, Mandy Kennedy, Derek Kennedy, Helen Pearson, Kerry Bates

CHAUCER: Kim Semple, Sarah Jones

DA VINCI:-Julie-Anne Rodgers, Sarah Hutchings, Ellina Smith, Sandeep Veal

DARWIN: Andrew Collins, Kain Busfield, Jan Jennings

Apologies: Sharon Waterman-Trust Principal, Fiona Williams-Chair, Sharon Coles, N&P Fuller, Nicola Maffei, Dawn Trustam, Philippa Cromanty, Jacqueline Ellis

MINUTES

  • Welcome and apologies

Meeting chaired by Kerry Bates who welcomed everyone and gave apologies for those absent and read out email from parent complimenting staff on quickly dealing with and resolving a bullying issue.

  • Minutes of previous meeting –agreed.
  • Updates from previous meeting
  • SWI 0845 phone number-different number available now and will be on website. SWI service not all it should be for parents, school taken this up.
  • PE Kit list-On the uniform list the items are marked as compulsory and what is optional-this should clarify.
  • Course books-school looking at library to ensure at least one copy of everything in library.
  • Comments on reports-1 or 2 terms per year, the reports have comments for each year.
  • Principals

JC-Personal development and welfare.

Attendance 95.83% module 1

Rewards and consequences 7992 rewards.

Parents questionnaire (given out on tutor day)-Discussed main results, published on website, please that majority of parents happy with school.

FM-Quality of teaching and learning.

14 new teachers.

Lack of science & maths teachers in UK, so school looked further afield-Spain, Canada etc. New maths teacher starting January.

Completed observations across whole academy-

39% teachers outstanding

30% good

30% Requiring improvement-these teachers get support, coaching programme, staff buddy system, and compulsory personal development. School is acting quickly if teachers are not what school require.

Google Classroom (GC)-sign-up sheets in every admin window, if student have problems, use C number and I.T. will contact them. All teachers encouraged to use GC.

Y11 revision on GC started and 180 students using it to download.

Weds pm-staff been spotted in local area-purpose is to check students leaving in orderly way and building positive relationships with community around school by being proactive. Parent reported seeing good behaviour on the Weds afternoons.

  • Members Questions to principals

Q-Y6 open day-children that helped that day should have got 50 reward points for first Saturday and 70 for the second. Some have not got these points. Email if not received. JC to look into.

Q Stolen IPad-all replaced by insurance but what about the cover?

A Cover should be replaced too, taken details to look into.

Q 2015 GCSE final results out yet?

A 43% A-C inc eng & maths. Still challenging French results. Overall boards have marked at least 20% papers incorrectly. Certificates will be sent home.

Q Uniform-why blue skirts but black trouser for boys?

A-If parents wish to consider uniform change-place on agenda for next meeting.

7:40 Principals leave.

  • Governors’ update
  • None but KB (parent governor) saw the 11/11 two minutes silence-thought it was amazing, all students silent and respectful, could hear pin drop. Well done.
  • AOB and additional questions

Parent wanted it noted that tutor Leah McCue was very good, did everything she promised in the tutor day consultation and felt it was best interaction they’d had yet.

Also Miss Sherman got similar praise.

Parents noted maths situation across UK however still not happy how this affects students here.

Google Classroom discussed again amongst parents

Noted some students have E-cigarettes –peer pressure? What is schools stance on this?

Noted re P E Kit response but football boots are stated as compulsory but parents report child only wore them three times in one year and another said never worn in a year-perhaps this can be revisited.

Meeting ended 8.10.pm

Next meeting 7pm Monday 18th January 2016 Board Room.