Rainey Endowed School Audit
2012-13
Introduction
The Rainey Endowed School carries out a biannual audit of the opinions of parents and pupils in order to enhance the educational provision offered by the school and to inform school development planning. Parents who attend parent-teacher meetings in school are asked to complete a questionnaire to express their views on the school facilities and provision and pupils have the opportunity to express their views by completing an online survey. In this audit report the analysis is based on a return of 321 parental questionnaires and 217 pupil questionnaires.
The format of the report reflects the areas directly relevant to the educational provision offered by the Rainey Endowed School; the school ethos and relationships within school, pastoral care, learning and teaching, the extra-curricular programme, communication with pupils and parents and school facilities.
While every effort has been made to represent the views of individual pupils and parents it is not possible to include all of these. Where individuals have drawn attention to issues not referred to in this report, they are encouraged to contact the school to discuss these concerns and the actions taken to address them.
Statistical summaries of the views of parents and pupils are included in the appendix of the report along with the school’s suggested actions to meet the concerns that have been identified.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who contributed to the audit process and in particular the many parents and pupils who took considerable time to provide detailed comments, many of which were highly complimentary of the work of the school.
School Ethos and Relationships within school
Staff at the Rainey School believe that quality education is built on effective partnerships between teachers, pupils and parents. In order to achieve this, the school endeavours to maintain a caring and family ethos and develop beneficial relations with pupils and parents. This ambition seems to recognised and valued by pupils and parents as 94% of pupils indicated that they enjoyed school while 86% said that teachers listened to what they had to say and 90% said that their issues and concerns were dealt with adequately. 90% of pupils said they felt comfortable approaching teachers with their concerns and 96% felt that they got support from teachers to help them do their best. One pupil summed up the bond between staff and pupils by stating that: “pupils are able to have a very good relationship with teachers who understand them.” Some pupils explained the caring ethos of the school with one noting that:” Not only is the Rainey an excellent academic school but also they support you and the staff listen to you and hear what you have to say. In the Rainey everyone cares for you and looks out for you” and another had encouraged potential pupils by stating: “The Rainey is a very good school! I would gladly tell P7's to attend this school!” OneYear 14pupil summed up their school experience in three words: “I love it” and another Year 12 pupil expressed a similar view:” I love my school and it is the best choice I have made to attend it”. Those who disagreed stated that they: “expected the Rainey to be much better than it actually is”, however, 97% of pupils said that the school had fulfilled their expectations. New pupils into Sixth Form commented that: “I expected the Rainey to be a very welcoming school, and it certainly reached that expectation” and a Year 12 pupil made a heart-felt plea: “I love my school: please don’t change it!”
Parents were also highly supportive of the ethos and relationships within school. 98% of parents said that their child enjoys school and a similar percentage, 99%, reported that their child had a happy experience at school. One parent stated that “The Rainey has totally lived up to all my expectations. It has been a great school all round for our children and I would recommend to all” and another comments that: “There seems a lovely atmosphere between staff and pupils with a balance of academic and enrichment programme”. 99% said that the school listens to their suggestions and concerns and 100% felt that their queries were dealt with efficiently. Other parents commented on the community dimension to school stating that there was: “a nice atmosphere, a good community feel” and that it is a “fantastic,
caring, family school”. Others praised the consistency of support and academic standards provided by the Rainey over many years admitting that: “This is my third child here. Excellent teachers lead to excellent results. Thank you”. Few parents had alternative views but those who did explained that their child “prefers to talk to her school friends rather than teachers if she is worried about something” and one noted the need of: “perhaps a little more support [of pupils] in early years but overall quite satisfied”. Another parent “would like to see greater recognition of pupils who are not high achievers and not gaining awards on prize night” in order to ensure that most parents can get a chance to attend Prize Night.
Pastoral Care
The Rainey prides itself on its reputation for providing excellent pastoral care and this is supported by the responses from pupils and parents. 92% of pupils stated that they had someone to talk to if worried about something and 99% of parents felt assured that their child had someone to turn to if they had a problem. 90% of pupils and 99% of parents said that their issues were dealt with adequately and 99% of parents said they were happy to approach staff if they had a concern. A new pupil into school recognised the strength of the pastoral care programme in school stating that: “I feel that I am accepted and the majority of people I have come into contact with have been and are very nice and helpful. I feel I belong here” and a parent commented that: “my daughters have done very well academically, are very happy, feel secure and proud to be at the Rainey, have made friends and have had many opportunities to develop as a rounded well-balanced person”.
The Pastoral Development Programme is also very strong in school with 93% of pupils and 97% of parents of the view that they were encouraged to develop their personal and social qualities. Positive behaviour is encouraged throughout the school and 96% of pupils and 99% of parents valued this with one observing the personal and social dimension to education: “the Rainey covers not just academic preparation but life preparation which is important to us”. A number of parents recognised the school’s interest in developing the whole child stating: “a school is very much reflected in its pupils and I have found the Rainey
pupils quietly confident and respectful” and another said: “we couldn't speak highly enough of the all round education she has received so far”. 90% of pupils and 99% of parents believed that school deals effectively with unacceptable behaviour. A few pupils felt that poor behaviour should be dealt with more severely claiming that: “school doesn’t deal with serious matters harshly enough” and one parent noted that: “looking at uniforms and make-up on girls, I feel that many get away with not adhering to the rules”. In contrast one pupil complained about the strict uniform policy stating that: “uniform shouldn't have to be so tightly regulated [because it] lowers morale in students” while a parent noted that: “school has become more strict, but in a good way”. 98% of parents were happy with the school uniform policy as were 88% of pupils.
The school prides itself on thriving relationships and respect for all and this reduces the occurrence of bullying in school. 98% of pupils stated that they felt safe in school and 100% of parents affirmed this.
Learning and Teaching
High quality Learning and Teaching is a central component of daily life in the school and there was a remarkable affirmation of this by both pupils and parents. 100% of parents and 98% of pupils stated that the quality of learning and teaching is of a good standard in school. Pupils that commented said that: “the teaching staff in the Rainey are excellent” and “It is an excellent grammar school with great teachers who are always willing to help” and that: “the Rainey has provided me with a good education”. Parents were also glowing with praise stating that: “the school expects high achievements and motivates [pupils] to keep climbing” and another wrote that the Rainey “is a highly recommended school with dedicated teachers”. Others noted that the Rainey School has: “Great teachers, standards, morals and caring environment!!” while others applauded the school in that the: “Curriculum is sound, support for pupils is good and pupils are encouraged to strive for best standards”. Some pupils expressed a desire for more courses to be taught such as ‘Child Care’ while a parent urged caution explaining that: “even though the pupils are very capable, they do require a
range of teaching styles and support at times when they don't quite 'get it'. [It is] not always the pupils responsibility to read up and work it out themselves”. 91% of pupils and 98% of parents said they were happy with the range of subjects taught at school.
92% of parents stated that they were pleased with the amount of homework given to pupils and 87% of pupils agreed. One parent remarked that there was: “very little homework in SOME subjects” while pupils noted that: “we get too many homeworks” and that:
“sometimes we have too much homework which takes me a very long time from, when I come home until it gets dark! and another complained that: “ teachers don’t spread the homework out evenly”. Parents and pupils were very positive in their remarks about the constructive feedback given on homeworks with 95% of parents and 93% of pupils saying they were pleased with the comments given. School reports were equally well received with 92% of pupils agreeing that they gave meaningful information on their progress and 98% of parents also found the data beneficial as an indicator of their child’s progress.
A striking majority of pupils (95%) were well pleased with the careers information and guidance given and this was strongly supported by a similar majority of parents (95%).
Extra-Curricular Programme
The Rainey offers a good range of extra-curricular activities, which provide opportunities for pupils to broaden their skills base and enhance their life skills and education. Rainey sporting achievements are well documented and the sporting and extra-curricular provision grows from strength to strength. 95% of parents felt that the there was a good breadth of activities in the extra-curricular provision and 88% of pupils agreed. Some parents felt that: “some non sporting extra curricular activities could be encouraged” while another parent confirmed that: ” My daughter has not yet found an extra-curricular activity to catch her imagination. Some activities that she has been interested in were unfortunately on the same day.” One parent commended the good range of extra-curricular activities stating that there: “was a good range and they were well managed.” The minority of pupils who would like a greater variety of extra-curricular activities suggested that: “Football for boys would be
a good extra-curricular activity” and another pupil stated that there is: “Too much emphasis on sport - not enough emphasis on other extra-curricular activities” and another pupil thought that: “Perhaps something for non-sporty people. The Airfix and Chess Club are good". Some pupils expressed the view that they: “would have liked a greater breadth of sports to be offered - especially during junior school” and one bemoaned the fact that she had: “no extra-curricular activities at all”. This contrasts the views of one pupil who felt that the Rainey: “exceeds all expectations in both sport and academic achievements. Over the years the school has expanded by offering a much wider variety of extra curricular activities”
and the views of another parent who stated that: “results are always very favourable as are the social opportunities eg choir, orchestra, hockey etc".
Communication
The Rainey School employs a variety of method to communicate with pupils and parents,such as the school website, VLE, facebook, school newsletters and school reports. These channels of communication have been very well received by both pupils and parents. There have been over2.7million hits on the school website and over 36 thousand hits on the school VLE this year. 97% of parents stated that the school website was a useful resource for accessing information about the school and 92% of pupils concurred with this. One parent commented that the: “Internet is an excellent resource and regular updates are a great idea. Very useful source of information for parents and pupils” and a pupil noted that: “if I need anything or have any concerns I go on to the VLE and will find my answer.”
There was also a significantly positive response to the benefits of school reports and parent-teacher consultations with 99% of parents and 90% of pupils valuing the reports as giving timely feedback on progress at school. 99% of parents and 91% of pupils affirmed that parent-teacher consultations gave meaningful feedback on how to improve at school.
Parents awarded the school an amazing 100% on dealing with queries efficiently and the pupils were also very positive with 92% of them agreeing. It was noted above that the Rainey School believes that quality education is built on effective partnerships with parents and this is confirmed by the survey responses with 98% of parents acknowledging that the school contacts them promptly to discuss important issues with about their child. Parents (95%) were very pleased with the use of the homework diary as a valuable means of
communication between school and home and pupils (85%) also believed it was a useful channel for communication. 85% of pupils expressed the view that the school newsletters are a useful source of information about school.
Facilities
Approval of the school facilities and environment was rated very highly among parents and pupils. The Rainey School celebrates its tercentenary this year and this gives an insight into
the age of the school. Though the fabric of the school has been refurbished and new sections have been built, much of the original old building remains in place. This presents its own problems for the maintenance of school buildings and ensures that the challenge of facilitating modern technologies is an arduous one. That being said most respondents felt that the school has done a good job whilst working with an aging building. 87% of pupils and 90% of parents stated that the standard of school facilities is good. One parent commented that: “Facilities are maintained as well as possible given the age and condition of the building” and another noted that: “it is no secret that the school is in a poor state”whilst another added a touch of realism stating that: “school facilities are as good as they can be given the age of the buildings”. A pupil commented that: “some school facilities are not good at all for example the girl’s toilets” and one parent correctly observed an issue of concern to the leadership team regarding the need to cater for the lesser able-bodied in school. The parent stated that: “for parents visiting school it would be valuable to have access for lesser able-bodied users eg a lift facility would be very helpful”.
The issue of school meals was also raised with 83% of pupils and 87% of parents stating that the school meal provision was good. Pupils who commented said that: “school meals are sometimes tasteless and are expensive” and that: “healthy eating needs to be promoted in the canteen because all the cheap food is unhealthy and anything healthy is too expensive” and another said: “if the healthier food at school was cheaper than the unhealthy food I think more people would take the healthier option”. One parent explained that there was: “not enough selection of dinner meals” while another perceptively observed that a pupil: “comes home hungry at times as canteen has run out of food he likes - but maybe there are other options, he just might not like them!”
Conclusion
It is evident from the survey results that parents and pupils are extremely happy with and glowing with praise for the standard of education and pastoral care in the Rainey School. 96% of pupils and 96% of pupils rated the performance of the school as good to excellent. Many parents confirmed their appreciation of the school with flattering comments such as: “having experienced 2 post primary schools …Ican without doubt say that the Rainey by far excels the other schools. Well done and keep up the great work” and another said:“great support from teachers in every subject”while others praised the: ”ability to get the best out of pupils”, the “consistently high results” and the high expectations of pupils by stating: “My child is challenged in her learning to strive to reach her best potential”. Most pupils were also generous in their admiration for the work of the school. One new pupil who entered Y13 commented: “This school is of a much higher standard than any I have ever been too. I am really enjoying it and benefiting from it greatly"and another noted: “I knew quite a few people who attended the Rainey before I came here and I knew they were very happy here. In fact the Rainey has went over my expectations, I really do like going to school now, it is a miracle”. Another pupil enthusiastically said: “It was everything that I was expected it to be and more”whereas others said: “I feel that academically I have improved every year with the teaching standards and I enjoy school and the subjects I study. I find every teacher welcoming, encouraging and fair and my expectations were reached” and another said that the Rainey had most definitely lived up to expectations: “I expected it to be brilliant, that is why I chose it over all of the other secondary schools in Magherafelt, and it didn't disappoint”.