School Development - Spring update for parents
18th March 2016
Dear Parents and Carers at St Francis School,
I am writing to you as Chair of the Killigrew Partnership School Development Governors’ Committee following our recent School Development Meeting. Agenda items included attendance which is good and parents are to be congratulated on this as well as staff, so thank you all on behalf of governors.
Improvement continues at the heart of leadership and governance of effective schools and the performance and development of our school at all levels is under a continual cycle of monitoring, evaluation and review –despite the fact that it is so good already! As governors we are fully involved in this process from a practical point of view as well as attending meetings.
Our school development plans, the actions required to achieve them and the resources needed, including time, were summarised in this year’sSchool Development Planunder the new Ofsted headings and I would like to give a brief outline of how this is progressing.
- Outcomes for pupils (standards)– improving attainment and progress in reading, writing and maths.
Standards continue to rise and the new three part “progress” lessons introduced have accelerated progress for many pupils. I carried out a pupil conferencing session this term and was very impressed with how well the children can articulate their learning and progress and how well the marking and feedback in their books continues to help them improve.
- Quality of learning and assessment – introducing and embedding new assessment procedures and the introduction of the ‘Let’s think in English’ initiative.
All schools have introduced new assessment procedures following the removal of levels nationally and this has been a challenge. As parents you will already have received information about your child’s progress and further information will be added termly. The report is generated by a commercial tracking system, “Target Tracker,” and all teaching staff have received training on its use which has also impacted on their rapidly growing knowledge of the new National Curriculum. Staff and parent feedback gathered by governors reveals that parents have been happy with reporting systems and of course all teachers are available on request for parents who need more explanation.
Personal development, behaviour and welfare- introducing the ‘Thrive’ initiative, developing the PSHE curriculum and improving staff health and well-being.
Staff have received health and well-being training and the THRIVE initiative has begun to show impact. Further training is planned for staff in this as it will continue to benefit many pupils.
- Leadership and management – developing staff expertise within the new national curriculum, improving the websites and embedding new leadership roles.
The new National Curriculum is in itself a bid to raise standards nationally and for staff becoming aware of all that is required, has to be a gradual process. Again, staff report that this is going well and pupil responses are good.
Our meeting was positive with many useful challenges from governors who know the school well and look forward to continuing success thanks to all the hard working staff. Governors too have been working hard and have undertaken considerable training this year. This includes induction for new governors, Prevent training, improving outcomes for Pupil Premium children, Safer Recruitment, E safety and Early Years.
Many thanks as always to all of you who support the school and your children.
Best wishes,
Liz Brand
Chair of the Killigrew Partnership School Development Governors’ Committee