Author: Mr Roundtree

We’re often featured in the local press for the great work we do.  Here’s the most recent article, describing a recent event where Mrs Taylor, Cydnee, Arjun and Farhan represented our school:

Pupils deliver involvement message to other schools

Youngsters from 12 primary and secondary schools have been giving pupils and staff from another 50 schools a lesson in taking a more active role.

The event this week celebrated a range of programmes in primary, secondary and special schools that relate to pupil participation.

Each of the workshops lasted 45 minutes and were delivered by children and young people.

Councillor Judith Blake, executive member for Children’s Services, said: “I am impressed that so many children and young people want to take an active role in their school community.  This fantastic event highlights the advantages it brings to all involved and shows how easy it is to take part.  Participation in school life will develop children and young people’s knowledge and skills in many different ways, providing valuable experience to help them as they progress through life.”

Schools leading the workshops included Moortown Primary School, Bruntcliffe High School and Raynville Primary School.

You’ll be aware that many public sector workers, including teachers who are members of the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, are taking industrial action this Thursday, 30 June.

Briefly, pensions are the big issue. The unions say that government plans mean teachers will be required to pay more, work longer and receive less when they retire.  The teaching unions’ reasons for taking this action can be found here.

There’s been plenty of talk in the media about Michael Gove’s suggestion that headteachers should do all they can to keep schools open, even to the extent of asking parents / carers come in to help.

As headteacher of Moortown Primary, closing the school is a decision I never take lightly.  On Thursday, however, I have no choice.  All teachers at Moortown plan to take industrial action.

I realise the closure of school causes many problems (eg with childcare) and, for this, I apologise.  However, there are issues which I have to consider, whether or not Mr Gove has done so.  Not so long ago, for example, schools could fail an Ofsted inspection if they could not show they had carried criminal record checks (CRB checks) on volunteers in school; these would be necessary, and costly, if we were to use parents to cover staff absences on Thursday’s strike.

Even for those volunteers with the correct documentation, there are other issues I’d need to consider, including:

• confidentiality
• first aid training
• safe use of equipment
• behaviour management
• knowledge of restraint procedures
• guidance on physical contact with pupils
• insurance liability

Based on these points, and other arguments, the headteachers’ union, the National Association of Head Teachers, has recommended its members do not invite parents / carers to help on Thursday.

Once again, I apologise for the inconvenience caused.

We’re still waiting on the Key Stage Two SAT results for Y6, but (just like last year) I’m confident that the children performed extremely well. More importantly, their attitudes and behaviour have been excellent throughout the year – a really great year so far.

Children from Y2 to Y5 have also had some end of year assessments recently. These tests help teachers to decide on a final level to give to each child for reading, writing and maths. They only help teachers decide; for example, if a child performed quite poorly in a test but have excelled throughout the year, teachers would quite possibly ignore a test result. In Reception and Y1, teachers base their final assessment entirely on the children’s day to day actions and abilities.

Soon, you’ll be receiving the end-of-year annual report about your child’s attainment, progress and attitude in school. On the report (except the Reception report), teachers use ticks to indicate how your child is doing.  If you’d like to know their actual level, we’re happy to give you this – just ask me or your child’s teacher near the end of the year.

Pupils in Y2 and Y6 are at the end of a key stage. Because of this, parents of these children will receive a letter alongside their reports with the teacher assessment level on it. Parents / carers of Y6 children will also be told the results of the SAT tests.

Here’s a table to show general, national expectations for the end of each year. Letters are used to indicate a higher or lower level eg 2A is a higher level of attainment than 2C, but a lower level of attainment that 3C.

	working below expectations	working within expected levels	working above expectations
Y1	1c	1a / 2c	2b
Y2	1a / 2c	2b / 2a	3c / 3b
Y3	2c	2a / 3c	3b / 3a
Y4	2b / 2a	3b / 3a	4b
Y5	3c	3a / 4c	4a / 5c
Y6	3b / 3a	4b / 4a	5b

From this, you can see that any child reaching Level 5 at the end of the year is working at a level above national expectations. Well done to Yutaro and Rosie for attaining a Level 6 in Maths this year – about the level of an able 14 year old!

Reception children are not given a level. Instead, they are assessed against criteria and typically reach 6 points in each strand, such as reading or numbers for counting and labels. A point is given when adults observe a child securely showing a particular skill or activity.

Last year, I told you about four new teachers starting. The teachers we recruited went through a very rigorous process and I’m delighted to say that the four – Mr Redfearn, Mr Wilks, Mr Owen and Miss Hazell – have all had a fantastic year at Moortown Primary School.

There will be only a few small changes to teaching staff next year:

• I’m sure you’ll all be delighted to hear the news that Mrs Taylor is expecting her second child. She will be leaving us, probably around Autumn half-term, but will return, hopefully for September 2012 (and some visits sooner, we hope!). Mrs Taylor’s role in school, as Health Leader, will not be replaced in her absence by a new teacher.
• Mr Redfearn and Miss Hewson swap year groups – having taught Year 4 for three years, Miss Hewson wants to widen her experience; it’s good for the school to move teachers, too, so that they bring fresh ideas to the new age groups.

Here is a list of who’s teaching which year group for 2011-12:

Foundation	Reception:	Mrs Burke
Key Stage One	Year 1:	Mrs Weekes and Mrs Maver
	Year 2:	Miss Hewson
Key Stage Two	Year 3:	Mr Wilks
	Year 4:	Mr Redfearn
	Year 5:	Mr Owen
	Year 6:	Miss Hazell

Later this term, your child will spend some time getting to know his or her new teacher, teaching assistants and classroom. In the meantime, if you’ve got any questions, comments or concerns, as always please contact me.

We regularly receive feedback from visitors into school – it’s always great to read what others think about our community.  For example, Gareth from Total Sports Coaching, recently complimented the school as one he always looks forward to visiting because all our pupils listen and behave so well.

Here’s feedback from Richard, a member of Leeds Healthy Schools and Wellbeing Service, following a recent visit:

Just a quick email – as you know I met with some children this afternoon to help plan their workshop at the Pupil Voice Showcase Event.  The planning meeting went really well and – as always – your pupils excelled themselves and amazed me with their creativity and general approach to the task at hand.

After the meeting the three of them gave me a little tour of the school which was great as I’ve never visited before – just wanted to say what I’m sure you knew already: ‘Wow! What a great school!’

The Quality Mark is a recognition that some schools choose to work towards to help them monitor what they do for their learners and to celebrate successes within school.  Because Ofsted chose not to inspect our school this year due to our continued good provision, we welcome feedback from other external bodies.  This year, therefore, we decided to be re-assessed for the Quality Mark.

The re-assessment visit happened on Monday 16 May 2011.  I’m delighted to say we’ve yet again been recognised for the great teaching and learning at Moortown. Here are some extracts of the visiting assessor’s report:

“The assessor felt that this was one of the most impressive visits he has ever made in nine years of visiting Quality Mark schools. David, the head, has lots of plans – he needs no points of action or areas to develop suggested from us. It was a privilege to visit.”

“Since the monitoring visit, the school has accomplished an impressive amount of progress.”

“The school has radically reshaped the intervention programme it operates with pupils… It has put into action what many other schools are now realising – that the huge weight of strategies that have been recommended to schools over the past ten years are of limited effectiveness unless they are tailored to exactly what the pupil needs at the time that s/he needs it.”

“Classrooms all show consistency of approach in teaching – learning objectives visible, use of speaking and listening partners, learning walls for each class…  Consistency in marking of writing is assured through a detailed and very clear marking policy.  The Year 6 pupils who showed the assessor around school were at pains to draw his attention to these features and kept up a running commentary of how pupils learn (including telling the assessor that in the Reception class it’s ‘learning through play, you know!’).”

“Moortown has successfully devised and implemented a curriculum and teaching methodology that involves pupils in their own learning, is rigorous and demanding whilst at the same time makes learning an enjoyable experience for pupils.”

Thanks to the dedication and support of staff, parents / carers and children, I know we do a fantastic job at Moortown.  It’s great to know that visitors to school are struck by this great work, too.

I’m grateful to the five parents who spoke with the Quality Mark assessor, and to the two Y6 pupils who provided a tour of the school.