Research findings
Did you take part in the Leeds Beckett University packed lunch parent survey? Today the findings are published, revealing parents’ choices in providing children’s packed lunches.
Your views matter... 2
I’ve already described how we listen to your responses to the end-of-year annual reports. In this and the following two news articles, I’ll talk through the findings of the annual surveys. Here, I’ll describe the feedback we received on the subject of behaviour and our ‘warnings’ system.
One respondent pondered why we were asking this, and wondered whether it was because warnings and our policy overall wasn’t working. Not the case! We have a Relationships Management Policy (other schools might call this a Behaviour Management or Discipline Policy, but we place relationships at the heart of what we do) and it works really well, including the warnings system. We actually asked the question because we always want to review what we do – a chance to step back and reflect on whether we can do even better – as part of a continual cycle of self-evaluation. (It was also prompted by some remarks by the then Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, who suggested last year that schools return to using lines as a form of discipline – more on that below…)
Another parent wondered whether we should have positive consequences, too – we do! Each classroom teacher has their own system(s) in place. In Year 3, for example, Mrs Keatings rewards teamwork as well as individual effort, using team points and stars respectively. In Year 6, Mr Owen favours ‘golden tickets’ whilst Mr Wilks is partial to ‘fuzzies'(!). And don’t forget we have our weekly certificate assembly, where teachers acknowledge especially impressive learning and SEAL skills, as well as the coveted Cool Class Cup, awarded to the class whose individual pupils have earned the most Cool Class tokens.
Unlike the question on homework (more about that in a later news article), your views on our behaviour systems were almost all very, very positive: the vast majority of you supported the warnings system as a way to manage bad choices in school and most of you did not want any changes made, whether this involved lines or some other consequence. Many of you were adamant that we should not allow writing to be seen as a punishment, and a sizeable minority took the opportunity to criticise the views of Mr Gove – a ‘dinosaur’ with little expertise in the area of education sums up a significant number of your comments. Whilst I don’t wish to comment directly on Mr Gove’s ideology, or that of any Secretary of State for Education, I am pleased that you do support what we do around relationships and behaviour.
(Incidentally, one parent did say that they had reinforced the five warnings consequence that his/her child had received at school by issuing lines at home. First, it’s really encouraging to know that home treats poor behaviour choices as seriously as school does, and that we will be supported in this way; second, it was great to also read that the mix of consequences at both school and home worked; and third, it shows that a sort of mixture of traditional and modern strategies can work, as long as the overall message about behaviour choices being good/bad is consistent and clear for the child.)
Thank you for your views. Some specific points – like two requests to know more about the consequences at each stage of the warnings system – can be acted on really easily. All the comments will be passed to the Pupil Support sub-committee of the Governing Body for further consideration.
Look out for more news about your views…
Your views matter... 1
Towards the end of the school year, you’ll have received your child’s annual school report.
Just after receiving the report, parents / carers have a third scheduled parents’ evening to discuss its contents. One of the Year 1 teachers (Mrs Taylor) attends this, too, so the transition to Year 1 can be as smooth as possible – it’s a good time to reflect on the year and to ask questions and raise any concerns as the Reception children move up school. Many of you who have a child in an older class also met with your child’s teacher (either the current or next one) to discuss the report, although this was done on a more casual basis in that you were encouraged to arrange a meeting if you wanted one.
We also asked you to complete a brief response about the report and the school year: what went well, what we could have done better and what questions / comments / concerns (if any) you have for the next year.
Well, we’re in ‘the next year’ now and I have passed the small number of points you raised (typically two or three in each class) to your child’s new teacher. They have begun to act on the points you noted, and will respond directly to some of them at parents’ evenings (Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 October). As always, if you’d like to talk sooner, please call in before or after school – teachers are usually available for a short chat (although longer discussions are best left to a pre-arranged meeting).
Incidentally, there were very few points to improve on (just two or three in the entire school), and lots of praise in the report responses. Teachers have asked me to pass on their thanks for your very positive and appreciative comments.
Look out for some more responses to your end-of-year feedback (the annual surveys) over the next day or two!
We have a new Chair of Governors
Over the summer holiday, Mrs Janice Rush stood down from her role as Chair of our Governing Body.
Mrs Rush became Chair at the same time as I started at Moortown: in the autumn term of 2007-2008 school year. Having put in seven years as Chair (and some time on our governing body before that), we will miss her a great deal and are extremely grateful for all her efforts. She has worked tirelessley and tenaciously to help the school move from ‘good’ to the outstanding school we are today. She provided the right balance of support and challenge to me and to a governing body which has become even more integral to our school and the processes we have in place. In recent months, she was especially proactive in attempting to secure the best possible outcome for the field, and for this we are also grateful.
Mrs Becky Lawrence, our former Vice-Chair, has been voted in as the new Chair to replace Mrs Rush. Currently on maternity leave, Mrs Lawrence works for Children’s Services and brings a wealth of experience and skills, especially statistical expertise.
Mrs Rachel Greenhalgh, mother of Y3 and Y1 children, is our new Vice-Chair. Like Mrs Lawrence, Mrs Greenhalgh has a great deal of useful skills, with a particular passion around the teaching and learning of Maths.
Smile for miles on the St Gemma's sponsored walk
One of our chosen school charities, St Gemma’s Hospice, is holding their first ever Happy Walk on Saturday 20 September. This is a good opportunity to support our school charity but also to take part in a great morning with your family while walking 3.5 or 5.5 miles around Roundhay Park. The event starts at 10am.
We’ll be co-ordinating registration for the event and registration forms are available now from the office.
Entrance for this event is £5 (children under 12 walk free) and each walker will get a free hot drink and cake. All participants are asked to raise sponsorship money. It is also a pram and wheelchair friendly route so the whole family really can get involved.
There will be an activity pack that children can take with them on the walk where they can look out for wildlife and take some tree rubbings. Before the walk starts there will also be a face painter, a chance to meet Olaf from Frozen, and time to make your own Happy Loom band to wear and keep.
St Gemma’s are also encouraging all walkers to wear what makes them Happy on the walk – whether that’s a silly hat, fluffy socks or a brightly coloured t-shirt.
We hope you are able to join in with the St Gemma’s Happy Walk.
KS2 fruit tuck shop
The KS2 fruit tuck shop returns next Tuesday 16 September with prices remaining at 20p per item. Open to Years 3 – 6, children can come to the tuck shop at playtime to purchase items from a selection of fresh and dried fruits. There is an option to pre-pay so your child doesn’t have to remember to bring money to school. As an extra incentive, you get one week free if you pre-pay for this term. Please return the letter to the office or ask in the office for more information. The Year 5 class will be receiving their training this week to run the tuck shop and look forward to lots of new and regular customers next Tuesday.
Teaching as a career
Are you thinking about becoming a teacher?
Know someone who is considering a career in teaching?
Are you (or someone you know) looking for a work-based route into primary teaching? If so, School Direct may be what you are looking for. Come and find out more at an information evening for the Leeds Bradford School Direct (LBSD), held at:
- Pudsey Primrose Hill, Leeds (LS286AB) , on Tuesday 07 October from 6pm – 7.30pm
- Westbourne Primary School, Bradford (BD8 7PL) on Thursday 09 October from 4pm – 6pm.
Please confirm your attendance by ringing the school office on:
- 0113 257 4129 (Pudsey Primrose Hill)
- 01274 483138 (Westbourne Primary School)
Need help with packed lunches?
Aldi have teamed up with change4life to create a new app with lots of ideas for lunchboxes.
New SEAL theme
As we start the new school year, our SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) theme focuses on new beginnings.
‘I make someone feel welcome’ is the first SEAL statement to launch the theme.
New Beginnings allows children the opportunity to discuss and reflect on how they or others may feel in a new situation or setting. This SEAL theme offers children the opportunity to see themselves as valued individuals within a community, and to contribute to shaping a welcoming, safe and fair learning community for all.
During the theme, the key areas of learning are empathy, self-awareness, social skills and motivation.
Through discrete SEAL lessons, circle times and across the curriculum, children will explore feelings of happiness and excitement, sadness, anxiety and fearfulness, while learning (and putting into practice) shared models for calming down and problem-solving.
New Beginnings supports the development of a learning community in each classroom where all members feel that they belong. Class contracts, produced at the start of the year, allow children to contribute to how they feel they can achieve a safe and fair learning community.
Ofsted's guide for parents
Ofsted updates its processes and procedures frequently. Here is the content from their latest document: School inspections – a guide for parents, dated September 2014.
Why does Ofsted inspect schools?
We inspect schools to provide information to parents, to promote improvement and to hold schools to account for the public money they receive. School inspections are required by law. We provide an independent assessment of the quality and standards of education in schools, and check whether pupils are achieving as much as they can.
When do inspections happen and how long do they last?
A school that was judged to be outstanding at its last inspection is exempt from routine inspection. We will not normally inspect ‘exempt schools’ unless we have a concern about their performance. Ofsted will also carry out an annual assessment of an exempt school’s performance (from the third year after the school’s last inspection) to determine whether an inspection might be necessary. Exempt schools continue to be inspected as part of Ofsted’s programme of surveys of curriculum subjects and aspects of the curriculum. Exemption from inspection does not apply to maintained nursery schools, Special Schools or Pupil Referral Units.
A school judged to be ‘good’ is normally inspected within five school years from the end of the school year in which it was last inspected.
A school judged as ‘requires improvement’ will be subject to monitoring from inspectors to check its progress and is inspected within a period of two years. If at that inspection it is still judged as ‘requires improvement’, there will be further monitoring, and another inspection will take place within a further two years. If at this inspection it is still not ‘good’, it is highly likely that it will be judged ‘inadequate’ and deemed to require special measures.
Most schools receive notice of their inspection on the afternoon of the working day before the inspection begins. However, Ofsted can inspect any school without notice where this is judged to be appropriate. The inspection usually lasts for two days and the number of inspectors on the inspection team will vary according to the size and nature of the school.
Who inspects schools?
Her Majesty’s Inspectors and additional inspectors carry out the inspections. All inspectors have been trained to, and assessed against, Ofsted’s standards.
What happens during an inspection?
Inspectors look at the school’s self-evaluation and analyse the pupils’ progress and attainment. They talk to the headteacher, governors, staff, and pupils, and consider your views as a parent. They spend most of their time observing a wide range of lessons and looking at the quality of teaching in the school, and its impact on learning and progress. They also look at the behaviour and safety of pupils at the school, the promotion of spiritual, moral, social and cultural development; and how well the school is led and managed. Where applicable, inspectors will also look at the effectiveness of early years or sixth form provision in the school.
How can I make my views known?
If you are the registered parent of a child at the school, the school will send you a letter notifying you of the dates of the inspection. This letter provides you with details and options for providing your views. Our survey site, Parent View, is the main source of gathering parents’ views about a school. Inspectors will use the views expressed on Parent View when inspecting your child’s school.
Can I speak to the inspectors?
You may have the chance to speak to the inspectors during the inspection, for example at the start of the school day. The inspection administrators will be happy to pass on messages to the inspectors and may be able to arrange telephone conversations if you are unable to speak to them in person. Their contact details will be in the letter that tells you about the inspection. Please remember that inspectors cannot deal with complaints concerning individual pupils or settle disputes between you and the school.
What happens after the inspection?
We give schools an overall grade from 1 to 4:
- grade 1 (outstanding)
- grade 2 (good)
- grade 3 (requires improvement)
- grade 4 (inadequate).
The lead inspector reports her or his judgement to the headteacher and governors. The inspectors’ findings are published in a report for the school, parents and the wider community. Inspection reports provide information about the effectiveness of the school’s work and contain recommendations about what the school should do to improve further. The school must take all reasonable steps to make sure you receive a copy of the report. Reports are also published on our website: www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports.
What happens if Ofsted judges a school to be ‘inadequate’?
If inspectors judge a school to be inadequate it will be placed in one of the following two categories.
Special measures: This means the school is failing to provide its pupils with an acceptable standard of education, and is not showing the capacity to make the improvements needed. Inspectors will visit the school regularly to check its progress, until it can be removed from the category. We will inspect it again after about two years.
Serious weaknesses: This means that one or more of the key areas of the school’s performance require significant improvement, but the leaders and managers have demonstrated the capacity to improve. Inspectors will visit the school regularly to check its progress, until it can be removed from the category. It will be inspected again within 18 months of its last inspection.
Where can further details be found about school inspections?
The Framework for school inspection sets out the statutory basis for inspections. It summarises the main features of school inspections and describes how the general principles and processes of inspection are applied. The School inspection handbook sets out what inspectors must do and what schools can expect, and provides guidance for inspectors on making their judgements. Both documents are available on Ofsted’s website www.ofsted.gov.uk.
What happens if I have concerns about the inspection?
Complaints are rare, but we treat them very seriously. You can find out more on our website at www.ofsted.gov.uk, or by calling our helpline on 0300 123 4666.
If you need any more information about our work, please visit our website or call our helpline.
What happens if I have concerns about my child’s school?
If you are concerned about your child’s school, you should start by talking directly to the teachers or headteacher or, if necessary, the governing body or the local authority. If you are not satisfied with the responses you receive Ofsted may be able to help.
You can find out more on our website or by calling our helpline: 0300 123 4666