News

SEAL statement 24 May

During the last week of our Relationships SEAL theme, children will be nominated in our Friday Celebration assembly by showing, ‘I can take responsibility for my own behaviour.’ 

Packed lunches

As discussed in my recent letter, this term we are looking at how we can improve packed lunches within school.  Thank you to all parents and carers who attended the Health and Well-Being Development Group meeting and for other comments that have been returned to school.  We are still interested in your comments and some questions to consider include:

Do you feel your child’s packed lunch is healthy?

How do you think we can make packed lunches healthier within school?

What do you feel prevents parents and carers from providing healthy packed lunches?

Which foods do you feel should be discouraged within packed lunches?

Please forward any comments to the school office.  Thank you for your help.

SEAL statement 17th May

This week, as part of our Relationships theme, our SEAL statement is “I can feel proud of others.”  How might you show you feel proud of something your class mates have done?

SATs: a personal response

You may be aware that there is considerable controversy and divided opinion about the Key Stage 2 tests, popularly known as SATs. I have decided that pupils at Moortown Primary School will sit the tests this year. It has been a difficult decision to make; this is how I’ve made it.

Arguments against SATs

This year, it’s estimated that up to 50% of headteachers in Leeds plan to boycott the SATs as part of their union’s campaign to have them abolished.

Those against SATs argue that the tests:

• are poorly marked and therefore an inadequate measure;
• measure a child’s performance as a ‘snapshot’ on one particular day and therefore fail to take into account the child’s wider performance;
• skew the primary curriculum so that the child’s final year at school is taken over with SATs preparation;
• the data from SATs is presented to the public in league tables which hide a school’s real effectiveness (for example, a school in a deprived area might be very successful in teaching children in that the children make great progress, whereas a school in a well-off area might have a children who start school already above national expectation and make little progress, and that progress may be as much due to private tuition than effective teaching).

The NAHT union favour some sample testing of schools (which, from this year, will happen in Science assessment) – a sample selection of schools would be chosen to provide some form of performance measure of schools nationally.

My view

In my experience, it’s true that the tests are often poorly marked. I know this because when the tests are returned to school, I thoroughly re-mark them. Last year, two children’s levels were successfully upgraded as a result of errors I found in the marking. Poor marking is an issue which needs to be addressed, but in the meantime, by re-marking in school, the levels which children at Moortown eventually receive are accurate.

The tests do indeed measure just a snapshot. We must all be very clear about this. However, the alternative can be vague. If we don’t have externally marked tests, we rely on teacher assessment. Whilst this is good, it can vary considerably from school to school and teacher to teacher. I believe we need both. I also believe the teacher assessment should have a greater importance – perhaps being combined with the SATs score to give a balanced overall level for a child’s attainment.

In many schools, SATs preparation takes over the curriculum. This does not happen at Moortown. This year, Miss Kieran and the Year 6 class have enjoyed two engaging, creative topics (Meet the Greeks and Snowbound) – you only have to read their views in the Year 6 Forum to know that the children have been enthusiastic and positive. In addition, there have been drama projects, food-tasting, sporting events – the rich and varied curriculum that is what makes Moortown a happy and healthy place to learn.

I believe it is the league tables that should be abolished, not the SATs outright. SATs have contributed to raising standards in the past. I am happy for SAT data to go to the local authority, the government and to Ofsted so that a school’s performance can be measured. However, the data should be considered along with many other important, contextual factors. League tables are poorly understood and do not help parents / carers to make informed decisions. Parents / carers tell me that they base their decisions as to which school their child should attend on many criteria – very few mention league tables. At Moortown Primary School, most people are attracted by its size, its atmosphere and its reputation which goes from strength to strength.

As always, please contact me if you have any questions, comments or concerns. In the meantime, good luck to all our Year 6 children – they must be congratulated for their excellent year so far.

SEAL statement 10th May

Linked to SATs week this week our SEAL statement is ‘I try my best for others and for myself.’  Good luck to all the Year 6 children.

SEAL statement 3rd May

‘I can tell the truth and say sorry if I have hurt someone’ is the new SEAL statement for this shorter school week.

We're a good school

As part of the World Class Primary Plan, the Secretary of State, Ed Balls, asked all local authorities to submit a plan to him.  Amongst the key components of the plan were to outline an approach to school improvement for all schools and a specific focus on schools performing below targets or rated less than satisfactory by Ofsted.  

The authority was required to ‘segment’ schools according to very specific data.  Based on this criteria, Moortown Primary has been judged a good school.

Good schools are defined as schools which are graded by Ofsted as good for overall effectiveness and at least good for achievement and standards and leadership.  These schools are at or above national attainment and in top two quartiles for progression.

Moortown Children’s Centre

Moortown Children’s Centre is now open. 

This is a Sure Start Children’s Centre to support families with children in the following areas:

• childcare,
• early education,
• health, and
• family support services. 

It is the cornerstone of the government’s drive to work with parents-to-be, parents, carers and children and to promote the physical, intellectual and social development of babies and young children so that they can flourish at home and when they get to school.

Moortown Children’s Centre brings together service providers from sectors like health, social services and early education as well as private, voluntary and community organisations and parents themselves to provide integrated services for young children and their families based on what local children need and parents want.

It’s based in the grounds of Moor Allerton Hall Primary school on Lidgett Lane but links with all local primary schools within the area, including Moortown Primary School.  If you would like more information regarding services already up and running from Moortown Children’s Centre please contact Lindsay Blackburn or Kirsty Murray on 07854 989281.

SEAL statement 26th April

‘I know things to do to make others feel better’ is the new SEAL statement this week as part of our Relationships theme.  Even a simple friendship token can help someone to feel better.

New SEAL theme and weekly statement

‘Relationships’ is the new SEAL theme for this half term and our weekly statement is ‘I know how I feel and how others make me feel.’  This theme looks at the feelings associated with our important relationships including family and friends.