Parents Annual General Meeting 2006
The Governors of Trekenner CP School invite you to the
Parents Annual General Meeting
In the School on
at
7.00pm
A G E N D A
1. To receive the Governors Annual Report to Parents.
2. To discuss issues relating to the report and pass any relevant resolutions.
3. After and Before School Care
4.
5. Any Other Business
PLEASE NOTE: Resolutions can only be passed provided the requisite number of parents (20% of the present number of pupils on roll) are in attendance.
GENERAL REPORT
Chairmans Report Andrew Regan
The academic year has flown by and it is nearly the end of the summer term. Taking over from a very active and dynamic Chairman of Governors has been a daunting task. It has overall, I believe, been another successful one and with the recent Ofsted Inspection completed we have our own and Ofsted recommended plans for the continued improvement of our school.
The function of governors continues to change with the emphasis less on ‘critical friend’ and more hands on involvement with the day to day running of the school. This means that all the governors are becoming more a part of the schools function and therefore we are very fortunate to have a committed and interested board of governors.
The Ofsted report following inspection has concluded that the school is performing in all aspects at least a satisfactory level with many good points and progression. Inspections are carried out with minimal notice and opportunity for preparation so that the inspector sees the school as it is, rather than as it would like to be seen. This is how it should be, however, it can be very stressful for all involved. We should be pleased with the results and take notice of the recommendations and work towards meeting and exceeding them. Inspections are necessary and useful but our children’s education and welfare is paramount. David and his team are working very hard to provide a safe, enjoyable and challenging environment for all the children.
The schools facilities continue to improve with the completion of the superb children’s play area. The Willow Sculpture is a fascinating structure and was constructed in dreadful conditions by pupils, mainly year 6 and members of the PTA!. Our IT facilities are second to none and the teaching staff are learning more and more on how to get the very best use out of this technology. I am sure you will all notice the continual additions of education and play equipment through the year that is making Trekenner an inviting and interesting place to be.
We are tremendously fortunate to have a very active and supportive PTA whose contribution both to fund raising and community make the school a very welcoming and enjoyable environment. The contribution by the PTA and all parents who support the events is incalculable and essential to the schools continued success.
We are a small school competing for pupils and funding to allow us to provide the education and skills to our children. We are continuing to improve and hopefully we will see an increase in the roll numbers of children which will allow higher levels of funding and further improve this great little school.
1 Overview of the Past Year Mr D Reardon
As we prepare to say goodbye to 10 of our pupils in Y6 as they look forward to a new phase in their education, we are expecting 4 ‘new’ arrivals in class 1 at the beginning of what will hopefully be an exciting journey of learning at Trekenner. This will bring our numbers on roll to around 42 from September.
We were able to maintain the same teaching staff ratio as the previous year to allow for 3 classes in the morning. We are delighted to continue with the same arrangements from September 2006 as the children undoubtedly benefit from the small class sizes.
The interactive teaching equipment which the teachers have been using on a daily basis has been updated with the introduction of teaching and learning software which can support learning in every subject of the curriculum. It would appear that the pupils have enjoyed the learning experience during their Literacy, Numeracy and Science lessons. They have adapted very quickly to the technical skills needed to interact with the equipment, which has helped to greatly improve ICT skills in general. The arrival of broadband will make a great difference to the efficiency with which the school can use Internet resources and develop communication skills.
This term has been a particularly busy one with a wide range of outings, visits and visitors providing the additional enrichment to the children’s experiences of school life. These also provide opportunities for self-discovery of skills and talents that may otherwise remain dormant. We are particularly proud of the findings from our recent OFSTED inspection that pupils’ attitude and enjoyment of their education was outstanding. We aim to continue to build on this by trialling innovative approaches to teaching, to motivate our pupils to make even better progress in their learning. We have just completed our latest arrangements to select our new Student Council representatives from each class to encourage pupils to take more responsibility for decisions that affect their time at school.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the support that the school has received in a huge variety of forms over the past year. It makes a real difference to the quality of day to day life.
2 Curriculum
At
We place importance on the good teaching of Literacy, Numeracy and Science ( the Core Subjects ). ICT and RE are also given a high profile and we are always striving to develop our teaching in these areas.
The curriculum is monitored on a regular basis by the Headteacher, Governors and the LEA.
To enrich the children’s learning experiences we organise educational trips and frequently invite experts into the school.
All the above is carried out in line with the schools Values and Visions Statement. (Annexe 1 )
3 National Curriculum
The national curriculum is designed for single age teaching. In a small school such as ours, with mixed age classes, we adapt this to meet our needs whilst ensuring all aspects are covered. We do this by way of a 4 year rolling planning programme (programme on display in the main entrance hall).
This year has seen the further development of the Foundation Stage Curriculum. The school has adopted the Footsteps approach to this – a support package developed by Cornwall Early Years Advisors.
Children aged 5 – 7 are taught the Key Stage 1 curriculum. By the end of Year 2 the children will be expected to achieve between Levels 1 and 3 with a majority at Level 2 in the SATs test.
Children aged 7 – 11 are taught the Key Stage 2 curriculum in line with national directives. By the end of Year 6 it is expected that children will have achieved between levels 3 and 5 with the majority on level 4.
National Curriculum Assessments (SATS ) are taken by all children in Years 2 and 6. All children are assessed at the end of the Reception year using the Foundation Stage Profile. We use Optional SAT`s to track the children’s progress in Years 3,4 and 5.
4 Overview of the past year
KS2 Targets & Summary Results for Trekenner School 2004/2005
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Targets
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Results
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Subject
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Level 4+
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Trekenner
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National
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English
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80%
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70%
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78%
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Maths
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90%
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80%
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74%
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KS2 Targets for
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The governing body have reported the end of key stage 2 results in the above format to protect the identity of individual children.
It is recognised that the small size of cohorts makes this statistical data unreliable.
5 Community Links - Mr Dermot O’Neill
For many parents the local school is simply a child-teacher institution which is there for the duration of their child’s primary education and then ceases to play any part in their lives. While attending the school they see their children interact with both their classmates and the teaching staff, hoping the experience will benefit their little ones as they move forward to secondary school. They may expect the school to be representative of society, with rules and regulations, rewards and punishments, all of which will help to prepare their children for adult life. Parents such as these may focus solely on the intimate community contained within the school and fail to see the broader aspects of the school community and its place in local society. They may even view primary education simply as a means to an end.
Trekenner is different, or so we would like to believe. It offers more than just education and training for the children. It provides an opportunity for parents to meet and is an enduring institution in a community where so many familiar bodies are being eroded. This is relected in the support shown for the school and the various fund raising events organised by the PTA. During the long winter months the PTA run Bingo evenings, Wine & Wisdom, Hamper Draw and bonfire nights, all of which are supported by parents and people from the local community some of whom may not have any direct connection with the school. Parents who are new to the area often welcome these events as an opportunity to become acquainted with other parents and local people.
Trekenner school is not only well established within the community it is also long established and has been since 1880. There are a number of children attending the school who are second, third and even fourth generation Trekenner students. Pupils who once sat in the same classrooms and played in the very same school yard as today’s children now teach at the school. This depth of continuity, which is seldom seen in today’s education system, lends an air of stability to
In today’s rapidly changing society where people no longer know their neighbours, where communities are eroded through change and where institutions are disappearing in the shifting sands on which our world is built, we should give thanks that our children attend a school like Trekenner and that we as parents have the opportunity to be associated with such a close- knit community.
6 Links with Parents Mr Tim Bagshaw
The school operates an open door policy and actively encourages the involvement of parents in school life. It is our objective to maintain strong communication between parents and staff and the school governors at all times. Informal discussions are always available, while set meeting times can also be arranged.
This year the school has initiated a system of self evaluation in which all parents have been encouraged to play a full part. This process will be developed and
Each year the headteacher and school governors hold a Parents AGM in July and offer the opportunity for all parents to attend and discuss and make contribution to key issues facing the school in the coming year.
Parents are invited to school each term for an open afternoon where they can review their children’s work and have an opportunity to meet with the teaching staff. Written reports are sent out towards the end of the summer term.
The school also produces a fortnightly newsletter with the intention of keeping parents informed of forthcoming activities and updating on recent events.
All,parents automatically become members of the school’s Parent Teacher Association. The PTA provides very strong support to the work of the school and hold a series of regular events including bingo, quizzes, karaoke, bonfire night and Christmas celebrations.
This year has been particularly notable year for PTA contribution to school activity, including a second successful Spring Fayre, which achieved profits of over £900. Any parent
7 Extra-Curricular Activities
During the past year we have run the following clubs:-
Model making Recorders Summer Sports
Art/ Craft Football and Netball Athletics
Instrumental music lessons, now at the Launceston Music Centre at
8 Sports
Swimming sessions continue to be held for two terms and have proved successful with all children making good progress. Coaching is provided in four groups with school staff coaching beginners and improvers and sports centre staff coaching the intermediate and advanced groups.
We continue to be part of the Tops Sport Scheme and this enables us to vary the equipment available for PE sessions. Under the “Huff and Puff Scheme” we make available special PE equipment for the children to borrow at lunchtimes.
Netball training sessions led by Mrs Laura Brown, Mrs Caro O’Neill and Mrs Sue Fotheringham have continued to take place after school and David Reardon continues to run a very successful football club after school which is open to children of all ages.
David Reardon runs a Summer Sports club in the summer term to provide children with a varied experience of sports and exercise. Ms Ward runs an Athletics club for KS2 children.
In line with our healthy schools status the school liaises with other sports providers to channel information about clubs , activities and events.
9 Becoming a Governor Simon Johnston
David Reardon, the current Headteacher at Trekenner CP School approached me last year asking if I would be interested in becoming a school Governor. I hadn’t thought about fulfilling this role previously but informed David that I would have a think about it!
Trekenner CP School as you are well aware does not have a particularly high intake of pupils and therefore it is much more difficult to fill key roles within the management structure of the school. Although I have no previous experience I am interested in learning about how a school is governed. If I can make a contribution to maintaining and hopefully improving key areas as to how the school is governed then I am sure that I will have found the experience worthwhile.
I have already attended two full Governors meetings as well as a Personnel & Finance committee meeting of which I am now a member.
I will be attending a day course next term where I will be able to meet other newly appointed governors to other school in
I look forward to the challenge!
10 Links with Other Schools
Links with Colleges - We have continued to work closely with Launceston and Callington community
11 INSET - In Service Training
Staff development is linked to priorities set in the School Development Plan. Staff training has had Science, foundation stage and continuing literacy and numeracy emphasis.
12 Dates for 2006 / 2007
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SCHOOL YEAR: 2006 /2007
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Term
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Full Term Dates
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Half Term / Other Holidays
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Autumn 2006
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4th September – 20th December
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23rd October – 27th October
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Spring 2007
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8th January –30th March
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19th – 23rd February
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Summer 2007
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16th April – 25th July
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28th May – 4th June
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INSET Days (school closed to pupils)
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4th &
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13 School Prospectus
The schools` prospectus is reviewed each year. Before the end of the summer term, it will be sent to each family with children registered to attend the school during the next academic year. Copies of the prospectus are always available in the school office and are sent regularly to prospective parents.
At the start of a new academic year, our Home/School Agreement, Internet permission, data checking sheet and other incidental forms are sent home to parents for completion and return.
14 SEN Review Mr N. Burden
The
As many will already know, Mrs Lin Caudle continues this work for the benefit of the children and with close liaison with other staff can help each child reach their potential. Individual Education Plans (IEP) are set for each child and reviewed termly; consultations with parents, external assessors and teaching staff are also held at regular intervals..
Many children fall within the expectations for their peer group. For those children who find learning or concentration difficult, we want to help them to develop so as not to feel isolated.
For the child who has an aptitude in a particular core subject and can assimilate learning at a rapid speed, then we want to encourage and maintain that skill.
The school was allocated £2907 for pupils without a statement of SEN. These funds were devoted to the purchase of teaching and ancillary hours and some specialist equipment. The school supplements this with funds from the Base budget.
Currently the school has 6 pupils on the register of need – some at school action, some at action plus and some statemented. The LEA made £5057.97 available to the school to support pupils who are the subject of statements under the terms of the 1996 Education Act. This is converted into teaching and ancillary hours and specialist equipment.
The funding arrangements continue to be based on numbers on roll and the number of those who receive free school meals. However, as in previous years we remain committed to the robust and very positive SEN policy.
15 Health & Safety Mr Andrew Regan
The Health & Safety reporting of the school is a continuous process. The school reviews health and safety every term and prioritises on a low, medium and high level.
This term the school was visited and an independent audit was carried out. All high priority items on that report have been dealt with and we are addressing medium and low level items on an on going basis.
16 Arrangements for the admission of disabled pupils
All school policies state that “all children are given equal access to the curriculum and are
not discriminated against”. This is reflected in the Values and Aims of the school.
The school has a Disability Access Policy which is available in the school office.
17 The Future of the School
The school at present can be summarised as one that is satisfactory with good features. With a strong system of self-eveluation now in place the school is in a good position to identify aspects which need to be improved upon or strengthened. The
The recent OFSTED inspection recognised that the school is supported within the community and its children feel a strong sense of belonging and enjoyment. There can be no better basis as a springboard for learning and self-discovery. The next step is to build upon this and ensure that the rate at which all our children learn exceeds expectations.
STATISTICAL STATEMENT
The following information relates to the period
1 Pupils on Roll (aged 5 and above before 1.09.04): 45
2 Number of pupil sessions available: 13272
3 Pupil Absences 2005/2006: Authorised absenteeism: 4.2%
Unauthorised absenteeism: 0.0%
4 Teaching Staff: Headteacher + 1 Full-time and 1 Part-time, 0.4 Head's Relief,
1hour Learning Support and 1.15 hours SEN teaching.
5 Non-Teaching Staff:
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Classroom
Assistants
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2
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30 hours per week
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Early Years Assistant
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1
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15 hours per week
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Caretaker / Cleaner
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1
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17 hours per week
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Secretarial
Clerk to Governors
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2
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15 hours per week (each)
2 hours per week
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Kitchen / Canteen
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1
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16.5 hours per week
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Lunchtime Supervisory Assistants
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2
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5 hours per week (each)
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6 Governing Body: The structure and contact details of the current governing body
are enclosed. (Annexe 2)
7 Governor Appointments & Elections: Mrs Claire Callender-Phillips and Mr Simon Johnston have joined the board of Governors.
8 Financial Report
8.1 School Budget Financial Statements for Years 2006/2007 and
are enclosed. (Annexe 3a & 3b)
8.2 Special Educational Needs Funding - information included with Financial Reports .
8.3 School Private Fund Balance at
8.4 PTA Funds (as at
Reserve account £ 361.01
Petty Cash £ 279.63
£ 3631.99
Signed: .................................................................. Dated: 09 March 2007
David Reardon
Headteacher