ST THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Joanie Barber (Chair), Una Butler, Lesley Brennan, Catherine Cadogan, Deborah

Clancy, Dawn Clifford, Ellen Dawes, Deborah Dempster, Tony Fahy, Ann-Marie

Field, Jim Foley, Anne Gannon, Tracy Hancock, Steve Herbert, Elizabeth Horton,

Kate Iredia, Gerald Joy, Christine Kearns, Lawrence Kearns, Alma Kirsz, Bernie

Laverty, Dee McCann, Debbie McGovern, Dawn McKinley, Friederike Pritty,

Caroline Skerrett

Judith Berrington (Minutetaker)

JBA welcomed all members especially new members, to the meeting.

JBA began the meeting with a prayer.

Suzanne Dix, Tony Kenny, Maria Melville

JBA gave a brief overview of discussions at the business meeting on 21 May and the

presentation that followed on 25 June 2007 and asked for people's comments. All

agreed the presentation was very interesting but disappointing that the bad weather on

the night possibly prevented people coming. Excellent presentation and the pupils did

very well. The teachers and pupils covered every aspect and there was a nice social

get together afterwards.

JFO distributed the 2007 Examination Results for KS3 SATs Results 2003 - 2007 and

GCSE Grade C Analysis, New Staff list; NACE Challenge Award letter and Year 7

Parents Feedback Sheet. Each document tabled was discussed in turn.

JFO said he is very pleased with the results. Key Stage 3 was looked at (end of Year

9). SATs results from 2003 - 2007 were highlighted showing percentages of Science,

Maths and English results plus an overall average. The benchmark for KS3 is level 5

or above. Science was 79.2, Maths 85.5 and English was 80.7. Year 10, unlike Year

11 are not an exceptional year group and the results augur well for the future. For

GCSE results 5A* - C grades is the benchmark in the league tables. JFO explained

the differences between the figures and that any subjects count towards the 5A* - C

grades. A real judgment will always include English and Maths. The GNVQ route

has now been withdrawn. Next year double Science will be included and then the

following year a modern language will make up the five subjects. JFO said STACS

have always retained a foreign language which we feel is very important. Countless

schools put this subject into student options.

JFO said that he is delighted with the A level results. 65 students this year went to

university and the vast majority achieved their first choice.

Question - parent of child who does not currently take a language, will her son

struggle when a language is made compulsory in two years time? JFO said that for

those capable of achieving a C they should do it. For others it is obviously not

sensible.

SATs 2007 - 5.3 average, 75% level 5 or above. JFO said that 79.2% achieved level

5 or above.

Question - a parent queried the 2007 percentage figures for RE. JFO explained that

everyone does RE, 65% got a C or better in this particular subject.

JFO said the turnover of teachers is reasonably small. He read through the list of

names and gave a brief overview of each individual. The 5 new Cover Supervisors

will take the place of teachers who are absent or on training courses which was

previously done by supply teachers. JFO explained the school has been unhappy with

the quality of supply in the past. Each Cover Supervisor will be assigned to a faculty

and when not required for cover they will support the curriculum areas.

JFO explained the background to the project. Year 7 spend 7 hours per week largely

with 1 teacher on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday or alternatively Tuesday,

Wednesday and Thursday. Their subjects are English, Geography and Citizenship

which is taught from 8.40 until 11.00 am. The rationale is to pick up best practice

from the primary schools. Feedback from the team is fantastic, teachers have space to

develop lessons and it's going very well. It guarantees that form tutors will teach the

class which is good for establishing relationships. At the Year 7 Education Evening

parents completed a questionnaire of 19 questions. The verbal and written feedback

confirmed parents were pleased with the project.

A parent commented on her son's homework and how he was able to complete a story

he'd written because he had more time in the class. Another parent commented on the

time given to explain homework and how it had benefited her daughter. Another said

her daughter was worried about joining such a big school but other students have been

kind and reassuring.

JFO said there is a major change from Year 6 to Year 7 and the results of the

questionnaire were encouraging. There will be an INSET Day on 8 February 2008 to

which primary colleagues would be invited to discuss the transition process. Suzanna

Corrigan is the link teacher at St Brigid's who is in school most mornings to support

the project.

Mrs Cadogen asked if the questions to Year 7 parents would be asked again at a later

date so analysis of the data could be made and any changes compared. JFO said this

was a good suggestion.

NACE - The National Award for Able Children in Education. STACS applied 18

months ago and were turned down. JFO said he is delighted that we now have this

award. He added that the school was given the Basic Skills Award several years ago

and that the special needs provision in the school is very strong. Work scrutiny took

place in advance, and on the day both pupils and staff were interviewed. The team

also dropped into lessons. JFO said that there are some points for development

however he added that STACS is the first secondary school in Birmingham to receive

the award. Moseley Primary School is the only other school to have received it. Mrs

Irene Barclay has done a marvellous job as head of the gifted and talented

programme.

Within a lesson the needs of the most able children need to be met as well as catering

for the less able. JFO said he is delighted with the endorsement; however there is

further work to do. It is a really important award alongside the Basic Skills Award

and this might be a topic for a future presentation.

JBA sent her congratulations to the school on behalf of the Parents Forum.

6. Programme of Presentations 2007 - 2008

JBA said we would use the same format as last year, i.e. break into small groups for

discussion and decide on the most popular topics. If members were happy with the

present format of meetings (one business meeting, one presentation), then three dates

had been set for presentations for the coming year which are as follows: 26

November, 17 March and 30 June. For the benefit of new members JBA then told

members the background of the Parents Forum. She also presented new members

with the details of the history of the group and also a copy of the terms of reference.

From the list discussed and agreed in a previous meeting, there were three topics

remaining: Specialist Status, Pupil Voice and Gifted and Talented.

The following list was an amalgamation of suggestions put forward. The numbers

preceding them are the number of votes taken for each topic.

Gifted and talented/middle/identified needs 15

Specialist School 11

Pupil Voice 6

Preparation for choosing options/procedures 7

Flying Start (introduction for Year 6 parents) 9

School uniform 9

Sixth Form and university places 11

Motivation (linked with school uniform topic)

Drug awareness/self harm/anorexia/bulimia/alcohol use/smoking 12

After school clubs, border busters 5

Creativity/teaching

Difference learning styles

Transition from Year 11 to 12 (emphasis on independent learning) 15

All agreed that behaviour and how the school tackles bullying would be a good topic

to revisit. Discussion continued about topics that could be grouped together taking

into account the material and the length of time a topic may take to be delivered. The

list was prioritised via a show of hands, the results of which are recorded above.

Regarding school uniforms JFO informed members that on Thursday 4 October two

uniform suppliers, Mansuri Uniforms and Colliers presented their cases to governors.

Mansuri have been accepted as official suppliers in addition to Clive Marks. It is

hoped that in addition to their Kings Heath shop they will also open in Northfield.

The next three presentations were agreed as follows:

Monday 26 November - Gifted and Talented - The NACE Challenge Award

Monday 10 March - Young People's Health and Well BeingHealth issues/teenagers/young people

NB members agreed to change the date from the scheduled date of 17 March 2008 (St

Patrick's Day) to 10 March 2008.

Monday 30 June - The Transition from Year 11 to the Sixth Form

Huge leap to independent learning from Year 11.

Points raised

• There is a lot of expertise across the members who could possibly help with

presentations to take the pressure of teachers and support staff. JFO agreed and

asked members to approach JBE after the meeting if they could help and would

like to put their names forward.

• Some smaller topics could be included within the business meetings of the forum.
• Members could communicate with other parents outside of the forum to get their

thoughts on topics for discussion.

• A questionnaire/form could be sent to parents for their ideas.

Members then gave a show of hands to confirm the number of parents representing

each year group.

Year 7 - 8 parents, Year 8 - 6 parents, Year 9 - 9 parents, Year 10 - 8 parents, Year

11 - 8 parents, Year 12 - 1 parent and Year 13 - 4 parents.

JBA thanked those members who represented the Parents Forum at Parents' Evening

during the Summer Term.

Following the last presentation in June, some parents suggested the idea of having a

social evening for members. All agreed this was a good idea. JBA said she would

write to members with a list of ideas and would welcome any thoughts or suggestions

members may have. Members were then asked for their email addresses. Mrs Iredia

asked for any correspondence to be posted to her.

Question to JFO - is there any possibility of having an annual ball this year? JFO

said that this would be discussed at a later date.

GCSE has been pulled this year for Year 10 and has changed to a BTEC in addition

instruments lessons have also gone up to £50.00. JFO explained that a BTEC is more

appropriate, GCSE has become dated and schools are moving forward. The feedback

so far has been very positive. The school has subsidised peripatetic lessons at a cost

of £126 per term. The proposal is for parents to pay £50.00. At the recent governors'

meeting it was agreed that where a pupil plays a second instrument, they will not be

charged at the same rate. The same rule applies for the second member of the same

family. Any child on free school meals will be subsidised 100%.

At the Family Mass on 3 October copies of the school Prayer Book were available. It

was suggested that it would be a good idea to have additional copies printed and sell

them to parents. JFO agreed and said that the printers would be contacted to see what

could be arranged.

Date and time of next meeting

Monday 26 November 2007 at 7.00 pm in the School Hall

How Does St Thomas Aquinas Challenge All Pupils To Achieve

Their Potential?

PARENTS FORUM

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON

8 OCTOBER 2007

Attendees: