ST THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

 

PARENTS FORUM

 

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON

MONDAY 4 OCTOBER 2010

 

Attendees:

Anne Gannon (Chair), Christine Ariyathurai, Catherine Cadogan, Ellen Dawes, Teresa Fahy, Jim Foley, Ann Marie Field,Elizabeth Christine Kearns, Lawrence Kearns, Alma Kirsz, Bernie Laverty, Clare O’Ryan, Roselyn Sketchley, Rita Whitehouse, Anne Vile

 

Judith Rowley (Minutetaker)

 

Apologies:

 

1. Prayer

Anne Gannon (AGA) began the meeting with a prayer.

 

2. Introductions and Welcome

Each member introduced themselves and stated the year group/s that their child/children are currently in.

 

3. The New House System – Sarah Lay

Sarah Lay is in charge of attendance and punctuality in the school. She explained the context of vertical tutoring and how pleased the school is with how things have begun. What started in the planning stage 2 years ago has evolved and already, even this early on, has had an impact on behaviour. Standards within the community have moved to another level. Students from different year groups are working together. SLT felt it was the way forward to make the school Outstanding. It took a year to put into place. At the end of the Summer Term vertical tutoring was trialled, 8 houses were created and 64 form groups, a massive undertaking. There were 8 house retreats where students learnt about their patron. Each house has their own colour which is on their jumpers and a stripe down their ties which looks fantastic. In terms of standards it really is significant. Sports Day was really competitive this year with students and staff in their house colours, a really fantastic start.

 

SLA said that although we are in the early stages there have been very few problems, perhaps because of the immense preparation and launching it in the Summer Term. Form tutors and heads of house are delighted. Whereas previously a head of year would be responsible for 200 plus students, now they are responsible for 160. There is a great strength from everyone involved which includes site staff, lunchtime supervisors and support staff. Cover supervisors and teaching assistants have had to be trained to be form tutors and they are very committed to the role. SLA described how the tutor groups are formed and the recently appointed House Captains and Deputies who impressed staff during their recent interviews for the roles. They are all great role models who can pass on their skills to younger students.

 

SLA explained how tutors now have 18 students to look after and focus on their attendance and punctuality. House points are awarded for praise logs and conduct logs that students receive. There is currently a house shield competition taking place and an inter form competition scheduled for two weeks time.

 

SLA said she is totally sold on vertical tutoring despite being dubious at first. JFO said that he spoke to students everyday and they all say the same. Some schools took years to settle but STACS has not seen such problems. One member asked if Year 13 feel out on a lim but JFO said no and that the older students are keen to work with the younger ones.

 

A huge amount of work went into the mix of groups with students being asked who they’d like to be with. Not all family members are in the same house. Friendship groups were given priority over family groups.

 

4. Headteacher Update

1) Staffing Update

JFO ran through the list of new staff which he handed to members. This year there has been the lowest turnover on record. Irene Barclay and Nuala Jones retired at the end of the Summer Term, Irene was replaced by Jim Doust who is working with two houses and two faculties. He is responsible for the Catholic life of the school and admissions. Catherine Foley married Jim Doust at Easter this year. Sharon Fletcher transfers to us from Wheelers Lane Boys and is head of the ICT and Business Faculty. James Stacey previously from Hodge Hill is our new ICT link with primary schools. NQTs this year are Raphael Griffiths (PE), Samantha Beasley (English), Nazma Aktar (Science) and Nicola Malone (Maths). Nicola Stimson is covering temporarily in Music for Mary Cutler’s maternity leave. Alex Childs is covering for Maxine Geoghegan’s maternity leave. Nathaniel Baker has joined the site team and Emma Clapham, Wendy Jones, Jacqueline Lowe and Thomas Lowe are all new faculty assistants bringing the team up to full strength.

 

2) Public Examination Results

JFO said he was really pleased, the figure for 5A* - C including English and Maths was 61%. Year 11 did really well and the target for the current Year 11 this year is 72%. A2 results were good, every student was placed on a course, there was a good team of staff in on results day to help them. Members praised the school for the early 7. 45am start on results day which really made a huge difference to students. AS results were good too.

 

3) Open Evening

JFO said it was really good. The website has all the news and photographs which includes the papal choir who sang on the night.

 

4) Papal Visit – Newman Feast Day

9 October falls on a Saturday so the Feast Day was transferred to the following Monday. The altar was used that Wyn Richards made for Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1982. JFO said that this Feast Day will be celebrated annually.

 

 

5) Year 7 Induction Evening

Attendance was over 58% whereas the previous evenings were 80% and 90%. Parents who come to the evenings find them invaluable, it is just frustrating 42% are missing. Members were surprised at the low attendance. JFO said it’s the only evening where we experience this, attendance for parents’ evenings are much higher, perhaps there is too much information given in two parts. Some parents may think that there is nothing more to hear. It was thought that numbers would be higher this year because of vertical tutoring. Members liked the idea of the two nights and keeping smaller groups which are more friendly and welcoming. Most members said that it wouldn’t cross their minds not to go.

 

6) Education Budget Cuts, Academies etc etc

JFO said that education will be facing cut backs and we will know more on 20 October with the spending review. Local Authority funding will be decimated we receive thousands of pounds from the LA.

 

It is not known where the government is going with Academies. Local Authorities are starting to collapse. Birmingham Archdiocese may look at becoming an Academy en masse but watch this space. Legal, education, salaries and payroll are all services which the Local Authority provides and which are under threat. JFO said these are interesting times. He added that STACS has not the slightest interest in becoming an Academy.

 

5. The Parents Forum Programme 2010 - 2011

 

Minutes of the previous meeting – items raised

a) Point 3 Headteacher’s Update, General Election Question Time

The Reverend Dick Rogers from the Common Good Party was also in attendance.

 

b) Two week timetable

JFO said that the two week timetable is embedded now aligning us with other local OAKS schools. There has been positive feedback from staff and students. It enables the transfer of students between schools. Its early days but it seems to be going well.

 

c) BTEC Courses

Alma Kirsz said that different schools are offering different BTEC courses which enables there to be a sharing of experience around the Collegiate. No one school can fund a course so by joining together they can offer such courses. Teachers are also being shared to save costs.

 

Questionnaires

With the introduction of new members AGA thought it would be useful to resend the questionnaire to members for their feedback. Judith to email everyone the proforma.

 

The minutes were then agreed as a true record.

 

Topics were discussed and JFO explained the format of a business meeting followed by a presentation and members were happy for this format to continue. The next meeting on 22 November would be a presentation followed by on 31 January a business meeting, 28 March a presentation, 9 May a business meeting and finally on 13 June the Year 6 presentation to parents. Members agreed to the structure and pattern for the coming year.

 

Discussion continued regarding topics for the two presentations, behaviour was previously tackled but members agreed there wasn’t enough time to cover it fully and would like to revisit it. Some members hadn’t seen the original presentation by Bernard O’Connell. Vertical tutoring was raised, the Forum could ask to hear from heads of house and the students themselves across the year ranges. November would be the ideal time while vertical tutoring is still new. This was agreed and it was also agreed for the March presentation to be on the topic of behaviour. If any other issues arise by January then this could always be changed.

 

Alma Kirsz said she was interested in the role of Lay Chaplain and what the role entails. It was agreed to invite Anne-Marie Tibbits and Jim Doust to the next business meeting.

 

6. Any Other Business

Chair and Vice Chair

AGA said she was happy to carry on as Chair if no one was opposed. Members were happy for her to continue as Chair.

 

Currently there is no Vice Chair, AGA asked members to think about the role ahead of the next meeting.

 

Ties and uniform

Alma Kirsz said both her children have broken ties and wondered if other members had experienced the same problem. No one else had, one had had a tie fray but not a break.

 

The quality of the sweatshirts is very poor from Clive Marks they went very bobbly after two weeks.

 

The PE tops are very popular.

 

Old Uniforms

The question was raised of what to do with any old uniforms and if there was anyone that they could be passed on to. JFO said that the school were happy to take them.

 

Meeting closed.

 

 

Date and time of next presentation:

 

Monday 22 November at 7.00 pm in the Main Hall