Minutes of the Parents Forum
held on Monday 16th April 2012 @ 2.30pm
Present:
Apologies:
Richard Triggs, Mr Stamp, Mrs Wakefield, Mrs Somma, Mrs Chalke, Mrs Brinn,
Mrs Knollys, Mrs Ward, Mrs Barnard, Mrs Lines, Mrs Conway, Mrs Keil, Mrs
Jeffries.
Requested Agenda from suggestion box.
French
PE
Homework
Although the parent who had submitted these as suggested agenda items was unable to
attend, on this occasion Mr Triggs felt it suitable to talk them through with
parents to gauge opinions and discuss the issues. Normally anyone submitting
items for discussion need to be at the meeting.
French
Parents had asked the question about provision of French through the school - Employment
of a specialist teacher for French had become unsustainable due to budget
pressures. The school had investigated how French could continue but came to
the conclusion that activities beyond calling and answering registration in
French, singing French songs coupled with morning greetings in French for
example, the high level of French previously offered was currently not possible.
The decision has been made to bring in a lunchtime French club which parents
would have to pay for if they wanted their children to continue learning the
language. This is due to start this week and both sessions are full to capacity.
We would continue to use our link with our Comenius partner school in
Porquerolles France. The ‘legal’ position is that delivery of a modern foreign
language is an aim. As a school we want that too, but it should be good of quality.
Suggestions made were:
Continue to develop the current links with Comenius partnership schools possibly further
Skype discussions and pen pals.
Ask St Augustine’s French department if they can help in any way.
Look into the Erasmus Assistant scheme with for a French student placement at the school.
(we have missed the application window for this year)
PE
Parents had raised the query of timetabling of PE across the school and that some occasions
for PE were missed – Mr Triggs stated that PE is statutory and is an entitlement for the
children, it is something that all the children very much enjoy and is on every class timetable.
That entitlement should be met and Mr Triggs will follow this up. Another parent raised the
question of use of the hall apparatus, perhaps teachers were unconfident in getting it out?
Although all staff received training at the beginning of the Autumn term Mr Triggs will
arrange further Inset training for the staff.
HOMEWORK
The use of the homework project books has been very successful and to iron out some
teething problems parent forum made the observation that the way the system is operated
is not consistent across the school. Mr Triggs thanked parents for this information and the
school will clarify the ‘whens and whats’ of homework so that parents with children in more
than one year group know where they are.
A discussion was had about parents knowing the ‘objectives’ of the tasks set. Mr Triggs said
that the guidance and planning of the project will be revisited and improved to help and a
refresher letter about homework will go out revisiting the purpose of the project book –
which is to promote independence in learning along encouraging the self-motivation and
improving organisation skills of the children. This means that tasks set need to be quite open
to allow children to take their learning where the imagination will let it.
SUSTAINABILITY
This subject was raised at the last Parent Forum. Mr triggs talked about the role the
Comenius Project has in the curriculum for teaching about sustainability
The project runs across the school. Each term there is a ‘Wombling Week where elements of
the project are led by each of the project schools across Europe. Schools are in France,
Ireland, Iceland and Norway. Non-renewable energy resources - peat usage was covered last
term and our children will be learning about coal and it’s local impact and renewable sources
– geothermal will be covered after May and our visit to Iceland. Linked with the French will
be water conservation. (very topical)
It was suggested that local links be used too.
The school now has an allotment and a gardening club including a wormery is starting this
term.
BEHAVIOUR POLICY
Mr Triggs took this opportunity to show the parents the revised behaviour system which has
been further developed in school. Children are issued with green cards for good behaviour
and blue cards for unacceptable behaviour. All blue cards will be recorded and parents will be
notified if their child obtains three over a term. Green cards will be praised and counted on a
weekly basis with a treat – an extra playtime on the equipment for example – for the class
with the most by Friday each week. The system is already in operation and is proving very
effective.
The suggestion was made that any child who has not received any blue card in the academic
year can be congratulated on their report and that this could be done by highlighting those
who did not get a blue card but a green one.
FRIDAY CELEBARTION ASSESMBLY
This continues to be enjoyed – the observation was made that there is not always an
opportunity to pray at it. Agreed it was important and each celebration assembly would
begin with a pause for reflection and prayer..
Date of next meeting : Monday 9th July 2.30pm.
Parents present appreciated this timing and that a crèche had been provided.