Parent Forum Meeting with Mr J Ketley
Minutes
Thursday 26 March 6.30 - 7.30pm
Agenda Point
Response from Parents

The majority of parents felt that the targets were inconsistent and did not provide an
overview of the students’ positions within class. Some parents suggested a ranking system to
show where the students were within a class. JK referred back to the report information
booklets that had previously been sent to parents and explained that the software does not
allow data to individually show the students’ ranking within class.

Some parents suggested more detailed information to be provided from teachers within the
comment boxes. They expressed that it was too brief. JK explained that staff are only legally
required to write one full report a year.

Some parents expressed that the report guide does not explain how the decision is made
when a student meets their target grade and is then moved down a set. JK then explained
how sometimes children maybe meeting their targets but are still performing lower than the
rest of the class and some students from the set below.

Parents questioned why the report did not include the results for the assessments. JK
explained the process that all students should complete at least two assessments per term
which is then recorded on Go4Schools which will automatically calculate the achievement
grade. JK referred back to the policy within the report guide, which explains the breakdown
and confirmed that parents should have access by the end of the academic year.
1. What do you
dislike about the
current reports?
2. Have the report
guides been useful?
Actioned by and
when

The academy
will look at
producing end
of year report
for KS3 students
with a form of
year groups
ranking e.g.
decile/quintile

Academy to
review whether
there is a need
for a formal
term 1 report.
3. Parental feedback
from questionnaires

Some parents questioned the error for grades within the Science reports. JK confirmed that
this was rectified after the term 1 reports and we were aware of the problem. It was rectified
for subsequent reports.

Parents questioned the timing of when the reports are released. They confirmed that the
Year 11 report was not sent until the third week of January when they completed their mocks
in December.
JK explained the time frame of how long it takes for the data to be gathered and that teachers
have a two week deadline to input the data and mark the work. JK explained that one week is
needed to check the reports before they are released.

Some parents expressed that the Year 7 report was sent too early. JK explained that their
reports only focus on attitude to learning and that it is important to address this early so
students can be picked up quickly who need additional support.

Parents raised the importance of using the homework diary as a form of communication
between parents and teachers. Some expressed that diaries are not signed and that they are
not being informed if their child has a lunchtime detention.

JK outlined the response from parents who completed the online questioning regarding
reports. Some parents were unable to access the reports.

All parents were invited to complete an evaluation of progress and full reports in term 3
based on the term 2 reports. Two parents explained that the link was not working for the
questionnaire.

90% of parents had read the report guides produced by JO.

In terms of the progress reports parents were asked if the ATL grades were clearly
understood: 83% agreed or strongly agreed, when asked if they understood the progress their
child was making 60% agreed or strongly agreed.

In terms of the full reports, 90% parents agreed or strongly agreed when asked if the ATL
grades were clearly understood, 70% agreed or strongly agreed when asked if they
understood the progress their child was making.


Academy to
review
JK to review
questionnaire link
4. CPE feedback
from the
students.
5. Parental
Feedback from
the students.

In terms of the full reports, 77% of parent felt that the written comments were informative
and useful, 43% felt that the comments did not tell the students how to make progress. 77%
of parents agreed or strongly agreed that the reports showed the teachers knew their
son/daughter.

JK discussed the feedback received from students:
95% students surveyed (200 out of Years 7, 8 and 9 – surveys still being completed) felt that it
should run next year.
34% really enjoyed the lessons.
49% enjoyed the lessons.
10% were neutral about the lessons.
7% did not enjoy the lessons.





The parents’ general feedback from their children was positive and would like GWA to
continue to offer the range of topics.

Two parents suggested only offering the range of topics to Years 7 and 8.

JK briefly provided an overview of introducing ‘Show my Homework’ during Term 5 which is
an online homework calendar. He explained that some staff are currently in training and a
range of subjects will be piloted. Letters will be sent home to Year 8 and Year 10 providing
student and parent log ins.

JK explained that SMHW will allow GWA to monitor the consistency of homework being set
and for regular book checking.

A parent raised the concern of the notice period given for a teacher before they leave. They
expressed that it should be longer than one term. JK made parents aware that one term is a
legal framework that applies across the UK. They also questioned how the cover work is set if
a teacher is absent. JK explained that GWA have cover supervisors who manage the classes
often better than a supply teacher and cover work will be set by the absent teacher and if
they are unable to the Head of Department will. Long term absence is in most cases covered
with a specialist supply teacher.
6. Next meeting
and Agenda
7. AOB

Parents asked for a Year 11 Revision timetable and a parent calendar to include when exams
are set for the whole school. JK confirmed that the Revision Timetable has recently been
completed and will be available on the Academy website within a few days.

Exam Timetable
and revision
calendar to be
emailed out to
Year 11 parents
and put on the
web-site