Minutes of Parents’ Forum Wednesday 21st March 2012.
Speaker: Mr Whiteford, Miss Dawe, Miss Kennedy and Mr Nicholls.
Subject: Vertical Tutoring consultation. (VTG)
Minute Taker: Sarah Shortt,
Mr Whiteford began by outlining the desire of the staff and governors of the school to continue to
move forward and to become an ‘outstanding’ school. In the last Ofsted inspection the school was
already judged to give ‘good’ pastoral care, guidance and support, but the school leadership team
wants this to become ‘outstanding’ too. The Senior Leadership Team have researched what
makes an outstanding school and have visited a number of other schools to assess what makes
the difference. Along with students from the School Council a number of senior staff looked at Cox
Green School and visited Waingells College in Woodley.
How Vertical Tutor Groups work.
Vertical Tutor Groups give younger students opportunities to learn from older students and give
the older students the experience of supporting, working with and leading younger students. By
mentoring younger students one of the main advantages for the students would be in gaining
leadership opportunities, which will be very useful for them in later life. There will also be
opportunities for students to support their peers at key transition times, for example; Year 7s can
support Year 6s during their transition to secondary school; when it comes to GCSE Options Year
10s can support and advise the Year 9s and in the Sixth Form Year 12s can support Year 11s
when making their Sixth Form choices.
Tutors.
The role of the tutor will be key in integrating students from differing year groups successfully and
the expectation is that this will have a positive impact elsewhere around the school at break times
and in corridors etc. as students from different year groups get to know each other. Students will
remain in their existing Houses, there will be approximately four students from each year group in
each tutor group, giving each tutor group around 20-22 students.
Student opinions and concerns.
Mr Whiteford reminded parents that this change only relates to the 35 minutes per day the
students spend in tutor time. There are no changes proposed to lesson groupings. The staff and
school council have been talking to the students over the last few weeks about VTG. One of the
biggest concerns voiced by students was over lunch breaks – they were concerned that if they
were in a different tutor group to their friends they would not get the opportunity to spend break
times together. Mr Whiteford advised that lunchtime arrangements will change from September
2012 and all students will have lunch at the same time. There will probably be a separate area for
Year 7 which they may use if they wish, or they will be able to be in areas with the rest of the
students. Year 11s will be given a dedicated space in the new building. The other main student
concern was that they would be separated from existing friends in tutor groups. Mr Whiteford
advised that the students will all be able to choose someone to be with. The timetable for PHSE
will be looked at very carefully to ensure all sessions are age-appropriate. It is hoped that there will
be further opportunities for more students to visit Waingells. There will be a question box in
Student Reception for any students who wish to ask further questions and a trial will take place
before the end of this school year. One idea proposed by the students was to make a video or
book for the Year 7s starting in September to introduce them to the school.
Waingells College visit.
Two members of the School Council who had visited Waingells then spoke to the parents. They
spoke of how there seemed to be a sense of togetherness and unity amongst the students at
Waingells. They had met students from years 7, 8 and 9 and reported how comfortable they
seemed around students from other year groups. The two boys said they recognised how the
tutors would be able to really focus on small numbers of students throughout the year and really
support them at key times, for example; supporting Year 7s when they start at the school, advising
Year 9s when choosing their GCSE options or supporting Year 11 when revising for exams. The
boys stated that the voice of students at Waingells seemed to be heard more and taken into
account when decisions were being made. They saw students from different year groups building
friendships and mentoring other students. They thought that whilst older students might initially be
a little reluctant to take on such a responsibility, they could see that it would benefit them in the
future.
Arrangement of tutor groups.
After Easter students will be asked to suggest three people they would like to be in a tutor group
with. Current tutors and House Leaders – the staff who know the students best – will be involved
making the new groupings. Tutor groups will be reorganised by May and there will be a trial period
in June.
Staff views about VTG.
Miss Kennedy has previously taught in a school with vertical tutor groups. She spoke to parents
about the various tutor time activities which had been arranged to suit all year groups and which
helped the students mix together with students from other years. After this she said that teachers
in the school began to see a difference in corridors and playgrounds etc. as students would mix
more with students from other years. She said the school had an amazing sense of community
and she believed vertical tutoring to have played a part in that.
Mr Nicholls has a daughter who started in year 7 at Waingells College last September. He
reported that his daughter has been made to feel very welcome in her vertical tutor group and has
a mentor in Year 9 who has become a good friend. Mr Nicholls said that the older students feel
responsible for the younger ones and that is good for them as well as the younger ones. His
daughter’s friend in Year 9 was quite shy but has become more confident since being involved in
this way. His daughter says that she likes it because she feels like an individual not just a Year 7
and that her tutor group feels like a family.
Questions from parents and carers.
One of the main concerns from parents was about the appropriateness of the mixing of age
groups. Mr Whiteford reiterated that the standard school structure where children only mix with
others of their own age is not one that is reflected much outside of the school environment. Having
tutor groups made up of different aged children simply reflects a family situation or any clubs or
groups these young people may belong to, i.e. football clubs, Guides, Scouts, Music Centre
classes etc.
The tutors will be responsible for overseeing behaviour as in any other lesson and will ensure
activities etc. are appropriate for the age group. There will be a programme of training and
development for tutors and the PHSE programme is also being restructured to suit the changes.
A parent asked how the change would be evaluated. Mr Whiteford advised that feedback will be
requested from staff, students and parents regarding the new system.
A parent asked what opportunities the new Year 7s would have to meet other Year 7s. Mr
Whiteford said that they would still be taught in year groups so would meet others in all of their
lessons, but that outside of lesson times there would be year group activities arranged as well as
the Year 7 trip at the end of the first year.
A parent asked what happens at break and lunch times. Mr Whiteford advised that they are
looking to arrange a separate area for Year 7, where they can choose to go, or they can use the
supervised area with the other students. The Year 11s are being allocated their own space in the
new building, which opens around the 30th April.
A parent asked how the tutor groups would be made up. Mr Whiteford said that they would try to
balance the groups as much as possible for genders, abilities etc., and that the tutors will decide
the make-up of the groups.