Issue Four - St Francis Catholic Primary School

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St Francis Catholic Primary School
Governor News
Summer 2015
Issue Four
In this issue
This Governors’ Newsletter marks the end
of an eventful year, characterised by many
changes and a strengthened collective
voice. The promise of summer finds us
inevitably bidding goodbye to the old but
welcoming the new. May we take this
opportunity to send all our Year 6 children
very best wishes as they move onto their
new schools, and wish all our families a
safe, restful and joyous summer.
• Cause for Celebration
• Curriculum Update
• The Governor’s role in
Safeguarding
• Changes to your Governing
Body
• The Pupil Premium
Miss Sarah Whitbread
Chair of Governors
Cause for Celebration
Reaching the end of the school year
allows us to reflect on what has
been achieved, and there may
certainly be some awards of which
the recipients should be rightly
proud and are are hugely
deserved.
Literacy Attainment
Similarly,
Mrs
Waterman
appeared in the Kent Messenger
last week, receiving an award on
behalf of the school for the
literacy attainment of pupils in
disadvantaged groups.
Team of the Year
We are extremely happy to
announce that Mrs Blanden and
Mrs Williams were awarded ‘Team
of the Year’ at Kent Messenger’s
annual Teacher of the Year awards.
Kent Walking Bus
We are also pleased to celebrate
the achievements of our walking
Bus group, which has gone from
strength to strength, receiving
tow awards this year for Literacy
and Environment.
In an award ceremony at Leeds
Castle, overseen by guest of
honour David Starkey, our Acting
Headteacher and Deputy were
cited as a ‘dream team … credited
with transforming the school’s
teaching
standards
from
‘inadequate’ to ‘good’ in 22
months,
thanks
to
their
unwavering belief that all staff can
improve and their unremitting
focus on Teaching and Learning.’
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members
for
the
various
fundraising events throughout the
year.
Reading volunteers - as governors
we can see the positive impact this
has on nurturing enquiring minds.
We thank all the recipients for
their tireless commitment to
improving standards at the
school; and as a result a
broadening of the wider ethos,
where achievement is to be
celebrated and aspirations are
high. We also wish to thank:
All involved with The Friends of
St Francis, Kylie Milne as
Chair, and all the committee
The staff and parents who have
supported the first Communion
Programme and other religious
events.
The walking bus volunteers, school
drop-off point volunteers and all
parents who have helped out on
school trips.
May we also take the opportunity
to thank all families for all their
unwavering support this year. All
input, however seemingly small
helps to create the cohesive whole
of St. Francis Primary. This year
has been resoundingly positive,
but all of course would not be
possible without the commitment
of our families. We thank you for
your continued faith in us. St Francis Governor News
Issue 4
July 2015
Curriculum Update
‘We have had a very busy but fruitful and positive year in the Curriculum Committee of the Governing Body.
‘Our main priorities for the forthcoming academic year are:
• to support the writing throughout the school to ensure that all pupils achieve their full potential.
• to ensure that all our Pupil Premium children receive the support they need to work to the best of their
ability
‘Miss Whitbread and Mr Ashton, together with Miss Page and Mrs Blanden, have also made an exciting start to
the enrichment programme drawing up concrete plans for the new academic year. Staff are fully involved in a
potential programme of activities including knitting, needlework, papercraft, sports and art initiatives. The group
are also researching possible theatre trips and cultural days out. It is indeed an exciting time to be a pupil at St.
Francis School.’
-Nathalie Manser, Chair of the Curriculum Committee
The Governor’s Role in Safeguarding our Children
Mr Fraser joined the Governing Body in September 2013 as a Foundation Governor. Since then his input
and role has grown tremendously and he is now not only an active member of the Finance Committee,
but co-ordinates training for the Governors, as well as holding the demanding and extremely important
role of Safeguarding Governor. Here he gives us an introduction as to what this role involves.
‘Safeguarding of our children is vital and will always be a top
priority. Ofsted gave us a ‘Good’ rating in their most recent
inspection but I will not be satisfied until we reach
‘Outstanding’.
‘Although not a requirement, best practice is for all Governors to
be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
At St. Francis we believe this to be a necessity and records of
these checks will be held in the school.
‘We are fortunate that at St Francis very few safeguarding issues
arise in the School but we must never be complacent. A
monitoring system is in place to ensure that all Safeguarding
Mr Ian Fraser
policies and procedures are reviewed regularly and kept up to date
and any new initiatives and recommendations are implemented.
Ad hoc inspections and monitoring by Governors are carried out to ensure that this takes place.
‘Training of all staff to recognise and report concerns is important part of keeping our children safe. A
number of Governors too have received appropriate training, for example Miss Whitbread and Mr Ashton
recently completed Safer Recruitment Training, to ensure they understand the right protocol to follow
when sitting on any interview panel to recruit staff members - including any prospective Headteacher and the right questions to ask.
‘Two Governors also made an unannounced Health and Safety inspection of the premises earlier in the
year, usually a potentially frowned-upon practice of Governors, but in the case of Safeguarding a necessary
one; ensuring that any issues identified would be reported and robustly acted upon.’
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St Francis Governor News
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Issue 4 ● July 2015
Changes to your Governing Body
With regret, we say goodbye this term to Mrs Freyer, Mrs Zokra and Mr Cooper. All three leave the Governing
Body to continue and pursue personal endeavours. We thank them for their commitment at this pivotal time in
the school’s development and wish them well for the future.
This announcement coincides with a reconstitution of our governing body, a slimmer group including two
parent governors and seven foundation. Traditionally and historically, Foundation Governors would be
referred to a school by the Diocese, but there is now a more flexible opportunity for individuals who have
much to offer and play an active part in parish life to take on this role. All current governors have recently
completed a Skills Audit, to not only inform existing training needs but to identify those skills that will need
sourcing from new prospective members. This information is to be collated and evaluated over the summer.
Therefore, September will be a time to welcome candidates who have the right skillset, experience and vitality
to bring to the governing body. We will send out further information in the new academic year, but please
take time over the coming weeks to reflect if you have the time to commit and may be interested in this
challenging but extremely rewarding role, joining the school on the journey from Good to Outstanding. If so,
please email me on [email protected] to initiate a discussion; I would be extremely pleased to
hear from you and will gladly respond to any questions you may have.
The Pupil Premium –
Could it benefit my child?
The short answer to that question is ‘yes.’ The Pupil Premium
is an element of additional funding to raise the attainment of
eligible pupils and close the gap between them and their
peers.
As our year at St Francis School
draws to a close ...
We understand that there is an historical stigma surrounding
Pupil Premium, being that this is additional funding
ultimately related to income, and therefore socially, perhaps
politically, bound up with the notion of ‘ability’. The truth is
that the Pupil Premium can benefit all children including the
most able. As we all should recognise, parental income is
absolutely no indicator of academic ability.
we ask God to bless our Year 6 pupils
as they move on to the next stage of
their education.
The fact is that each child in receipt of the Pupil Premium
receives £1,320, which can be put towards 1:1 precision
teaching, art therapy or subsidising school visits to name but
a few – benefits that will give each child a greater chance of
fulfilling their capabilities.
At present 42 children receive the Pupil Premium, although
we believe there are many more children who are missing
out on huge potential benefits for their future. Those eligible
include low-income families, looked after children and
children of those in the armed forces.
we give thanks to God for all the
good gifts we have received this
year.
we pray that all the staff who are
leaving us will find satisfaction and
success in the new life they have
chosen.
we pray that all the pupils, staff and
governors of St Francis enjoy a restful
and refreshing summer break.
Amen.
Prayer provided by Mr Ashton,
Religious Dimension Governor.
If you think you may be eligible, please speak in confidence
to Mrs Blanden for more information.
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St Francis Governor News
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Issue 4● July 2015