Consultation on Changes to School Age Ranges
Sandy Upper School Robert Peel Lower St Swithun’sVC School Lower School Miss K Hayward Miss L Ganney Mrs A Whitehurst Moggerhanger Everton Lower John Donne C of E Lower School School Lower School Mrs D Randall Ms A Russell Mrs Johnson-Clarke
Purpose of the Meeting The purpose of the consultation meeting is to: � Share information about the proposal � Gather the views and opinions of the attendees � Answer questions related to the proposal
Why Primary and Secondary? � Raise standards and improve outcomes for children and young people. � Boost children’s life chances by providing them with the best quality of education. � Ensuring a coherent educational journey for the children with only one transition in settings.
Why? � Standards and outcomes for children � Simplify and improve the learning journey � Improve continuity and progression (whole Key Stages) � Reduce transition points and reduce learning time lost � Effective transition � Broad, balanced and cohesive curriculum � Innovative, personalised and specialist learning opportunities � Partnership working
Timeline of the proposal: Lower Schools Sandy Upper School September 2017 Year 4 pupils can remain – move into Year 5 September 2018 Year 5 pupils remain – Year 7 and Year 9 pupils move into Year 6 can be admitted September 2019 Year 6 pupils move to Year 7 and Year 9 secondary provision pupils can be admitted
Pupil Numbers Moggerhanger Sandy Robert Peel St Swithun’s John Donne Everton Upper School 269 60 30 15 24 10
Provision � Ethos and vision (inclusive) � Teaching Staff -primary trained � Good working relationships with transitional school (Sandy Upper School) � Support for children
Frequently Asked Questions Questions from parents How will the St Swithun’s buildings be improved/expanded to cope with the extra year groups? We already have a spare classroom which will enable us to take the additional year group in Year 5 and we are currently looking at developing another part of the school to site a purpose built classroom. How will the St Swithun’s facilities cope with the increased demands of an older curriculum? For example science labs? All teaching staff at St Swithun’s are Primary trained teachers. The school also uses the International Primary Curriculum which will continue to be used. The school will purchase any additional resources needed to teach the curriculum through its school budget. Should specialist facilities be needed then we will work with Sandy Upper School to implement this. It is important to remember that we are not trying to be a middle school. We will be providing a Primary education .
Frequently Asked Questions Questions from parents What are the specific benefits for our children of the two tier system (beyond the general benefit of continuity)? The two tier system will mean only one transition point at the end of year 6, It will also raise standards and improve outcomes for young people. Will there be any merging of local schools? No schools will be merging. Will the existing classes be affected? Will more children join the school as a result of broader provision. Each class will only have 30 children. Currently the school can have 150 children in Year R to 4. Within the Primary setting the school will have 210 children.
Frequently Asked Questions Questions from parents Will the pupil’s/children get the option to stay at St Swithun’s or go to middle school? Parents can choose to leave their child at St Swithun’s or send their child to middle school. Provision for changing facilities for years 5 and 6, separating boys and girls. PE for Years 5 and 6 will take place on the same afternoon. All children will change after lunch with girls and boys separated in different classrooms. Clarification as to how 60 more pupils will fit. (classrooms, playground, school hall etc…) Playtimes and lunchtimes will be staggered meaning the younger and older children will be separated and allow for age appropriate games.
Frequently Asked Questions Questions from parents How are two different systems going to work within Sandy? Parents will have a choice on which direction they want their children to follow. How will you ensure that children in Year 5 are taught by experienced and qualified teachers? The school already employs members of staff who are recently taught in bigger Primary schools and have experience of teaching in Years 5 and 6. Clarification as to how 60 more pupils will fit. (classrooms, playground, school hall etc…) Playtimes and lunchtimes will be staggered meaning the younger and older children will be separated and allow for age appropriate games.
Frequently Asked Questions Do the children have to stay at the Lower School? No, it’s about parental choice, children can move onto year 5 if they wish. Can students transfer from the Middle School to the Upper School at the end of Year 8? Yes and if they so wish from 2018 at the end of Year 6. How will the schools manage with the increased numbers? Each school will have a plan to ensure that the provision is right for the children and uphold its expectations and high standards. Will schools change their names and uniform? The main change will be Lower/Upper to Primary/Secondary and there will be gentle transition to any uniform change.
Frequently Asked Questions Will the ethos of the schools change? No, schools will continue with their vision of excellent outcomes for children. How will standards be improved for our children? Fewer transition points and complete Key Stages being taught in one establishment. Less emotional upheaval for the children during transition points and transition will be improved. What if a school becomes over subscribed? Each school has an admission policy which sets out the procedures for admissions into school.
Any other questions?
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