Engaging Parents!

(3rd March 2010) At Cirencester Deer Park School we believe that our relationship with parents is vital to the success of the school. Engaging with parents is important in many aspects of school life:

Learning
The learning triangle is a vital part of our approach to learning and outlines the role of the parent in the success of the pupil. It is part of our Learning and Teaching Policy which is currently under review.

Parents’ evenings
Attendance at parents’ evenings is very high and indicates a strong level of engagement. Parents have the opportunities to speak to tutors and with subject staff on two separate evenings in the year.

Website and new technologies
Increasingly, the website is a means of communication and after recent updates we hope it is clear, informative and provides good guidance for parents, pupils and other interest groups. The absence alert system which includes a texting facility is another example of our use of new technologies to engage and inform parents.

Workshops and seminars
We run a number of workshops and seminars throughout the year which aim to inform parents about specific aspects of learning. Last week we invited parents into school to talk about ensuring that our pupils perform to their highest potential. This was aimed at a specific group of Y11 pupils. Earlier in the year there were workshops on parenting your teenage son/daughter and top tips for revision. We also ran an evening session to launch Key Stage 4 aimed at the parents of Y10 parents.

Friends of Deer Park
Our parents association is a small but dedicated team of parents who work to support the school in a variety of ways, from fund raising to organising discos to providing refreshments at school events. Read more.

The aims of the curriculum at school are simple; to develop successful learners, responsible citizens and confident individuals. The more we work together to support the pupils at Deer Park, the better their life chances will be. If you have any ideas for further development in this area then please contact the school and speak to a member of the senior team. Chris Francis Deputy Headteacher