Feedback & Consultation

Monday 31January 2011

On Tuesday 25 January, Chair of Governors, Philip Beckerlegge, welcomed over 50 parents to our Feedback and Consultation Evening. Deputy Headteachers Chris Francis and Tim Connole opened the discussions and reported back on the outcomes of our recent Kirkland Rowell survey, the outcomes of which are helpfully compared to those of other schools that participate in the surveys.

Parents, pupils and staff perceptions of the school are generally very positive. There was an excellent response rate with returns received from 443 parents, 949 pupils and 101 members of staff. Our overall performance and the quality of our provision and care, guidance and support were identified as definite strengths by parents and there was a strong consensus about the school’s capacity for improvement. The data from the Kirkland Rowell surveys is very detailed and will form an important part of our rigorous and on-going self-evaluation and will consequently be used to inform the key priorities in our strategic plan.

However, the main purpose of the evening was to share the rationale behind the governors’ decision to proceed towards Academy status. Parents sat at tables with members of the governing body and the school’s leadership team. After Philip Beckerlegge explained the context, parents were invited to reflect on their understanding of what an academy is in small groups and to raise questions. Headteacher, Chiquita Henson, then gave a presentation outlining the school’s position, including the feedback from the consultation conducted in November and December 2010 and clarifying the school’s core objectives. Academy status offers us the opportunity to:

• Build on our current strengths as an outstanding 11-16 high performing specialist comprehensive school
• Focus on the needs of learners in Cirencester and the surrounding area
• Seize the agenda, work collaboratively and take advantage of the ‘new’ freedoms
• Re-state our aims and redefine our provision for the second decade of the 21st Century

Chiquita Henson said, ‘The leadership of change is reflected in our aims and the move represents an ‘evolution not revolution’ and is a natural progression in our strategic financial management. The school has previously successfully pioneered Local Management of Schools (1980s), Granted Maintained status (1990s) and Foundation Schools (2000s). I believe this is a pro-active and informed decision about the future of our school for our learners and we have the potential to achieve coherence and stabilty in a period of turbulance and uncertainty.’

In their discussion groups, parents were again invited to reflect and comment on what they had heard before raising their specific questions. Members of the school’s leadership team and governors responded to these offering reassurance and stating their commitment to maintaining and further developing the school’s strong comprehensive ethos.

Parents attending the meeting welcomed the opportunity to meet with members of the school’s governing body and, while some initially expressed their reservations about the move to Academy status, they have subsequently expressed their appreciation of the school’s position in the emerging educational landscape. The governors will be consulting further with staff and currently plan for the school to convert to Academy status from April 2011. They aim to achieve a seamless transition.

Chiquita Henson,
Head