Annual Governors’ Report 2010-11
Annual Governors’ Report
2010/2011
Abbots Cross Primary School
Introduction
The Board of Governors is pleased to present its report for the school year 2010/2011. We believe it represents a positive view of the life of our school across every area.
At the onset of this report, the entire Governing Body wishes to express its thanks to the principal, staff and parents for their work and support throughout the year.
The Governors wish to recognise, in particular, the service provided to the school by Mrs Burch, who has retired and to welcome Mrs Eddie to the Teaching Staff.
The Board of Governors:-
Period of Office, September 2010 – June 2014
The Board of Governors consists of 9 voting members and one non-voting member. The voting members consist of four transferor representatives, two NEELB representatives, two parent representatives and one teacher representative.
TransferorsRev I. Neish
Rev D Lockhart
Miss D Draffin
Mr J Johnston
NEELBMr D Hollis
Mr J Scott (deemed resigned)
Parents Mrs G Ramsay
Mrs L Magowan
Teacher Mrs H Lennox
Office Bearers
Chairperson: Rev I Neish
Vice Chairperson: Rev D Lockhart
Hon Secretary: Mr R Gibney
Meetings of the Board of Governors 2010/2011
During the school year 2010/2011, the Board of Governors met formally on seven occasions and informally at a number of school events. The functions of the Governors include:
•The appointment of teaching and non-teaching staff
•The arrangements for the admission of pupils
•The determination of Curriculum Policy and of the Curriculum
•The management of disciplinary procedures
•The maintenance of school premises
•The financial management of the school, including the setting of staff levels
Teaching Staff
PrincipalMr R Gibney
Vice Principal / Head of Key Stage 2Mr S Crozier
Head of Key Stage 1Mrs H Moore
Assistant TeachersMiss C McDonald
Mrs H Lennox
Mrs S Stewart
Mrs A Berry
Mrs H Hanley
Mrs F McDonald
Mrs M Johnston
Mr A McAllister
Mrs A Black
Mrs E Burch
Miss K McClean
SecretaryMiss R Bremner
Building SupervisorMr S Foster
Classroom AssistantsMrs M Campbell
Mrs L White
Mrs L McIlveen
Mrs S Gowdy
Miss C Henry
Mrs E Elliot
Mrs J Campbell
Supervisory AssistantsMrs S Wallace
Mrs J Smyth
Mrs M Ilieva
Mrs T Foster
Miss K Alexander
Mrs A Ferguson
Miss A Gilmour
Cleaning Staff Mrs T Salters
Mrs A Foster
Mr N Foster
Patrol Staff
Mrs P Cahill
Mr J Purdy
The Curriculum
The curriculum includes all the opportunities for learning provided by the school. The school offers a broad and balanced curriculum in which a wide range of learning experiences suited to the needs and abilities of the children is provided.
The Curriculum aims to empower our pupils to develop their potential and to make informed choices and decisions throughout their lives.
Our school aim is “to provide a secure caring and stimulating environment in which every member of the school community feels valued and is encouraged to reach his/her full potential.”
In our school we shall be
“Learning together, achieving together.”
With this in mind there is an emphasis on the development of skills and capabilities for life long learning and for operating effectively in society. We will encourage our pupils to progress and develop the skills of Communication, Using Mathematics and using Information, Communications Technology. We also seek to promote Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities such as Problem Solving, Decision Making, Self Management, Working with Others, Managing Information and Being Creative
There are six areas of learning and teachers seek to integrate learning across these six areas to make relevant connections for children.
The areas are:
Language and Literacy “including Talking and Listening, Reading and Writing “.
•Mathematics and Numeracy
•The Arts “including Art and Design, Drama and Music”.
•The World Around Us “the development of knowledge, skills and understanding in Geography, History and Science and Technology.
•Personal Development and Mutual Understanding
•Physical Education
In keeping with the priorities established in the school development plan, staff engage in a process of continuous school improvement. In the year 2010/2011, after consultation with parents staff updated its Positive Behaviour policy, including a review of teaching and learning a general Statement of Principles and updated its Mission Statement. Child protection training was organised for non teaching staff and advice on this matter issued to parents.
The Newtownabbey Family Connections Programme was developed and a range of services introduced. These included a drop in centre for parents, individual referrals for pupils and families under stress, an Active Dads programme a Playground Pals scheme, support for pupils transferring to secondary school, as well as for parents of new P1 pupils.
In relation to raising standards a target setting process to raise achievement was established and monitored by the school Assessment Team. Training was organised for all staff in the use of Assessment Manager, in order to interpret better performance trends for individual pupils and classes.
Further staff development took place through the Early Professional Development Programme, whole staff training and developing the schools numeracy programme as well as continuing development in approaches to reading, writing and spelling.
The Governors wish to record their appreciation to all the staff who either lead or engaged in development work throughout the year.
In addition to the statutory curriculum, the staff at Abbots Cross provide an excellent range of Extended Schools activities, as well as special events and out of school visits. The Governors wish to thank all teachers who have given of their time to enhance the experiences available to the pupils of Abbots Cross.
Extended Schools:
Dance/Fitness
Fit and Fun Club
Breakfast Club
Cookery
Art
Football
Raps and Rhymes
Netball
Hockey
Coole Kids Club
Educational Visits / Special Events:
Visiting speakers at assembly
Charity fund raising – Children’s Hospice
Autumn Walk
Educational Visits from PSNI and Fire Service
Road Safety Awareness
Birds of Prey Event
Coffee Morning for parents
Launch of Newtownabbey Family Connections
Declan Carville children’s author school visit
Halloween Disco
Carrickfergus Castle visit
P1 Open afternoon
Positive parenting course NFCP
PTA Summer Fair
Scholastic Bookfair
Community Tree Lighting – Abbots Cross
Annual Carol Service – Cloughfern Parish
School Carol Service / Harvest Service
School Christmas Performance
Mr Hullaballoo Theatre
Ulster Museum visit
Causeway school visit
W5 visit
Wider World week event
Cinderella Rockerfella
Replay Theatre
Teddy Bears picnic
Rathcoole Library visit
Viking Day
Visits from local secondary schools
Infant and Senior Sports’ Day
Induction Meeting – new primary ones
Transfer Evening – Primary Sixes
Share Centre Residential
Special Education
The school continued to work with parents and other agencies to support pupils with particular needs.
Individual and group assistance is offered in so far as resources permit. Other assistance is sourced through the Literacy Support Service and pupils in possession of Statements can access the support of a classroom assistant.
The school also secured training for many of our assistants to deliver the Toe by Toe Reading Programme as well as training for Literacy Support Assistance.All this has supported the dedicated work and leadership shown by class teachers and our SENCO in the field of Special Education.
Child Protection
The school strives to comply fully with the requirements on Child Protection.
The current designated teachers are:
Mr R GibneyDesignated Teacher
Mrs S.CrozierDeputy Designated Teacher
Communication with Home
The school operates an open door policy in so far as is practicable. Parents are encouraged to make appointments with teachers to discuss any aspect of their child’s education. Interviews are held in October and February and parents receive a written report in June. Any concerns parents wish to raise, may be done by contacting the teacher or the Principal. Parents may also contact the Chairperson of the Board of Governors should they feel the need arises.
Charges and Remission Policy
Education in Abbots Cross is free. There is no charge for lessons, books materials or activities connected with the students entitlement under the Education Reform Order (NI) 1989.
However, parents are asked to contribute towards the educational needs of pupils which cannot be met through Department of Education funding.
Enrolment and Attendance
The school is required to publish the enrolment figures and attendance rate as of 31st October 2010.
Enrolment – 291
Attendance Rate – 93.3%
Pupils leaving the school in 2010/2011 transferred to a range of secondary and grammar schools:
Belfast High School7
Belfast Royal Academy 1
Glengormley High School1
Hazelwood Integrated College3
Monkstown Community School13
Newtownabbey Community School10
Statutory Assessment takes place in the final year of each Key Stage i.e. P4 and P7. The pupils are assessed in the following areas:
Talking / Listening, Reading, Writing, mathematical Processes, Numbers, Measures, Shape and Space and Data Handing.
As a result of the assessment, pupils are accorded a level. Level 2 is considered an average for a P4 pupil, and level 4 the average for a P7 pupil.
However, all schools will have pupils working anywhere between level 1 and level 5.
Key Stage 1 English level 2 or above 94.12%
Key Stage 1 Mathematics level 2 or above 79.41%
Key Stage 2 English level 4 64.87%
Key Stage 2 Mathematics level 4 70.27%
The school is pleased to note a significant improvement in both Mathematics and English made by our pupils.
Pupils are also assessed regularly in class tests, standardised tests, as well as on going classroom observation and monitoring
Financial Statement 2010/2011
Schools Delegated BudgetTotal £1,050,517
Expenditures
Teaching Staff£672,146
Non teaching staff£168,746
Other employee £15,392
Non staff Costs£175,384
Net Expenditure£1,031,668
Balance:School is UNDERSPENT by £18,849
This is a provisional figure which may not yet include outstanding transactions.