Dear Parent
OFSTED REPORT
As many of you know, Scalby School had a full Ofsted inspection on 23 and 24 March 2010. I am delighted to say that the school has been recognised as Good and has been brought out of Special Measures.
This is an unusual judgement that represents an outstanding achievement by the students, staff and Interim Executive Board. Under the new, tougher, inspection framework that was introduced last September many schools which would previously have been graded as Good have received a Satisfactory grade, whilst others that would have been graded as Satisfactory have been given Notice to Improve or placed in Special Measures. Scalby School has not only been removed from Special Measures but has received a Grade 2 inspection report, meaning that the school is now officially classed as a Good school. We are the only school in the country to have moved from Special Measures to a judgement of Good under the new framework. To move from requiring Special Measures to Good in just 4 terms is truly an outstanding achievement. Students, staff, parents and the IEB can be justifiably proud of their achievements and once again Scalby School is a beacon of excellence.
The most frustrating aspect of the new inspection framework is that a judgement of Good may mean that the school has to wait longer for its next inspection. In an ideal world I would welcome an inspection in around 18 months’ time so that the sustained improvement can fully impact. The powerful leadership group under new Headteacher David Read will then be in a position to reasonably expect a judgment of Outstanding, Grade 1. I am absolutely confident that the school has the capacity to move quickly to Outstanding, confirmed by the inspectors’ finding that ‘the school has good capacity of sustain improvement’ (page 5). David Read and our senior staff have already begun to plan the developments required to achieve this.
I urge you to read the report and share it with your children. You will see that at the end of the report there is a copy of a letter that the inspection team have written to all the students, and they will receive this through their vertical mentor groups.
THE TERM AHEAD
Some intensive support has been going on in preparation for the forthcoming examinations and I am grateful to the staff who have given up their time, in the holidays and after school, to ensure that our students achieve the best they possibly can. I am also pleased with the way that many students have taken advantage of the opportunities presented to them to reach and in many cases, exceed, their targets. There will be no general study leave for Year 11; students will be working in school right up until their last examination. Students may not legally take up full-time employment until Saturday 26th June at the earliest.
A calendar of events is included with this letter and I hope to see many of you at the next meeting of the Parents’ Consultative Group, on Monday 10 May at 7.00pm when David Read will be there to introduce himself to you.
NEW GOVERNING BODY
On Wednesday 5 May the new Shadow Governing Body (SGB) meets for the first time. This will literally shadow the present Interim Executive Board for a short period of time, before itself assuming governance of the school. Three parent governors have now been appointed to fill the vacancies in that category on the SGB, and they are Mr Graeme Casper, Mr Andrew Newton and Mr Andrew Robson. Some of you will know them since they have all been actively involved in the Parents’ Consultative Group. Mr Don Graham, a former RAF officer who has extensive experience in the area of Heath and Safety, has been appointed as a Community Governor and Miss Laura Eddery and Mr Jon Morgan are to be Staff Governors.
NEW SCHOOL TIES
The new ties have arrived at Rumours and some students are already proudly wearing them! They cost £5 with £1 of this going to the ‘Help the Heroes’ charity. The ties, which come in 3 different lengths, will be mandatory uniform for all students from September, so why not get yours now?
CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK!
Many congratulations to the Year 8 Netball Team who have won the District competition, and to William Oseland, Matthew Whilde and Ben Watkinson who won Division 3 of the Scarborough Table Tennis League. Thanks also to Mr Andy Malley for coaching them. Good luck to Abigail Catherall, Molly Owenson, Beate Richings, Bethany Morley, Megan Woodward-Hay, Bobby Moorhouse, Megan Richardson and Amber Atkinson who will be taking part in the British Team Gym Finals in Gloucester in early May.
NEW AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Details of the new after-school sporting activities have already been published on the school website and a booklet with details of the other activities offered to students is being prepared now and will shortly be on the website too. One new activity is an Allotment Club run by Mr David Pye on Thursdays from 2.40pm - 3.30pm where students will be helped to grow their own vegetables.
END OF TERM
Please note that this term will end at the earlier time of 12.30pm, on Wednesday 21 July. Students entitled to a free school meal can collect a packed lunch from the canteen but this must be ordered in advance by sending a letter or e-mail to Mrs Newton, details below.
If you would like to join the group of parents who receive newsletters and other information by e-mail, please e-mail my PA, Lesley Newton, on l.newton@scalbyschool.org.uk to let her know.
Yours sincerely
Paul Tarn
Principal
