Hetton School Parents’ Forum

Tuesday 19th October 5.00-6.00pm 
School Library

 

Agenda

• Welcome and Introductions

• What is the Parents’ Forum?

• Issues arising from first half term

• School fencing
• Possible changes to Y9 curriculum

• Parents issues / topics for future discussion

• Reporting to parents

• A.O.B
• Date of next meeting

 

Minutes of Parents Forum Meeting 19th October 2010

 

Present   J.McKeown   Y.Brownsword   P.Keay   S.Riley   E.Donaldson   S.Stephenson  M.Diaz  M.Young
Apologies   C.Knowles   K.Daglish   S.Renwick   C.Laundon  

 

1. Welcome and Introduction.

• JM opened the meeting.

 

2. What is the Parents’ Forum?

• JM explained reasons behind the Parents Forum. Parents are listened to but no individual issues just general concerns. (issues last year planners, BSF) Planners are smaller.

• MD a lot of pupils have planners in class now.

3. Issues arising from first half term

• School Fencing
• JM fencing has improved we now have perimeter fences.
• SS the footpath by the double drive gates stops and there is a small area that is muddy. Is it possible to have 3 paving stones laid down so you are not walking through the mud?
• PK leave that with me as councillor Blackburn is coming in for talks.
• SS speed limit is also an issue.
• JM lighting is was also an issue but school fought to put street lights on road.
• PK feedback from Hetton Primary excellent, no smokers and punctuality improved, fewer lates.
• SS Deputy Head / staff down the bottom gate helps.
• PK talked to cottage shop asking them to stop serving after a certain time. Local authority to make a secure site so no one can come onto site and walk into a classroom.
• JM is it the intention to shut the gate at Hetton Primary?
• PK no depending on money we will get more fencing, may have a reception at that end of school.
• SR you do get bigger pupils climbing into school.
• SS Pupils are better behaved at lunchtime in Hetton there are no groups.
• PK no anti social behaviour observed.  I have driven around Hetton at lunchtime. No plan for change only allowing Yr10 and Yr11 out at lunchtime.
• SS why not?
• PK no facilities to keep all students on site. Would be keen to keep them on site but not enough facilities. Would be interesting to have figures.

 

• Possible changes to Yr.9 Curriculum.
• JM C.Knowles was going to discuss next item but he sends his apologies.
• PK Curriculum, we don’t think it is personal enough and we are looking at it. Changes in the curriculum and the government are looking at traditional English Literature and History. KS3 will be Yr.7 and Yr.8.  KS4 will be Yr.9, 10 and Yr.11.  Yr.8 will be able to make some limited choices. If pupils are making good progress they should be allowed to move up sets.
• SS are option subjects changing
• PK not decided will be talking to Head of Departments.
• JM showed parents what options may look like next year.
• SR is technology the same, compulsory.
• PK Specialist Technology College students should study one Technology subject.
• MY has there become six topics as I thought there was only four.
• PK I hope a new Head of Technology will be appointed on Thursday and hope they will come in with new ideas.
• JK you have a more broad choice in Yr.9 then in Yr10 you narrow.
• PK if pupils dislike Food this will give them a choice to drop it and do something else.
• SR I would rather they did not do a Technology subject.
• JM entering pupils for exams if and when pupils are ready. Able to do this in subject areas due to new modular approach of exams.
• MY can they resit.
• JM yes but there are rules.
• SS does this cost you money.
• PK yes loads.
• MY Should parents not pay for resits?
• PK no
• MY Sixth Form threatens pupils to pay for resits. Do you do an exam for PSHE now?
• JM How would you feel about your children doing GCSE exams in Yr9? 
• PK this gives us more flexibility.
• JM monitoring pupils more.
• PK groups of pupils who have their maximum results in their Maths and struggle in English will get support in English.
• MY my son was entered for early Maths in November and Sunderland College was concerned he had no Maths from November until September the following year.
• PK I am looking at that. Sixth Forms should refresh pupils.

4. Parents Issues / topic for future discussion.

 

• Reports.
• PK highlighted that reporting was not good enough last year.
• SR MY - laughed at by a member of staff when asked where their child’s reports were.  I hear money was an issue.
• PK reports were a mess and did not work. It was not good enough.
• SR monitoring sheets were helpful.
• PK do you want information little and often or one big one.
• SS not much content in reports no improvement and could not take report on holiday with me to show grandparents.
• SS are reports proof read?
• MD they should have gone to Head of Department and then Head of House.
• MY Want reports as don’t want any nasty surprises when you go to parents evening.
• JM How did you feel about parents evening?
• SR Yr.9 had parents evening and option evening together it was all over the place.
• PK Soon will be online access you can find things instantly such as last assessment results and punctuality - should be ready for end of school year.
• SR Positive was the option booklets given out e.g Geography.
• PK looking at option booklet.
• MY my son did not know what he wanted to choose.
• PK offer parents interviews with students and a member of staff where they can be guided and advised but their own choice.
• SS How did you do parents evening in your old school.
• PK describe what it was like here?
• SS cattle market, no appointments, looking for teachers that are free, teachers not even there, there must be a better way of doing things.
• MY if you have not got an appointment teachers will have gone home.

5. A.O.B

• JM any other issues for future meetings.
• MY the website is more up to date and more information.
• JM do you use website regularly?
• PK extra day holiday for students in July as days miscalculated.
• MY I’ve had no text messages yet.
• JM no there has been no wet breaks or snow days yet.
• MY teachers training days would be nice to know in advance.
• PK plans to write to parents every half term and there is a school magazine produced every term.
• SS work experience students litter picking they were doing it properly.
• PK more litter bins and the site is cleaner, personal drive on graffiti.
• SR merit systems older pupils get fewer merits.
• PK not top of my priority.
• SR no consistency.
• SS there should be age assorted prizes.
• MD there is some changes for prizes for KS4.
• SS is there only 2 meetings a year now?
• JM I will review it if need be and go back to 3 meetings.

 

6. Date of Next Meeting

• Tuesday 12th April 2011
• JM anything outstanding I will contact you.

Meeting ended 6.05

 

Previous Minutes

	Pdf	Word
October 19th 2010
May 24th 2010
Feb 8th 2010
May 19th 2009
February 23rd 2009
Oct 20th 2008
May 12th 2008
February 11th 2008
October 15th 2007
Application Form (Printable format)

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Mrs J McKeown
Parents Forum Co-ordinator & Subject Leader Geography
hetton.school@schools.sunderland.gov.uk