Governors Report
Annual Report of the Governing Body for the Academic Year 2007-2008
St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School
Argae Lane
Barry
Vale of Glamorgan
CF63 1BL
Phone: 01446 729250
Fax: 01446 720898
E-mail: strichardgwyncs@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
Web: www.strichardgwyn.co.uk
Governing Body
Canon Boardman Foundation Governor
Paul Burke Chair of Governors Foundation Governor
Martin Price Vice Chair of Governors Foundation Governor
Paul McLoughlin Foundation Governor
John O'Beirne Foundation Governor
Stephen Trigg Foundation Governor
Peter Fitzgerald Foundation Governor
Patricia Plevey Foundation Governor
Marie Collins Foundation Governor
Michael Clinch Head Teacher Governor
Viv Burman Teaching Staff Governor
Sharon Macleod Teaching Staff Governor
Moya Sanders Non-teaching Staff Governor
Louise Boylan Parent Governor
Kevin O'Hare Parent Governor
Daniel Williams LEA Governor
The Governors wish to extend their thanks to Lynda Morris who retired at the end of the 2007/08 school year. Her contribution both as a teacher and a governor was a vital part of the success of the school during the last fifteen years.
Chairman's Summary
This report is written in accordance with the Education (No. 2) Act 1986, and will be available on the school website at www.strichardgwyn.co.uk from 11th December 2008. The report forms the basis of the Annual General Meeting of the Governing Body, which will take place at the school at 6pm on Monday 19th January 2009 to which all parents/guardians are invited.
This was one of the most challenging years that the school has had. The challenge actually started on the last day of the previous school year in July 2007 when the school was flooded. The flood meant that over the summer there was a lot of work undertaken so that school could resume only a week late. Resumption was difficult because we had a selection of portakabins around the school, a workman's compound while the work on repairs to the school took place and a kitchen in a cabin. To be able to move back fully into school in January 2008 was an outstanding achievement. Our thanks go to the Archdiocese, the Local Education Authority and to the main contractor, Pinit, who all worked tirelessly to get us back in school so soon. The Governors also thank everyone involved in the school - staff, students and parents for their support and understanding during the work. The Head Teacher was rightly proud to report to the Governors that discipline in the school had improved while the work was undertaken.
There were two main changes that also took place at the beginning of the school year. Our full time Chaplain,
Mrs Price, commenced her work and the subjects that we offer in school were grouped into Curriculum areas. The appointment of the full time Chaplain is a major step forward for the school as we keep the Catholic ethos at the forefront of the school. Having someone who provides the direct contact between the church and the students means that we can support them in their faith journey. This also allows us to strengthen our link with other faiths and the opportunity to broaden the understanding of our students.
As you can see from the statistics, the academic results were very good with many pupils performing ahead of their predicted level. The Head Teacher, his management team and all of the school staff can be proud of their contribution towards these results that were achieved despite the disruption for the flooding.
As ever, we are grateful to the Archdiocese of Cardiff for its support and to our feeder parish priests, for their contribution to the liturgical life of the school. We were particularly pleased that His Grace, Archbishop Peter Smith was able to visit us to present the awards at the Prize Giving night.
The Governors welcome positive feedback about our school and are happy to answer any questions relating to their overall strategy. Please feel free to contact us at any time during the school year via the school.
This is a successful school - thank you for being part of it!
Paul Burke
Chair of Governors
October 2008
Statistical Data
|
|
|||||
|
3 Year Trends |
% Entries |
% |
% |
% CSI |
Ave Pts Score |
|
5 A*-C |
5 A*-G | ||||
|
98/99/2000 |
90 |
48 |
90 |
32 |
37 |
|
99/00/2001 |
92 |
50 |
90 |
38 |
39 |
|
00/01/2002 |
96 |
55 |
95 |
38 |
42 |
|
01/02/2003 |
95 |
55 |
94 |
33 |
44 |
|
02/03/2004 |
94 |
55 |
93 |
35 |
45 |
|
03/04/2005 |
96 |
55 |
94 |
34 |
46 |
|
04/05/2006 |
93 |
58 |
92 |
40 |
45 |
|
05/06/2007 |
93 |
58 |
93 |
43 |
47 |
|
06/07/2008 |
94 |
60 |
94 |
46 |
48 |
GCSE Results 2000 - 2008
|
GCSE 5 A*-C grades | ||||
|
|
All |
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
2000/01 |
58 |
44 |
73 |
|
|
2001/02 |
58 |
45 |
75 |
|
|
2002/03 |
50 |
33 |
61 |
|
|
2003/04 |
58 |
55 |
60 |
|
|
2004/05 |
57 |
50 |
65 |
|
|
2005/06 |
58 |
53 |
62 |
|
|
2006/07 |
61 |
55 |
67 |
|
|
2007/08 |
60 |
51 |
72 |
|
Examination performance, when compared to prior attainment (value added), remains above predictions. In 2008, at GCSE, the students achieved 176 grades above predictions overall. The Governors extend their gratitude to the all staff for their continued hard work and commitment to the pupils.
|
Key Stage 3: % Level 5+ |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
|
English |
65 |
79 |
83 |
68 |
56 |
|
Maths |
70 |
84 |
80 |
69 |
66 |
|
Science |
81 |
81 |
90 |
78 |
78 |
|
All three (CSI) |
56 |
69 |
71 |
54 |
51 |
Destination of School Leavers 2008
St. David's College 65%
Further training (Barry College) 15%
Employment 14%
Other 6%
Attendance Rates
Overall Attendance 93.0%
Authorised Absence 6.2%
Unauthorised Absence 0.8%
Spirituality
Deepening our Spiritual life is at the heart of our mission statement and we aim to give pupils every opportunity to celebrate their faith. Whole school Masses are a regular feature of Holy days and for our patron saint the school community gathers for Mass.
Our weekly voluntary Mass is attended by up to 100 pupils as well as being open to the wider community to attend. The Governors are grateful to Canon Boardman who continues to support the school despite his heavy workload.
Once again this year the penitential services in Advent and Lent were an opportunity for the whole school to reflect while giving everybody the opportunity for the individual celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation. This was taken up by both students and the staff of the school.
There are many informal opportunities for prayer or reflection, which is greatly enhanced by the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in school's chapel and is available for any member of the school community. The RE department encourages pupils to take a full part in the preparation of liturgies and their confidence in this respect has been remarked on by visitors.
The school has a strong tradition of fund-raising and supports CAFOD's family fast days as well as major drives in Lent and Advent to raise funds for CAFOD. Each house in school enthusiastically supportsa charity .The annual hamper collection continued last year as pupils prepared gifts for forty-four parishioners in liaison with parish SVP groups.
Sub - Committee Reports
Finance
The school's budget allocation from the LEA for year ending 31 March 2008 was £2,163,517. A further £115,699 was received through various grants and income generating initiatives.
The Governors allocated these funds thus:
Employees £1,930,314
Building Maintenance £181,308
Supplies and Services £167,594
Staffing
During the year the following members of staff left the school:
Mrs Lynne Duance (Food Technology), Mr Cormac Burke (Languages), Mr Brian Neill (Pastoral), Mr Paul Fellows (Science), Mr Daniel Field (PE), Mr Daniel Gravell (PE), Mrs Kerry Murphy (Maths), Mrs Lynda Morris (Maths), Miss Joanne Harries (Music), Mr David Rees (Music), Mr John Peterson (Exams Officer), Mr Mike Morgan (IT Technician), Mrs Jenny Sage (cleaner), Mrs Angela Carpenter (LSA), Kathryn Walters (LSA), Margaret McKeown (catering).
We would like to record our thanks for their work in the school and wish them well in their retirement or their new positions.
We also welcome the following members of staff who joined the school:
Mrs Maria Martin (Maths), Miss Kelly Osment (Maths), Miss Hannah Burden (Science), Miss Helen Evans (Food Technology), Mr Andrew Leftley (PE), Mr Tim Marshall (Languages), Mrs Suzanne Smith (Humanities), Miss Ria Venn (Music), Mr Rob Parry (ICT Development), Emma Williams (Cover Support), Mrs Lynda Morris (Exams Officer), Annelie Jenkins (Invigilator), Hayley Ballinger (LSA), Karin Martell (LSA), Alison Haggard (Catering), Deborah Goddard (Cleaner).
Pupils
118 pupils left Y11 having completed their GCSE courses while 117 pupils joined in Year 7. At various times of the year 10 pupils joined the school while 9 pupils left. In September 2008 there were 597 pupils on roll.
During the school year 24 students were temporarily excluded for periods between 1 and 10 days and 1 pupil for 21 days. There were no pupils excluded for periods between 21-45 days. The total number of exclusion days totalled 113.
Health and Safety
The school has a health and safety committee consisting of a governor, the head teacher, the caretaking staff and a teacher. One of the caretaking staff has a specific responsibility for Health and Safety matters, dealing with urgent matters as they arise.
Staff at the school are responsible for specific health and safety issues in relation to their curriculum area and any concerns are raised with the Senior Management team.
The school Health and Safety committee undertakes regular Health and Safety inspections of the school and its grounds to ensure that there are no hazards for staff, pupils and visitors to the school.
If anyone connected with the school becomes aware of a Health and Safety problem they are encouraged to report it so that appropriate action can be taken.