A meeting of parents at Highbridge’s King Alfred School has been held this week to discuss Ofsted’s latest report, which found the school to be ‘inadequate’.
There was a very high level of attendance of parents for this week’s meeting, which was chaired by Eur Ing H Mackay (Chair of Governors) and led by Mr Wells (Executive Headteacher), Mrs Hurr (Headteacher) and Mr S Faull (Senior Secondary Adviser, SCC).
Mrs Hurr stressed to the meeting her disappointment at the ‘Inadequate’ Ofsted judgement, which was reported here last week.
With the school being at the heart of the community in which she resides herself, she said she felt “deeply disappointed” for the families and their children.
She went on to say that the school is committed to making the improvements required, in conjunction with colleagues from the Clevedon Learning Trust.
Mrs Hurr asked for the parents’ support and for help in starting up a PTA to work alongside the school.
Mr Wells said that he had been commissioned by the Local Authority to make rapid improvements over the forthcoming months.
The Senior Leadership Team have been restructured and using the School’s ‘Be Proud Plan’ the staff and students are now clear on his expectations when they are in school, which he insisted are non-negotiable.
He said confidently that the ‘Be Proud Plan’ will ensure that teachers are delivering consistently good teaching.
The homework timetable has been changed and there are more rigorous systems in place for monitoring and evaluation. Mr Wells and Mrs Hurr have been leading the school assemblies to explain the plans for change to all the students.
Mr Faull, representing the Local Authority, explained that the Clevedon Learning Trust had been appointed to support the school for an interim period until a decision has been made by the Regional Schools Commissioner (South West) on a suitable academy sponsor.
Parents had provided many questions in advance of the meeting which were addressed, and they were also invited to pose questions at the meeting.
Issues such as behaviour, home learning and a lack of funding to improve the site’s appearance and to fix the roofs were discussed.
The meeting concluded with a thank you from the parents to Mr Wells for his support. There was a genuine feeling of support and positivity that the School will now move forward.
The overwhelming opinion was a hope that the Clevedon Learning Trust will be the academy trust chosen to become the School’s sponsor. Eur Ing Mackay closed the meeting and thanked parents for attending.
There will be a further parents’ meeting organised for the Autumn Term to look at how the changes are impacting, both from a staff and parents’ perspective. Details will be sent out to parents during the autumn term.
If any parents/carers are interested in joining the PTA they can contact the Headteacher’s PA via sch.514@kingalfred.somerset.sch.uk. The full presentation can be found on the school website at www.kingalfred.somerset.sch.uk.
