barts

I've followed Dave R's link to see Performance tables for Key Stage 2 2010 and found that Goodrich stats for Average Point Scores are higher than local and national averages and % achieving Level 4+ in English and Maths is just 2% lower than local and national which is hardly significant. In terms of Contextual Value Added between KS1 and 2 Goodrich also scores well at 100.8 which is pretty much in the middle of their confidence interval. This isn't the doom and gloom picture you paint Dave R. There is room for improvement - of course - but maybe try supporting your community school rather than undermining it with a barrage of critical comments. I have seen nothing but dedication from the teachers I have had contact with. The notion that any teacher worth their salt wouldn't want to improve their performance or give their best to the kids they teach is patronizing at the very least. Maybe ask your childs teacher what hours they work, I bet it isn't close to what you might think. Dulwich Bloke and Lynn P I applaud you both. Thank you Mr Barber for the interesting info about the Kingsdale cold shoulder by governors.I wonder if the staff were consulted about that one because the parents weren't.

Bob/Fushia The Head teacher was at the Performance of the Year 6 play 'My School Musical'at Harris boys which had probably been arranged long before these meetings were. I believe the Chair of Governors did say that.

DaveR Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > > barts, why do you think that your child is less > likely to be happy if the school were a bit more > rigorous about raising standards of attainment? > That's the implication of your post, and I've > already alluded to the fact that this almost > subconscious attitude seems to be prevalent with > Goodrich. I was not implying that my child would be less happy if the school was more rigorous! What a bizarre deduction! I trust the teachers to do what they are paid to do. If I wasn't satisfied that my child was learning and progressing to the best of her ability then of course I would discuss this with the school. Just because we differ in outlook doesn't mean that either of us are wrong.If you perceive this to be a 'subconscious attitude' at Goodrich it isn't something I have noticed when conversing with other parents or staff. We're all entitled to our own opinions. As far as Academy Status goes, I agree that all of us need to do our own research and come to the next meeting better informed. It is true that you can federate with a school without becoming an academy incidentally, it's the financial implications that need to be made clearer so hopefully the private consultant's report will clarify that. Perhaps we should find out if other parents felt inhibited by the presence of teachers? I didn't and it was a lengthy meeting with no awkward silences but it could be suggested to the governors / senior team to canvas parental views. > >

I was handed the NUT letter in question by a teacher outside the school gates who encouraged me to come to last night's meeting because it was important, to the best of my knowledge children were not given any such letters. I'd like to say that I'm really happy with my child's report and with the progress she has made this year: her happiness means more to me than where Goodrich appears in league tables - or whatever they're called now - and she's happy because she's been taught well and valued as a person for what she is good at and not a figure on a school data record. Dave R is your child not doing so well? I thought the meeting wasn't supposed to be about stats but we have been given a lot of information this year at Goodrich. Friends in other schools across London report that they are not kept nearly so well informed!

Perhaps your child is at the wrong school then! I was at the meeting you speak of and thought that standards are rising. Wasn't that an ofsted inspector leading it too? I thought the teachers were pretty quiet at tonights meeting. We need to think about what being an academy means, I am not sure the governors present had much of an idea. I have researched this and academy's are not to receive more funding than state schools. I still think governors should act with the professionals not against them. Why not wait and see how ofsted goes, isn't an inspection due soon? Then we have time to find out more.