Working with Primary schools in the Oundle area

Glapthorn CE School, Glapthorn, Oundle, Peterborough, PE8 5BQ

Head@glapthorn.northants-ecl.gov.uk, Bursar@glapthorn.northants-ecl.gov.uk
Telephone and Fax number: 01832 273452

Parent Survey Responses July 2011

Following discussions with children, parents, staff and governors the school's vision and values were revised in September 2011 to read as follows:

Click the pdf document below for an illustrated version. The children chose the images to accompany the school's values.

In July 2011 all parents were asked to answer the following questions. Over 65% of parents responded and all their responses are published below. The document can be downloaded at the bottom of the page. These comments will be used to establish the school's future vision and values. The following image was created using Wordle and gives a feel for the survey's results.

Click here to see the results of the Vision and Values review in September 2011...

I see the strengths of Glapthorn School as being:

Size of classes, the attitude and enthusiasm of the teachers and staff.

A small school where the older children play, look after and interact with the younger ones. Where behaviour is high on the agenda. Where individual learning needs are catered for in mixed classes. Great leadership/management and rest of teachers and staff.

The commitment of the whole teaching staff to creating a place where the children are happy to be and happy to learn in a very broad environment.

Small, so everybody knows the children very well. Countryside setting. Good teachers.

Small class numbers, friendly staff and welcoming environment, integration with local schools and surrounding areas.

Strong leadership and excellent teaching in terms of academics, are supported by a real sense of community and family encouraged in the pupils and staff.

An intimate village school with caring, professional, dynamic teaching staff and friendly, considerate and well-mannered children.

Friendly, relaxed, caring, inclusive, well run, diversity of school projects, education outside the classroom.

Size – small, enabling a personal experience. Ethics and morals, location.

The quality of teaching. Small, family-like environment. Strong leadership from the Headteacher.

The staff and their approach to our children’s learning.

Ethos & culture, small size, staff to pupil ratio, location & setting, facilities & resources, teachers, extra-curricular opportunities.

Community focused, friendly and inclusive. Good pastoral care. Sound leadership.

Small, community-based school, promoting the learning and achievement of the individual child.

Strong community lin ks , parental support, open and friendly approach to feedback to parents. Enhanced extra-curricular activities within and outside the school supported by teachers and outside agencies.

Small and personal, where all staff, parents, children are known to each other.

High teacher ratio to children.

Small size, location, good leadership and teachers-proactive and positive approach. Good discipline.

Small community school, embraces diversity. Children learn whilst having fun. Inspirational leadership from Headteacher. Warm and friendly atmosphere.

Teacher to pupil ratio very good. Equality.

Range of extra-curricular activities.

Low pupil: teacher ratio

A friendly non-intimidating start to a child’s school career.

Good teaching. Positive and strong social skills are encouraged with pupils. Friendly atmosphere. Creative environment.

Mr Ratchford and the staff.

A small, kind and caring school. A school where there is a sense of striving to achieve and a pride in doing well personally and in seeing the school being well represented and doing well. I personally value the positive, slightly competitive streak to the school that strives to achieve well, rather than just take part in things, which isn’t down played either.

Able to offer a wide range of activities keeping old fashioned traditions and values. Giving children a good all round education. A homely environment for the children.

From our point of view Glapthorn School ’s key values are:

Inclusion for all children, strong leadership.

Good behaviour. Fun and educational and safe environment for children to learn and grow up in.

The basic Christian approach to how the staff and pupils relate to each other and visitors to the school. The competitive element that runs through much of what we have seen.

It feels really nice and right. Fairness.

Fairness and equality. Putting the children first, having as many experiences and as much fun whilst staying safe. Supporting and encouraging the children through every step of their learning.

Supporting the child as an individual – socially and academically. Sense of community – particularly older children looking after the younger. Respect for self, others and Christian faith.

Welcoming, friendly staff from the caretaker to the headteacher. Ensuring children fulfil their full potential. Engaging children in learning. Inspiring children to develop academically and socially.

Kindness and respect for all = good citizenship. Appreciation of all abilities = equality. Willingness to try to do the best for each child = leadership and management.

Inclusion for all. A CofE School , equal opportunity, strong leadership and excellent teaching staff.

Good, traditional values – Christian school. Inclusive policy. Encourage children to reach/exceed individual’s potential.

Small village school with a family feel and family values.

We agree with the values as stated. However, pupil attainment is grouped with statements regarding equality. A statement strongly supporting the equal treatment of all is clearly necessary and desirable, but consideration might also be given to the promotion of intellectual curiosity and a more positive statement regarding academic excellence.

Inclusiveness and opportunity for all.

Interactive learning and being in a rural area.

Making learning enjoyable and challenging, enabling them to fulfil potential. Enabling children to experience a wide range of activities, not just academic. Encouraging positive and appropriate behaviour and dealing with inappropriate behaviour rapidly and effectively. Equal opportunities for all.

Embrace moral values and sound behaviour. Every child matters and has strengths.

Very good leadership. Equality.

Good citizenship and a responsible attitude to their own behaviour and care for others.

As laid out in the Mission Statement and we believe these are demonstrated in the day to day operation of the school.

Family orientated. Socially aware. Encourage children to do their best, try their hardest. Participate in school life/events.

Good education for each child. To build the school’s overall performance.

Encourage religion.

Strong relationships with parents and the community. Learning well through well planned and imaginative lessons and school activities. Placing great value on caring for everybody in the school.

Interesting curriculum topics, traditional values. All years interacting with each other (good friendship and social skills). Organisation. Interesting activities and clubs for lots of different skills and tastes.

The advantages of my child attending Glapthorn School compared to other schools are:

Opportunities such as the Woodland Classroom, swimming in Year 1, mixing the years for activities such as reading buddies. Being able to attend events as a school eg. The Space Centre.

Local, small school, mixed classes with enough support to cater for different needs. Lots of interesting projects within or outside school.

Based on pre school visit we immediately knew it was the right school and did not feel the need to look elsewhere.

Local, small, friendly, nice atmosphere, smaller classes. Interesting outside play area (birdwatching etc.)

Smaller classes means more one on one support. It is not only a school but a family. The ability to have swimming lessons early. Full support to child and parent. Extra-curricular clubs and involvement and opportunities.

Small class sizes and ‘family’ feel to the school. Excellent extra-curricular activities including a variety, even from Reception Class. Children are not held back and are encouraged to learn at their own pace. Glapthorn School has Mrs Griffiths!

There is such a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that brings out the best in the children. Children feel at ease in the school. Parents feel their child really matters to the teaching staff. I have huge confidence in the teachers / school.

Smaller, close knit school. Woodland Classroom. Super staff! Strong school community.

An ‘open door’ philosophy, location, after school learning, rounded education.

Small class size (more attention from teachers/classroom assistants). Location – easy access to the natural environment. Quality of staff/teaching – excellent. Good range of extra-curricular classes.

For a small school so much time and effort and thought goes into our children’s education. We love the sports clubs.

Every child is known as an individual. They feel safe and confident in a small school environment.

As a small group, pupils are known not only by those in their year group and their form teachers, but also by other teachers, other year groups and, indeed, often by other parents. This helps foster a positive sense of community cohesion. Additionally the rural setting of the school allows for a variety of ‘nature-based’ pupil experiences which is a strong benefit.

Locality, size, class sizes.

Close to our home and small class sizes which allows individuals to develop their skills.

Smaller classes, entering competitions, happy learning environment.

Smaller numbers, good staff to pupil ratios, mixing between year groups. Location – within own village and countryside setting so good access and opportunity for outdoor activities. Able to experience a variety of extra-curricular activities.

Small village school, great teachers and assistants. Parents are welcomed into school and not restricted to the gate/entrance. Location also means learning can easily be outdoors, interesting and fun.

Adult ratio and leadership very good compared to most other schools.

Local. Beautiful setting. Close to Short Wood. New facilities. Well equipped. Helpful, kind staff. Lots of sporting/musical opportunities.

More opportunity for all children to be included in all events and activities.

I feel the small size and ‘family atmosphere’, where all year groups mix are the biggest advantage to Glapthorn students. Producing pupils who learn to care for others as well as themselves.

Smaller, good Headteacher. Enthusiastic staff. More after school clubs.

A classroom environment that through its teaching methods, monitoring and evaluation structures means the children can be encouraged to keep making continual progress and improvement rather than just being left to plod on.

It feels homely and welcoming, it feels secure when dropping off and picking up. Joanna is very helpful. There is good feedback. Although modern in outlook it has traditional values at hear.

In the future I would like my child to have the following opportunities:

Fine paint brushes in Reception, not just thick ones.

Possible project for older children – how to start up your own business (basics). Allotment. Chess Club.

Different opportunities for children to develop skills – music and art and technical and sports.

Piano lessons, our daughter especially wants to start and will need to look outside of school for lessons.

To be more outside for playing and learning. Learning ½ day a week in any weather about nature & general school learning. Piano classes.

After School club until 5pm?

To continue to be encouraged to grow and develop at their own pace and to be guided to have a respect for others. Academically – extra-curricular music lessons, maybe a cookery club.

Equal opportunities developing a child’s strengths and identifying any weaknesses before they become a problem.

Access to after school clubs.

To work on their strengths and weaknesses and to be recognised as an individual not a number in what will be a very large class size at Prince William School . I want the to have the best experience and education at school and at home that they have had at Glapthorn

Music tuition and sports clubs.

The range of opportunities currently on offer is very good. An additional option might be piano lessons.

When skills (or lack of) identified, an approach is taken to resolve or improve with written inclusion of the parents, reviewed regularly in order to achieve the objectives set.

To go on more field and day trips to learn of the wider world.

After school cooking club.

We would like our children to have the opportunity to experience all the school has to offer and where necessary this is facilitated by staff to ensure it is not just the most academic/gifted children who are chosen to play key roles. All children need to be able to feel they are good enough to stand up in front of school/take part in school council/have lead roles and it is de-motivating if they always have to take a back seat to particular individuals.

Link to study from home on PC/homework.

To go on educational trips and be able to develop to his full potential.

Languages and musical instrument teaching more available as part of the curriculum, from a younger age than at present.

Make art and creative activities outside school? Drama, music and sport are well represented. But students who don’t have a flare for these might like to be involved in some other creative arts such as dance and art.

More reading with their teacher. More one to one sessions. If child is performing well, it needs to be pushed further.

The opportunities at the school are excellent. If there are any opportunities to do photography and chess that would be fabulous.

It would be a nice idea in Year 4 if portfolios of their best work – writing, pictures, photos of achievements could be collated and any special achievements / skills commented on.

I feel my child’s experience/education at Glapthorn School could be improved by…

More notice for events eg. Needing posies on May Day.

Nothing – the school already offers so much.

Having completed their Reception year we can see nothing that needs to be improved.

Less computers, more handicraft. Microwave available to heat up home cooked food at lunchtime as disappointed with school lunches.

Accomodation into Year 5 + (to prolong the length of time my child can stay at the school).

Improved communication from school to parent, as the more us parents know what is going on we are able to support/encourage/settle our children.

I am 100% happy with my child’s experience at the school. They happily goe into class and is developing every day.

I don’t think we could ask for more. Staff undertake training/experience exchanging they feel necessary to meet needs of children with disability.

‘Perfect in every way’

Being encouraged in the subtleties of social etiquette. To have homework projects that run alongside school activities.

Fewer pupils in their year group.

Effective communication between school and parents, timely maximising the above. Your school leads to your choices.

Consistency between parental consultation and reporting ie. Parents evening and action planning and school reports.

Having more mature external football coaches.

The school doesn’t need improving it’s brilliant.

More opportunity to show their potential. The extra support given to our child by Miss Gregory has been of great benefit in improving her confidence in maths, we hope that this will continue. Continue to ensure children are challenged at the same time as being given support if required.

Can’t really identify anything!