Each year staff and governors create a School Development Plan based on a wide ranging evaluation process from the previous year. The process includes parent/pupil surveys, pupil work evidence, lesson observations, listening to learners and input from external advisors.
One priority in our development plan, this year, has been to establish teams for each of the six areas of learning. The six areas are – Language, Literacy and Communication, Maths and Numeracy, Health and Wellbeing, Science and Technology, Humanities and Expressive Arts. Each team includes Teachers, Teaching Assistants and Governors and they explore how we can best improve learning and teaching in that area.
Over the last few months this has resulted in the following improvements. In Language we are improving our handwriting. In Maths we are ensuring progressive teaching of algebra. In Health and Wellbeing we have worked towards, and achieved, the Careers Wales Bronze Award. In Humanities, we are increasing independent research through use of the libraries (school and town) and improving our map work skills. Finally, in Expressive Arts we are ensuring that every class gets at least 6 lessons of dance each year linked to their topic work.
Ongoing evaluation and development planning helps to ensure that we have a broad and balanced curriculum, driven by our mission to ‘Grow in Love’, which meets the needs of all our learners.
In other news, following Welsh Government and Conwy guidance, I want to advise you in advance about further changes to our policy on holidays in term time. Hopefully, I am sharing this news before people start booking for the next school year. From September, we will continue to only authorise holidays in term time in exceptional circumstances. Additionally, Conwy will begin to issue fines for unauthorised holidays. As we all know consistent attendance at school promotes wellbeing and learning. Whole school attendance this week was 92%.
Finally, please see In the know – Hwb for some excellent guides for parents and carers on popular apps children and young people may be using and how to keep them safe.