'This is a good school. It has a number of outstanding features'

Ofsted March 07

 

'The curriculum is outstanding. It is designed exceedingly well to meet the pupils' needs, and it is enhanced by an usually wide range of enrichment activities'

Ofsted March 07

 

'Teaching assistants are highly skilled ans very effective in supporting pupils in their learning'

Ofsted march 07

 

What is the School Profile?

The Education Act 2005 includes a requirement for the governing bodies of all maintained schools in England to prepare and publish a School Profile annually, replacing the previous requirement to publish a governors' annual report. The requirement to publish a profile applies to all maintained schools except nursery schools. Maintained nursery schools are, for the time being, still required to produce Governors' Annual Reports and therefore they do not publish profiles.

 

Why was the School Profile introduced?

The School Profile is intended to be a new and more effective way of conveying key information to parents. Extensive consultation with local authorities, schools, parents and pupils suggested that many regarded the traditional reporting mechanism as overly time-consuming for the schools to produce and of little value to their audience.

 

What information does it show?

It  includes, where relevant, sections on the school's performance, pre-populated with data supplied by the DfES, as well as narrative sections for the school to complete which include the following headings:

• What have been our successes this year?

• What are we trying to improve?

• How have our results changed over time?

• How are we making sure that every child gets teaching to meet their individual needs?

• How do we make sure our pupils are healthy, safe and well-supported?

• What have we done in response to Ofsted?

• How are we working with parents and the community?

How do parents access School Profiles?

Completed School Profiles will be available to parents online. Schools must inform parents when the profile is available online and how to request alternative versions.  They should supply profiles in hard copy to every parent who requests one.  Please let the school know if you would like a hard copy.

 

Do schools have to hold a governors' meeting with parents?

No. The 2005 Education Act removes the requirement for a school to hold a governors' annual meeting with parents. However, there is nothing to stop schools arranging meetings for parents and governors should they wish to do so.  Please let the school know if you would find a formal annual meeting valuable.

Click here to access the Spaldwick School Profile

Just type Spaldwick in the search box and the profile will open for you.

 

'Personal wellbeing and well-being is outstanding because the school works very successfully to ensure pupils develop into effective learners'

Ofsted March 07

 

'Behaviour is outstanding and has a very positive impact on learning'

Ofsted March 07

Context for the Spaldwick School Profile

Some of the data presented in the School Profile can be confusing if taken out of context. For example, the two graphs showing Progress and Achievement may appear to be contradictory. Our achievement was very high last year, with 100% for all three core subjects. However, the progress measure only shows the school as average. Two elements impact on this and can disadvantage schools in more affluent areas who achieve highly at KS1:

 

1. Contextual Value Added or CVA

CVA is used as a performance benchmark and was introduced to try and compare results from schools serving different catchment areas, given that schools in more affluent areas have historically tended to perform better.

 

School CVA values are based on household information taken from the schools census.  They are calculated using a range of factors including Free School Meals, mobility, English as an Additional Language, Special Educational Needs, academic achievement of parents and post codes.  Some of this information comes from census data.  Schools have no control over the factors that are used.

 

Using these measures, Spaldwick is required to achieve scores within the high contextual value added range.

 

2. Value Added scores

Schools that achieve highly at KS1 are restricted by a ceiling in achievement levels at KS2 – brighter pupils can only achieve a maximum of Level 5.  Therefore high achieving pupils find it more difficult to score above average value added in KS2.  For example, a pupil reaching Level 3 at KS1 (21 points) can only rise to Level 5 at KS2 (33 points) and therefore at best can only achieve the average 12 points progress expected of any pupil.

 

Why is the Spaldwick School Profile for the year 2006-2007 when we are in the year 2007-8?

The Governing body has to report on the previous year's work of the school.  Schools could only access the School Profile site recently, and so the data and comments refer to the previous year.  This will be updated in the Autumn term to reflect the most recent academic year.