Thank you so much to the parents and carers that attended the PCAB meeting on Thursday 8th December. It was brilliant to be able to share all the wonderful goings-on of the academy with you, and we know it was a really valuable meeting with lots of excellent feedback and points to consider as we work together to move STWA forwards in its journey. All that attended were invited to our Christmas Dinner on Friday, and we look forward to welcoming them into the academy once more. Our next meeting is on Wednesday 1st March 2023.

In order to reflect on the areas of strength and opportunities for development within our school, our Parent & Community Advisory Board (PCAB) meets once a term with members of staff and the Senior Leadership team. 

The PCAB has a dual purpose:

• It allows parents/carers and members of the community to provide feedback to Leaders on current systems, successes, and areas for development.
• It is an opportunity for the Academy to provide updates to our members on the progress we are making and share early thinking about upcoming developments. 

Our first meeting of this school year will be on Thursday 8^th December at STWA 5pm - 6pm. The meeting will primarily focus on the following areas:

• Reading - we will discuss student testing, whole school reading strategies, support available and use of the library.
• Communication - we will discuss the ways we communicate with home, use of Class Charts and praise.
• Support - we are interested in offering free adult literacy classes to parents, carers and the wider community, if there is a desire to access this.

Attendance to the meeting will automatically enter parents and carers into a prize draw, and all attendees will also be invited back the following week as VIP guests to our family dining Christmas meal.

If you are interested in attending this meeting, please email to g.harris@stwacademy.com

There is currently a survey for parents and carers to complete to give their view on the school.  It can be accessed and filled in on this link: - https://forms.office.com/r/kECu0SgXL7 

Thank you for your time in helping the school on our improvement journey.

December meeting Minutes 

A look at reading across the Academy: - 

Attendees were pleased to hear about all the work that is going into Reading at STWA.  The way that reading is assessed and taught by all teachers was shared, including how every teacher is a teacher of reading and how reading is embedded into all areas of the curriculum.  The ways in which reading is enriched at STWA were also shared, including the library lessons, reading in tutor time, and the book vending machine being made available in the rewards store.  Parents were also told about the library management system 'Accessit' which they can access at home, and the staff training around reading which will be taking place.

Community Family Learning: - 

Attendees were informed of courses that are on offer through SYMCA and our intention to offer these at STWA.  We are awaiting feedback on being able to offer these.

Communication and Rewards at STWA: - 

Rewards are a vital part of the culture at Sir Thomas Wharton Academy, we believe that students should be rewarded and recognised for their positive behaviour, investment and resilience whilst in the academy. 

Students are rewarded daily, weekly, half termly & termly. Students have the opportunity to earn house points every day: 

•PRIDE criteria in lessons.

•Entering house competitions.

•Attending enrichment clubs.

•Displaying our Key Drivers.

•100% attendance & improved attendance.

Students have had an active part in shaping our rewards system through the use of student voice, and we have incorporated their ideas into our rewards and recognition systems. 

•Three Golden Ticket events during the academic year. 

•Half term hero assemblies, students are nominated by their class teacher, pastoral teams and SLT. 

•Weekly attendance and investment raffles. 

•End of term Key Driver rewards cards.

•End of year House trip for the winning house. 

 

Improving parental communication has been a whole academy focus this academic year. Overall, 90% of parents and 84% of students have logged into our communications app ClassCharts.

This academic year class teachers will: 

•Send positive messages home to members of their class who have displayed positive behaviour in the lesson. 

•Complete a same day phone call for any student who receives a C4 in a lesson. This allows for the behaviour to be discussed & unpicked with parents and carers. 

ClassCharts allows you to do the following: 

•See key announcements. 

•See upcoming academy events.

•Have an overview of your child's behaviour log, attendance tracker and upcoming detentions. 

•Receive positive communication from class teachers. 

 

Parent and Community Feedback from the meeting on 8th December 2022

• Recommended reads to be shared regularly with parents so they know what's good for their child.  Mrs. Stuart also demonstrated Access It.
• Y12 virtual parents' evening - needed longer than 5-minute slots. Also, when booking virtual appointments, have the option to leave contact number so if cut off, can easily call back.
• Clarify pastoral leads and tutors for each year group so parents know who they can specifically contact using Class Charts.  It would be a good idea to add roles next to staff names on the website and on ClassCharts 
• Communication is better - Principal's letter is good.  It was asked if communications sent as announcements can all have an expiry date so that they don't clog Class Charts.
• Parents appreciate messages from staff - it is clear to see staff care as they often send messages in the evening.
• Positive feedback comments are really nice, impressed with rewards on offer. Need to launch the online rewards store.
• Communications is getting better when it comes to things being cancelled (fixtures etc) but could still be tighter, but parents and carers are aware that cancellations often happen at the last minute.
• 100% badges are a good idea and parents like the fact that they reset every half term.
• Suggestions for promoting Family Learning included advertising at feeder primary schools, Hilltop Centre and ECO (Edlington Community Organisation)