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Focus Group

FOCUS GROUP NOTES – NOVEMBER 2010


Present: Mrs Fox Mrs Crowther
Mrs Hart
Mr McNaughton-Jones
Mr & Mrs Moorhouse
Mr Robinson
Ms Thompson
Ms Green
Mrs Foster

Apologies: Mr Palmer


MG welcomed everyone and read out an email from Mr Palmer who expressed thanks to all involved in the netball tour. He enjoyed S-J Hardy’s blog. A copy of his email is now on the website. There is a possibility of a 2011/12 sports tour, maybe mixed. Probably in UK to keep costs down.

Sport

Mixed hockey? Is this a possibility? Arrangements being looked at.
Staff matches – boys may get involved – contact sports are the issue. Mixed badminton already happening.

After school sport being taken up now by both boys and girls. Lots of enthusiasm. Looking at other staff to get involved in sport.

Boys and girls seem to have mixed well.
Girls self-conscious and this can sometimes pose problems in mixed lessons.
Staff are very sensitive to this. Boys do not like to look silly in front of girls!
Girls’ perception is that boys are rough in the corridors and the dining room. Boys think that the school bags are too heavy. Files are very bulky for every subject. Regulations for some subjects so it is not possible to have exercise books.

Uniform

Quality of green jumpers is good but black are less hardwearing.

Sportswear

Senior boys will adopt the PHS sportswear with the necessary additions for male kit.
Green waterproof coats are good for boys
Policy decision will be taken on blazers.
Phased in.
Fleeces are practical but not smart. Comments that pupils are coming to and from school in fleeces.
One suggestion for girls to be allowed to wear trousers but the majority opinion was that this was not a good idea.
All parents approved of the regular checking by staff to maintain smartness.

Concern that the image should remain that of an independent school.
Yr10 & 11 black blazer by Sept 2011? There may be a Polam blazer by then.
Blazer is not compulsory in S School. Parents felt that blazer should be introduced and made compulsory.
Clarification was sought on dyed hair. Miss Green explained that the school rules state that hair must be a natural colour.

Why is the uniform different in upper school? Middle 5, Upper 5. This came in at the request of the School Council and marks a ‘rite of passage’ at the GCSE stage.

Overall, parents were reassured that any changes to uniform should be phased in. They requested that parents be informed as soon as possible of the school’s plans on uniform.


ICT Issues

Polam Hall is still advertised as a girls’ school on some Internet sites. Miss Green explained that some external sites (eg Good Schools’ Guide) are updated annually. The change to diamond school has been communicated widely. It was agreed that promoting the diamond model could be done very actively by the parent body.

School Base. When will text messaging start? Admin teams are all using the new data base now.
In January – training for key players on the staff..

Feb – INSET for staff
Going to use mainly email but group text will be used when appropriate. Parents had appreciated this at Hurworth House.
Highlight e newsletter: not everyone has subscribed.

Events:- detail is not satisfactory. More information needed at top level.

Edmodo (virtual learning) – one parent extolled the virtues of this learning resource – currently used by GCSE and A level students in appropriate subjects..

Examinations

Parents requested a ‘route map’ to guide them through the examinations system.

Next Steps

Miss Green explained that the Governors’ meeting on 29th November would be looking at some of the strategic planning issues. The commitment remains to be as fully diamond as possible as soon as possible.

Open Day had been very busy with 5 boy families (of different ages) looking round.



Parents asked about the expectations for boys and girls now in Years 8 and 9. Would they be diamond in years 9 and 10?

Commitment to be as fully diamond as possible.

Thanks and commendation about how issues have been addressed. Praise to all at Polam Hall for handling issues sensitively. MG to pass on thanks to appropriate people who were named.

MG closed meeting by thanking parents for support and attendance.

There will be an open meeting for all parents on 2nd December at 6.00pm




POLAM HALL SCHOOL
PARENT FOCUS GROUP
WEDNESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2010


Present:
Miss M. Green, Head and Mrs A. Foster, Junior Head
Mrs S. Pelham, Chair of Governors and Mrs A. Elliot, Governor
Mrs J. Cox, Mrs A. Crowther, Mrs S. Fox, Mrs C. Hart, Mr A. McNaughton-Jones, Mr I Palmer, Mr Carl Robinson, Mrs J. Robson, Ms H. Thompson, Mrs D. Turner
Apologies: Mrs S Kitson, Mrs M Pears

SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS DISCUSSED

GENERAL
• On the whole parents seemed very supportive and pleased with how things have gone in the first few weeks. Some had expected there to be more problems.
• Discussion followed about the settling in of both girls and boys.
• On the website there is a piece on the diamond model from a boy’s perspective. When is there going to be a girl’s perspective? This is in hand and will be on the site next week.


UNIFORM
• MG explained that SMT were reviewing the school uniform requirements, with a view to introducing something in 2011. This will be brought to the Focus Group and then to the School Councils. Any changes would be phased in.
• Parents seemed to be content with the current arrangements.
• The boys would like those bits of the girls’ PE kit which are “unisex” eg tracksuits etc


CATERING
• There was nothing but praise for the quality of Mr Bell’s catering.

SPORT
• The hard work of all the PE staff in providing sport for both boys and girls was acknowledged; Mr Wilkinson’s efforts in organizing fixtures were particularly appreciated.
• PE staff are looking closely at the PE curriculum going forward.
• Swimming was discussed.

LOGO AND REWARDS
• The overwhelming view was that the buttercups should stay. They are part of the history of the school. Mrs Turner produced a list of professional rugby teams that have flowers in their logo!
• However, the buttercup badge – used as a reward system in the juniors- will need to be changed for the boys. This is currently with the Junior School Council.
• The House point system will continue and the boys have been allocated to Houses.

TRIPS AND VISITS
• The number and nature of planned visits was discussed.
• Not many trips are gender specific – but the area is being reviewed. All trips are planned well in advance and staff have to make a strong case for each.
• One parent asked about transport arrangements. At the moment the usual methods of coach/our minibus are used. The Hurworth Minis buses were leased and so are no longer available. The School is unlikely to be able to buy another in the short term but the whole area of transport will be reviewed.

COMMUNICATIONS
• The importance of having good lines of communications between the School/parents/pupils was acknowledged.

NEXT
• Another Parent Focus Group meeting was arranged for Wednesday 13 October at 6pm in the Library.
• On the agenda will be an update on sport and on “what happens next” with the diamond roll out.