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  • Agenda item
  • Agenda item

    Viki Butler and James Brooke, Vice Principals, The Canterbury Academy

    Minutes:

    1.            The Chair welcomed the Select Committee Members and the two guests: James Brooke and Viki Butler to the Select Committee meeting and she invited all those present to introduce themselves.

     

    2.            James Brooke and Viki Butler gave members a printed handout presentation which is appended to these minutes. 

     

    3.            James Brooke explained that the school had expanded 3 years ago with its sixth form now up to 600 students.  With the changed curriculum and splitting sides with Chaucer, Riverside and Phoenix House, the school have been able to increase timetable to 6:00pm with twilight lessons becoming available for sixth form.

     

    4.            The Chair asked the location of Canterbury Academy within the City. James Brooke explained that they were an Academy trust along Kent Medical Needs School that’s under Kent County Council, Canterbury primary, a nursery school, high school and sixth form with lifestyle fitness and the Kent Adult Education on site.

     

    5.            A member commented on whether the school was for students all the way through till leaving education. James Brooke explained that the Chaucer school closed years ago and the site was taken on to get the community back. Barton Court were to be moving on site in a few years so they’d need to find an alternative site for sixth form and some students with learning needs.

     

    6.            Q. Is there a separate unit or unit specialist in Autism?

     

    A. Since changing under Kent County Council to have provision for Speech and Language needs, there has been registered interest for ASD in primary schools to continue and for it to continue in secondary to combine for independent ASD.

     

    7.            A member commented on the closing and retracting of schools in the area and because the school offer so much in sixth form, how were they managing.

     

    8.            James Brooke explained that a few years ago they had looked at staffing of teachers to become more flexible on the timetable so that they could work till 6pm for twilight teaching. James Brooke mentioned that vocational learning was linked to Simon Langton Girls and Boys Grammar School in order to support teaching and to work with their staff.  James Brooke mentioned that they are fully inclusive and flexible as 60% of students are from other schools that have left year 11.

     

    9.            Viki Butler explained that the school attracts students which is why they are successful. KS4 in particular were students decide what subjects they want to do and can be provided with support, courses and opportunities.

     

    10.         Q – Are you an Academy trust?

     

    A – Within the trust: Canterbury Primary School, City View nursery and Wincheap Primary, which have their own DFE number. Canterbury high school and the sixth form also are DFE registered under multi-Academy. All centres are separate and a decision was made to not permanently exclude children in area since 2011. James Brooke confirmed the idea being that if a child was naughty, they’d find alternative provision to get the support that they need.

     

    11.         A member asked if students would remain in the PRU.

     

    12.          Viki Butler explained it wasn’t the case because of reintegration, which meant that students can go back in mainstream in year 10 or 11 and equally the success is reintegrating into sixth form. They have a bespoke curriculum on site such as Hair and beauty, construction or a catering college.

     

    13.         James Brooke explained that if a student isn’t getting their needs being met in mainstream then they give them 5 week respite provision and will remain on the school roll. The school would take it from statistic point of view to give the child a decent education and wrap around support which is needed

     

    14.         A member commented upon looking on the schools website for GCSE’s and A level results and if they do ‘I’ GCSE English and maths? In response, James Brooke stated it was back in 2016.

     

    15.         Q- are there lots of children doing qualifications onto A level?

     

    A- In 2016 it was the last year ‘I’ GCSE’s were available for year 11 students and that in 2016 ‘I’ GCSE was deemed a qualification that would count on the league tables. In 2017, every school and child had to learn from the new specification from the Department of Education which grades from 9-1. In order for a child to count on statistics, they had to do the new maths and English qualification.

     

    16.         A member commented on what was an I GCSE

     

    17.         James Brooke explained that it was a GCSE ran by Cambridge

     

    18.         Members commented on what was the 9-1 grading.

     

    19.          James Brooke explained that every child has to do 100% in their Maths, English Literature and Language exam whereas under the old format they could’ve done 60% English and 40% coursework. James Brooke mentioned that it was a different entry to sixth form being in November, February and June.  James explained that if a child had failed at grade C in 2016 in the I GCSE they could’ve been part of sixth form via the old specification, however a child entering a year later would have to sit the new curriculum exams.

     

    20.         Q- Do you think the new system is exam based, harder for pupil premium children?

    A- The new exam structure is more challenging for all students.  There are some Pupil Premium students that are bright and academic & who will manage the new system.   Pupil Premium students but should dealt with on a case by case basis as children have different needs.

     

    21.         James Brooke discussed with members the 4 pillars they follow and that they believe every child is good at something and to find their talent. James Brooke explained how sports play a huge role in rebuilding children and sixth form progression. It was confirmed by James Brooke that the school was oversubscribed with a PAN of 210 but were working with 220 and 225 in most year groups. The school has links with the Phoenix house and Grosvenor PRU and work with the high school and primary in the East Kent area.

     

    22.         Members were referred to page 2 of the presentation which explained the Chaucer site and the provision there for sport and performing arts. James Brooke explained that the sixth form is catered for with practical learning activities.

     

    23.         James Brooke explained that Canterbury Academy and sixth form required improvement from their October 2015 OSTED report, so went back to basics and stripped their leadership and management in terms of teaching and learning.  James Brooke explained that the Department of Education and OFSTED asked the school to carry out an external review in 2015. An executive Headteacher in Kent came to the school to provide clear areas of development, progress and attainment.

     

    24.         Referring to the review, Viki Butler explained how they track and monitor their spending. The school created a provision map that could be shared with shareholders, OSTED, parents and directors of the school to review the allocation of finances.

     

    25.         It was confirmed that the allocation of money depended on the need of the child; adopted, military child or with free school meals. This review was carried out three times a year to understand if there were inconsistencies of spending and has been tailored to hold staff accountable for spending money. 

     

    26.         Viki Butler explained how children who were disadvantaged could access the curriculum and the school could employ additional staff to work with small groups of 4 and 5 children. Breakfast club, after school club alongside English and Maths are tailored to the needs of children to create a bespoke programme of support.

     

    27.          The difficulties that are an ongoing challenge are the persistent absences of Pupil Premium children that are not at school so cannot learn and the main focus. 70% of students that would attend the clubs would like to be Pupil Premium. With homework and breakfast club being available provides wrap around care and supports the vulnerable learners to engage in the expectations of the setting.

     

    28.         Viki Butler explained the introduction to the 2nd year of using the PASS survey were all mentors and head of year could look at their students on the computer programme to provide support. Less than 35% of the school body makes up Pupil Premium which is well above the national average. It ranged from children in care, free school meals, adopted and military children.

     

    29.         It was confirmed that it can become difficult for the school to rely upon parents of adopted children to declare and provide information in order for the school to put into place provisions and support for that child.

     

    30.         James Brooke referred to the data and outcomes within the presentation. The school presents the data 3 times a year to directors and stake holders. A teacher’s appraisal depends on the report of disadvantaged and non-disadvantage students where their progress gap is no greater than 15% between students.

     

    31.         Members were referred to the top of page 6 and James Brooke explained the outcomes on how the data analysis has been positive between the progresses of Pupil Premium students and non-Pupil Premium at the end of KS2, being above the National Average across the UK.

     

    32.          James Brooke explained that KS3 data is done in a similar table for subjects in KS3 and SK4, with a clear breakdown on progress of students in classes and year groups. James Brooke explained that year 7 made good progress and should be making two sub level grades per academic year.

     

    33.         Teachers will gather data of 20 students who are underperforming to provide support and if additional teaching assistants are required. James Brooke explained that the school is deliberately over staffed in English, Maths, Science and Humanities. Children underperforming are taken off timetable for intervention. In addition, drop down days were at the end of term so that it would not affect the students learning. Purple pens were used to identify the students own strengths and weaknesses from assessments.

     

    34.         James Brooke referred members to page 7 regarding the KS4 data that’s presented to OFSTED highlighting the breakdown of Pupil Premium students and non-Pupil Premium students. James Brooke commented on the dip between 2016-2017 resulting in the new specification of maths and English.

     

    35.         Members were referred to page 8 of the presentation highlighting students that didn’t achieve grades. James Brooke explained that since 2011 they haven’t permanently excluded students but placed them into Riverside or Phoenix house instead.

     

    36.         A member commented on the dismissal of permanent exclusion by stating that schools in Kent may do the same. James Brooke confirmed that this was how they’d support their students as 66 of their students were disadvantaged being above national average. James Brooke explained that progress is priority and teachers will be aware of their students’ needs and to look at strategies.

     

    37.         Viki Butler explained the schools collective trends, improvements and the success across the Academy within primary and secondary. The school identified parental engagement to overcome barriers to put provision in place for learners. It was confirmed that funding was used to support Pupil Premium students through coaching and engaging families to understand their views and challenges. Achievement for the programme was to bring parents back on board and engage.

     

    38.         A member referred to OFSTED at a local primary that weren’t helpful but had hoped that the support would continue for Canterbury Academy. The use of KELSI was noticed and the Member asked Viki Butler to comment on how the money was spent, primarily if it was on year 11 or across the school. 

     

    39.         In response, Viki Butler explained how they recognised in 2015 that they could be doing more to support year 9, 10 and 11.

     

    40.         A Member commented that parental involvement should be encouraged with a view to talk to parents who do not understand the curriculum.

     

    41.         In response, James Brooke confirmed that the traditional evening meeting that took place twice a year was discarded and replaced with 1:1 evening meeting once a year. There needed to be more tools and prompts for parents to support their children with their homework, revision and exam busters.   The schools biggest priority for students was to make sure they have a positive destination post 16. Students will come in with different needs and life scenarios and some students have come in as part of the specialist resourced provision.

     

    42.         The Chair asked if there was anything the Kent County Council could do to help improve? Viki Butler commented that the support continues because if there was to be a budget cut then those vulnerable learners would be lost because there wouldn’t be the money or the staff to continue to offer amazing support.

     

    Supporting documents: