Head’s Report for Governors – Mrs Rachel Hudson ‐ June 2019

New Build

Currently the local authority are going out to public consultation about the new build, with a view to starting work in February 2020. The successful contractor will be in place by September following the tendering process. All staff within school and in the authority will work together to ensure that student outcomes remain a priority and standards remain high throughout the building works. The school and local partners will also be working hard to raise funds for the new sports community and boxing centre, for which planning permission has been approved, and developing a business plan to support the scheme going forward. Both of these are significant moments in the history of the school’s improvement journey.

Well Being

The first meeting of our newly founded staff well‐being group is taking place at the start of July. This is open to all staff within school and there has been a positive response from staff across school. The aim is to have all groups represented in order to ensure everyone has a contribution to this key area of school life. The school has also been offered some mental health and well‐being workshops from a new venture entitled Flourish and the founder, Kate Silcock, will be presenting at the first meeting on opportunities available to support both staff and students. have also been invited to be part of a mental health and well‐being project with , and . Neston have submitted a bid for £25,000 to the West School Improvement Board to work on improved mental health provision for families and young people and the development of a more strategic approach to mental health provision in schools; and Blacon will be part of this with access to training for staff and students.

Evaluation of key priorities

After much observation and reflection since January, along with feedback from our School Improvement Partner, there are a number of key areas which will form priorities for the school moving forward in order to secure the best possible outcomes for students;

‐ Ensuring we have the right students on the right courses in order to maximise the potential of students. ‐ Investing in cultural capital and enhancing learning outside the classroom experiences as part of the expected curriculum for all students. ‐ Personal development and enhancing opportunities to build resilience, independence and to raise aspirations. ‐ Creative and innovative approaches to learning and teaching through the effective use of new technologies. ‐ Parental engagement, communication and effective marketing of the school.

Community engagement

This term, there have been a number of opportunities for me to meet key members of community groups which have included Paul Knight at Avenue Services along with a visit to the Adventure Playground, meetings with One Voice for Blacon and the Reverend Tina Upton at Holy Trinity Church to explore ways of closer working and enhancing opportunities for our young people within the area.

Hi Impact and review of ICT

The key element to successful provision of ICT resources to support quality learning and teaching and efficiency within the school, is to have a clear vision for the use of technology, the infrastructure to support ICT in an effective way and training with staff to ensure that they have the necessary skills to use technology to support learning. The company called Hi Impact will be undertaking a technical audit of the school’s ICT systems and infrastructure in the summer term and making recommendations on what actions can be taken to ensure that it supports our requirements for ICT moving forwards. There will also be an opportunity for staff training and work with consultants on mapping out the use of interactive technologies to enhance learning in each subject area which will take place during the next academic year.

Staff and Student Figures – June 2019

Annual Delegated Budget: £3,550,635 plus additional school generated income £639,131

School Staffing ‐ Update

Teaching Staff: Teaching (full‐time): 40 Teaching (part‐time): 4 Class Cover Supervisor 2 Teaching Assistant: 13 Peripatetic Staff: 2 Language Assistant: 1 Mentor 1 Support staff: Admin: 13 Technicians: 4 Midday Assistant: 2 Catering staff: 4 Caretaking Staff: 5 Cleaners: 8 School Games Organiser 2

Student Numbers – March 2019

NC Year Males Females Total 7 86 54 140 8 63 57 120 9 67 46 113 10 46 44 90 11 35 34 69 Total 297 235 532

Current FSM = 177 out of 532 = 33%

Disadvantaged (Ever 6 FSM, LAC and Post LAC*) = 279 out of 532 = 52%

Pupil Premium (Ever 6 FSM, LAC, Post LAC* and Service Children) = 282 out of 532 = 53%

*Children who have ceased to be looked after by a local authority in and Wales because of adoption, a special guardianship order, a child arrangements order or a residence order.

SEND Overview

Physical Year Social & ADHD Cognition & Top Up ASD &/or SLCN ODD EHCP Group Emotional & ADD learning Funding sensory

Year 7 6 9 11 15 3 3 2 5 3 Year 8 3 3 7 12 0 4 1 0 3 Year 9 5 7 6 8 0 1 1 1 2

Year 10 2 3 3 12 1 5 0 1 0

Year 11 4 1 1 7 0 2 0 1 2

Totals 20 23 28 54 4 15 4 8 10

Total number of students with SEND – 166 – 32% of the school

Safeguarding Breakdown

TAFs ‐ Team around the Family CIN Child in Need

Year Group Numbers Year Group Numbers

Year 7 5 Year 7 1

Year 8 3 Year 8 1

Year 9 4 Year 9 1

Year 10 3 Year 10 1

Year 11 2 Year 11 1

CP – Child Protection CIC/LAC – Children in Care/Looked after Children

Year Group Numbers Year Group Numbers Year 7 4 Year 7 2 Year 8 2 Year 8 1 Year 9 0 Year 9 4 Year10 1 Year 10 0 Year 11 1 Year 11 1

Attendance

Group Analysis by Attendance Category

Period: 01/09/2018 to 24/05/2019

Pupils DOB Range: 01/09/2002 - 31/08/2013

Scope: Year Group 7+8+9+10+11 Number of Sessions

Authorised Unauthorise CURRENT % 2017/18 % Group Presents AEA Possible Absences d Absences Attend Attend Year 7 40873 588 1594 633 43688 94.9 94.7 Year 8 34525 451 1388 720 37084 94.3 92.3 Year 9 31129 819 2161 1055 35164 90.9 93.4 Year 10 24698 384 1045 1121 27248 92.1 93.0 Year 11 19164 133 934 593 20824 92.7 86.9 Totals 150389 2375 7122 4122 164008 93.1 92.5

Group Analysis by Attendance Category

Period: 01/09/2018 to 24/05/2019

Pupils DOB Range: 01/09/2002 - 31/08/2013

Scope: Year Group 7+8+9+10+11 Girls Number of Sessions

Authorised Unauthorise CURRENT % 2017/18 % Group Presents AEA Possible Absences d Absences Attend Attend Year 7 15959 160 509 256 16884 95.5 95.1 Year 8 16475 205 656 226 17562 95.0 91.8 Year 9 12859 147 995 417 14418 90.2 94.3 Year 10 12037 304 455 534 13330 92.6 92.8 Year 11 9425 83 607 334 10449 91.0 85.4 Totals 66755 899 3222 1767 72643 93.1 92.3

Group Analysis by Attendance Category

Period: 01/09/2018 to 24/05/2019

Pupils DOB Range: 01/09/2002 - 31/08/2013

Scope: Year Group 7+8+9+10+11 Boys Number of Sessions

Authorised Unauthorise CURRENT % 2017/18 % Group Presents AEA Possible Absences d Absences Attend Attend Year 7 24914 428 1085 377 26804 94.5 94.3 Year 8 18050 246 732 494 19522 93.7 92.7 Year 9 18270 672 1166 638 20746 91.3 92.4 Year 10 12661 80 590 587 13918 91.5 93.3 Year 11 9739 50 327 259 10375 94.4 88.9 Totals 83634 1476 3900 2355 91365 93.2 92.7

EXCLUSION DATA 2018/19

Total Total Fixed No. of No. of No. of REPEAT REPEAT TERM No. of Permanent Term Days BOYS GIRLS BOYS GIRLS Exclusions

Autumn 17 17 - 55 8 2 2 1 1 Spring 14 12 37 9 1 3 - 1 1 Summer 2 2 4.5 1 1 - - 1 TOTALS 33 31 4 96.5 18 4 5 1

Pupils fixed term excluded in each Year Group.

(Autumn Term 04.09.18 - 21.12.18) Yr 7 (3), Yr8 (4), Yr 9 (1), Yr 10(1), Yr 11(1)

(Spring Term 07.01.19 - 29.03.19) Yr 7 (5), Yr8 (2), Yr 9 (2), Yr 10(1), Yr 11(0)

(Summer Term 15.04.19 -19.07.19) Yr 7 (2), Yr8 (1), Yr 9 (-), Yr 10(1), Yr 11(-)

Student Outcomes and Key Measures – Year 11

There are 69 students in the current cohort for Year 11 and 3 of these students are persistent absentees who do not attend school and will score 0 points on the performance measures. Due to the low numbers, each student’s data is worth 1.5% in the core subjects and therefore has a significant effect on the overall data.

The data shows staff predictions based on their overall view of what students are most likely to achieve in the summer.  In Maths and English (whole school basics), 39% are predicted to achieve grades 9 – 5 in Maths and English, compared to a target of 47%, an increase of 16% from 23% in January.  In Maths and English 64 % are predicted to achieve grades 9 – 4 in Maths and English compared to a target of 85%, an increase of 5% from 59% in January.  In English, 39% are predicted to achieve 9 – 5 compared to a target of 55% and 74% are predicted to achieve 9 – 4, above the target of 85%.  In Maths, 33% 41% are predicted to achieve 9 – 5 compared to a target of 52% and 59% are predicted to achieve 9 – 4 compared to a target of 86%.  In Science, 23% are predicted to achieve 9 – 5 compared to a target of 38% and 61% predicted to achieve 9 – 4 compared to a target of 76%, an increase of 14%.

All subject areas have made significant improvements between January and June although the figures overall, remain below targets for a small number of students. Many subject areas have been cautious with internal boundaries that may be set higher than those used in the summer. There are strengths in Food, Graphics, PE, Performing Arts and Music along with low and middle ability students, girls and a small pupil premium gap. Areas of focus include Maths, English, Science, History, I Media, ICT and Spanish, boys and higher ability students along with attendance rates for Year 11. 29 out of 66 students had exam access arrangements in place and students have sat a minimum of 17 exams over a 4 week period.

DC2: End of Yr11 Target v Current End Yr11 Prediction

End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 Target Target Pred Pred Target Target Pred Pred Subject Cohort 9‐5 % 9‐5 No. 9‐5 % 9‐5 No. 9‐4 % 9‐4 No. 9‐4 % 9‐4 No. Whole school Basics 66 47 31 stu 26 17 stu 85 56 stu 64 42 stu Whole school English 66 55 37 stu 39 26 stu 85 56 stu 74 49 stu Whole school Maths 66 52 34 stu 41 27 stu 86 57 stu 70 46 stu Whole school 2 x Science 66 38 25 stu 23 15 stu 76 50 stu 61 40 stu

End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 Target Target Pred Pred Target Target Pred Pred Subject Cohort D*‐M % D*‐M No. D*‐M % D*‐M No. D*‐P % D*‐P No. D*‐P% D*‐P No. BTEC Music 3 67 2 stu 100 3 stu 100 3 stu 100 3 stu BTEC PA 12 92 11 stu 75 9 stu 100 12 stu 100 12 stu

End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 Target Target Pred Pred Target Target Pred Pred Subject Cohort 9‐5 % 9‐5 No. 9‐5 % 9‐5 No. 9‐4 % 9‐4 No. 9‐4 % 9‐4 No. GCSE Art 9‐1237016 stu 57 13 stu 87 20 stu 92 22 stu GCSE Biology 9‐1 4 100 4 stu 80 4 stu 100 17 stu 100 5 stu GCSE Chemistry 9‐1 4 100 4 stu 80 4 stu 100 17 stu 100 5 stu GCSE Eng Lang 9‐1665234 stu 30 20 stu 86 57stu 68 45 stu GCSE Eng Lit 9‐1665637 stu 33 22 stu 85 56 stu 71 47 stu GCSE French 9‐121296 stu 24 5 stu 91 19 stu 67 14 stu GCSE Geography 9‐1275615 stu 48 13 stu 89 24 stu 78 21 stu GCSE Graphics 9‐1245012 stu 63 15 stu 79 19 stu 100 24 stu GCSE History 9‐1314514 stu 10 3 stu 81 25 stu 48 15 stu GCSE Maths 9‐1665234 stu 41 27 stu 86 57 stu 70 46 stu GCSE Media Stud 9‐120408 stu 15 3 stu 85 17 stu 35 7 stu GCSE Physics 9‐1 4 100 4 stu 80 4 stu 100 17 stu 100 3 stu

End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 Target Target Pred Pred Target Target Pred Pred Subject Cohort 99‐55 % 95‐55 No. 99‐55 % 99‐55 No. 99‐44 % 99‐44 No. 99‐44% 99‐44 No. GCSE Trilogy 99‐11 91 31 19 stu 18 11 stu 73 45 stu 57 35 stu

End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 Target Target Pred Pred Target Target Pred Pred Subject Cohort D*‐M % D*‐M No. D*‐M % D*‐M No. D*‐P % D*‐P No. D*‐P% D*‐P No. NCFE Food V Cert 9 0 0 stu 22 2 stu 100 9 stu 89 8 stu

End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 End Yr11 Target Target Pred Pred Target Target Pred Pred Subject Cohort D*‐M % D*‐M No. D*‐M % D*‐M No. D*‐P % D*‐P No. D*‐P% D*‐P No. OCR iMedia 26 54 14 stu 12 3 stu81216216 stu OCR Sports Studies 31 58 18 stu 58 18 stu 94 29 stu 100 31 stu

Parent Feedback

The focus of Mr Stockdale’s NPQH project is on parental engagement and we now have a significant amount of positive parent voice illustrated in the figures below. This data has been generated via Progress Evenings and Rewards Assemblies and illustrates a much improving picture. Year 9 are hosting their rewards assembly on 4th July and then all year groups will have held an event such as this over the last two terms. This has been an excellent initiative to improve parental engagement and two rewards assemblies per year group will be calendared for next year.

In addition to this, an event is being held on the 11th July for parents of Year 10 students when key messages will be shared and key resources to support parents of KS4 students as they approach their GCSEs will be distributed. The event will also be a celebration of work with performances by the band and an exhibition of the best quality GCSE work in Art and across all subjects in Technology. Refreshments will be available in an effort to ensure that we encourage as many parents on site as possible. Parental engagement and communication, along with ongoing effective marketing of the school, is a key area of priority moving forwards.

Strongly Strongly Not Agree Disagree Agree Strongly Disagree Applicable Agree Total &Agree My child is happy in school? 56% 41% 3% 178 97% My child feels safe in school? 67% 32% 1% 177 99% My child makes good progress? 67% 31% 2% 178 98%

My child is well looked after in this school? 70% 28% 1% 1% 178 99% My child is taught well at this school? 75% 23% 1% 1% 177 98% My child receives appropriate homework for their age? 61% 36% 3% 179 97% This school makes sure that its pupils are well behaved? 62% 36% 2% 177 98% This school deals effectively with bullying? 48% 42% 5% 2% 3% 177 90% This school is well led and managed? 66% 32% 1% 1% 176 98%

This school responds well to any concerns I raise? 59% 34% 3% 1% 3% 177 93% I receive valuable information from the school about my child's progress? 64% 33% 2% 1% 170 97% Would you recommend this school to another parent? 71% 26% 1% 1% 1% 175 98%

Accumulated Parent Questionnaire Results

Would you recommend this school to… I receive valuable information from… This school responds well to any… This school is well led and… This school deals effectively with… This school makes sure that its… My child receives appropriate… My child is taught well at this… My child is well looked after in… My child makes good progress? My child feels safe in school? My child is happy in school?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120%

Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly Not Agree Disagree Applicable

Year 7 Students Visit the Theatre

A group of ten Year 7 students were invited to attend a trip to Clwyd Theatr Cymru to see the play ‘Wave Me Goodbye’. Following the play, the group met the actors and went backstage! They then completed a workshop and created their own ‘safe space’ using a shoe box and craft material that had been found around the theatre. The workshop gave the students an opportunity to be creative and reflect on the important aspects of their own lives, just as ‘Shirley’ in the play had done when she created her own shoe box doll house.

The Faraday Challenge from Airbus

The IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) Faraday Challenge Days are held at schools and other venues around the UK and have proved to be enormously popular with teachers and students alike. The IET is one of the world’s leading professional societies for the engineering and technology community.

The Faraday Challenge Days give students the opportunity to research, design and make solutions to genuinely tough engineering problems. The event will be set up and run by our team of STEM professionals to give you the time to focus on your students.

30 year 8 students worked in teams and they were creative and used their own problem‐solving skills to explore their capabilities as engineers. The winning team won a trophy and also a £10 voucher each.

Presentations by Airbus, the NHS and Tata Steel to Years 9 and 10 on May 1st and May 2nd gave students the opportunity to find out more about these companies and whether they may form part of their future career goals.

On 22nd March a class of 30 Year 9 students were invited to a live careers broadcast that included new and experienced NHS midwives ‐ hosted by Dr Alex George of Love Island. This was the perfect opportunity to hear from experts and answer any questions students had about careers in midwifery.

On Wednesday, 2nd May Medical Mavericks took over the hall at providing a hands on workshop where students learned about blood, recording and printing an ECG, keyhole surgery, seeing inside the body with an ultrasound machine and taking a picture of the inside of the eye! The workshop involved the whole of year 9 and selected students from years 7, 8, and 10. The event introduced students to dozens of careers in the NHS and explained the range of qualifications needed.

A snippet from the talk: We know the most common answer to, ‘What careers do you know about in the NHS?’ comes with the answer: doctor, nurse, physio, dentist, midwife. So in the workshop students can find out about these BUT we focus on the lesser known careers such as biomedical science, healthcare science, medical engineering, medical physics, physiology, bioinformatics and many more. That isn’t the best part. We show students that many of the careers are accessible with levels 9‐4 at GCSE too.

KS3 Masterclasses in Mathematics (led by Alex Downie) and Science (led by Charlene Penhorwood)

Gifted and talented students from years 7 and 8 have been taking part in after school masterclasses for Maths and Science. The aim of these sessions is to nurture their love and talent for both subjects by exposing them to problem solving questions that surpass their current stage of learning. The students' commitment and enthusiasm for these sessions has been fantastic and they are an absolute credit to Blacon High School.

From our School Games Organisers, Claire Smedley and Elizabeth Newstead

On Thursday 28th March, 19 sports ambassadors from Year 7 attended a Competition Organisers Training in . Here they learnt about all aspects of organising and running competitions, including health & safety, risk assessments, equipment, leaders etc. They also learnt new skills and new games to bring back to school and help with transition pupils in our feeder primary schools.

Then on Thursday 23rd, 17 Year 7 sports ambassadors went to help judge and officiate at a primary schools’ athletics competition. The students involved helped with timing races, measuring distances in the jumping and throwing events and generally encouraged all the primary school children. They were all fantastic and great role models. We took different Year 7 students to the two events so in all, 36 different students have been out of school with us. There will be a celebration assembly on Thursday 27th June for these students and their parents.

Blacon History Group project The aim of this project is to create a record of oral histories from the residents of Blacon. It allows our students to engage and interact with older people to learn about the history of Blacon, as well as to engage these young people in the relevance and importance of their local history. The Blacon History Club is also able to link with the setting up of the cadets, as the land that the school is on used to be an old army camp during WWII.

Feona Prime attended the first Blacon History Group meeting in March after seeing it advertised on social media. The group is made up of two of the founding members of the original group from 15 years ago. Other members include, a representative from Avenue Services, older people from the community, a student archaeologist, a metal detector enthusiast and employee from University who deals with a community based project encouraging

older people to use technology. I represent the BEV schools at each meeting. Students were selected based on their attitude to learning in history lessons, as well as around school.

So far, students have created a selection of leaflets about an open evening event to be held at school, encouraging older residents to share their pictures and stories with the project. These leaflets have been shared with the members of the Blacon History Group, who have given the go ahead to produce these and distribute around Blacon.

Further to all that has been mentioned above, on the last Friday of last term Mrs Pryme also had a meeting with Rebecca Mason from Chester: A Life Story. This exhibition focuses on the and would be a wonderful trip for us to take some students to. Further discussions will be held on a joint project between them and the BEV schools to link with the existing community based work we have planned.

PE Department update for April ‐ June

BEV Year 5 and 6 Pair Cricket Tournament The tournament was won by The Arches School and JH Godwin were runners up. So many talented batters, bowlers and fielders on display in a quality competition.

Boys U15 Crash and Bash Cricket team The boys beat The Catholic High School by 2 runs and have QPHS and Bishops to play in the League. Dylan Owens (22) leading batsman.

Boys U13 Crash and Bash Cricket team

Unbeaten in the League, beat QPHS and Catholic High School with convincing score lines. Logan Mackin top bowler and Ellis Cooke top batsman (over 30 runs).

BEV Year 3 and 4 Short Tennis 8 Year 9 boys and girls umpired these matches which featured high quality rallies being played. Year 3 winners were Highfield with runners up JH Godwin. Year 4 joint winners were The Arches and Dee Point.

Year 7 and 8 District Athletics

Some excellent performances from the Year 7 and 8 Boys & Girls Athletics team at Deeside Athletics Stadium.

Jess Howard came 1st in Shot Putt, Neil Mercer and Trinity Uwalaka 2nd in High Jump, Tyler Burgess 3rd in Shot Putt and Isaac Moutionguissa 3rd in Discus.

Rounders Year 7, 8 and 9 with wins against Upton, Year 7 and 8 with wins against King’s (Lillie Shannon player of the match). Year 8, 9 and 10 beat Abbeygate and Year 7, 8 and 9 teams beat Catholic High School. Year 9 and 10 beat King’s School. All teams remain unbeaten before their District tournaments in June.

Year 7 Year 8

Year 9 Year 10

Handball Year 8 Girls Handball team, County winners, represented Chester at the North West Competition and finished 3rd in the group stage winning 1, drawing 1 and losing 2 games. Abbie Bowen was player of the tournament and has been scouted by Handball England coach.

Basketball Year 7 boys lost 20‐14 to Upton High in an end‐to‐end friendly game with some excellent lay ups scored. George Scott player of the match.

Football Year 9 football team lost 3‐0 to a strong tonight in the semi‐final of the Cheshire cup. Excellent start to the game but just couldn’t capitalise. Player of the match Lewis Ball ‐ fantastic attitude throughout

Second place at Airbus Community Awards

We were delighted to be awarded £4,000 by Airbus in the annual community awards, which will be spent on a therapy dog. Research suggests that using therapy dogs can help to reduce symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety to support mental and emotional well‐being. After being shortlisted from 85 to the final 10 following a public vote, we attended a presentation at Air Bus to receive the cheque. We look forward to purchasing a dog in the summer term and welcoming our new addition to the team. https://www.cheshire‐live.co.uk/news/chester‐cheshire‐news/blacon‐high‐school‐wins‐4000‐16420514