CReSTeD Council for the Registration of Schools Teaching Dyslexic Pupils Administrator: Lesley Farrar Old Post House, Castle St, Whittington, Shropshire, SY11 4DF Tel/Fax: 01691 655783/08415 601 5013; Email: [email protected] Registration and Re-Registration Application Form Please refer to the guidelines when completing this form and please limit your application to a maximum of 10 pages No New Registration Yes Re-Registration DU Category applied for DU Current category 1. Date of visit: 27th June 2012 2. Name of Consultant(s): Bill Watkins 3. a) Name and address of school: Bethany School, Curtisden Green, Goudhurst, Kent TN17 1LB Tel: 01580 211273 Fax: 01580 211151 Email: [email protected] Web: www.bethanyschool.org.uk b) Name and qualifications of Head/Principal, with title used: Name: Mr Healy Title (eg Principal): Headmaster Qualifications: BSc Higher Diploma in Education NPQH Awarding body: Trinity College Dublin University College Dublin National College for School Leadership Consultant’s comments: The Head has been at the School since 1989. In 2005 he was appointed Deputy Head and was appointed Head in 2010. He is a charismatic individual with his finger very much on the pulse of the School. He is ably supported by his SMT. c) Name and qualifications of Head of Specialist Provision or Senior SpLD teacher: Name: Mrs Katherine Harper Title (eg SENCO): Head of Dyslexia and Learning Support (DLS) Qualifications: BSc (Hons) QTS PGCE SpLD Awarding body: Christchurch University Canterbury Consultant’s comments: Well qualified with extensive experience of helping Consultant DRAFT July 2012 again Page 1 of 14 Registered Charity No. 1052103 SpLD pupils. Appointed in September 2011 to head up the Department of Learning Support, Mrs Harper, was previously at a State School (Angley School, Cranbrook.) d) Head/Principal’s telephone number if different from above: Tel: 01580 211273 e) Unit/Senior SpLD teacher’s telephone number: Tel: 01622 832739 Background and General Information 4. a) Recent inspections: 2009 Consultant’s comments: The School has had two inspections since the last CReSTeD inspection in 2009. Both in 2010 just prior to the appointment of the existing Head although he would have been very much involved as Deputy Head. The ISI Report is very positive noting ‘The School is highly successful in meeting its stated aims and mission.’ The Ofsted Report noted ‘the School has many strengths’ with many improvements since the last inspection.(2007) ’helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do.’ was noted as ‘good’ as was ‘ helping children make a positive contribution.’ Independent b) Current SOH Schools only membership (eg HMC, ISA etc): Consultant’s comments: Appropriate membership with professional networking and ‘good practice’ recommendations. c) Department of Education Registration 8866036 Number: d) Numbers, sex and age of pupils: Total Dyslexic/ Accepted age SpLD range Day: Boys: 188 80 11 to 18 Girls: 91 25 11 to 18 Boarding: Boys: 77 31 11 to 18 Girls: 39 8 11 to 18 Overall total: 395 144 11 to 18 Consultant’s comments: Total numbers have slightly decreased although increases in girl numbers and Dyslexic/SpLD are noted. e) Class sizes – mainstream: Normally less than 17 Consultant’s comments: The 3 mainstream lessons observed were respectively 7, 15 and 16 pupils. f) Class sizes - special needs: Generally 3 to 6 Consultant’s comments: Of the 4 dyslexic/SpLD lesson, tutorials observed numbers were in accordance with the School’s numbers. h) For completion by consultants only: Pastoral care arrangements, as relevant to dyslexic students, based on ISI /Ofsted report: The ISI Report noted: ‘The excellent pastoral care provided by staff helps greatly to fulfil the School’s aim to provide individual attention within a caring community.’ The Ofsted Report spoke of ‘satisfactory boarding accommodation and a rolling programme of refurbishment and redecoration.’ and ‘good management of the boarding provision.’ The inspection of one of the Senior Boarding Houses confirmed that Boarding provision is substantially good. Feedback from pupils with respect to both weekly and termly boarding was very positive. Pupils felt at home with very good support from both boarding and academic staff which they really appreciated: Commendable. Consultant DRAFT July 2012 again Page 2 of 14 Registered Charity No. 1052103 Staffing and Staff Development DSP, SPS, 5. a) Qualifications, date, awarding body and experience of all learning support DU 7; SC, staff: WS 18; MS Mrs Katie Harper BSc (Hons) Canterbury Christ Church University. 21 QTS Canterbury Christ Church University. PGCE SpLD Canterbury Christ Church University. Other Responsibilities: Head of Dyslexia and Learning Support Tutor in Mount Entrance Examination Assessor Exam Concessions Mrs Sharon Thompson BA(Hons), Hornsby Distance Learning Diploma, Cambridge Celt (Level 4) Other responsibilities: Tutor in Old Poplars, Lifesaver Mrs Alison Hodges BSc (Hons) PGCE, RSA Certificate for Teachers of Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties, Beachwood Dyslexia Centre, Meacham Mrs Gill Holman Cert Ed. G Dip in Literacy and Dyslexia Mrs Fiona Johnson Cert Ed (PE) PG Diploma (Dyslexia) AMBDA Other responsibilities: Tutor in The Mount, Director of Activities, Expeditions Facilitator, Lifesaver, U13 Netball, Hockey and Rounder’s, Team Coach Additional staff without specific Dyslexia qualifications is used for in-class support at the request of individual subject staff and with agreement, and sometimes recommendation of the Head of Learning Support. The Head of Learning Support co-ordinates the timetable of these staff and ensures they are appropriately trained to support our pupils. Consultant’s comments: Academic qualifications were carefully looked at and were found to be appropriate. The School is about to fund one of its teachers to undertake specialist qualifications: ORC level 5. MS 20 b) Staff development and in-service training of learning support staff within last 18 months: Exam Concessions update October 2011 TES Special Needs Exhibition November 2010 and 2011 So you’re got to Teach Maths Then! Strategies for the non- specialist Maths Teachers - LIGHTHOUSE 2 March 2011 Meditation Course (5X 1.5HRS) – Ian Wood (Foundation For Harmonious Living) January – February 2012 Drug Education Modular 1A – Karl Love (Schools Drugs Education Advice) 4 Jan 2011 Dyslexia Guild Symposium (Dyslexia Action) 2012 Levelling the Playing Field for the Dyslexic Learner – (Stanbridge Earls School) 24th Sept 2010 Dyslexia Explored (BDA) 2012 National rescue Award June 2010 First Aid Course – First Response August 2010 Consultant’s comments: Staff development is very much supported by both the Consultant DRAFT July 2012 again Page 3 of 14 Registered Charity No. 1052103 Head and Governors. Mrs Harper has just completed her first year as SENCO and would now benefit from attending further specialist courses as well as visiting other well established Dyslexia/SpLD departments in other Schools. DSP, SPS 8 c) Do all English teachers and teachers of literacy skills have nationally recognised qualifications in the teaching of SpLD dyslexic) children (except A level English)? Teachers in the English department do not have nationally recognised qualification to teach SPLD children, however all teachers in the DLS Department who teach literacy skills have nationally recognised qualifications in the teaching of SpLD children. Consultant’s comments: It is manifestly obvious that there is very much a whole School approach to supporting all pupils as well as giving particular support to pupils within the DLS. All staff are given a hard copy of detailed information on every pupil within the umbrella of DLS which has been meticulously prepared by The HoD; as well as having full access to the School’s data bank. This means in effect that staff are very much involved with the actuality of preparing and delivering a differentiated and appropriate lesson for all pupils. Certainly, all lessons within the mainstream School were carefully planned to include all pupils. Feedback from pupils confirmed that they unanimously appreciated the support given to them as individuals by staff throughout the School. DSP, SPS 9 d) For completion by consultants only: Do all members of staff demonstrate the ability to meet the needs of dyslexic (SpLD) pupils within their departments? Most certainly DU 14 e) Are the majority of lessons within the Unit taught by those having nationally recognised qualifications in the teaching of Dyslexic (SpLD) pupils? (Exceptionally, an experienced teacher undergoing training may be sufficient.) Yes, all teachers in the Unit have nationally recognised qualifications in the teaching of Dyslexic (SpLD) pupils. Consultant’s comments: Confirmed. SC, WS 18 f) Do the majority of teachers providing literacy support hold a nationally recognised qualification in the teaching of Dyslexic (SpLD) pupils? (Exceptionally, an experienced teacher undergoing training may be sufficient.) See above Consultant’s comments: Only those within the DLS. However as previously noted the whole School approach to supporting pupils is very much in evidence. The ongoing support given by the SENCO to non specialist qualified Dyslexia/ SpLD staff within the main School is seen as an important part of continuing professional development. Day to day informal meetings in the staffroom was in evidence during this inspection. Policy and Philosophy with Regard to Dyslexic (SpLD) Pupils Criteria 1 & 6. a) Policy