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Letter to Parents of Year 9 Students 24.09.10 |
Dear Parents/Carers
Re Parents/Carers of Year 9 Students
I am writing in response to some feedback the school received from a small number of parents, but could have been the views of a larger number.
I was unable to present to you the information I prepared for you for the Year 9 Parents Information Evening on Thursday 10 September. The reason for this was that the inspection team from Ofsted ran over in their feedback to the school at the end of their inspection.
At very short notice Mr Duffy was asked to deliver your presentation with little preparation other than my Powerpoint delivery. Under the circumstances, Mr Duffy did really well and I am grateful to him for his support and allowing the Year 9 Information Evening to continue, I thank him for his support.
You are the first parents I am writing to officially tell you the news from Ofsted and their findings. We are delighted to be informed that the school was judged to be “good” with some outstanding features. This moves the school from “satisfactory” three years previously.
It was an intense week with great strain placed upon all our staff and I thank them for their support. The whole school community pulled together; governors, support staff, premises, IT teams, canteen and cleaning staff and we all share in our success.
The students were magnificent and across the two full days of the inspection, the Lead Inspector noted that not one of his team had witnessed any poor behaviour of any kind. This is of real significance as it shows the really positive relationship between our staff, the institution and our young people.
Our parents’ questionnaires showed us that of the sample returned: 89% of parents agree that the school is well led and managed and 93% of parents are happy with the experience of their children at Longhill.
I hope you understand and accept my apologies if you felt the Information Evening was not as focused as you would have liked, but may understand why.
Parents requested more information about the options process and most feedback was directed at this area.
The school will provide all parents and our young people with full information about the process and your role within this process.
I totally accept that this is a critical year for your children and I assure you that the support and guidance the school will offer you will be of the highest quality.
I am leading a group of Headteachers across the local authority to ensure that transition from Year 11 to Year 12 is focused and meets young peoples’ needs. I am assuring support both in school and across the local authority is appropriate and supportive to enable you to have the confidence that your children will be successful through into 2013 as the first cohort who will stay on in full time education or equivalent training until the age of 17.
I hope that this letter answers some of the concerns that were raised at the end of the evening last Thursday. I also hope you will appreciate my absolute commitment towards the welfare of your children and my determination that all our young people will be supported to be the best they can.
Yours sincerely
Haydn Stride
Headteacher
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