July 2016 Issue 2...July 2016 – Issue 2 humorous reflection of the perils of Results Day Dear Parents/Carers and Students, Welcome to our second Governors’ Newsletter. As we approach

www.tolworthgirlsschool.co.uk // email: [email protected] // Tel: 020 8397 3854 // Fax: 020 8974 2600

July 2016 – Issue 2

Dear Parents/Carers and Students,

Welcome to our second Governors’ Newsletter. As we approach the end of the Academic Year and look forward to the holidays, we can reflect on a busy and successful year for the TGS community. In this second issue, we have tried to give you more details of the activities of governors, both individually and through their committees. In depth articles from the Chairs of the Curriculum and Standards and Student Welfare Committees show how the Board looks closely at the most important areas to you and to Ofsted: – the education of students in a safe and supportive environment. The Chair of our Land Development Committee provides a further update on the building works. This committee has spent literally years and hundreds of hours working to deliver to the school the funds to finance its redevelopment – funds that the government was unable to find for us. Our Clerk provides you with a little more information on our structure and welcomes two additional governors to the Board, and there is an article questioning the formation of an Alumni Association. Finally, you will find feedback from some of the governors’ visits to the school with a humorous reflection of the perils of Results Day – governors are human too! I hope you enjoy this newsletter. Please let us have some feedback as to whether you find it interesting and/or useful and if you would like us to address other topics — as you can imagine, it takes a while to put together and we want to make sure we use our time to best serve TGS. A simple email to Angie Williams, Clerk to the Governors at

[email protected]

would be very helpful.

Thank you to Jennifer Campbell-Klomps for putting this newsletter together and finally may I take this opportunity on behalf of the Board, teachers and staff of TGS to wish you

all a very happy and fun filled summer holidays.

Kind regards,

Jeremy Slater Chair of Governors

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July 2016 – Issue 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome from the Chair of Governors - 1 Contents List - 2 Finance, Assets and Audit Committee

Update on the Building Project - 3 Shadowing the Building Project - 3 Sport Facilities and Phase 2 - 3

Curriculum and Standards Committee Went the Year Well? - 4

Student Welfare Committee Management of Student Welfare - 5 Prevent Scheme - 6 Protection Children from Radicalisation - 6

Personnel Committee Forming a New Alumni Association for the Academy - 6-7

A Governor’s Parent Guide

Result Day - 7-8

Governors’ Visits Summer Art and Design Exhibition - 9-10 Beauty and the Beast - 10

Governors’ Training Children Looked After (CLA) - 11-12

New and Link Governors Jon Hind – Co-opted Governor - 13 Miranda Osborne – Associate Governor - 13 Do you know your Link Governors - 13

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July 2016 – Issue 2

Update on the Building Project Phase 1 of the building project is progressing well with a number of landmark milestones already achieved. These include:

Completing the preliminary works – the houses at the front have been demolished and other access works will start shortly.

Appointing the contractor – Ash Contracting have been appointed after a tendering exercise and interview panel.

Coordination with other parties – Lytle Associates, the School’s Project Manager, has started regular coordination meetings with the other direct construction stakeholders – Tolworth Recreation Centre, Tolworth Gym Club and Taylor Wimpey, the house builder. These meetings are vital for ensuring the effective and efficient coordination of input and cooperation from all these parties.

The building programme is due to start on Monday 18th July 2016 and is expected to be completed one year later. This will be followed by a relatively short fit out for furniture and other facilities before the start of the use of the Phase 1 build during the September 2017 term.

Shadowing the Building Project The school and the house building projects will provide some wonderful opportunities for the shadowing of how such complex projects are coordinated and delivered. The School will work closely with its Project Manager and Taylor Wimpey to ensure that staff and students of TGS have safe and secure access to both projects so that the “workings” of these projects can be studied and the wide range of educational and careers related opportunities can be exploited to the full. More on how we will aim to achieve this in the next update.

Sport Facilities and Phase 2 The sports facilities, the Multi-Use Games Area or MUGA, will be built after Phase 1 is completed, i.e. during the Autumn 2017 term. Phase 2 is currently being designed in detail.

Chair of Finance, Assets and Audit Committee Andrew Perks - Community Governor

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July 2016 – Issue 2

WENT THE YEAR WELL? As the Academic Year 2015-16 draws to a close and the end of the Summer Term is near, I am sure that every member of our school community has been reflecting upon how the year has been for them. Students may well be remembering their own particular experiences of the year; experiences of working in sports teams, taking part in drama and musical events, their progress and successes in the classroom and school events, and of course their friendships with fellow students. Teachers, of course, will have similar reflections not only for their students, but especially when writing the end of year reports for parents and guardians. However, they will also be reflecting on their own performance: how good was the teaching, was it effective, individual and thorough? Most importantly, has it been inspiring; has it laid the foundations of intellectual curiosity and the desire for life-long learning which is so necessary for students to have fulfilling and successful lives once they have left school? The Curriculum and Standards Committee has also been in reflective mode. In our five meetings this year, we have been given information concerning student progress, target setting and tracking data, which has provided us with an overall picture of how well the students are working and achieving. We have discussed the various methods of working with the students that teachers have employed to enable students to achieve the best possible results in the lessons, end of year tests and public examinations. Alongside the day to day support that is given to all students, there is also further intervention for those students who have particular needs; extra targeted help and guidance is always available. Members of the Committee have regular briefings from Heads of Faculties and Departments concerning how they teach the particular knowledge, understanding and skills that are needed for each subject, how the students’ work is marked together with the feedback given and how regular assessments are used to identify individual student’s progress. This data which has been collected is also used to inform the next steps taken to ensure that each student can achieve their own highest possible level of attainment. ‘Levels of attainment’ brings us to what could be seen as the climax of the school year: internal and public examinations experienced by all students from Year 7 to Year 13 in the Summer Term. The Committee has been kept very busy over the last year coming to grips with changes to the GCSEs, AS and A2 examinations. The changes are quite profound at GCSE level. The syllabuses have been changed and a number of subjects have been added to the core of English, Maths and Science in order to introduce the new award of the English Baccalaureate. There is less coursework and more reliance on the examination taken at the end of the two year course: modular exams i.e. bit-size chunks of the syllabus tested at regular intervals are no longer available. This has meant a very different approach to teaching and learning, and has required a great deal of planning and preparation. To complement the new style of testing, there is also a different system of grading: 1–9 will replace the current A*-F grades. There is much for students, teachers, parents and governors to digest. All members of the Committee have been impressed with the way in which the school has tackled the complexities of these changes while still ensuring that the individual care and guidance given to each student is retained. The learning experience of every child does indeed matter at Tolworth Girls’ School & Sixth Form and will always remain at the heart of the school’s endeavours. Went the year well? From the point of view of the governing body the answer is yes. The students have been well taught and are prepared for the next step whether it be the once anxious Year 7 girl stepping forward confidently into the much more grown up world of Year 8, or Year 13 which is collectively striding out into the future.

Chair of Curriculum and Standards Committee Pamela Wilkes - Community Governor

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July 2016 – Issue 2

As we approach the end of the Summer Term, we can look back on what and how we have managed Student Welfare this year: Student Welfare (SW) Committee agreed to review all policies yearly to ensure we are up to date with

the latest information and statutory guidance from the Department for Education (DfE). Yearly meetings are now aligned to the above approach and each meeting has a specific focus as

follows:

o Personal Development.

§ Policy Review – Single Equality Policy.

o Behaviour and Welfare.

§ Policy Review – Anti Bullying Policy. § Behaviour Policy. § Keeping Children Safe in Education (Child Protection/Safeguarding).

o Attendance and Exclusions.

§ Policy Review – Exclusion Policy. § SEND Code of Practice.

o Pastoral Curriculum and Enrichment.

§ Policy Review – Attendance & Registration of Students. § Drugs.

o Careers Summary and Student Voice.

§ Policy Review – Supporting Students with Medical Needs. § Visitors to School Policy.

As well as the specific focus areas, we have the following standing items in each meeting:

o Updates on progress of key groups – with evidence of interventions and impact. o Updates on exclusions, PRU Students and any safeguarding concerns.

We allocated link governors as follows:

o Pupil Premium – Jane Vessey. o SEN (Special Educational Needs) – Margaret Ilori. o Child Protection/Safeguarding – Paul McDonald.

Chair of Student Welfare Committee Paul McDonald - Parent Governor

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July 2016 – Issue 2

All Governors have been educated on the Prevent Scheme and have completed their certification.

We have implemented an electronic visitor system in the school so all visitors now have to register

before they can enter the school premises to help with safeguarding students and staff. As well as the details above, we worked closely with the Full Governing Body and Senior Leadership team to understand the challenges facing TGS and see how we can address main points. We work on a continual improvement program and have had various presentations from staff that have helped with this understand-ing and defining our go forward strategy. I would like the thank the committee members and all presenters for helping to make this a very productive year. Enjoy your summer and see you next term!

Forming a new Alumni Association for the Academy? As governors, we are now beginning to consider with the Headteacher and her colleagues how best, if at all, to create an active alumni association for the Academy.

Emulating the practice in the private and university sectors, more and more state-funded schools now have

active alumni associations for former students and, at least in some cases, these are also open to former

staff. Such associations provide a ready means for those who have left to keep in touch, both with their

former colleagues and with developments at the Academy which they may be interested in. They also

provide an ideal platform for any continuing contribution which they may from time to time feel able to

make, whether it be with careers advice, work experience, apprenticeships, mentoring or just sharing some

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Chair of Student Welfare Committee Paul McDonald - Parent Governor

Chair of Personnel Committee Paul Thompson – Community Governor

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July 2016 – Issue 2

Chair of Personnel Committee Paul Thompson – Community Governor

of their experience with current students and staff. For the Academy, it is great to learn just what has become of all those who have moved on and also to have a sound basis for capturing such important contributions. Former students and staff may also be able to help with fund-raising, both directly and indirectly e.g. by facilitating corporate sponsorship. Where this is practicable, it is of course very important too. All these things can of course be done without a formal alumni association, particularly now that social media allows us all so readily to form and maintain numerous networks. A well-established alumni association will, however, provide a real focus for such activities and help ensure that everyone can be included. There is now an organisation called “Future First” which, for a small annual fee, will help any state-funded schools to establish and maintain an alumni association with a view to helping educate, inform and inspire current students about what they could go on to do. The service it offers includes maintaining the all important database without which any such association cannot function but it is, of course, possible for the Academy to do its own thing and, depending on quite what is wanted, that may be a better option for us. Before proceeding further, the key question that we need to answer is just what is it that our Academy and its former students and staff would really like or benefit from. Is it a simple platform, open to all, providing a news service and possibly little more or is it something more sophisticated that might, for example, require a standing committee, year group representatives and possibly even membership fees? As a minimum, alumni associations can operate with little more than a regular newsletter and that on its own requires relatively little organisation. More active associations have a programme of events which may include open evenings, year group get-togethers, even sports and other societies, as well as one-off events and specific career advice and other initiatives to engage with current students (e.g. through providing guest speakers). Some even have their own merchandise. Necessarily, the more such associations do, the more organisation is involved and the more resources need to be applied to ensure their success. Having regard to our vision for the Academy, we believe that we should aim to develop an active alumni association that caters for all the needs of former students and staff but what do you think? Please let us know your views.

A PARENT’S GUIDE TO RESULT DAY This year, for GCSE, it is Thursday 25th August 2016. If you are the obsessive type, we both know this already as it is burned in our brains. If your Little Darling is expecting A Level Result. This Guide is not for you. You already know the drill. Besides there’s a very good chance Little Darling does not want you there anyway on account of past misdeeds.

A Governors’ Parent Guide Margaret Ilori - Parent Governor

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July 2016 – Issue 2

It is usually best to ensure “Little Darling” (and you) get a good night sleep the night before. If “Little Darling” refuses to get out of bed in the morning and point blank refuses to go to school to collect her result, gird your loins. This particular ride is going to be tricky. Imagine you are dealing with an oversized toddler. Bring out all the tricks in your arsenal to persuade “Little Darling” that the task at hand of getting to school must be undertaken forthwith. You and “Little Darling” arrive in school. You survey the Head Teacher, the Senior Leadership Team and all others who have come to school on this auspicious occasion to help things run smoothly. They all look like they’ve been dragged backwards (and forwards) through a nasty hedge. Don’t be alarmed. They’ve been in school organising the day for you and have not slept for 48 hours straight but they know the drill already – they’ve done it many times. They have consumed an unholy amount of Red Bull and beyond the zombie façade, they truly are raring to go and are on hand to help. Resist the urge to dive in, ignore the teachers, rifle through the envelopes until you get to “Little Darling’s”, grab the envelope, shred it like a wild animal until you get to the result and check it for yourself. Instead, you are the epitome of calm and serenity and you encourage “Little Darling” to go and get it instead. “Little Darling” may not want to open it in the hall. She may prefer to open it outside the hall. Or even wait until you return home to do so. Calm yourself. Beam a radiant smile and nonchalantly tell “Little Darling” it is entirely up to her but she may perhaps want to have a little look to see the result of her hard work like all others around you are doing. “Little Darling” agrees and opens it. You stand aside and again resist the wild animal urge to dive in etc. This is not about you. It is about her. You watch a smile (or a frown) form on “Little Darling’s” face. It is alright. Super Parent is here. You lean in for a bear hug but be guided by “Little Darling’s” reaction. She may think a hug is too much. So you may want to style that out into a firm handshake or a perfunctory pat on the shoulder. You keep smiling. Have a look at the result yourself. Whatever it is, there is very little anyone can do about it now. So if it is very good and “Little Darling” still doesn’t want a hug, the Head Teacher and all the Senior Leadership Team are all available for hugs. If a handshake is your preferred option, they are available for that too. Through the haze, remember to thank them for their support through a difficult period in “Little Darling’s” life. She could not have done it without them or you. If the result is less than sterling and “Little Darling” is not that pleased and feels her hard work has not been reflected in the result. Again imagine you have an oversized toddler who is displeased about something and deal accordingly. Thread carefully as this oversized toddler is highly strung. Project into the future and let “Little Darling” know everything will be alright. Celebrate her achievement. If she is not academic then the results are definitely not the be-all-end-all as there are several paths in life she can embark on most successfully. Let her know this. And celebrate. Year 11 is done and finished with. “Little Darling” may then want to go off and catch up with her friends. Let her know there will be a celebration waiting for her at home when she returns. And now you can relax. It is about you now. Breathe. Take the smile you’ve had pasted on all day off. Scream if you wish. Allow relief to wash over you. If like me, you already had a T-shirt made which says ‘My Baby Aced Her GCSE’ and you intended to wear it to school in the morning to get the result and your daughter found out and banned you (outright) from wearing it in public, this is the time to break out the T-shirt and wear it… with pride. The day is done. The future beckons. Help your daughter plan it well…

A Governors’ Parent Guide Margaret Ilori - Parent Governor

www.tolworthgirlsschool.co.uk // email: [email protected] // Tel: 020 8397 3854 // Fax: 020 8974 2600

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July 2016 – Issue 2

Summer Art and Design Exhibition An important part of being a Governor (especially if you are not a Parent Governor) is to keep in touch with school activities. Governors are always encouraged to attend events and as the school year comes to a close, 2 events came to a climax. First was the Art and Design Exhibition, displaying all the amazing work the students have submitted for their exams. I have always been in awe of anyone who can draw especially since I gave up Art in Year 7 after numerous attempts to draw even an apple failed to impress my art teachers! What I love most about these shows is how many technics the students learn. This year, I noted sewing on photographs, which really added to the overall image in a way that surprised me.

Governors Visits Emma Payne - Co-opted Governor

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July 2016 – Issue 2

Beauty and the Beast The second event was the musical performance of Beauty & The Beast. Absolutely awesome! The students playing the main parts were script perfect, the songs were brilliant and the choreography beautiful, not to mention, the minimal but perfect scenery and prop additions. Really all the actresses, backstage students and staff should be celebrating at the after party. And what a great end to term. There are really some perks of being a Governor!

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July 2016 – Issue 2

Governors Training Jennifer Campbell-Klomps - Parent Governor

Children Looked After (CLA) This course took place on Thursday 12 May 2016 and the actual event title was The Role of School Governors in Championing the Needs of Children Looked After (CLA) – a rather long title but a most thought provoking and inspiring course!

The venue was at Lensbury Conference Centre which is a beautiful sports resort hotel located in Teddington set on 25 acres of landscape grounds on the banks of the River Thames.

In the Reception Area, the instructors/presenters taped names of celebrities/famous people on our backs. Taking turns, we asked questions to guess the correct answer and the governor’s response was either “Yes” or “No”; this, indeed, was a clever method of breaking the ice and getting us talking. I had “Seal” taped on my back and thought it was an animal but we obviously didn’t know that the names referred to celebrities/famous people at the time! Anyway, after we took our seats, the photo images of the below mentioned were

projected onto a screen and the governors had to determine what they all had in common.

NAME DOB AND PLACE ACHIEVEMENT CHILDHOOD

Kris Akabussi 28th November 1958 Paddington, London

A retired British sprint and hurdling track and field ath-lete.

From the age of four spent the next 13 years in three private foster homes and

two care homes.

Leo Blair 4th August 1923 Filey, North

Yorkshire, England

A British barrister and law lecturer at Durham University. Tony Blair’s father.

The illegitimate son of two middle-class travelling entertainers adopted by a

Glaswegian couple.

Richard Burton 10th November 1925 Pontrhydyfen, Wales

A Welsh stage and cinema actor.

The 12th of 13 kids was brought up by his sister.

Debbie Harry 1st July 1945 Miami, Florida, United States

An American singer-songwriter and actress. Lead singer of new wave and punk rock band Blondie.

Her mother a respected concert pianist did not feel ready to bring up a child so a home and family had to be found. She was adopted by a New Jersey couple but insists that she inherited her biological mother's musical

talent.

Damien Hirst 7th June 1965

Bristol, England

A successful and controversial English artist, entrepreneur, and art collector who dominated the art scene in the UK during the 1990s.

He was a troublesome teen-ager and was jailed twice for shoplifting.

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July 2016 – Issue 2

Governors Training Jennifer Campbell-Klomps - Parent Governor

Training The answer is that they were all Looked After Children and against all odds they succeeded in life! Education is most important for all but particularly Looked After Children because the odds are already stacked against them which is why the governors are responsible for ensuring that they monitor and challenge the school to ensure that they are meeting the needs of Looked After Children. This is probably one of the most soul-searching course that I have attended this Academic Year and it will prob-

ably remain etched in my mind for a very long time!

Angela Williams - Chair of Governors

NAME DOB AND PLACE ACHIEVEMENT CHILDHOOD

Neil Morrissey 4th July 1962

Stafford, England

An English actor, singer and business-man. Starred as To-ny in Men Behaving Badly, Eddie Lawson in Waterloo Road and Nigel Morton in Line of Duty. Voice of Bob the Builder.

Neil was one of four sons born to May and Larry, first-generation Irish immigrants. Neil and brother Stephen caught stealing when they were just ten and 12 years old. Taken away from their parents and placed in separate children’s homes. Neither would ever return to their family.

Seal February 19, 1963

Paddington, London

An English singer and songwriter who was married to model Heidi Klum.

A Nigerian mother and Brazilian father, Seal was raised by foster parents in Westminster, London.

Fatima Whitbread 3th March 1961 London, England

A British former javelin thrower. Olympic Athlete.

Grew up in a series of children's homes and was occasionally left in the care of her abusive biological

mother.

Malcolm X 19th May 1925 Omaha, Nebraska,

United States

An African-American Muslim minister and human rights acti-vist.

His mother, Louise Norton Little, a homemaker was occupied with the family's eight children. Louise was sent to a mental home. Father was an outspoken

Baptist Minister.

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July 2016 – Issue 2

New Governors Angie Williams - Clerk to Governors/Company Secretary

This year we have seen some further changes within our Governing Body and we welcome two new faces on board.

Jon Hind Miranda Osborne

Co-opted Governor Associate Governor

Term of Office 13.01.16-12.01.20 Term of Office 04.05.16-03.05.20

Governors can wear many hats, one of which could be as a Link Governor with responsibility for a specific area of the school. At Tolworth Girls’ School & Sixth Form we have the following link governors: Paul McDonald – Designated Governor for Safeguarding/Child Protection Margaret Ilori and Preena Patel – Special Educational Needs (SEN) Jane Vessey – Pupil Premium Michael Farnon – Health & Safety Governors are also assigned to a member of the leadership team and they are encouraged to come into TGS during Governors’ weeks. This enable governors to access the school to see how things are going, look at the department’s data, discuss with staff, teachers and heads of departments how well they feel teaching and learning is going, hold discussions with students, report back to the governing body on their findings and champion issues in governing body meetings.

Do you know your Link Governors?