Annual Report to Parents 2016-17 Part 1

 

NEWPORT CITY COUNCIL

THE GOVERNING BODY OF  Mount Pleasant Primary School

Clerk of the Governing body

Mrs Joanne Howard

Education Achievement Service

Tredomen Gateway

Tredoman park

Ystrad Mynach

Hengoed

CF82 7EH

Community Governor 

Huw Davies 11/07/2017-10/07/2021

Ruth Thomas 28/06/2017 - 27/06/2021

Allan Hyland 18/04/2016 - 17/04/2020

Matt Maughan 30/11/2015 - 29/11/2016

LA Appointed

Yvonne Forsey 05/06/2017 - 04/06/2021

Stephen Bowen 01/09/2016 - 31/08/2020

Kelly Jones 11/07/2016 - 10/07/2020

Headteacher

Miss Fiona Rutledge

Parent Representative

Amy Maidment 09/11/2017 - 08/11/2021

Mrs Laura Browning 16/12/2015 15/12/2019

Mrs Esther Lewis 01/09/2015 - 31/08/2019

Mr Dilwyn Gurney 01/09/2015 - 31/08/2019

(Chair)

Staff Representative

Mrs G Nicholaas 01/09/17 - 31/08/2021

Teacher Representative

Mr Marcus Price-Stephens 30/11/2015 -  29/11/2019

Aims and Mission Statement

We aim to:-

Encourage pupils to value and respect themselves and others.

Ensure learning is fun, meaningful and progressive and enables pupils to develop skills to become lifelong learners.

Provide an integrated, creative, challenging and interactive curriculum enriching learning for all pupils.

Enhance the environment to make it attractive, fun and thought provoking, to encourage global citizenship and sustainability.

Develop a supportive forward thinking staff team valuing professional development.

Value parental support and involve them fully in the life of the school through an open door policy.

Make our school the heart of the community by celebrating and developing links which enhance learning.

Share our similarities, celebrate our differences.

'Sowing the seeds for success'

The school vision and aims are reviewed annually by the Head teacher, staff and Governing Body.

Meetings of the Governing Body

Meetings of the full governing body have taken place on six occasions. At appropriate meetings the Governors received and considered reports from the resources sub committee, the sites and buildings committee, curriculum and standards committee and the Head Teacher reports on the school and its work. Minutes of all those meetings are available at school. In addition to these formal meetings Governors have visited to enjoy concerts, assemblies and sports/fund raising events. 

Parents Meeting

The School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 now enables parents of registered pupils at the school to request up to three meetings per year with the governing body via a petition. The governing body must hold a meeting within 25 school days of receiving the petition, providing that:

1.            the petition contains the signatures of the required minimum number of parents of registered pupils at the school, 30 pupils.

2.            the meeting requested by parents must be to discuss a matter relating to the school. 3. there will be no more than three meetings held during the year in which the first petition is received.

4. there are sufficient school days left in the school year for the meeting to be held.

However, the school operates an open door policy and parents are encouraged to approach the school at the earliest opportunity to discuss any concerns.

Current Teaching Staff

The school has 7 full time teachers and 2 part time teachers plus the Head Teacher. We have 1 Level 4 Learning Support Assistant , 2 full time Level 3 Learning

Support Assistants, 1 Part time Level 3, 2

Full time level 2, 3 full time level 1, 1 part time level 1 Learning Support Assistants. We aim to ensure that recommended ratio for Foundation Phase is met where the ratio is 1:8 in Nursery and Reception and 1:15 in Y1 and Y2.

Peripatetic teachers in woodwind, brass, keyboard, violin, guitar, percussion and cello visit the school and tuition is given to children in these instruments. In addition to these services, Also the Tennis Association provides after school coaching. Dragon sport officials work closely with staff and train the pupils in rugby skills. The wide range of music and sport tuition is only a part of an impressive offering of extra curricular activities at our school.

Current Non Teaching staff

The school has the services of a full time Business Manager and a full time administration assistant working 5 mornings per week. 

One caretaker is employed by the school and School also employ 2 cleaners. One cook and one assistant are employed by Chartwells who provide catering. Five staff assist with lunchtime supervision. 

Current Internal Organisation

Nursery

Mrs Smith

Reception 

Mr Stephens

Year 1

Ms Medhurst

Year 2

Ms Luckwell

Year 3

Mrs Black Mrs Morgan 

Year 4

Mr Prewett

(Deputy head)

Year 4 

Miss Mortimer

Year 5

Mrs Irvine

Year 6

Mrs Jenkins

 

The Curriculum Aims

 All children have a right to a broad, balanced and relevant education which provides continuity and progression and takes individual differences into account.  Work in Mount Pleasant is designed to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum and Foundation Phase and prepare them for their place in society. We integrate the Literacy and Numeracy Framework across the curriculum in order to develop skills based learning and application. Digital competency is a strong feature throughout the school and we pride ourselves in developing this through the topic approach.

At Mount Pleasant we:

  • Create a holistic approach to curriculum delivery where pupils are encouraged to plan, develop and reflect their learning goals.
  • Cater for the needs of individual children of both sexes from all ethnic and social groups, including the most able and those who are experiencing additional learning needs;
  • Facilitate children's acquisition of knowledge, skills and qualities which will help them to develop intellectually, emotionally, socially, physically, morally and aesthetically, so that they may become independent, responsible, useful, thinking, confident and considerate members of the community;
  • Create and maintain an exciting and stimulating learning environment;
  • Ensure that each child's education has continuity and progression;
  • Ensure that there is a match between the child and the tasks he/she is asked to perform;
  • We set realistically high standards in academic personal and social learning goals;
  • Provide an appropriate curricular balance;
  • Recognise the crucial role which parents play in their children's education and make every effort to encourage parental involvement in the educational process;
  • Treat all members of the school community with respect;
  • Create a culture of lifelong learning for all.

Our pupils:

  • Learn to be adaptable, how to solve problems in a variety of situations, how to work independently and as members of a team;
  • Are developing the ability to make reasoned judgements and choices, based on interpretation and evaluation of relevant information from a variety of sources;
  • Are happy, cheerful and well balanced;
  • Are enthusiastic and eager to put their best into all activities;
  • Acquire a set of moral values, e.g. honesty, sincerity, personal responsibility; on which to base their own behaviour;
  • Are expected to behave in a dignified and acceptable way and learn to become

responsible for their actions;

  • Care for and take pride in their school;
  • Develop tolerance, respect and appreciation of the feelings and capabilities of others in an unbiased way;
  • Develop non-sexist and non-racist attitudes;
  • Know how to think, investigate and solve problems mathematically in a variety of situations using concepts of number, algebra, measurement, shape and space, and handling data;
  • Are able to listen and read for a variety of purposes and be able to convey their meaning accurately and appropriately through speech and writing for a variety of purposes;
  • Develop an enquiring mind and scientific approach to problems;
  • Have an opportunity to create and solve problems using technological skills;
  • Are capable of communicating their knowledge and feelings through various art forms including art/craft, music, drama and be acquiring appropriate techniques and skills which will enable them to develop their inventiveness,

entrepreneurial skills and creativity;

  • Know about geographical, historical and social aspects of the local environment and their Welsh national heritage and culture and be aware of other times and places and recognise links among family, local, national and international events;
  • Have a developing knowledge of the beliefs of the major world regions;
  • Develop agility, physical co-ordination and confidence in and through movement;
  • Know how to apply the basic principles of health, hygiene and safety.

The school doors will open at 8.50 a.m. to facilitate pupils being in their classes and ready for lessons to commence promptly at 9.00 a.m.

Welsh as a second language

In Mount Pleasant Primary we are proud of our cultural heritage. We not only celebrate our heritage with an annual Eisteddfod, but are very proud that every pupil has the opportunity to learn welsh. Welsh is taught and spoken by all class teachers who have received specialist training and support to do so. Pupils are not only taught in specific class sessions but throughout the school day, incidental welsh is used. Also, the Welsh language plays an important part in our Friday Good News assembly where we meet to celebrate success at all levels in our school. Signs throughout the school are bilingual. Bilingualism has been embraced throughout the school.

School Session Times

    Morning Session

Juniors                      9.00 a.m. - 12.15 p.m. Infants                  9.00 a.m. - 12 noon

Nursery                     9.00 a.m. - 11.15 a.m

Break                       10.30a.m. - 10.45 a.m.

Afternoon Session

Juniors                      1.00 p.m. - 3.15 p.m.

Infants                       1.00 p.m. - 3.15 p.m.

Nursery                   1.00 p.m. - 3.15 p.m.

Infant Break 2.15 p.m. - 2.30 pm

Term

Start

Half term starts

Half term ends

Term ends

Autumn

Sept 2017

Oct 2017

Nov 2017

Dec 2017

Spring

Jan 2018

Feb 2018

Feb 2018

March 2018

Summer

April 2018

May 2018

June 2018

July 2018

May Day: 7th  May 2018

INSET DAYS 17/18

Monday 4th September 2017

Friday 22nd December 2017

Friday 16th February 2018

Monday 3rd  May 2018 

Tuesday 24th July 2018

 

 

  

 

Pupils

There were 239 pupils on roll excluding nursery commencing September 2016

There were 271 pupils on roll including nursery commencing September 2016

The children of Mount Pleasant School are, happy and courteous, well-mannered and show respect for others and their property.  We are very proud of our school community.

INCLUSION FOR ALL

The school prospectus clearly states our commitment to equal opportunities and inclusion for all. Creating an inclusive culture and establishing inclusive values is very important to all at Mount Pleasant.

The school treats all pupils equally, following the admission procedures adopted by Newport City Education Authority.   The school has taken many steps to enable all members of the school community to have equal access.   Additional adults are deployed appropriately to ensure all pupils have equal access to the curriculum.

Special Needs Provision 2016-17

The number of pupils identified on the Special Needs Register in September 2016 was 29.

The distribution of these pupils on the relevant stages of the Code of Practice was as follows:

Pupils with Statements of

SEN

Provision required to support a pupil is enforceable.

3

School Action Plus

Outside Agency Involvement

9

School Action

School based intervention

with an Individual Education Plan

17

 

                                                                                   Total   29

The distribution of these pupils throughout the school was as follows:

Number of pupils on AEN register

 

 

 

 

 

Statement

SA+

SA

Initial concerns

Rec

1

2

 

 

Y1

 

 

4

 

Y2

 

 

3

 

Y3

1

2

2

1

Y4

 

2

2

 

Y5

1

2

1

1

Y6

 

1

5

1

 

Pupils placed at School Action receive support within the classroom or a small group activity. Pupils placed at School Action Plus receive advice from specialist outside agencies which is then either used by support staff within the school or specialist staff coming in to the school. Pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs receive specific support from a member of the Support Staff Team within the school based upon the requirements set out in their statement.

During the year pupils received support from the Educational Psychology Service, the Specific Learning Difficulties Unit, the Gwent Education Minority Ethnic Service, Health, Speech and Language Service, the Educational Service for the Hearing

Impaired. The school's team of support staff working with pupils on the SEN register throughout the school as well as supporting groups and individuals within classrooms. 

Pupils' national identity

Nationality 

Number of pupils aged 5 or over at 31st August 2016

Welsh

156

English

18

Scottish

0

Irish

0

British

33

Other

0

Refused

0

Not supplied

2


Pupils' ethnic background 2016-17

Ethnic Group

Number of pupils aged 5 or over at 31st August 2016

Indian

4

Other Ethnic Group

10

White British

191

White and Any Other Ethnic Group

3

White and Chinese

1

 

School Prospectus, Improvement Plan and Policy Review

The School Prospectus was updated to reflect staff changes. 

A Nursery Handbook/Prospectus has been written in light of the new Nursery development.

Mount Pleasant Primary operates a Responsive School Improvement Plan.

School Improvement Planning at Mount Pleasant forms part of a cycle starting with effective monitoring and self-evaluation. This informs a termly improvement report identifying improvement priorities which translates into targets for the School Improvement Plan. The School Improvement Plan has an on-going monitoring feature and when all actions are complete it is evaluated and filed with the selfevaluation and monitoring documentation. New priorities appear from the termly improvement report, targets are formed and the cycle continues.

Therefore, the Responsive School Improvement Plan as a document has no start or end date, the dates appear with the individual priorities.

All school policies remain subject to change and amendment as per the school selfevaluation process. The school self-evaluation process/policy outlines in detail the process of review in the school. The school self-evaluation Process is built upon the Estyn Inspection Framework and seeks to move the school forward by evaluation and targeting of specific areas to be developed.

Sporting Fixtures and Achievements

At Mount Pleasant we aim to provide pupils with positive education experiences of physical activity. Our PE provision is part of a well-developed skills based curriculum which not only provides opportunities to enhance physical well-being but also opportunities to problem solve, communicate, plan, develop and reflect. Our pupils participate in PE from reception onwards and, as they progress, have vast opportunities to take part in a variety of high quality sports. Children are taught indoor and outdoor sports. Competitive sports taught at Mount Pleasant include activities such as football, rugby, basketball, netball, tennis, and hockey, while our creative and adventurous syllabus includes activities such as dance, gymnastics, climbing, swimming and many more. Furthermore, at KS2, we send an array of sports teams to participate in tournaments for many of these different sports. 

Links with Community and Police

The governors remain most impressed with the school's continued endeavours to establish links within the community, especially with parents.  The PTA met regularly during term time and the Head, Deputy or Business Manager attended these meetings. The Community Policy have taken an active role in supporting the school and community with parking issues throughout the new build. Governors would like to thank the local residents and community for working with the school particularly in relation to parking concerns throughout the build. 

The school is very grateful to the PTA for their continued financial support to fund many worthwhile projects, such as the investment into the outside play equipment and their on-going support for developing technology. This shows the tremendous commitment of the PTA to the school. 

A weekly newsletter has been available on the school website and provided information about the school's affairs and has proved to be well received, along with the school website. School has also introduced 'parent mail' a texting system to inform parents of current events. All classes hosted a coffee afternoon where parents and children were able to spend time sharing work and class activities.

Parent's evenings have taken place throughout the school year providing an opportunity to discuss the work and progress of the children. The home school links have continued and we have a number of parents and governors involved in the life of the school. The school also enjoys close links with families first, the cluster and in particular Bassaleg High School.  Mrs Christine Thomas and her colleagues from Bethesda regularly visit the school for assemblies as well as running the Discovery Club after school and Bible Explorer.

Policies 

All school policies are reviewed on a rolling programme, most policies are reviewed over a three year period. Policies such as Child Protection and Safeguarding are reviewed annually.

Toilet Facilities

Pupils in the reception class have access to their own toilets. All other pupils have access to a set of toilets in the main building. All toilet facilities have been fully refurbished within the past 5 years. Toilets are cleaned daily and cleanliness monitored throughout the day. As a consequence of the new development toilet facilities have been improved. There are now two new toilets in the upper Key Stage 2 building for use by our Junior children.  Part of our drainage system has been upgraded throughout the new development.

Charities

The school has supported BBC Children in Need, Valindra, Sport Relief, The Christchurch Centre (Newport Food Bank) and the Poppy Appeal.

Healthy Schools - Healthy eating and drinking 

We are proud to be a healthy school and are working towards gaining our next stage of our 'Healthy Leaf' initiative (the NQA award). Children are encouraged to drink water on a daily basis in school. Children are rewarded with praise and stickers when they are spotted being healthy. A piece of fruit is recommended for children during morning break. Chartwells provide our children with a menu on a termly basis. 

ECO 

The Mount Pleasant ECO team have been successful in achieving the Platinum

Award this year. They are always striving to improve sustainability at Mount Pleasant Primary School with initiatives such as recycling, monitoring electricity, reusing junk, composting and much more. We look forward to following their progress.

Equalities

Mount Pleasant Primary has an Equalities Plan (SEP) - it builds upon the school's previous Disability Policy and Race Equality Scheme and sits above the school's Inclusion Policy etc. What was previously the school's Access Policy is covered by this Plan. This policy belongs to everybody and is relevant to all pupils, teaching and administrative staff, parents, carers, supporters and the local community.  

To choose objectives for school Mount Pleasant we: 

  • Listened to equality experts and Heads of schools in Newport about their choice of equality objectives
  • Discussed equalities at schools council
  • Drew up a long list with associated actions
  • Asked parents
  • Children / young people
  • Approved at Governors
  • Completed and equalities audit

These are the equality objectives we chose to cover over a three year period.

1.    Improved relationships within the school community

2.    To provide a happy, safe, inclusive learning environment

3.    Children will challenge gender stereotypes through meaningful classroom experiences.

Trips and Impact on Learning

TRIP

DATE

YR GP

 

IMPACT ON LEARNING

CURRICULUM CYMREIG

Hilston Park

28th

September to 5th

October

 

6

 

 

Outdoor Education

Planning , developing reflecting skills

Better teamwork & Co-operation. Communicating ideas clearly to others when solving tasks. Take increasing responsibility for planning aspects of work.

Outdoor Wales National Park

- Welsh history, traditional

stories, cultures, sport.

 

YR4 & YR5

Swimming Course

21st

September to 9th

October

4 & 5

All children now water safe.

PSE opportunities.

Team Building and life skills

Use of Welsh as second language

Y5/6  @ Bristol

22nd January

5 & 6

Space and planets - Scientific knowledge and understanding developed. Literacy and numeracy skill development

Use of Welsh as second language

Infant String

Performance

Newport

Centre

4th March 2016

1M

Children to develop their musical and performance skills. Listening skills linked to mathematics 

Linking with schools in Wales to perform

enhancing the

Welsh dimension. 

Bassaleg

Gym Display

9th March 2016

Y6

Transition 

Well-being

Sport and gymnastics development

Use of Welsh as a second language

Easter explained workshop Bethesda

Church

17th March 2016  

Y6

RE

The Easter Story Explained

Personal and Social Development

Making use of the local community.

Folk Festival at Tredegar house

7th May 

Welsh

Folk

Danc e

Team

Welsh Dimension PE/Dance

Curriculum

Cymreig developed

Dan-yr-ogof Caves 15th June

Rec

Y1 & 2

  Literacy/topic development use of Welsh as a second language
Gwyl Plant - Sports Village Spytty 25th June 2016 Welsh Folk Dance Team   Welsh folk dancing Linking with schools in Wales to perform enchancing the Welsh dimension
Llandegfedd Reservoir 30th June 2016 yr 5  

Water sport

PE

Geography

Curriculum 

Cymreig

development

Roman Museum Caerleon 7th July 2016 Yr 3 & 4  

History

Literacy and numeracy links across the curriculum

Curriculum Cymreig developed.  To visit a historical  places in Wales
Wetlands 11th July 2016 yr 6  

Science

Knowledge and Understanding of the world

Use of Welsh as a second language

 

School Leavers

The majority of our children will be attending Bassaleg High Bassaleg High - 28 pupils

Newport High -  0 pupil

Risca Comprehensive - 0 pupil

St Joseph's High - 1 pupil

Other - (St Johns on the Hill)  1 Pupil left the country and is now being educated in Spain.

 

         

Governors Expenses and Subsistence Claims 2016 - 2017

During the period 2016 - 2017 there were no claims

ATTENDANCE 2016 /2017

Attendance for 2016-17 was 96.4%. Our Target was 96.8%. 

09-10

10-11

11-12

12-13

13-14

14-15

15-16

16-17

95.4%

96%

96.1%

95.4%

96.03%

96.23%

96.8%

96.4%

 

Mount Pleasant has excellent and sustained attendance; this is thanks to the commitment of parents in ensuring their children have the best possible chance of achieving an excellent education. We are continually striving to improve attendance figures and reduce the number of absences due to pupils taking holidays during term time. We have set attendance targets for the next 3 years.

Attendance Targets over the next three years

17-18

18-19

2019-20

96.6%

96.7%

96.8%

96.4% for the Year 2016-17 

2.3% authorised absences 

1.2% unauthorised absences 

School performance

At Mount Pleasant we are very proud of the quality of learning and the achievement of our pupils in every year group. The year 2016-17 has been successful for pupils including those at the end of Year 2 and Year 6 who completed their teacher assessments. Below is a summary of pupil results at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2 compare with the results of Newport and Wales.

Year 6: 1 pupil = 3 %

Year 2: 1 pupil = 3% 

 

Comparison of Key Stage results 2016 - 2017

Foundation Phase

 

Teacher Assessment: Outcome 5+

 

Foundation Phase

School

Wales

Newport

Personal Social Development PSD

100%

94.7%

94.7%

Language Literacy & Communication

Skills in English

LCE

100%

88.1%

90.5%

Mathematical

Development MDT

100%

90.3%

91.3%

 

Teacher Assessment: Outcome 6 2016-17

Foundation Phase

School

Wales

PSD

96%

61.3%

LCE

90.3%

38.1%

MDT

74.2%

38.7%

 

 

Key Stage 2

Teacher Assessment: Level 4+

 

Key Stage 2

School 2016-17

Wales 2016-17

Newport 2016-17

Maths

100%

91.6%

91.9%

English

100%

91.1%

93%

Science

100%

92.2%

93.4%

Core School Indicator CSI

100%

89.5%

90.1%

 

 

%  Teacher Assessment: Level 5

 

Key Stage 2

School 2016-17

Wales 2016-17

Newport 2016-17

Maths

71%

47%

51.4%

English

74.2%

44.7%

51%

Science

74.2%

46.4%

54.8%

NB 3% achieved L6 Maths

12.9% pupils achieved L6 Oracy

9.68% pupils achieved L6 Reading 3.23% pupils achieved L6 Writing Comparison of Results over a six year period

 

Key Stage 2

Teacher Assessment: Level 4 +

 

Key Stage 2

2011

School    Wales

2012

School    Wales

2013

School    Wales

2014

School    Wales

2015

School   Wales

Maths

100%

85%

100%

87%

97%

87%

97%

89%

97%

90%

English

98%

83%

100%

85%

97%

87%

100%

90%

94%

90%

Science

100%

87%

100%

89%

100%

90%

100%

92%

100%

91%

CSI

97%

83%

100%

84%

95%

84%

97%

86%

94%

88%

 

Key Stage 2

Teacher Assessment: Level 4 +

 

Key Stage 2

2016

School    Wales

2017

School    Wales

2018

School    Wales

2019

School    Wales

2020

School   Wales

Maths

100%

91%

100%

91.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

English

100%

90%

100%

91.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Science

100%

92%

100%

92.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

CSI

100%

92%

100%

89.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teacher Assessment: Level 5

 

Key Stage 2

2011

School     Wales

2012

School    Wales

2013

School   Wales

2014

School   Wales

    2015

School  Wales

Maths

62%

31%

72%

33%

63%

37%

67%

46%

69%

 

English

60%

30%

66%

33%

47%

35%

60%

46%

62%

 

Science

67%

31%

79%

33%

71%

36%

70%

49%

69%

 

 

Teacher Assessment: Level 5

 

Key Stage 2

2016

School     Wales

2017

School    Wales

2018

School   

Wales

2019

School   

Wales

2020

School   

Wales

Maths

62.2%

39.9%

71%

47%

 

 

 

 

 

 

English

57.8%

39.4%

74.2%

44.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Science

60%

40.9%

74.2%

46.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foundation Phase

Analysis of  Realistic School Targets  2016-17

 

% achieving outcome 5+

2016 - 2017

 

Target

 

Result

PSD

100%

 

100%

LLC

100%

 

100%

MDT

100%