'Forge Valley have failed ofsted inspection

[scooby22 10]

There was actually 6 governors at the meeting, it was only the Chair who was answering the questions which is why some people may have thought she was the only one there. All of the governors who were there stayed until the very end of the meeting and made themselves available for any questions.

[The Manager 12]

There was actually 6 governors at the meeting, it was only the Chair who was answering the questions which is why some people may have thought she was the only one there. All of the governors who were there stayed until the very end of the meeting and made themselves available for any questions.

 

So what was the Outcome of meeting of the Failing school ????

[irenewilde 10]

What nonsense : they don't have vast cohorts from a range of backgrounds! They have 3 feeder schools 2 of which are firmly in S10! hardly a deprived ward.

 

And the other one is Netherthorpe which is somewhat different. There's also the children who come in from Tinsley etc.

 

PS For what it's worth none of the children I know at Tapton is having private tuition.

 

The majority of the school intake is from Lydgate which serves a quite affluent neighbourhood.

 

I don't think that's true. Hallam feeds exclusively into Tapton, whereas Lydgate feeds into Tapton & King Ted's.

Edited May 27, 2013 by irenewilde

[budapest 10]

As far as the complaints about supply teachers go, don't assume that it is an actual qualified teacher taking a class, it is more likely to be a cover supervisor at FV.

 

I work as a supply teacher, and yes like any other profession there are good and bad. What is disruptive to the students, however good the supply teacher is, is the lack of consistency. Unless you have a teacher qualified in that particular subject, who knows the school, who in effect takes over from an absent teacher completely, you are likely to get some problems. What you often get is a stream of different teachers who are not specialised in or knowledgeable enough themselves in the subject they are covering. The odd day you can perhaps get by, but not if this is long term. Some subjects are harder for a non specialist to cover short term than others. The fact that many students will not respond to discipline from a supply teacher ( if that teacher is not backed up by the school), will make any problems worse too. I only work only in a small number of schools where I know I get this back up. Some schools I wouldn't touch with a bargepole due to the lack of support after one visit there.

 

Anyway, to get back to my point about FV. I used to do a fair amount of work at Wisewood. I always enjoyed going there. The staff were supportive, the students generally responded to you and the school had a good atmosphere. When it was closing, many of the older, experienced staff were being pushed out. I only did a couple of days in the first term of opening at FV. Many of the staff were unhappy, the atmosphere wasn't the same. I find many of these new build schools 'soulless' for want of a better description.

 

Anyway, I stopped getting any work from FV because they only wanted cover supervisors to save costs (I was led to believe much of this was due to the money spent on the new building). I presume this is still the case. For those who don't know, a cover supervisor is not a teacher, only a few GCSE's are needed. Their job is to mind a class, deal with any behaviour issues and give out any work set. They don't have to teach it. This would explain why videos have been shown in some classes if there wasn't any suitable work available. This is happening in several schools. With academies it will only get worse as they don't have to employ qualified teachers. Being run as a business, they are even more likely to use cover supervisors instead of qualified teachers to cover staff absence.

 

I am suspicious that it seems to be schools still under local authority control that seem to be getting more of the 'special measures' and 'notice to improve' categories. A school with high staff absence (across a large number of staff rather than a small number taking a lot of absence) suggests there are issues with the school that need addressing.

[Lucy-Lastic 10]

Thanks for that Budapest. I had heard that cover supervisors were becoming the common thing. This 'may' work for the short term (odd lesson only) where the lessons have been properly planned for and any resources have already been prepared but is really poor for longer term staff absences. I agree with you that 20% staff absence really should be ringing alarm bells that everything is not ok. Will the practise of using cover supervisors be reduced now (the school are not allowed to employ NQT's after all)?I really hope that with the union between Tapton and FV that things can turn around quickly. I understand that Ofsted will be visiting very regularly - first visit is around 3 months after the last one I believe. I am really upset that my initial worries about this school have to some extent been shown to be a problem. This is a lot of kids futures that have been affected

[irenewilde 10]

I really hope that with the union between Tapton and FV that things can turn around quickly. (

 

Have I missed something here? I hope Tapton aren't getting involved in Forge Valley too, I think they'd be spreading themselves a bit thinly if that were so.

[BoroB 10]

As far as the complaints about supply teachers go, don't assume that it is an actual qualified teacher taking a class, it is more likely to be a cover supervisor at FV.

 

I work as a supply teacher, and yes like any other profession there are good and bad. What is disruptive to the students, however good the supply teacher is, is the lack of consistency. Unless you have a teacher qualified in that particular subject, who knows the school, who in effect takes over from an absent teacher completely, you are likely to get some problems. What you often get is a stream of different teachers who are not specialised in or knowledgeable enough themselves in the subject they are covering. The odd day you can perhaps get by, but not if this is long term. Some subjects are harder for a non specialist to cover short term than others. The fact that many students will not respond to discipline from a supply teacher ( if that teacher is not backed up by the school), will make any problems worse too. I only work only in a small number of schools where I know I get this back up. Some schools I wouldn't touch with a bargepole due to the lack of support after one visit there.

 

Anyway, to get back to my point about FV. I used to do a fair amount of work at Wisewood. I always enjoyed going there. The staff were supportive, the students generally responded to you and the school had a good atmosphere. When it was closing, many of the older, experienced staff were being pushed out. I only did a couple of days in the first term of opening at FV. Many of the staff were unhappy, the atmosphere wasn't the same. I find many of these new build schools 'soulless' for want of a better description.

 

Anyway, I stopped getting any work from FV because they only wanted cover supervisors to save costs (I was led to believe much of this was due to the money spent on the new building). I presume this is still the case. For those who don't know, a cover supervisor is not a teacher, only a few GCSE's are needed. Their job is to mind a class, deal with any behaviour issues and give out any work set. They don't have to teach it. This would explain why videos have been shown in some classes if there wasn't any suitable work available. This is happening in several schools. With academies it will only get worse as they don't have to employ qualified teachers. Being run as a business, they are even more likely to use cover supervisors instead of qualified teachers to cover staff absence.

 

I am suspicious that it seems to be schools still under local authority control that seem to be getting more of the 'special measures' and 'notice to improve' categories. A school with high staff absence (across a large number of staff rather than a small number taking a lot of absence) suggests there are issues with the school that need addressing.

 

I think this post perfectly sums up the problem with the new school.

 

Both Wisewood and Myers were decent schools, not perfect but not as bad as some others.

 

Alot of parents, mainly but not only from Wisewood, opposed the merger.

 

Alot of parents, mainly but not only from Myers, were seduced by the vision of a perfect new school that the council portrayed.

 

We now have the reality of a shiny new school that is failing its pupils due to mis-management.

[The Manager 12]

I think this post perfectly sums up the problem with the new school.

 

Both Wisewood and Myers were decent schools, not perfect but not as bad as some others.

 

Alot of parents, mainly but not only from Wisewood, opposed the merger.

 

Alot of parents, mainly but not only from Myers, were seduced by the vision of a perfect new school that the council portrayed.

 

We now have the reality of a shiny new school that is failing its pupils due to mis-management.

 

Great Points made Wisewood without its Shiny school got results for children education wise ,

Those who dint want the merger have now been proved 100% right . and those that DID want the merger have gone into hiding it seems .

 

Where now for FV thats the question parents want to know - while the head teacher on her big pay raise sits twiddling her fingers , the powers that be need to sit down and show some staff the exit door !!! Head Teacher First please !!!!

[Lucy-Lastic 10]

Have I missed something here? I hope Tapton aren't getting involved in Forge Valley too, I think they'd be spreading themselves a bit thinly if that were so.

 

According to this yes Tapton are the partners...

[showers 10]

;-0 ;-0 ;-0

Edited March 3, 2015 by showers

[irenewilde 10]

Yes it was said at the meeting at FV last week that because they are in special measures they have to work with another school, and Tapton is the other school.

 

Great. Tapton is already working with Chaucer. There'll be no-one left to actually work with the kids at Tapton at this rate.

[Lucy-Lastic 10]

Great. Tapton is already working with Chaucer. There'll be no-one left to actually work with the kids at Tapton at this rate.

 

It was part of the deal with Tapton becoming an outstanding academy that they would work with schools that needed help...