Annual report to parents: Autumn 2017

Introduction Welcome to the Annual report to parents from the governors at Lewis School Pengam. I hope you find the information contained in this report useful Duncan Macintosh (Chair of Governors)

Parent Governors Parent governors at Lewis School Pengam are listed below, we anticipate there will be no elections for parents to the governing body in 2017/18 1. Sue Hayes 2. Andrew Wathan 3. Cherie Stockdale 4. Lisa Arkley Davies 5. Grant Santos 6. Amanda Adey Full List Of Governors

Governor Type

Chris Parry Headteacher

Mr Duncan Mackintosh Chair (community)

Mrs Fiona Argent Vice Chair (community)

Prof Allan Rogers Community

Mr Lee Robins LA Appointed

Mr Stephen Evans LA Appointed

Mr D J Elwyn Morgan MBE LA Appointed

CB Wynne David LA Appointed

Mrs Sue Hayes Parent Representative

Mr Andrew Wathan Parent Representative

Mr Cherie Stockdale Parent Representative

Mrs Lisa Arkley-Davies Parent Representative

Mr Grant Santos Parent Representative

Mrs Amanda Adey Parent Representative

Mrs Debra Williams Staff Representative

Mr Simon Phillips Teacher Representative

Miss Bethan Jenkins Teacher Representative

Mr David Adey Associate

Mr Morgan Paulett Associate

Pupil Performance KS3 Comparative (Core) 2016/17 The table below shows pupil attainment in English, Maths and Science at the end of year 9. More information about pupil attainment can be found here http://mylocalschool.wales.gov.uk/School/6764075?lang=en

KS3 Comparative (Non Core) 2016/17 The table below shows pupil attainment in non core subjects at the end of year 9. More information about pupil attainment can be found here http://mylocalschool.wales.gov.uk/School/6764075?lang=en

KS4 Performance 2016/17 The table below shows pupil attainment in GCSE subjects or equivalents. More information about pupil attainment can be found here http://mylocalschool.wales.gov.uk/School/6764075?lang=en

Attendance Information The table below shows pupil attendance as well as the percentage authorised and unauthorised absence.

Provision for Sport Lewis School Pengam prides itself on the sporting achievements of our pupils. In recent years, we have helped to produce a number of internationals in various sports as well as achieving success with our school teams. We strongly believe that an active child is far more likely to achieve academically. Therefore, all pupils are provided with ample opportunity to further their sporting experiences via lunchtime clubs and extra-curricular activities. Lunchtime clubs are run either by the PE department or 5x60. Full financial statement - June 2017

Destination school leavers 2017 The table below shows the destination of school leavers in 2017

Steps taken by governing body to strengthen links with the community It has been another very busy year within the Community focus remit followed by the school. We have been involved in maintaining old relationships and continuing with establishing new ones. One of the more exciting projects is our involvement with EDUC8 who are a company with over 13 years’ experience of delivering high quality training programmes, apprenticeships and work opportunities in engineering aimed at our year 11,12 and 13 pupils. This is a highly innovative project which has caught the interest of education specialists EAS who are to undertake a case study of the partnership we are forming. Our intention is to use Educ8 alongside other provides like the Construction Industry Training Board. The CITB is run locally by former pupil Owen Stacey and they specialise in work opportunities and apprenticeships in the building trade, it’s a

real pleasure to welcome former pupils back and we look forward to our continued work with Owen. On the subject of former pupils we were visited by several members of our Alumni during the year, these included Ray Hurcomb the former CEO of Ty hafan, Midshipman Ryan Sweet of the Royal Navy and Airline pilot Mike Derry. They all gave up their time to talk to the pupils about possible future careers. We have also built up a relationship with the National Museum of Wales. They have begun establishing a number of intergenerational projects aimed at involving the elderly and the young in the Arts. So far we have visited the Museum to see the Mametz wood exhibition which featured the painting by Christopher Williams. We also had a day of portrait painting after first visiting the Rembrandt portrait of Catrina Hoogsaet, which is worth £35 million and has been loaned to the museum. Our seniors and the pupils had an opportunity to work with a portrait artist in producing their own portraits some of which could be described as very interesting. Our own intergenerational club continues to go from strength to strength, the weekly lunch club is still going strong and we were joined by a number of visitors, exhibitors and organisations throughout the year. We were able to host a number of workshops and events including a road safety for older people course delivered by Caerphilly CBC, as well as our usual Golden Oldie singing sessions which culminated to us attending, with several bands from our school, their annual event in Cardiff. It was brilliant to see our year 9 band lift the roof with their version of Twist and Shout by the Beatles, they were a credit to the school and to Miss Jenkins the Head of Music. We were also able to organise our usual trips going to the cinema in Blackwood to see the films La La Land and Beauty and the Beast. We also visited the Millennium Centre in Cardiff to enjoy the musical Kiss me Kate performed by the Welsh Opera company. The school was also heavily involved in a Community project instigated by the Gelligaer Historical Society. Working with local historian Dic Felstead we were able to take our part in celebrating the life of former master at the school Thomas Matthews. He was a teacher of Welsh at the school from 1911 -1916, during that time one of his many accomplishments was to create a book of local folklore compiled by the pupils of the school. Initially the society asked if we could put up a plaque with Thomas‘s name somewhere in the foyer. However after consulting with staff it was decided to attempt to re-write some of the stories only with a modern twist. This task was undertaken by Head of Communications Sam James along with Mr Felstead. We also decided thanks to Head of Art Sharon Price to paint a mural depicting Thomas in the school foyer. The pupils work was eventually written up in a book called Lewis Lore, the stories and Art work all done by the pupils, many of whom attended the launch night for the unveiling of the portrait and the launch of the book. The evening was a great success with the Deputy Mayor of Caerphilly, the Royal British legion and Professor Mari Jones of Peterhouse College Cambridge present. Professor Jones father attended Lewis School Pengam plus her area of expertise is linguistics which was also an academic discipline mastered by Thomas Matthews, this made her the perfect choice to unveil the portrait. Thomas Matthews dedicated his book to the WW1 Welshmen who were being treated for their injuries at the “Welsh Hospital” in Netley near Southampton. Consequently the sales from our book have been donated to the Royal British Legion. We have also had a very busy year with our charity work. We have again supported many charities including Umbrella Cymru , Macmillan, British Heart Foundation, and a variety of others. We also held two memorial

evenings for former Head of lower school Cyril Thomas. The first, a boxing evening was supported by no less than two former World Champions Enzo Macarranelli and Robbie Regan, British and European Champion Liam Williams and other boxing greats like Dai Gardner and Gary Locket. Former pupil Kyron Jones the Welsh amateur Champion was also present. The second event was a concert organised by Beth Jenkins and Rosie Long and involved many former pupils including staff pianist from the Royal Northern College Michael Davies. A fantastic evening the proceeds of which went to Cancer research. All together over £1500 was raised by the school last year.

Term dates 2017/18

Summary of changes to school prospectus Curriculum 2016 - 2017 2016/17 saw the biggest change in curriculum in Wales for 10 years. As a school we have been preparing for this over the last 2 years with changes to courses, timetabling and staff training. Briefly the changes for next year are:

1. The introduction of The Welsh Baccalaureate - all pupils at Key Stage 4 will study this qualification which consists of 4 challenges that pupils must complete. 2. First examination of new English and Maths qualifications - these were introduced in September 2015 and will be examined for the first time in November 2016. It is widely accepted that the new qualifications are more demanding than the previous course, however we are confident that we will maintain the same high level of performance 3. The introduction of new Science qualifications 4. New qualifications in Foundation Subjects - from September all subjects will study GCSE qualifications offered by WJEC. In previous years departments have been free to choose the GCSE syllabus they follow from any of the 4 main exam boards. For all schools in Wales from September that choice is restricted to WJEC.

The use of Welsh Language in the school by pupils of all age groups Pupils are taught through the medium of English; Welsh is taught as a second language throughout the school at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. English is the day to day language of the school, including communicating with parents, but some Welsh is also used as a language of communication with the pupils, with the aim of improving their capacity to use everyday Welsh. Pupils are encouraged to take part in the many Welsh language and cultural activities organised by the department such as trips, holidays and visits.

School Toilet Facilities Pupil toilets in the Learning Pathway Centre on the first floor, in the social hubs on the ground and first floors. Staff toilets are located near reception and on the first floor near the social hub. There is a toilet with disability provision on the first floor near receptionAll toilets are cleaned at the end of the school day and checked regularly during the school day.

PARENTS’ MEETINGS As a result of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013, which came into force on 4th May 2013, a school governing body is no longer required to hold an annual parents meeting. Parents are major stakeholders in the school community and have a clear and strong interest in their child’s education. It is therefore important that the governing body actively engages with parents, and remain accountable, by providing them with information and opportunities to discuss and have an input into school. 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. A brief summary is provided below. The Governing Body must hold a meeting within 25 school days of receiving the petition, providing that: the petition contains the signatures of the required minimum number of parents of registered pupils at the school, which is the lower of the following: the parents of 10% of registered pupils, or the parents of 30 registered pupils.

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

petition is received. ● there are sufficient school days left in the school year for the meeting to be held.

Further detailed information is provided on the statutory requirement for these meetings, petitions and the process for holding the meetings can be found in Welsh Government guidance on Parents Meetings: statutory guidance to the governing bodies of maintained schools in Wales regarding the duty to hold meetings with parents.