This week, I have seen Year 10 boys in the dance studio as part of their core PE course, working incredibly hard on making shapes and working together. They did this with absolute focus and respect and I was very proud of their efforts.

Yesterday, I had the joy of visiting our GCSE Food students, preparing for mock exams and saw students baking their own bread, making sheets of pasta for lasagne, and plating up poached cod with a tomato sauce. I even got to enjoy a piece of home-made pizza (thank you, Mason) so I can absolutely testify to the quality of the students’ work.

This morning, I tried to act as a learning support assistant in maths, working with students on ratios and percentages. Although an English teacher by trade, I hope that my use of the mini-whiteboards and modelling solutions helped at least some of the class.

What shines through each of these groups of students and staff was their enjoyment of learning and all were utterly focused, in different settings. That is why I will always try to get into classrooms and leave my emails and spreadsheets until later on.

Parent and carer survey – in numbers

Thank you to those families who found the time to complete the survey I shared two weeks ago. There were some really supportive and kind comments, for which I thank you. There were also some helpful observations that are really important to understand. Some of the numerical responses included:

• 86% of families said that the school ensures its students are well behaved (with a further 12% responding ‘neither agree nor disagree’)
• 88% of families said that their child feels safe at school. Interestingly, the same question when asked to students had a higher ‘agree’ rate at 98%.
• 0% of families felt their child did not understand why attending school is important.
• Only 4% of families felt their child was not making good progress in their learning.
• Only 2% of families felt that children did not achieve well at our school.

Parent and carer survey – in words

We work incredibly hard, and will not always get everything right at every moment. However, for families to take time to share comments like these is really appreciated. For example, after the question ‘Tell me one thing you like about the school’ you wrote:

“Teachers get to know the children and it makes a huge difference.”

“The overall ethos and the way the staff keep my child motivated to strive for the best he can be.”

“I am very happy with everything at Greenshaw High School, but particularly that my child feels happy going to school.”

“Pupils are treated with respect. There is a feeling that boundaries are firmly held but not punitive. There is discipline without shame.”

Parent and carer survey – suggestions for change

A couple of families made observations about uniform (one requesting blazers, another asking whether current requirements were too stringent). My view at present is that our uniform is not unnecessarily expensive and that our requirements are reasonable. So I am not considering any immediate change. However, there were two ‘themes’ – areas that came up at least four or five times.

Parents evenings: A number of families asked for in-person meetings rather than the online model. I did ask that question directly to Year 11 families before Christmas. They responded with two thirds in favour of remaining online, citing areas like convenience and keeping to scheduled appointments. However, I note the comments.

Better information sharing about after school detentions: Again, a small group of the families that responded asked for greater clarification if their young person was remaining behind for a corrective conversation with a member of staff. I think this is a very reasonable observation, especially in the darker afternoons and evenings of winter.

Parent and Carer survey – next steps

I will aim to consider both these points over the next half term and consider any amendments we can make. While as headteacher of the school I am ‘in charge’, that does not mean that I know everything or understand all my experiences, so thank you for taking the time. I will do my best to get back to you before the Easter holidays.

Progress on the new building

Now that the demolition has been fully completed, the contractors spent December laying the foundations for our new building. That was exciting, but still below ground level. This week the first sight of construction rising out of the ground has come. 

The lift shaft has been positioned at the heart of the new building. This will mean that our entire site will be accessible for all, and making our school accessible for all was a major reason for the rebuild of some of our buildings. So, as I write this, we have about 20 metres of concrete standing alone in the centre of the foundations, and over the coming weeks students will be able to see the steel framework develop around this central feature. Very exciting times!

Students of the week

Congratulations goes to our stars of the week listed below for maintaining their commitment, focus and sense of drive. Well done to one and all!

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	6th Form
Aaliyah	Denys	Aleksas	Ibrahim	Kaya	tbc

Wishing you all a great weekend.

Mr N House, Headteacher