Welcome from Chair of Governors

Please find below the Annual Governor’s Report to parents which I hope you will read with interest as we reflect on yet another challenging year.

We are so grateful for the sterling effort all staff have put in, to ensure that the education of our children has not been adversely affected. In fact, the difficult circumstances we have found ourselves in has led to positive changes in teaching and learning both inside and outside the classroom. You may have noticed new outdoor equipment and this is as a direct consequence of staff identifying the need for increased outdoor provision. Keep your eyes open, there is more to come!

The opportunities offered to children throughout the school have been further enhanced by activities every Friday afternoon both in school and at Bridgend Life Centre. Boxing, badminton, pebble painting, martial arts, friendship bracelets and basketball to name just a few! This provision will positively contribute to our children’s wellbeing, which is an important focus at Oldcastle.

Staff are excited by the new Curriculum for Wales and are already hard at work planning for its implementation next September. It is extremely reassuring as a Governing Body to know the professional and methodical approach taken in ensuring the best educational opportunities for our children.

I cannot finish before I mention those who have left us and those who will take our amazing school into the next phase of its journey. In December we said ‘goodbye’ to Mr Thompson who in his tenure, reshaped Oldcastle into the innovative, inspiring, and motivating school it is today. I am thrilled to welcome Mrs. Littlewood as our new Headteacher and I am as excited as she is to take Oldcastle Primary School into its next chapter. I am sure you will agree, she has already sprinkled plenty of ‘magic’ around and I know she cannot wait to share all the fantastic plans she and all the staff have for the future.

A long standing member of staff in Oldcastle departed from Oldcastle in July - Mrs Michelle Lee had been employed at the school since 2005 and is now looking forward to spending more time with her family. We also said goodbye to Mrs Hannah Chilcott and Mr Ben Smalley,

We were saddened to learn about the passing of one of our school governor colleagues Miss Jane Hughes - Jane was a member of the school governing body for many years and frequently helped in school with children's reading. We were delighted to announce a new award for year 6 pupils in July honouring Jane's commitment to the school.

Clare Davies - Chair of Governors, Oldcastle Primary School

The Governing Body

The role of the Governing Body is to provide strategic management, and to act as a critical friend, supporting the work of the Headteacher and other staff.

The full Governing Body usually meets once each term, but under special circumstances, they may need to have extra-ordinary meetings, but these are very rare.

The Governors at Oldcastle Primary use a committee structure to undertake their monitoring and evaluation roles. Membership and terms of reference of the committees are determined annually. Finance, Staffing, Admissions, Health and Safety, Curriculum and Complaints committees are examples. These committees meet outside of the full Governors meetings, as required, to discuss specific issues that arise throughout the year. Each committee reports fully to the whole Governing Body through its agenda/minutes.

All governing body minutes are available from the school website. A list of the current Governing Body is available in the Report Appendix.

No Governors claimed any expenses for fulfilling their duties on the Governing Body during the year. The Clerk to the Governing Body is provided by the school and is currently Mrs Addell Whiteley.

School Categorisation

The Governing Body agreed that the category of support for the school, by the Welsh Government to all primary and secondary schools should be: Green, this identifies the school as highly effective. As a school, we continue to work with the Local Authority and the regional school improvement consortium.

School Prospectus

The School Prospectus is available on the school website and paper copies are available from the school office.

School Improvement Plan

The school worked on 4 core priorities and identified through school improvement monitoring activities. These linked with the Professional Learning Plan, the Educational Improvement Grant and the Pupil development grant and was further supported through the additional funding the school received through The Accelerated Learning Grant and through the university partnership work.

The four key areas of work were:

• The development of curriculum in line with the National Mission and the New curriculum for Wales,

• To improve teaching and learning at school using research based approaches,

• To ensure that the monitoring and evaluation that the school undertakes leads to improvement

• To strengthen the role of governors.

Curriculum and Standards

The School has had to manage some very real challenges during the past school year. The teachers continued to demonstrate creativity in delivering the curriculum using new methods and online resources. The School also had to focus on a core curriculum to reflect the very different learning context of the past 12 months.

The focus on a core curriculum allowed the School to ensure continuing pupil progress in key elements of their learning. The School has focused on and prioritised student wellbeing, yet has also developed plans to support pupils’ learning. Every pupil’s progress has been carefully monitored and action plans put in place for every class. We looked forward to returning gradually to a wider curriculum and are pleased that significant progress was made on this during the final part of the school year.

The School has also over the past year started to develop a new curriculum in response to changes introduced by the Welsh Government. This new approach provides the School with a very wide scope to develop its own curriculum that aligns with the pupils’ needs and the School’s values. The teaching team has again responded with creativity and enthusiasm to this challenging but exciting opportunity. This work continues over the next academic year and we look forward to sharing our new approach to the curriculum with pupils, parents and carers.

In summary, the 2020-21 school year was a very difficult and challenging one for delivery of the curriculum and for ensuring pupil progress. The School’s approach has been to focus on a core curriculum, prioritise pupil wellbeing, and focus on individual pupil support as they returned to the classroom. The School has also laid down some of the foundations for delivering a new and exciting curriculum in the coming year.

Neil Harris – Chair of the Curriculum and Standards Committee

New Curriculum for Wales

The new curriculum will have more emphasis on equipping young people for life. It will build their ability to learn new skills and apply their subject knowledge more positively and creatively.

The purpose of the new curriculum is to support our children and young people to be:

• ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives

• enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work

• ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world

• healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society.

The new curriculum has six ‘Areas of Learning and Experience’. The School now has a lead teacher for each of the areas of the curriculum. These teachers have already started to review what we currently deliver and where we need to plan and change our teaching and learning activities to support the new curriculum. Each area also has a governor that focuses on that area and works with the lead teacher.

The six ‘Areas of Learning Experience’ are:

• Expressive Arts

• Health and Well-being

• Humanities

• Languages, Literacy and Communication

• Mathematics and Numeracy

• Science and Technology

The new curriculum also includes three cross-curricular responsibilities: literacy, numeracy and digital competence. A new digital competence framework introduces digital skills across the curriculum, preparing pupils for the opportunities and risks that an online world presents.

We already use a range of digital platforms but extensively use 'Google' and 'Seesaw' to deliver many aspects of the curriculum. These platforms have been critical in enabling pupils to continue to engage with their learning when the school premises were closed in Spring and Summer 2020 due to coronavirus. The School was positioned well to support pupils’ learning remotely. We also supported students who could not easily engage in remote and online learning.

We decided, due to the break in pupils’ attendance at School from January to March 2021, not to include in pupils’ end-of-year reports an assessment of how they performed in relation to their targets this year. We are now working with pupils to ensure that they continue to make progress against their targets for 2021-2

Curriculum and SEN

The school’s Special Educational Needs (SEN)/ Additional Learning Needs (ALN) policy is available to read in school.

Currently, the number of pupils registered with Special Educational Needs (SEN) is 11 children, 2.4% (14 including Year 6 who are leaving) (3.1%). There are 6 (1.3% ) School Action + (this means they require support from outside agencies and professionals and 5 (1.1%) on School Action plans (these children need additional provision, but this is usually accessed within school). This register is currently being reviewed in line with the new ALN Act. In January (due to the delayed start), we will have 9 children moving on to Individual Development Plans (IDPs).

Children who we feel can be provided with the school’s universal provision will be monitored at a class action level. Children in the year groups Nursery, Year 1, Year 3 and Year 5 will move onto IDPs from January 2022 (this date has changed from September 2021 due to COVID) if we feel the provision required is above the universal provision offered by the school. Children in Reception, Year 2 and Year 6 will stay on IEPs for the academic year (2021/22) and then it will be discussed if they require an IDP to start in September 2022.

In Wales, we are currently reviewing our SEN provision with a new ALN Act. The term SEN will be replaced by Additional Learning Needs (ALN). This new act is in place from September 2021.

Lyndsey Hodgson is our school ALNCO and is responsible for SEN/ALN needs within the school.

Nerys Sales is the governor with specific responsibility for SEN/ALN.

Curriculum Cymreig

The main language of Oldcastle Primary School is English. However, a number of staff are able to communicate fluently through the medium of Welsh. Incidental Welsh is encouraged within school practice and Welsh speaking members of staff are encouraged to use the language as much as possible so that the children hear the language on a regular basis. Children have daily Helper Heddiw sessions. We also ensure that the curriculum has a distinctly Welsh aspect (Curriculum Cymreig).

• Most pupils from the Foundation Phase up are able to say or ask simple everyday things such as ‘bore da’, ‘sut wyt ti?’ and ‘pwy wyt ti?

• Many KS2 pupils can ask and answer questions to do with feelings, what the weather is like and where they live.

• In class assemblies we greet in Welsh and invite a response in Welsh.

Timetabled Welsh lessons take place every week. Patterns of language covered are reinforced during:

Teaching Timings

The hours per week for lessons are based on the national recommendation:

Age 5 to 7 years = 21 hours

Age 8 to 11 years = 23.5 hours

Healthy School

We work very hard to be a healthy school and are part of the Bridgend Healthy School Scheme. We achieved our Phase 5 Award in the previous academic year, and are now working towards the Phase 6 Award by assessing and monitoring our progress in the areas of Safety, Hygiene, Food and Fitness, Mental and Emotional Health and Wellbeing, Substance Use and Misuse, Personal Development and Relationships, and Environment.

All school staff work together to provide consistent messages. We constantly encourage healthy eating, regular exercise, anti-bullying and positive behaviour strategies. We provide opportunities for pupils to voice their concerns, offer their views and suggestions and be involved with general school development.

Children are not allowed to bring sweets, chocolate, canned or fizzy drinks into school. We encourage children to include healthy choices in their lunchboxes. Fruit or similar healthy food is recommended for a break time snack.

In 2021, Oldcastle Primary School achieved the Schools Mental Heath Award. The award enables evaluation of the overall mental health and wellbeing support and strategies that exist within our school, whilst also helping to give structure to the development plan for improvements in mental health.

School Sports

Sport is an ongoing commitment for Oldcastle Primary School. Due to Covid restrictions after school sports club were not able to run in this period.

PE curriculum is at its best, focussing on a broad range of activities which are supporting and promoting sport and exercise for all for life. Children have had opportunities to take part in golf, squash, fitness, yoga as well as the traditional ball skills games.

Our aims are:

• Enjoy sport and exercise.

• Identify the importance of being fit and healthy and the effects it has on the body.

• Give each child the opportunity to participate in high quality sport and PE; developing skills and abilities.

School Developments

Throughout the last year the school has been involved in a couple of projects to make improvements to the school.

School Dog

In February, we welcomed a new team member to Oldcastle - Barney a golden retriever! Barney has a detailed timetable that leaves plenty of time for relaxation and exercise - his day starts off greeting the children and their parents on the school yard. He is then used as a source of comfort and relaxation for children and adults who may need ‘someone to talk to’ or just someone to offer comfort or calming influence. As a school we asked our pupils to come up with name suggestions for our new well-being dog and the suggested names were sent out for a whole school vote. Our school community chose the name - Barney - and the initial name suggestion came from Anwen in year 1!

Outdoor Development

During this period, the school governors approved a detailed proposal to make improvement to the outdoor play and learning provision at Oldcastle. Improvements will be made to all outdoor areas in the school over the period September 2021 to March 2022. A new outdoor classroom, The Learning Lodge, was installed in the school garden area for all year groups to use.

4D Room

The 4D room had a small revamp to allow for an update to software and other aspects. Staff received refresher training on the use of the 4D Room.

Junior Library

Improvements were made to the school library based in the junior building in July 2021. Teachers, pupils and a parent have updated the decoration in the library following suggestions from pupils.

Canteen Furniture

New furniture has been installed in the canteen building. The catering style furniture is vibrant and completes the development work in the dining hall approved by Governors in 2019/20.

Ceiling Improvements

The local authority made improvements to the ceiling areas downstairs in the junior building. A suspended ceiling and new energy saving LED lighting were installed as part of a programme of works identified by the local authority.

Junior boys toilet

Following a collapsed external drain, work was completed over the summer period to replace the drain and repair damage caused to the floor in this area.

Toilet facilities

The school has 10 toilets for pupils and 5 for adults including disabled provision for both adults and pupils. In the old infant block there are separate toilet facilities for all children: one dedicated to the Nursery and Reception classes, one for boys, one for girls and a disabled toilet. In the new Foundation Phase block there is one toilet for year 1/2 boys and 1/2 girls plus a separate toilet for reception age pupils. In the junior block there are two sets of toilets for girls and two sets of toilets for boys. All of which are cleaned daily

Finance

Our school receives its funding from the Local Education Authority (LEA). The amount is based on pupil numbers and the estimated cost of maintaining the buildings – budget formula.

Other monies are available from educational grants and awards. The school also applies for external grants for specific needs e.g. sports, arts, culture etc.

This final budget pays for the general running costs of the school – heating and lighting, staff salaries, books, equipment, and general maintenance work.

The head teacher manages the budget in consultation with the LEA and governing body. Specific requirements are prioritised, along with the financial implications of the school development and improvement plan. These are discussed and agreed by the governing body. The budget is then set to facilitate all projected financial needs.

Through the effective management of the budget, the school has been able to create an underspend. This to be used as a contingency fund to safeguard our staffing levels so that all pupils are taught in straight year groups. Also to support any major projects which include outdoor learning, outdoor classroom, updated I.T. equipment, extra resources and projects to enhance and improve the learning environment for our children and staff.

Our school also has its own private school fund, where donations and money collected from special fund-raising ventures are deposited. This fund supports our sports clubs, Eco Committee, school council and other groups or activities within the school. This fund is managed by the head teacher, staff and governing body.

Here at Oldcastle we have a very active PTA – Parent, teachers and friends association. The money donated to school by the PTA makes a huge impact on our spending plans, enabling us to buy equipment and resources that we need. The PTA make regular donations to projects within the school and support all our clubs and committees. Their hard work and generosity is much appreciated. This year they organised and funded a Christmas event for all children in the school and donated and helped with the Mad Hatters tea party.

Funds for music tuition lessons and after school clubs is paid for by parent contributions, all monies raised are used to support the individual activities.

Fundraising for external charities – The school council ‘Children’s Voice’ select charities each year to support. In the last year the school has donated £1283.02 for the following external charities:

• Children in Need, Young Minds and Bridgend Bereavement Society

Total underspend to be carried forward £213,725

• The underspend is allocated for projects as yet unfinished (Outdoor classroom, outdoor learning resources, toilet refurbishment)

• A large percentage of this underspend is ring fenced for the Covid recovery plan, the school has a dedicated plan for this.

As you can see the estimated budget, income and expenditure for the forthcoming year 2021-22 have been calculated and should result in another projected underspend, although some of this is already earmarked for forthcoming projects.. This will safeguard our staffing levels and allow us to provide a progressive, effective and safe learning environment for our children

Attendance

At Oldcastle school, we believe that every student is entitled to the highest possible quality of education. We are committed to providing a full, rich, effective and appropriate education for all its pupils. We aim to celebrate achievement and it is recognised regular attendance plays a vital part in enabling children to take advantage of the educational opportunities offered to them. Attendance is crucial to the continuity of learning experiences and hence effective learning.

As with all aspects of our work at Oldcastle Primary school, attendance is considered a partnership between parents and the school. The 1944 Education Act states that parents are required to ensure that their children receive efficient full-time education whether by regular school attendance or otherwise. It is, therefore, the responsibility of everyone at Oldcastle Primary to monitor and support attendance and to investigate problems which lead to non-attendance. The school's attendance officer, Judith Wilkings works closely with Mrs Littlewood (Headteacher) and the governors in monitoring attendance.

This year the regulation to publish school level data and attendance data has been removed.

Feedback / Questions from Parents

We will hold a 'Meet the Governors' event on 17th November at 5pm. As an alternative we are offering parents the opportunity to complete this Feedback / Comments Form to provide feedback or ask the governors any questions regarding the Annual Report to Parents. Please return by 17th November.