Dear Parents and Carers
This week the funeral of a much loved former member of staff, Elaine Dodson, took place at Coventry Cathedral, attended by governors, staff and senior students as well as her friends and family. It was a wonderful and very moving Service of Celebration for a special lady.
As you may know, we had a visit from Ofsted this week which was very brief. We have, as all schools have, grave concerns about the process, as they have a very limited opportunity to gain the evidence they need to make firm judgements. This is a national issue and one I have experienced myself as a school inspector.
The team commented favourably upon a wide range of issues across the school, and perhaps the most important ones were the quality of our teaching, the care we provide for children, particularly those in challenging circumstances, our training of staff and the behaviour of our children which was exemplary.
However, they have raised issues over the progress of some of our disadvantaged students. The journey of the most disadvantaged members of our community is extremely important and it is quite fair that we focus resources and ideas to help them have the best chances in life. As our grades are good, and students’ behaviour, attendance, punctuality and engagement with the school are all extremely positive for every group, we know we have a firm basis to continue to improve the prospects of those disadvantaged children.
As part of the Ofsted Inspection we spent a lot of time looking at data and information. Whilst we do this regularly, it is very pleasing that in almost every measure, both socially and academic, our forecast progress grades look excellent at A2, AS, GCSE and in Key Stage 3.
My thanks to everyone who completed the Parent View questionnaire for Ofsted in which 94% of our parents and carers would recommend Myton to another parent.
Back in the real world, as the really cold weather starts to roll in, I am grateful for your support in ensuring children are warm, but still supporting our uniform code (no hooded tops under any circumstances, even if polar bears roam our playing fields!).
Next week we have our Year 8 Options Evening on Thursday 21 January and I appreciate how exciting this time can be for young people as they look to their future.
To conclude, during a very challenging week in which we were battling national political agendas and in fact local agendas, I have to say how proud I am of our wonderful staff who have done fantastic things. The behaviour and engagement of our young people and their positive responses through focus groups and interviews was so inspiring. Indeed one interview was described as ‘powerful and moving’.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards
Paul MacIntyre
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