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My final blog!

Libby Reid — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:20:22 +0000

I've managed to raid the car and get my paperwork from the finance training out and I was pleasantly surprised to read my last blog and see that I had remembered most of the training points. One or two I didn't cover are below:

1) Governors SHOULD ask questions about the budget - look in particular at where numbers are very different to previous years. Ask why numbers have gone up or down.

Finance training

Libby Reid — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:19:48 +0000

I went on a governors' finance training course last night. I had asked to go because I always get in a panic about the FGB finance meeting and I find I don't understand the accounts (I find it hard enough keeping on top of my own bank statements!)

Anyway, I was pleased to find myself in a room with other governors who found themselves in the same position as me - always good to know you are not alone!

By the end of the training, I felt much happier and I have bulleted below the key things I found out:

What do you do to free up staff to concentrate on learning?

Libby Reid — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:54:27 +0000

Something has been playing on my mind since last Saturday. It's been niggling away at the back there, despite my efforts to keep it buried and despite the demands of three children during a wet half term holiday.

Free theatre tickets for the under 26s

Libby Reid — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:56:34 +0000

I blogged at the beginning of this month about a system by which people aged between 18-26 (sadly, not me by a long shot!) can get free theatre tickets. I bemoaned the fact that I couldn't find out how to get the tickets and which theatres were involved. I was, however, proactive and sent an email to the Dept of Culture and Arts (if that is their name now, though I think it has changed). Sadly, I have heard nothing from them, but it seems that the fantastic staff here at Optimus have done what both I and a Government department have failed to do and they have found a link.

When is a good time to leave a staff do?

Libby Reid — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:14:34 +0000

I went to a staff do on Saturday - it was officially the Christmas meal, which always takes place after Christmas, but it had the added bonus of being a celebration of our outstanding Ofsted result. Governors had all been invited, though only two of us actually went - it was a kind of 'I'll go if you go' thing!

Does using a mixture of VAK activities aid learning?

Libby Reid — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:56:29 +0000

On dropping of the children this morning, the Head grabbed me to tell me about some meta study that has concluded that there is no evidence that using a mixture of VAK activities aids learning. I'd be really interested to read this, though I can find nothing about it on the net, though personally I think that I have enough anecdotal evidence to show that it does work. If nothing else, being aware of using a mixture of VAK activities adds variety to the lesson and makes it more interesting for the children.

Languages scrapped because of truancy

Libby Reid — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:57:12 +0000

Apparently, the BBC has 'found out' that a crackdown on truancy is what made them make languages non compulsory. The headline tries to make it sound shocking, however it turns out that the government recognised that for some kids (many of whom truant) languages were not appropriate and has tried to make the curriculum more flexible.

School closure causes complaints

Libby Reid — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:38:21 +0000

All parents received a letter today from our chair of governors reminding them why the school closed last week. It seems that the head got more complaints in one day about the closure than she did congratulations for an outstanding Ofsted report! Admittedly, it was a last minute decisions made when she got news that the junior school down the road (which is attended by siblings of children at our school, obviously) was closing. The weather conditions had been extreme. At 6.30am there was no snow on the ground. By 8.30 there were five inches.

Make someone else's day - be positive!

Libby Reid — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:06:34 +0000

I read about Mrs OCs positive assemblies with particular interest, as I have had a real-life example of how the attitudes of other people affect our wellbeing over the last week. It comes in the shape of a visit from my German mother-in-law!

Is the school open? Oh yes it is. Oh snow it isn't.

Libby Reid — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:00:33 +0000

The school is closed again today because of the bad weather. The children had a fantastic day yesterday building snowmen with their dad and grandma. Sadly, I had to stay in the warm and dry as when you work from home you don't have the excuse of transport problems. I'm not complaining, it was good to hear their joy from the cosyness of my office.