Ofsted - Doubled Up

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.

2) This is important, and is difficult to describe without a budget plan in front of you. However, I'll try! In the left hand column of the plan, there is a list of letters and numbers - the important ones are I (Income) and E (Expenses). Now, the key thing to look for is this... Add up I1, I2, I3, I4 and I5 (this is your main income) then divide them by E1+E2+E3+E4+E5+E6+E7 (these are your staffing costs) and you will get a percentage. This is the percentage of your school's money that is being spent on staffing. This percentage should be around 85%. That is healthy. However, if it is 90% or more, then your school is in grave danger of going into deficit. Told you it was complicated, but it will become clear if you have your budget plan in front of you and it is really good advice.

Anyway, that's it. The sum of my knowledge of money (except for the fact that I know I never seem to have enough left at the end of the month!).

It seems rather odd to have come to the end of my blogging here.

I am now in my third year as a governor and feel that I now really understand the school and am able to make a valuable contribution. And my eldest will be moving to a new school next year! I am hoping that I will be able to continue to work as a governor for them and maybe stand again when my term runs out. So far, it has been a great learning experience for me and I would recommend it to anyone who may be considering becoming a governor. If you are - here are things you need to know:

1) Don't be afraid to ask questions - if you aren't sure, chances are at least 10 people will be as confused as you are.

2) Go on training. You won't just pick things up as you go.

3) Commit fully - visit the school. Offer to help (particularly if you are a governor at a small school)

4) Get the most out of it for yourself - go to the performances, the assemblies etc. Get to know the school - that's the best bit - in comparison the meetings are dryness itself!

5) NEVER forget the following: EVERYTHING YOU DO SHOULD BE IN THE INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN AND THEIR LEARNING AND WELL-BEING. If you remember that, you can't go wrong!

That's all folks!

I was facinated to read about Caversham Primary School's Ofsted-style inspection that was carried out by the pupils. Apparently, the head teacher was unimpressed by Ofsted's account of the school, so she set about training an elected group of pupils to observe lessons and to carry out an inspection of their own.

The children involved noted several areas that could be improved - that at the end of the year the Year 6 pupils wound down too much, that some teachers didn't involve all of the children in the lessons and that learning could be more pupil led. This all tied in with the SIPs view of the school.

I love to hear these stories of schools involving children in making improvements. It says a lot about the school that they trust the children enough to allow them to do this and that has to be a good thing for all concerned. The children feel represented and that they have a voice and the school gets to hear the truth straight from the horses mouth, so to speak.

I would like to invite readers to share any ideas they have had and/or implemented for giving pupils of all ages a chance to contribute to their school's future.

It's official! The Ofsted report came out on Monday and we were outstanding in every area. In fact, there was only one '2' that appeared on the whole report and that is an area we are dealing with. I am just so pleased that the staff have got the huge pat on the back that they deserve. They have been so upbeat ever since they heard. It really goes to show how much we humans appreciate it when people acknowledge our hard work and success.

Having seen a positive letter to the children, I have to say that I find myself agreeing with the person who responded to my blog on this subject. I had commented that negative letters to children about things that they cannot affect must be demoralising. I still stand by this, but having read the letter to my kids and seen their responses to being told how well they behave and how hard they work, I appreciate that the positive letters have a great effect.

I am sure that the teachers will have been spending a lot of time this week reinforcing the message too.

On top of the fact that the result has been highly motivational for staff and pupils, we governors have been invited on a staff night out. I am so pleased that relationships are all becoming ever more positive. It can only be good for the school.