Feedback to parents on survey findings
Old Vicarage School
June 2023
THE SURVEY
This is an independentsummary of the main findings from the online parent survey undertaken by RSAcademics on behalf of Old Vicarage School in May 2023. We would like to extend our grateful thanks to all parents and guardians who took the time to complete the onlinequestionnaire.
AIM
To find out what parents particularlyvalue about the school, where they would like to see the school develop in the future and to understand their attitudesto a wide range of aspects of school life.
PARTICIPATION
A total of 118 parents and guardians responded to the survey, which represents 62% of school families. This is a typical response rate and is in line with similar schools.
Survey results
•Parent satisfactionand advocacy
•Over 90% of all parents responding agree that their children are quite or very happyat the school, with 68% stating that their children were very happy, which is slightly above the benchmark. Likewise, over 90% of parents feel that the school has met or exceeded expectation,which is also above the benchmark.
•Pupil happiness
•Overall,95% of parents would probablyor most definitelyrecommend the school which, again, is above the benchmark.
•Summary of findings
•Overall,Old Vicarageis highly rated for its small class sizes, the qualityof teaching, pupils’ behaviourand manners, preparation for entrance into senior school, opportunitiesfor parents to be actively involved in the school and the school’s leadership.
•Almost all children live within 30 minutes of school; 40% walk to school, the same proportion drive to school. 40% of parents are interested in a school bus service, particularlythose who currently travel by car.
•Nearly three quarters (73%) of parents are completelyor very satisfied with the school, and 95% of parents would definitelyor probablyrecommend the school to others.
•The atmosphere and ethos of the school, its small class sizes and teaching resources, the range of schools pupils typicallymove on to and the high academic standards were key drivers of school choice and considered the most importantfactors when deciding on Old Vicarage.
•Naturally,there are areas where parents would like to see the school improve. The most important priorities for the respondents were feedback on progress and greater opportunitiesfor co-curricular activities. There were also some specific comments regarding school transport.
•Image, aims and values
•From a list of words supplied during the onlinesurvey, three quarters of parents describe the school as academic. Nurturing, welcoming, ambitiousand encouragingare also words which feature strongly.
Parents feel that the school meets its aims well with a strong sense of community, the promotion of traditional valuesand the encouragement of pupils to aim highly. In addition over 75% of parents feel that the school encourages pupils to develop a love of learning.
Rating the school’s provision
The school is positivelyendorsed across a wide range of key features including pastoral care, school leadership and management, preparation for entrance into senior schools and the opportunity for parents to be involved in school activities.
Areas parents would like the school to focus on includeparents' evenings, where most parents would like some of the contact to be face to face:
As well as communication,where nearly two thirds of parents would prefer communication to be collated into fewer messages:
Lastly, while over half of parents fed back that the school's facilitiesare good or very good, some parents would like the school to increase the amount of co and extra-curricular facilities availablethat take place at or near to the school.
Areas for future focus
The main priorities highlighted within the survey for future focus included:
•Feedback on progress While 65% of parents feel that feedback on progress is very good or good, this was an area highlighted as an area for future focus. This was a particular focus among parents in nursery-Year 2 and Years 5-6 .
•Opportunitiesfor co and extra-curricular activities This was a key area of future focus among parents. A third of parents selected sport for improvement, while a quarter selected other types of clubs and activities. In addition,parents would like sport coaching to extend to all pupils, with more clubs after school incorporating sport. More parents with children in the younger age groups would like the school to increase opportunitiesto participatein sports activities - (42% of parents in nursery-Year 2, 39% Year3-4, 24% Years 5-6).
•Transport Some parents also fed back that more/additional transportwould be beneficial when travelingto sports and other events and activities. This was a particularfocus among parents of children in Years 5-6 (35% of parents selecting this as priority area for improvement). Regarding interest in a school bus service (for mornings and/or after school), more parents with younger age children expressed an interest in the potential service (43% in reception-Year2, with between 35-38% expressing an interest in Years 3-6).
OUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO THE SURVEY
• Transportation
In response to the survey – transport has been organized from the school to and from King George’s Sports Field
• Parents' Evenings
We recognise that we need to be more flexible with Parents’ Evenings. We will be offering a choice of onlineand ‘Face to Face’
• Extra-Curricular Provision
Mrs. Fawcett has updated the clubs provision.We will continue to evaluateand look for further opportunitiesfor extra-curricular activities.
• Sports’ Provision
Year 2 Games will take place at King George's Fields. After school sports club to open to Year 5 and 6.
OLD VICARAGE SCHOOL VISION
Academic Pastoral
Global Outlook Values and Ethos
Curricular Philanthropy
Wellbeing
Extra-
Our Mission Statement
• To educate our girls to their highest level of academic achievement providing them with new opportunities so they can embrace challenges with confidence.
• To prepare them to become responsible and compassionate global citizens who are creative and ambitious in their outlook.
An Old Vicarage School pupil is a diligent, happy, confident and considerate girl, who achieves personal success through challenge,inspiration and support.
• Our CoreValues
• We are Curious
• We are Ambitious
• We are Resilient
• We are Empathetic
ACADEMIC
Highest academic achievement foreach girl and to provide opportunities beyond the traditional curriculum
• Head of Teaching and Learning
• Forest School for Reception and Little Vic
• STEM week
• French provision increased
• Drama introduced - Little Vic to Year 4 and Year 6 post 11+
• Music Technology introduced
• RSE Specialist teachers
• Post Exam Programme for Year 6 including Catalyst
PASTORAL AND WELLBEING
Promoting positive mental health and wellbeing across the OVS community
• New Rewards and Sanctions structure
• Girls on Board
• Wellbeing Ambassadors
• GL PASS
• Wellbeing Hub and Wellbeing Award
Girls on Board is an approach which helps girls, their parents and their teachers to understand the complexities and dynamics of girl friendships. The language, methods and ideas empower girls to solve their own friendship problems and recognises that they are usually the only ones who can.
Save the date: Thursday 2nd November 6.30pm, talk by founder Andrew Hampton at OVS for parents
A pro-active approach to young people's mental health & wellbeing
Details will be sent later explaining how parents can sign up.
Save the date: Thursday 21st September 6.30pm, talk by founder Alicia Drummond at OVS for parents
EXTRACURRICULAR
Developing a passion for experiencing new opportunities, focusing on skills, creativity and resilience
• OVS Award based on the Duke of Edinburgh
- Service in the community
- Physical Challenge
- Mental Challenge
- Life Skills - First Aid;mending bikes; etc.
- Entrepreneurship
- Responsibility
- Adventure Challenge
• Junior Dukes
• PerformingArts Centre – Music and Drama
• DT – 3D printers
• Clubs
–Digital Wizards;Film Club;Music Technology
AWARD CATEGORIES
• Service in the Community
• Helping a neighbour with their shopping
• Singing in a concertat a care home
• Volunteering at/supporting a local charity
• Assisting the school community
• Physical Challenge
• Working towards a walking/running distance goal
• Learning a new physical skill – climbing; ice skating
• Joining a sports club
• Mental Challenge
• Memberof a quiz team
• Setting a reading goal – 10 books per term
• Starting a new language
OLDVICARAGE SCHOOLAWARD SCHEME
TheOVSAwardis basedon theDukeof EdinburghAward.This passport is to be keptandupdateduntil theendof theirupper-schoolcareer.
Year4– Worktowardsa BronzeAward
Year5– Worktowardsa SilverAward
Year6– Worktowardsa Gold Award l Award criteria i
Bronze –At least 1 stamp in each category and a total of 15 stamps
Silver – At least 2 stamps in each category and a total of 20 stamps
Gold –At least 3 stamps in each category and a total of 25 stamps
INFORMATION ONAWARDS
AWARD CATEGORIES
-Each student will be given an awards passport
• Wellbeing
• Practicing yoga; mindfulness; taking up a new hobby
• Learning a musical instrument
-The awards categories are flexible, if you have an idea of an activity that isn't listed in the suggestions, feel free to ask your form teacher if your idea is eligible.
• Daily meditationjournal –5-10 minutes/day
• Life Skills
-When partaking in a challenge, girls must document their progress through photos, journaling or some other form of evidence.
• Taking a course – First-Aid;bike maintenance, youth cooking class; online class, babysitting certification
• Do your own washing up at home
-Each time a student accomplishes an eligible challenge, they will be awarded a stamp.
• Entrepreneurship
• Completing the Houblon challenge
• Coming up with a business/school improvement idea and presenting it
-The Bronze and Silver awards will be presented at the end of year assembly. The Gold awards will be presented at Prizegiving.
• Adventure Challenge
• Going on a camping trip
• Documenting your time staying in a place outside of London
• Learning how to start a campfire, ride horseback
Communications
New website – now live!
• Designed so that we can add and update contentregularly ourselves
• Useful source of information includingevents and key dates
• Sharing our vision for the future
Social media
• Key means of sharing what’s happeningday-to-dayin real time
• Want to give parents more visibility of what the girls are up to during the day
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
AND AN PHILANTHROPY
Creating a climate of collaboration, responsibility and compassion
• Entrepreneurshipand Philanthropy–Houblon Challenge - £5. Learning how to do spreadsheets, marketing, presentation, sales – end on a Fayre to sell goods. Award to be presented at Prizegiving for the best projects
• Community Partnershipswith local schools – Wow Days, SportsEvents and Concerts
• Eco School - Green flag award
• Collaboration with the Councilproblem solving community issue
