Barry Comprehensive School

We are publishing the full annual report information for parents required by the Assembly Government here. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader® to view the data files.

Introduction:In spring this year Barry Comprehensive was named the most improved school in Wales for the third year running. In 2001 42% of pupils scored five or more A-C grades at GCSE. In 2006 71% did so. There was success, too, across the range of ability. The potential of students varies from year to year but we believe we can show a pattern of sustained and effective effort to raise achievement through good teaching; an environment in which most students want to learn; and a sound partnership with parents.
At sixth form level, too, where we are partners with Bryn Hafren, our students generally achieve their personal goals. Nonetheless, we think a review of the sixth form would be timely. Meanwhile the school has helped pioneer the Welsh Baccalaureate, and this has widened opportunities for our youngsters.
This summer, thanks to the effectiveness of the Vale council’s education department, we overcame the problems posed by a fire that destroyed our kitchen area.

Targets: The target for the percentage of pupils getting five or more A*-C GCSE grades was 62%; in fact 71% hit this goal. The attached data sheets show targets for the next three years. We can show good progress since our last inspection in exam results, attendance, teaching approaches, and ICT.

Strategy setting: The governors’ School Improvement Group focuses on teaching and learning strategies and pupil welfare. It discusses proposed changes to the curriculum and reports to the full governing body. This year the school has developed a three-year strategic plan based on our self-evaluation that should, amongst other targets ensure that we improve reporting to parents and help students at all levels understand how they can improve. Meanwhile the current school development plan has included a reorganisation of year nine subjects to improve provision for IT and for accelerated learning programmes, and a restructuring of GCSE option subjects.

At the Governors’ Annual Meeting with parents in 2005, there were no resolutions passed. The post inspection plan of 2001 has been incorporated into the school development plan. The school has continued to develop its strong links with the local community. The school’s facilities are used on a regular basis for the Adult Education Programme, local drama and music groups, junior football teams and other organisations. The school has worked to support the community in projects such as the Cwm Talwg Woodlands Trust, Knap Beach Cleaning, bag packing for the Jamie Adamson Fund and other local and national charities.

There have been no changes to the school prospectus since publication.  School policies have been renewed annually by the Governing Body.

Staffing and finance: During the 2005-6 school year the governing body put in place a new staffing structure. This system was imposed by government and was inevitably worrying and unsettling. Governors sought to consult teaching unions fully in the review process. Meanwhile we want to ensure that we continue with the small teaching groups that have been effective in raising pupils’ attainment. This is proving an increasingly difficult objective as we have had two poor financial settlements in a row and in real terms a contraction of funding. This situation has been addressed through deficit budgets. We owe the Vale Council over £180,000 and have agreed to pay this back over five years. Nonetheless we remain successful in attracting additional resources to the school (for example from special grants), and the school financial administration has been complimented highly by the auditors.

The Governors

Parents
Mrs T Batt (2004), L Cosgrove (2004), J Doel (2006), M Dyas (2005), Mrs L Tinsley (2004), Mrs A Westerland (2003) (The next vacancy for a parent governor will fall in November 2007)

Community
Mrs K Beaudette (2004), R Grant (2003), Dr M Griffiths (2003), D Kennett (2005), N Paulakis (2003)

Teaching staff
Mrs S Bagshaw (2006), Mrs J Ford (2005)

Non-teaching staff
A Desrosiers (2003)

Headteacher
D Swallow

Vale Local Education Authority
G Ellis (2004), Cllr A D Hampton (2004), Cllr E T Williams (2004), J Williams (2003 †2006), D M Lloyd (2006), (C Britten until October 2006)

Non-voting co-optees
S James, Mrs C Oxenham, J Stacey Marks

Chair: M Griffiths Clerk: D Currell
Deputy Chairs: K Beaudette and D Kennett,
Please contact the chair or clerk by writing to the school.

SCHOOL DATA
Data about the school and pupil achievement in the format prescribed by government.

School context: information about attendance, exclusions, etc
Attendance and behaviour; destinations of leavers
School data analysis: comparisons between the school and all-Wales figures
Pupil achievement at ages 15+ and 17+