DRUMACHOSE P*ThARY scHooIJ BOARD OF GOVERNORS REPORT 202012021
The Board of Governors is responsible for the overall management of the school and among its responsibilities is the oversight of the curriculum, selection of staff, personnel issues, admissions policy, school maintenance, implementation of new legislation, fostering links with the local community and pursuing the objectives of mutual understanding. With a fully delegated budget the Board of Governors is responsible for the financial management of the school based on the budget allocation provided by the Education Authority.
Governors for the period September 2018 to August 2022 are as follows:
Principal: Mr Kilgore Nominated by Board: Mrs S Hill Mr P Kingston Nominated by Transferors: Rev S. McCracken Canon S. McVeigh Mrs P. McLean Mrs E Mullan Parents’ Representatives: Mr J Butcher Mr D Mornin Teachers’ Representatives: Mr M Kelly
Unfortunately, the pandemic is still with us and again affected school life. We had class bubbles, social distancing, staggered arrivals and departures and class closures throughout the year. I would again thank parents, children and staff for their patience, flexibility and hard work during this most challenging of school years. A special word of thanks must go to the staff for the planning and delivery of the remote learning experiences, the support they gave to Key Worker and Vulnerable children during lockdowns and how they supported all our families emotionally during and after their return from lockdowns. The time and effort of the Principal and school leadership team ensured that our children were supported in these strange times and made all the more difficult with the ever changing guidelines from the Department of Education and Government.
The school delayed the launch of the ‘Legacy Project’ to mark the 50[th] Anniversary of the school but thankfully the project is now in full flow. The project team are putting together a number of events that we can hopefully enjoy when the restrictions are lifted.
The school despite all the challenges continues to flourish and it was amazing to see that the enrolment increased again, with 406 pupils attending the school in September 2021.
I would like to thank all stakeholders for the ongoing dedication, support, flexibility and commitment in what has been another very challenging year. I assure you that the Governors will continue to ensure that all children at Drumachose Primary School receive a quality education, that meets each individual child’s needs to ensure they achieve their full potential.
I commend this report to you for consideration.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Pamela McLean (Chairperson of Board of Governors)
The Principal, teaching and ancillary staff wish to express their sincere thanks to the Board of Governors for the support given to them and the school in this most challenging year. Under the Chairmanship of Mrs Pamela McLean, they have worked tirelessly to promote the school in the community and provide resources and a safe environment for our staff and pupils during these very uncertain times. The Governors have overseen the return to school for all pupils, managing a very fluid situation, overseeing risk assessments and making changes to respective school policies and guidelines. The aim has always been for all pupils to return full time to school as soon as possible or when it is safe to do so. We thank them for the support and guidance to ensure that our pupils wellbeing has not been greatly impacted as a result of the two lockdowns and all that went with it. The Governors have continued to lobby DE and EA to ensure that the funding formula meets the needs of a school like Drumachose. Unfortunately to date the formula used by DE is still not “fit for purpose” and although a review is on- going the school still has to run with a deficit even with 30 pupils in each class and an ever increasing enrolment.
Enrolment
During the school year 2020/21 the enrolment was 392.
Staffing
The teaching compliment was 14 teachers plus the Principal. Thanks goes to Mrs Lynch who covered Mrs Cullington’s maternity in P3.
Mrs Lorna Pudney retired from her post of Dinner Supervisor. We thank her for her years of service and wish her a long and healthy retirement.
Ancillary Staff
The ancillary staff complement was as follows:
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Full time secretary
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Full time caretaker
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Four learning support assistants
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▪ Eight special needs learning support assistants
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Four part- time cleaners
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▪ Six supervisory assistants
The Board of Governors would like to thank all the ancillary staff for their contribution in ensuring the needs of the children in their care were met.
Curriculum & Staff Development
The Covid19 Pandemic continued to be a real challenge throughout this school year, from class bubbles to eating dinners in class. The ever changing guidelines made curriculum and staff development very difficult due to the various restrictions re. social distancing and numbers who could meet face to face.
The main focus for staff this academic year was the Health and Wellbeing of pupils, parents and themselves. The two lockdowns again required staff to support pupils remotely, create and deliver online learning experiences and support in school, pupils of key workers and vulnerable children. Much time and effort was given to planning, developing and implementing a more coherent blended learning approach that met everyone’s needs.
All staff continued to develop Accelerated Reading strategies and the use of Mathletics to support numeracy. The Foundation Stage Staff finalised the activity based learning experiences for P1 and P2 using the Developing Outdoor Play document and Play Audit.
Further work in ICT focused on remote and blended learning. Staff ensured that all pupils who required digital support had the necessary hardware and upskilled both child and parent on its use.
Mrs Kelly continued to support pupils through the Engaged programme and our Learning Support Teacher attended SEN training and disseminated the new SEN Framework to staff. Co-ordinators reviewed their policies to ensure that they met the latest guidelines and included the blended learning approach during lockdown.
Staff continued to monitor and evaluate the learning and teaching whilst target setting and action planning using the CAT, PTE and PTM outcomes. The SENCO and Staff met regularly to review education plans and shared these with the appropriate stakeholders.
The Governors most sincerely thank all the staff for their continued dedication in providing quality learning and teaching experience to all the pupils in these most challenging times.
Building and Repair
No major work took place throughout the year, although an application was made to the EA for support in regard to our Legacy Project.
The Governors wish to pay tribute to Mr McElwee and the cleaning staff for all the outstanding work during the year. A special word of thanks to Mr D Loughery and his staff from the Grounds Maintenance Team.
Shared Education
Unfortunately, due to Covid restrictions no face to face work took place.
Special Education Need Provision
Mrs Cullington, our SENCO ensured that appropriate education plans were in place and reviewed regularly. The SENCO met on a regular basis with pupils and parents to review targets and inform them of progress. Guidance and practical support was given by, ASD Team, RISE (NI), Reading Centre and Dry Arch. There was a focus both whole school and on an individual basis to support pupil Health and Wellbeing.
Physiotherapists, diabetic nurses and occupational therapists offered support and advice throughout the year.
The Governors would like to acknowledge the advice and support given by Mrs P Haughey, EA Western Region and Mr M Given (Educational Psychologist) as the school endeavours to meet the needs of all its pupils.
Music & Drama
Music and Drama was totally curtailed due to the pandemic. We hope that we will be able to recommence in the near future.
Club & Societies
Most clubs did not take place due to the Department of Education’s guidelines but football club did recommence in the 3[rd] term with large numbers availing of this popular club.
Charities
Charity Donations 2020/2021
- Hampers Food Donations to Limavady Food Bank Vouchers to Salvation Army and St Vincent De Paul Royal British Legion
Harvest Donations distributed to Limavady Food Bank
P.T.A
Like many events in school, coronavirus had a big impact on fundraising this year. All the planned events had to be cancelled due to lockdown.
Events
September
The school year commenced with staggered arrival and departure times, class bubbles, different enhances, dinners in classrooms, hand sanitisers and parents permitted in school by invitation only. By the start of the month over 50 messages had been sent to parents as the guidelines and procedures changed on a daily basis.
The Year 7 pupils found out that the AQE test would now take place in the new year, there was a weekly ‘padlet’ for each class and already staff and parents required patience and flexibility.
October
Our first ‘bubble’ was closed with P6 going to online learning. Books and homeworks were quarantined and there was an early half term, with a circuit breaker Mid October.
November
Unfortunately, we were unable to hold face to face Parental Interviews so a report went home with a follow up telephone call if requested.
The pandemic did not stop the Gruffalo visiting P3 or P4 having their Matilda Day.
Our 50[th] Anniversary Celebrations were delayed but the whole school community showed their generosity by providing food for the foodbank, hampers and vouchers for our Christmas Charity Appeal. An absolute amazing effort.
December
Another 2 classes had to self-isolate for 14 days as the month commenced. Due to the continuing restrictions we were unable to hold our annual Carol Service or Infant Show. However, we used our Virtual Platform with all year groups involved in the ’12 days of Christmas.’ Thanks must go to Mr Kelly and all the staff for the time and effort given to this project to bring Christmas Joy to all our families.
Continuing on the ‘Virtual’ theme, we had to use our social media platforms for our Open Day. This was a great success with over 60 applications for Year 1.
We had a Christmas Jumper Day, created food hampers and supported both the Salvation Army and St Vincent De Paul. A huge thanks must be extended to our whole school community for their generosity at this time. School again closed early due to infection rates at this time in the community. January The new year commenced with another lockdown. Staff again stood up to the plate by teaching remotely and overseeing face to face teaching for key worker and vulnerable children. Sincere appreciation must go to the staff, parents and pupils for their hard work, patience and flexibility. Unfortunately, due to the lockdown the AQE tests were cancelled after much debate.
February
February like January continued as remote learning. Managing the increased number of key worker and vulnerable children was challenging, while continuing to support children at home.
March
March commenced with a phased return of our P1-3 pupils and then P4-7 pupils Mid-March.
Staff continued to plan, create and deliver remote learning experiences and support families throughout. Parents continued to support children at home but thankfully everyone was back in school for face to face teaching by 22[nd] March 2021.
April
April brought a little bit of normality back to school with Break the Rules Day, Breakfast Club and Skill School all back up and going. The children did remain in their class bubbles, staggered arrival/departure times and separate play and lunch times.
May
This month saw the official launch of our ‘Legacy Project’ to celebrate the school’s 50[th] Anniversary. The school photographer was in school, we had our Sponsored Walk, P4’s had Superhero Day and a return to our Virtual Platform for our P1 Induction.
June
All pupils participated in the annual Sports Day. A little bit different due to parents being unable to attend. After all the challenges of the year we worked in partnership with parent NI to hold a workshop titled “Helping Children Manage Change.”
Our P7’s took a trip to Art Abyss and all classes had their own individual parties. The P7 leavers assembly was shared ‘Virtually’ again and the school year ended as it had started with a staggered end to the year.
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Summary Budget Allocation
School: Drumachose Primary School Cost Centre: 20469
| S: Al Bdt Allti | 2020/2021 |
|---|---|
| ummarynnua uge ocaon | |
| Staff Costs: | |
Staff – Pay Teaching |
883,782 |
Staff – Pay Non-Teaching |
140,483 |
| Premises Fixed Plant and Grounds | 22,721 |
| Operating Costs f hih i Bk Pti Mtil & Thi Riit |
78,453 |
| o wc s oos, racce aeras eacng equses | |
| Non Capital Purchases | 1,510 |
| Projected Expenditure | 1,126,949 |
| Delegated Resources | |
| Common Funding Formula Other Funding (please specify) |
1062,156 |
| Projected Surplus / Deficit in Year: | (64,793) |
| Add: |
|
| Surplus/(Deficit) Balance carried forward from previous year | (156,416) |
| Projected Cumulative Surplus /(Deficit) | (221,209) |
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