Our whole school approach

Alder Grange Community & Technology School Rawtenstall, Lancashire

What makes a difference?

The impact of online reporting on parental engagement and student achievement.

iReporting - intelligent, targeted information for parents and families

1. Information sessions for fathers and mothers of pupils on transfer to secondary school / transition points (ES/LPPA 5 & 8)

2. Information about nationally and locally available sources of information, advice and support (ES)

3. Increased use of Parents' Gateway & revision of information booklet if necessary

4. Parents’ Handbook (ECM)

5. Continue roll-out of curriculum booklets following parental feedback (LPPA 6)

6. Promote attendance at courses or training through a range of media (LPPA 3)

7. Incorporate Parents' Page in Pupil Planner

8. Information about the work of the school and about events in the school calendar (LPPA 6)

Parents’ Gateway• give parents secure access to their child’s data (24/7) –

user name & password• able to review their child’s attendance and assessment

grades, timetable information and conduct log• parents would effectively be ‘brought into the classroom’• enables them to participate much more fully in their child’s

education and dramatically impact upon their child’s attainment and achievement

School

Automatic Email

Parents Gateway Web Server

Internet

Our journey …

• Parent Governor trialled software – which led to

• Parents’ Information Booklet

• Parental Partnership Evening – demonstrating software & sharing Parental Partnership Strategy

• Offered parents without internet access the opportunity to come into school every Wednesday afternoon to use this system and to discuss any issues with the member of SLG who has responsibility for Parental Partnership

Parents’ Information Booklet

• to enable parents to access and understand the data provided

• advice and frequently asked questions about Parents’ Gateway

• attendance policy• conduct log – positive behaviour strategy• pupil assessment e.g. explanation of our

academic monitoring system, the codes used for effort and progress, subject codes, rankings

• CAT scores

Parents’ Gateway (2006-2007)

• 57 families (59 pupils) used Parents’ Gateway – 20 dads as the main user, 8 pupils with special educational needs and 1 parent whose first language is Bengali

• The breakdown of pupils in year groups was: Year 7=16, Year 8=15, Year 9=12, Year 10=9 and Year 11=7

The impact …

• attainment rank: 73% achieved the same or higher

• effort ranking: 59% achieved the same or higher

• KS3 CAT/attainment difference: 56% achieved the same or higher (the highest difference being a Year 7 boy achieving +47 whose parent requested further support with the use of Parents’ Gateway)

• attendance: 66% improved their attendance, in many cases achieving 100%

The impact …

• Parent with two children who both have special educational needs: “Thankyou for the Parents’ Gateway Information Booklet, username and password. I have looked at the information about the boys and have shown (name) and (name) and talked to them about their levels, effort and behaviour, etc. Actually I think it is fantastic and the information booklet is really helpful”.

Both boys raised their CAT/attainment difference by +23 and +15.

The impact …

• Parent whose first language is Bengali: her child’s attainment rank increased by +11 and her effort ranking increased by +12.

• Year 11 pupil whose parent uses Parents’ Gateway: “It has made a bit of a change in my behaviour and attitude. My behaviour has improved and so has my attendance and punctuality. My mum can also see what happens in the school day on Parents’ Gateway. So that is why I am improving.” His attendance and punctuality significantly improved; his ranking in terms of attainment improved and incidences of poor behaviour decreased.

1st School in Lancashire to achieve the Leading Parent Partnership

Award

“The quality of ICT support is both innovative and extremely open with

regards to pupil progress information shared with parents: it is updated daily”

(LPPA)

Next steps …

• Parent AlertA software solution that delivers letters, messages and alerts directly to a parent's desktop. A parent simply downloads a small piece of software to their computer and any time a letter or important message is sent home an alert pops up on their screen.  It’s as simple as that; if the school issues a letter or message relevant to a child’s year group then a copy will be sent directly to a parents’ desktop, instantly. (SSAT)

• Text MessagingSchools can send automatic text messages to parents' cell phones, alerting them of an important "News Flash". Parents can then check the school’s website for specifics e.g. information about special situations, like early school closings, changes in special test schedules, school photo days, money due for field trip, and so forth. (www.TeacherWeb.com)