Positive Perception and Participation

Creating a climate in which students and staff are inclined to feel positively about

their contributions and opportunities

Soham Village College

Positive Perception and Participation 

Our students seemed to us to have a really good deal in school,  but they were inclined to negative views about themselves and were lukewarm about the opportunities around them.  There 

were not too many times when we would ‘enjoy’ school together and genuinely celebrate the wealth of our good things.  And the Inspection Evaluation Schedule places quite an emphasis on 

students’ own views…..  

We took the school’s temperature

disagree strongly disagree agree agree stronglyAdults in the school listen to me

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

78910

Adults in the school listen to me

disagree strongly disagree agree agree stronglyTeachers deal with incidents fairly and take appropriate action

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

78910

Teachers deal with incidents fairly and take appropriate action

disagree strongly disagree agree agree stronglyI am safe from bullying

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

78910

I am safe from bullying

Y9 students said:

How can you ever be safe? Bullying is everywhere.

Nobody is safe.

Bullying is everywhere so you might feel safe but you will never get away.

We knew:

Our students exercised as frequently as other students but considered themselves less fit

Behaviour was good and improving

Bullying was relatively rare

Perception

Reality

Our challenges:

Set a national and local context to inform self evaluation.

Break the culture that only accepts negativity.

Close the gap between perception and reality.

We talked it up

AchieveOnly 3% of you don’t expect to achieve the best academic results you possibly can

More than half of you have already taken a qualification of some kind outside of your normal lessons. That is extraordinary.

94% of Y11 students knew what they were doing when they left SVC before Christmas

Less than 1% of you will end up without a job, a college place or a training course. Cambs has one of the lowest county figures, and this is the lowest in Cambs. It’s very low.

Being happy

Sometime life is happy, sometimes it is sad. Sometimes I can control that, sometimes I can’t.

Agree or agree strongly – 80%

I often fall out with other students

Agree or agree strongly – 7% (national average 31%!)

I have good relationships with my peers

Agree or agree strongly – 82%

You are healthier than most studentsYou are safer than most studentsYou have better relationships with each other than most studentsYou are more involved in school than most studentsYou have access to more clubs than most studentsYou will get better GCSE results than most studentsYou are more likely to go on to further education than most students

We cleared away the weeds

Student opinion

Parents

School staff

Peers

So why are only 45% of you are optimistic about your future?

Proud Of Soham

POSitive about our school

The teachers are good people.  The students are good people.  

We’re good people here.*****, KS3 student

Proud Of Soham

POSitive about our school

The quality of music and drama is excellent.  It is clearly going from 

strength to strength.A College Governor

Proud Of Soham

POSitive about our school

I’m proud of Soham when a student achieves something despite all the things that might have stopped them achieving.  When they surpass their own expectations and surprise themselves it makes me proud.

Mr *****, Technology

Proud Of Soham

POSitive about our school

From my personal observations the interaction of your students with the adults they meet is courteous and polite. Most dealings I have with them are in the shops and they always wait their turn.  I have seen them allow older 

people to go ahead of them.  Generally your students are a credit to you and their parents.A member of the Parents’ Panel

 

Proud Of Soham

POSitive about our school

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2008 2009

Bullying incidents

Reported incidents of bullying have fallen by 40% since this time last

year.

Less than 1% of you report that you are

being bullied.

Small, early victories:

Our most cynical governor said “It’s given me a warm feeling about the place.”

Some difficult students came asking to be quoted on a poster.

Clusters of complaint are smaller and less frequent.

We started a big, long,two-way  conversation

Action Outcomes for students Cost Consultation Completion Evaluation

To publish widely the College and House Improvement Plan

All students are aware of what their representatives have negotiated with the College Leaders and Governors.  Progress on the CHIMP is visible to all students.

£0 Each tutor group should respond to their house council reps regarding the content, scope and progress of the CHIMP.  SLT will debate the contents of the CHIMP and will make sure that the parts which are agreed by both the CC and the SLT are delivered.

By February half term.

By student response.  Governors Students Services Committee will monitor the progress of the CHIMP.

To renovate all student toilets.  All toilets to be decorated in a neutral white/blue colour scheme.  Mirrors and coat/bag hooks to be provided in all toilets. Allocation to remain as is – Y7&8 in one toilet, everyone else in the others.  Gibson toilets to be unlocked.  Science toilets to be more available. CCTV to be installed to protect the toilets.

Cleaner, more pleasant toilet facilities.

£3000 Every tutor group were invited to complete a questionnaire (only 9 did).

Summer  2010

By student response.

College and House Improvement PlanAbbreviations:CHIMP College and House Improvement PlanSLT Senior Leadership TeamCC College CouncilHCs House CouncilsGSSC Governors Students Services Committee

The CHIMP

Tutor groups

House councils

College councilSLT

Governors

Summer Uniform Vote Results

Optional tie and blazerNo tie, no blazerPolo shirt with school badgePolo shirt with house badge

62%,  nearly two thirds of you, want to keep the traditional white shirt

What we’ve achieved so farThe extent to which pupils contribute to the  school and wider community – 1

A more positive culture

A more active college council

A suspicion on the part of the students that we might actually be listening to them

What our next steps will beComplete the actions in the CHImP

Work towards a focal point for the POS campaign

Repeat surveys to check for progress

Continue to confront negative misconceptions – invite reluctant parents in 

Celebrate, celebrate, celebrate