Many parents have been concerned with developments/non-developments at Cowes Enterprise College (CEC), Dave Miller explains below, in his own words, how parents can get actively involved in discussing these with the school’s Trust, to start to get them fixed. – Ed
There has been much news coverage, rumour, speculation, and opinion in recent times following the progressively delayed move to the new building, communications, the state of the current working environment, the Ofsted inspection, the Principal resignation, and other significant governance and management concerns.
Foundation Trust schools should have what is called a ‘Parent Council’ to support parental engagement and provide an opportunity for the school leadership to demonstrate accountability.
The constitution, established by the governing body includes:
1.1 As a Foundation College with a Trust, which appoints the majority of the governing body members, Cowes Enterprise College Governing Body is required by statute to establish a Parent Council.
1.2 Parent Councils provide an excellent forum for parents to come together, share ideas and put forward their views to the Principal and Governing Body of the College. The College has made clear its intention to be accessible and transparent to its parent body. It welcomes the views of its parents and wishes them to play an effective and active role in its development and the appropriate challenge to its performance and accountability.
1.3 The Parent Council has two distinct but related purposes:
- To give parents a voice and increase their active involvement in decision-making, fostering a culture of ownership and participation in the College.
- To develop a partnership between the College and parents/carers in order to support and promote the pupils’ learning and where necessary bring about change.
The history of the Parental involvement
In November 2012 parents were invited to apply for positions on the ‘Parent Council’. The first meeting will be next Monday (21st January 2013), ‘supported by Rachael Fidler Chair of the Cowes Pathfinder Trust and Alan Wells Chair of the College Governing Body’. This will not be an open meeting, although the minutes should be published on the college’s website within 10 working days.
In the year prior to the opening of CEC in September 2011, there was the opportunity for parents to express an interest in an informal Parent Forum that was intended to be the initial ‘representative’ parental body to act as a feedback group and sample consultation group.
The Parent Forum met sporadically over a couple of years, with a limited email distribution list of approximately fifty contacts from the initial establishment, although attendance was open (albeit not actively communicated). The Parent Forum remained more college-led and administered rather than becoming parent-led.
Last night’s meeting
At last evening’s meeting (15/01/13), the first substantive meeting since March 2012, there were approximately 18 parents and the meeting was chaired by a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Of the parents, four members of the new Parent Council were present and took note of concerns and suggestions, to take forward to the (smaller and less informal) Parent Council next week.
Discussions included:
- The co-existence of the two parent bodies and their relationship
- The new school building and responsibilities of the LA, Trust, Governing Body, and College Leadership
- Health & Safety concerns in the current building
- The delayed tablet/IT roll-out
- Careers advice for students
- Uniform policy
- The immanent release of the Ofsted Inspection Report (anticipated this week, potentially followed by an open meeting by the Acting Principal)
- An overarching concern over communication
Parents invited to get involved
I am very aware that many parents/careers would not be aware of the existence of the Parent Forum, and may wish to offer positive contribution for the benefit of students’ education and welfare, and seek answers to concerns about recent developments. I would therefore be happy to take input, either by comment here, or by email to [email protected].
A response, however small, would be valuable to demonstrate the relative priority of issues to parents. (Please do not include any personal information regarding individual students or staff).
Open meeting suggested
In addition to highlighting parental concerns to the governing body, and seeking feedback to all parents, one specific action which received support last evening was the holding of an open meeting with representatives invited from the LA, Trust, Governing Body, and College, to explain the issues with the new building, the management of the aborted transitions and communication, the onward occupation plan, and the mitigation plan to address the educational
impact to the students, and support the teaching professionals and staff.
Thanks,
Dave Miller
(CEC Parent Council member & co-opted Educational representative on Scrutiny Panel)
