I was warmly welcomed into school today and given the opportunity to take part in various monitoring activities. It was great to experience the positive atmosphere in school and to have time to chat to some key individuals:

Discussion with Forest School Lead on New Project Implementation

• I met with Carole Glover, who is leading the development of Forest Schools at St George’s. She outlined the project, currently in its pilot phase, involving a small group of pupils participating in Forest School sessions on Wednesday mornings.

• The project is thorough in its scope, requiring extensive planning, training, development of the school grounds, and investment in resources and equipment. It is an exciting initiative with the potential for a significant positive impact on the school community. Carole is eager to present the project to governors and will attend the next curriculum committee meeting in January to provide an overview.

• It is evident that Carole, supported by her project team, has dedicated substantial time and effort to ensure the success of this project which I’ve no doubt will go from strength to strength. Huge congratulations to Carole on her hard work and dedication to making this project a success.

Observations of Quality Assurance Activities

• During the visit, I observed both internal and external quality monitoring activities. I was invited to attend a meeting involving Lynsey Austen the School Advisor, the Headteacher, and Assessment Lead to discuss the progress of the new maths scheme. This meeting followed joint lesson observations in maths, conducted by the Headteacher and School Advisor.

• The discussions between the advisor and senior leaders were particularly insightful. The advisor posed challenging questions to the Assessment Lead, which sparked high-quality dialogue about the scheme’s implementation and impact. Observing the impact of rigorous, constructive monitoring activities reassures governors that robust systems are in place for evaluating and enhancing the quality of teaching and learning, and of the value and impact of the services provided by the School Advisor.

Thanks to everyone for welcoming me and for giving me your valuable time, especially Carole, Naomi, Lyndsey and Nic. 

Ruth