1. education
2. school

Ysgol Acrefair
Governors Annual Report to
Parents
for the Year 2013-2014
Chair of Governors: Mrs Lynda Broe (2013 – 2014)
Clerk to the Governors: Miss Lisa Evans (2013 – 2014)
Head Teacher: Mrs Lisa Roberts
Please note that this report refers to the school year
September 2013 until July 2014
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Contents
Information regarding:
 Letter from Chair of Governors
 Governors
 Staffing
 Teaching Methods and Curriculum Organisation
 School Improvement
 Staff Training
 Additional Learning Needs / Disability
 Sport and other extra-curricular activities
 Community Links
 Other events and achievements
 School Council / Eco Committee
 Building / Health and Safety
 Policies
 School Prospectus information
 Attendance Statistics
 Performance Statistics
 Targets
 Finance
 Dates, holidays, training days
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Letter from Chair of Governors
Dear parents,
Ysgol Acrefair continues to develop pupils’ learning; over the past year children have
been given experiences and opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge within an
effective learning environment. Children are engaged in their own learning,
understanding the intention and objectives of each session and measuring their success.
This approach is reflected in the ‘Effective Learning Policy’ which is available to parents.
The school has good links with the community and the children benefit from extracurricular activities
All children are taught effectively with the extra support from booster sessions,
supported by the Teaching Assistants.
Performance statistics are pleasing and targets set to challenge the pupils over the
coming year.
The summer visit from GwE, recorded an excellent report and recommended that Ysgol
Acrefair will be used as an example of good practice.
Financially our position is good, as our budget is effectively allocated and used to
maintain the safe environment and provide resources for the pupils.
The Governors and I would like to thank the staff for their continued commitment and
enthusiasm, providing excellent teaching and learning.
I wish to thank Support Staff and Governors for their contribution to the ongoing
success of the school environment.
Yours sincerely,
Lynda Broe
Chair of Governors
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Governors 2013 – 2014
(Date indicates when term of office ends)
Clive Austin – Chair, LEA Governor
30/03/16
Beulah Griffiths – Vice Chair -Community Governor 30/10/16
Lisa Roberts – Head Teacher 31/08/18
Lynda Broe- Community Governor 30/04/16
Ingrid Griffiths – Parent Governor 30/10/16
Tabitha Large - Parent Governor 16/12/17
Sara Roberts - Parent Governor 07/07/14
Andrew Linden - LEA Governor 31/5/18
Lisa J. Robert – Parent Governor 10/11/14
Nicki Davies-Bottomley – Parent Governor 15/05/15
Dianne Powell – LEA Governor 30/03 /16
Lesley Edwards – Community Governor 18/02/18
Mavis Davies – Community Governor 05/11/17
Joan Jones – Community Governor 12/07/14
Paul Blackwell – Additional Community Governor (local council) 31/08/16
Sarah Jackson – Teacher Governor 30/10/17
Wendy Steen – Teacher Governor 09/12/17
Ann Duke – Staff Governor 09/12/17
Chair – Mrs Lynda Broe, Copperous, Llangollen Road, Acrefair
Clerk to the Governors – Miss Lisa Evans, WCBC
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Staffing 2013 - 2014
Mrs Lisa Roberts – Head Teacher, Assessment, Transition leader
Mrs Rita Jones – Deputy Head Teacher, Healthy Schools, KS2 Leader
Mr Russell Edwards – Y6 Teacher, ALN Coordinator, KS2 Science
Miss Rebecca Curtis– Y4 Teacher, KS2 Language co-ordinator
Mrs Sarah Jackson – Y2 Teacher, F/PH Maths, Welsh
Mrs Angela Done– Y1Teacher, F/PH Science and Language
Miss Nia Jones – Year 3 Teacher, ICT and KS2 Maths
Mrs Wendy Steen – Early Years / Foundation Phase Leader
Miss Gemma Turner- Reception Teacher ( covering for Mrs Steen)
Mrs Helen Norman – Booster Teacher
Mrs Helen Martin – Nursery Teacher
Miss Katie Oldcorne – Year 3 Teacher ( maternity cover )
Miss Sian Dixon – PPA teacher for KS2
Mrs Ann Duke – Teaching Assistant (Reception)
Mrs Nicola Humphries – Teaching Assistant ( Nursery a.m. and Y1 p.m.)
Miss Bethan Williams – Teaching Assistant ( Nursery ) and MDS
Mrs Fleur Jones – Teaching Assistant (Y1) and MDS
Miss Alison Regan – Teaching Assistant (Y2), Breakfast Club supervisor
Mrs Nicola Wooding – Teaching Assistant ( Nursery a.m. Reception p.m.)
Miss Alison Dillon – Teaching Assistant – Year 2
Mrs Julie McKnight – Teaching Assistant – Year 1
Miss Emma Jones – Teaching Assistant –Year 5
Mrs Nicola Scott – Breakfast Club Supervisor
Miss Laura Edwards- Teaching Assistant (Y4), Breakfast Club Supervisor
Mrs Rebecca Brown- Teaching Assistant (Y3)
Mrs Jo Koscinska Teaching Assistant ( Year 6)
Mrs Tracey Davies – Teaching Assistant (Y3)
Miss Kayleigh Price – Teaching Assistant ( Nursery )
Mrs Sam Wright– School Secretary
Mrs Sue Evans - MDS
Mr Dave Wooding - Caretaker
Mrs Laura Jones – School Cook
Mrs Cath Brookes– School Cook
Mrs Liz Edwards – School Cook and cleaner
Mrs Diane Edwards – Cleaner
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CRB / DBS checks have been updated for staff where necessary.
We continue to have a large number of students working in school.
We have had pupils from Ysgol Rhiwabon, Ysgol Dinas Bran,
Childcare students from Coleg Cambria and Teaching students from
Bangor and Glyndwr
TEACHING METHODS AND CURRICULUM ORGANISATION
We believe that it is all-important to make the learning environment in
the classroom as beneficial as possible. This is achieved by: 
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Ensuring the children understand the learning intention(s) and success
criteria of the lesson or activity
Exhibiting pupil’s work, creating an attractive, interesting atmosphere
and ensuring the best possible resources to promote learning.
Giving the pupils the opportunity to take an active part in the learning
process through individual, pair or group work.
Ensuring learners are engaged by using a wide range of teaching and
learning strategies that cater for differing learning styles.
Use of effective questioning to extend and clarify learning
Lessons that allow pupils to develop the Key Skills of communication,
mathematics, IT, problem solving and creativity.
Regular assessments, shared with pupils, which assess against the
learning intention(s) of the lesson and inform next steps.
Welsh as a second language is taught in all classes.
If you would like to learn more about the way that children learn at
Ysgol Acrefair, please ask for a copy of our Effective Learning
Policy.
School Improvement (2013-2014)
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Subject Leadership continues to develop effectively. Subject
leaders have been assigned to subjects - (one from F/Ph and one
from KS2). Literacy and Numeracy leaders are regularly released
from class to audit their subjects – evaluating existing action plans,
monitoring books, carrying out learning walks, etc.
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Book scrutinies have taken place. These have focussed on extended
writing across the curriculum and it is evident that the pupils
writing skills are developing well by the end of KS2. When our GwE
support / challenge officer visited, on behalf of the local authority,
he was very complimentary about the standard of writing and the
feedback.
School processes for teaching and assessing oracy has been
reviewed. This has improved understanding of the Level
Descriptors and the relationship to INCERTS as a means of
evaluating and planning for progression. Where appropriate,
further activities have been developed to enhance speaking and
listening within the curriculum. The LNF has been incorporated into
medium term planning and short term planning. In consultation with
pupils, individual half-termly targets in all three strands of
language development have been agreed, which are age and ability
appropriate. There is far greater evidence of specific oracy
activities within classes and planning for oracy. All pupils achieved
their oracy targets in Y2/Y6 end of key stage assessments and the
gap between reading, writing and oracy closed.
The support materials on the Learning Wales website have been
used to plan additional activities into the curriculum designed to
provide pupils with additional experience of reasoning activities.
Review of classroom practice has shown that teachers need to
provide for discrete lessons with a numerical reasoning focus for
all pupils. This is being addressed and is being monitored through
regular book scrutiny. Additionally, monitoring of maths provision
by an external consultant will be used to inform understanding of
standards and to identify opportunities for application of numeracy
skills in the wider curriculum. Reasoning test analysis shows our
pupils achieved highly in all year groups.
Literacy leaders continue to monitor reading throughout school.
Group Guided Reading sessions take place that target specific
reading skills within classes.
Literacy and Numeracy Frameworks – A number of staff meetings
have been dedicated to familiarising ourselves with the National
Literacy and Numeracy frameworks. Medium Term Plans have been
adapted to include Literacy and Numeracy targets and these will
now be transferred into short term plans. An audit of current
provision has been completed and targets identified.
National Reading and Numeracy tests have taken place for pupils in
years 2- 6 and will be analysed in the Autumn Term (2014). The
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pupils performed very well in the tests with a large percentage of
pupils attaining at the higher levels ( >115 )
Regular meetings have been held with GwE to share information on
school improvement. The LA is very pleased with the School’s work.
PASS tests took place in Years 3 to 6 and CAT tests for year 4
pupils. Pupils in Years 1 to 6 that were in need of a ‘boost’ in Maths
or Language were identified and given targeted intervention from a
number of teaching assistants and a booster teacher (Blitz, Catch
up in Literacy and Catch up in Numeracy ). The results of all of
these assessments were analysed in detail by class teachers and
then the maths /language subject leaders in order to inform future
planning.
Individual Pupil Review meetings have taken place. The Head
Teacher, ALN co-ordinator, Booster Teacher and Class Teacher
have met to discuss the progress of every individual child within
the school- ensuring all pupils are making the expected progress
and receiving the support they need. We have identified children
who require an additional ‘boost’ and some children who need
additional challenge. A small number of children have been added to
our ALN register and a few will be put forward for statutory
assessment.
A number of standardisation and moderation meetings have taken
place between Foundation Phase teachers and Y6/7 teachers
alongside colleagues from local schools in order to strengthen
teacher assessments at the end of the Key Stage.
Summer Term reports were sent to parents and learning targets
for language and maths continue to be shared with parents on a
termly basis. Open evenings for parents have also taken place.
End of Key Stage Assessments took place in the Summer Term.
Nearly achieved their targets and a few have exceeded. Our data
shows an improving trend, particularly at KS2. Teachers have
attended standardisation and moderation meetings with colleagues
from other schools to ensure that our understanding of the
outcomes and levels is secure.
A number of teachers have met to begin discussing and researching
handwriting. Visits will be arranged to other schools to view good
practice. Our next step is to trial agreed strategies within classes
before reporting back and evaluating the impact.
Nursery and Reception staff have completed on-entry and baseline
assessments with their children.
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Teachers Performance Management lesson observations all took
place. Targets have been reviewed formally and new targets set.
The emphasis this year was upon improving standards in children’s
oracy and reasoning. Differentiation was also a target.
Teachers within all classes are differentiating work to suit the
needs of all learners. Differentiated success criteria are being
used in years 1 to 6. These are very effective in ensuring all pupils
are challenged and are very clear about how they can achieve.
A number of activities have taken place to ensure effective
transition. Nursery and Reception teachers held information
sharing sessions with new parents. We also work closely with Ysgol
Rhiwabon and Ysgol Dinas Bran.
We continue to work as a ‘Healthy School’. Our focus for this
year’s assessment is Hygiene.
Science Leaders have been developing science investigation
frameworks. There will be an expectation that all classes cover at
least 5 investigations per year. These will be collected by Science
leaders and quality assured.
Maths Leaders have been working on identifying more problem
solving and investigation activities for use across school. We have
agreed that there should be at least 3 investigations visible in all
children’s books in every year group, every half term. These will be
collected by Maths leaders and quality assured.
We have had our summer visit from GWE. Leadership and capacity
to improve was judged as ‘excellent’. We will be used by GWE as an
example of good practice.
ALN reviews have taken place and were well attended.
Our Eco Committee have worked alongside a member of the local
authority energy team. They investigated our power usage and
devised a plan to reduce it. Over the ‘power week’ we reduced our
energy consumption dramatically.
A large number of new library books have been purchased. We now
need to plan how we can utilise the library effectively to support
the children’s learning.
Our website has been updated and is becoming more informative.
ECadets: Our three Ecadets are doing fantastically well in their
projects. They have produced power point presentations to inform
pupils and parents about safety on the internet. MP Ken Skates
visited the school to talk to them and he was very impressed with
their work. Over the next three years the project will be extended
to include 24 children, 8 parents and 4 Governors.
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Artist in Residence project – All classes have produced pictures of
animals, birds and fish and two local artists have used these to
create a large mural that spans the front corridor. It looks
fantastic and the children have had great pleasure in spotting their
work.
Training
Staff have attended courses, meetings, observations or taken part in
working parties on:
 Foundation phase
 Transition
 Estyn Peer Inspector Training
 Team around the Child
 Child Protection training
 Outdoor learning/ Forest School
 Education visits / risk assessments
 NQT training
 Eco school
 Healthy school
 Welsh
 Handwriting
 ‘Catch Up in Numeracy’ training
 First Aid
 ‘Catch up in Literacy’ training
 Tracking
 ‘Movement’ training
 ALN training
 ICT
 LNF training
 Behaviour Management
 Reasoning Training
 Hwb training – ( Digital learning platform)
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Additional Learning Needs /disabilities
Many children at some stage in primary school experience difficulties in
specific areas of learning.
At Ysgol Acrefair, our aim is to identify and assess, as early as possible,
all children who have a special educational need. This results in the school
being able to make provision for them so that an appropriate level of work
and the right amount of support is provided to allow them to access the
curriculum.
Children with an identified need will have specific targets to work
towards and will have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) drawn up. Close
liaison between the teacher, parents and our Additional Learning Needs
Co-ordinator (ALNCO) ensures that all parties work together to try to
achieve the targets. Parents are given a copy of the IEP and are involved,
during Parent/Teacher consultations to review the progress that has
been made.
Some children will need additional support for a short period of time,
while others may need it for substantially longer.
Parents are always welcome to discuss any concerns with teachers or with
the ALNCO – Mr R. Edwards.
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Children that have been identified as in need of extra help in
language and maths, receive targeted intervention from their class
teacher and teaching assistants. This additional work is monitored
and reviewed regularly by Mr Edwards, our Additional Needs CoOrdinator and our booster teacher Mrs Helen Norman. We also
work very closely alongside outside agencies such as the Education
Psychologist, Speech and Language and Occupational Health to
provide specialised support to individual children. Regular review
meetings take place with parents.
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We currently do not have any children with physical disabilities at
Ysgol Acrefair. We do have a ramp at the entrance to allow
wheelchair access and we have a disabled toilet.
We have been involved in a number of ’Team Around the child ‘
meetings involving children at our school. This is a multi agency
approach to supporting children in need.
Sport and other extra-curricular activities
We try to give our pupils the opportunity to take part in as wide a range
of activities as possible. Over the course of the year we have run football
and netball clubs after school. Children have taken part successfully in a
number of sporting competitions – football, netball and tennis
tournaments. We also have ukulele and drama clubs.
Years 4, 5 and 6 have swimming lessons at Chirk, in accordance with the
requirements of the National Curriculum. Parents are asked to contribute
towards the cost of transport to the pool.
Community Links
Ysgol Acrefair works hard to establish good community links:
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Library visits for workshops and author visits
Wrexham Art Gallery and Museum for workshops
Police Liaison Officer delivers PSE lessons
Visits from travelling theatre companies
Visits to local high schools and bridging units
Family services and concerts at school
Fundraising events at school
Involvement of local press to share positive achievements
Students from local colleges
Visits from local clergy
Visits from local councillors
Football in the community with Wrexham FC
Visits to local places of interest / attractions
Kiddies World and Toddlers
Support from Fron Choir and a venue for rehearsals.
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Other events and achievements
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Kingswood -residential trip
Tyn Dwr, Llangollen - residential trip.
Family Services
Harvest Service
Police liaison sessions
Trips to Erddig, Chester, Knowsley Safari Park, Llangollen
Eisteddfod, Park Hall Farm, Greenwood, Bowling at The Venue, Alyn
Waters.
Road Safety events / Kerb Kraft
School Council visit to Mayor’s Chamber
World Book Day events
St David’s Day celebrations
Christmas productions
Theatre visits
Netball, Football,Tennis - games and tournaments
Drama sessions
Sports Day
Mini Olympics
Various fundraising events – Barnado’s, Teddy Bears’ Picnic,
Wheelies, Cake Sale, Children in Need etc.
school photos
Art workshops
Nursery end of year concert
Leaver’s Service
Puberty Talk
KS1 jamboree
Fire Service workshops
Science week
Around The World Day
Entrepreneurial Week activities
Dental screening
Hospital Day – fund raising for Alder Hey Hospital
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School Council
School Council elections took place in the Autumn Term. One boy and one
girl have been elected from years 2 to 6. They meet on a regular basis to
discuss issues that their classmates have asked them to put forward and
they later report back to their class.
Eco Committee
Eco Committee elections took place in the Autumn Term. One boy and one
girl have been selected by their class mates from years 2 to 6. They are
currently assessing how ‘eco friendly’ we are as a school and discussing
the way forward.
Buildings / Health and Safety
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Regular fire drills take place.
Regular risk assessments are carried out by the Caretaker and
Chair of Governors.
A full electrical check has been completed.
The Chubb fire extinguishers have been checked and replaced
where necessary.
New doors have been fitted on the front of the school.
Health
We are part of Wrexham’s Healthy Schools Project. Various aspects of healthy
living are discussed. The pupils are encouraged to become aware of lifestyles
and the effects on health. Several subjects are considered- healthy eating,
hygiene, dental care, exercise, safety and first aid, smoking etc. and will follow
N.C. guidelines.
Water is available to all pupils throughout the day.
Policies
We have a rolling programme of policies that have to be reviewed by the
Governors – some annually and some every three years.
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School Prospectus
Minimal changes have been made to the school prospectus- staff and
Governor details, class sizes and dinner money costs have been updated.
Attendance statistics
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Attendance Statistics have been analysed for 2013 - 2014
Overall
actual
attendance
as a %
93.4%
sessions
missed
through
authorised
abs
6.1%
sessions
missed
through
unauthorised
abs
0.5%
In order that sessions missed through unauthorised absences are kept to
a minimum we request that parents ring school on the day of absence to
inform us of the reason for non-attendance. If we have not heard from
parents by 10.00 a.m. they are contacted, by phone, by the school
secretary.
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Performance Statistics
The percentages are based on how many children achieved Outcome 5+ in
Year 2 (Foundation Phase) and how many children achieved level 4 in Year
6 (key stage 2):
F/PH
2012/ 2013
F/PH
2013/2014
Wales
2013/2014
Wrexham
LA
2013/2014
KS2 2012/
2013
KS2 2013/
2014
Wales
2013/2014
Wrexham LA
2013/2014
Language,
Literacy,
Communication
75.9%%
82.1 %
86.6%
87.7 %
English
82.4%
Maths
75.9%%
89.3%
88.7%
93.2%
Personal
Social
Development
93.1%
100%
94.2%
82.9%
Maths
82.4%
Science
82.4%
90%
90%
90%
88.4%
88.9%
87.2%
87.7%
90.3%
88.4%
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Targets
Schools are asked to use their professional judgement, previous
assessment data and current ability, to predict targets for future years.
Based upon these we are able to predict the number of children that will
achieve Outcome 5+ at the end of Foundation Phase and level 4 at the end
of Key stage 2:
Language/Literacy/
Communication
F/PH
2014/2015
F/PH
2015/2016
90%
97 %
English
KS2 2014/2015
KS2 2015/2016
89%
92%
Maths
90%
97%
Personal and
Social
Development
90%
100%
Maths
Science
89%
96%
89 %
96 %
Children that have been identified as not currently on track to achieve the appropriate
level at the end of the Foundation Phase or Key Stage 2 have been targeted for
intervention strategies such as special needs support or booster group support such as
Blitz, Catch up in Literacy and Catch up in Numeracy.
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