Cathays High SchoolTackling Deprivation

Cathays High School 11-19 English medium school near centre of Cardiff.

NoR 886 (including 193 in 6th Form Entry Level 1 to Level 3 courses)

37% FSM 60% of pupils come from outside the catchment area of the school 69% EAL (43% below competent in English) 53 different ethnic groups and 64 languages other than English. 118 of the current years 7 to 11 came to Cathays High from

outside UK (46 this year) Another 99 students (26 this year) started secondary education

other UK schools, mostly in Cardiff (26% annual pupil turnover)

Context

Significant numbers of pupils (around 30% in Years 7 to 11) enter the school below functional levels of literacy.

Over 40% of pupils are identified with additional learning needs FSM pupils over-represented in these two groups. Significant increase in pupils from Czech and Slovak Roma

backgrounds often are illiterate (-6 yrs 8mths) or functionally illiterate (below 9yrs 6mths) on arrival.

52% of pupils from Czech and Slovak Roma community are FSM. In 2010-11 attendance was 87.9% and there was significantly

worse attendance amongst FSM pupils. Attendance of Czech and Slovak Roma Pupils in January 2012

was 69%.

Challenges

AHT responsible for Inclusion and Wellbeing with explicit responsibility to develop strategies to tackle effects of poverty.

Area Improvement Plans and Performance Management targets of TLR holders and other staff in Inclusion and Wellbeing Team reflect key priorities in tackling disadvantage

Whole School Improvement Plan targets reflected Specific improvement plans written to target certain groups with

acute deprivation e.g. Czech and Slovak Roma community Use of data to target groups from socio-economically deprived

backgrounds in Inclusion and Wellbeing TLR holder meetings which focuses on a particular group e.g. White-British FSM

Development of individual and group action plans for identified pupils in need of support.

Strategic Approach to Tackling deprivation

Re-structure of non-teaching pastoral support staff to become Inclusion and Wellbeing Officers

4 of the 7 go out to families as well as in-school work Faster action to address disaffection and poor attendance, behaviour

and punctuality Strengthens link with parents as we often go to them 3 of the 7 more school based implementing strategies to keep pupils in

school 2 are in charge of developing provision to avoid FTEs Head of School roles gave greater focus to positive engagement

strategies HoY role has greater emphasis on tackling disadvantage and

deprivation through use of data and leading on engagement strategies.

Specific Action- Staff roles and responsibilities

Every pupil in years 7, 10 and 11 is offered a family interview with a member of SMT

Bilingual translation at Parents’ Evening Bring a Parent to School Day, Open Evening

and New Parents’ Evening, Family Learning activities and Transition Saturdays- Year 7

Strategies to help parents, help their children’s learning

Meeting with Czech and Slovak Roma parents.

Specific Actions- Parental Engagement

Linking with Somali community support groups

Inclusion and Wellbeing Officer from Czech and Slovak Roma community

Developing links with local Mosques and engaging positive role models

Specific Action- Using Community expertise

Development of KS3 Integrated Studies group focus on developing Literacy and Numeracy

Development of KS4 Integrated Studies group developing literacy and numeracy and achieving Level 1 threshold

Alternative Curriculum programme development

Specific Actions- Developing Provision

Development of Restorative Approaches Refining the data tracking system for ALN

pupils Targeting FSM and other identified pupils

vulnerable to disadvantage for enrichment opportunities in school and within the community.

Specific Action- Current developments

FSM/Non-FSM Pupils KS3 The percentage of FSM pupils achieving the CSI was

higher than the Family, local and national average figures for the five years between 2008-2012 and is higher than the national average in 2013, which is excellent.

Gap between FSM and Non FSM at CSI L5+ is lower than the Family, Local and National averages

According to FFT data, FSM pupils’ VA performance is significantly higher than expected over three years for the CSI and the average level, for all indicators in Maths and for L5+ in Science

Outcomes for Pupils

FSM/Non-FSM Pupils KS4-2013 FSM L2 inc. E and M 2013 increased on previous 2 years Higher than Family and local average and equal to

national average. The gap to non-FSM performance was considerably

smaller than Family, Local and National averages. FSM performance better than Family, Local and National

averages at L1, CSI and Capped Points Score Increased over 3 years on these measures and the L2

threshold.

Outcomes for Pupils (Contd)

Whole school attendance increased:87.9%-2010-1190.5%- 2011-1291.8%- 2012-1393.2%- 2013- April- 2014 Attendance of Czech and Slovak Roma community increased:69% Jan 201288% April 2014 FSM pupils attendance is over 92.5% Non- FSM attendance is currently 1% higher than FSM pupil

attendance. Gap closed compared to 2012-13 where it was almost 2%.

Outcomes (Contd)