Month: April 2024
OFSTED inspection grades academy Good in all categories
26 Apr 2024
I am pleased to be able to share with you the news that following a successful visit from HMI towards the end of March, Park Vale has officially been judged to be a Good school: the first time ever in its history. The full breakdown of the gradings reads as follows:
Overall Effectiveness Good
The quality of education Good
Behaviour and attitudes Good
Personal development Good
Leadership and management Good
This achievement is a credit to all of the amazing staff who work here but also to the students who really impressed the inspectors with their conduct throughout the process. Thank you also to those parents who fed back such positive comments about the school in the survey which was sent out at the time. It really goes to show that – as long as students attend well – they get a great experience at Park Vale and have every chance of success in the future.
I have included the opening paragraph from the report below and a few other key lines but if you wish to read the full report, please click on this LINK.
Mr Bowhay.
Quotes from the official report:
“Pupils enjoy attending Park Vale Academy. The school has high expectations of what
pupils can achieve and how they should behave. Most pupils meet these
expectations. Staff and pupils said that the school has improved. The school is calm
and orderly. There are clear routines that pupils understand and follow. Most pupils
behave well in lessons. At break and lunchtime, pupils behave sensibly. They enjoy
socialising and taking part in different activities. There are positive relationships
between staff and pupils. Pupils are polite and well-mannered. They treat each other
respectfully.”
“Pupils feels safe in school”
“Pupils are clear about the school’s expectations of how they should behave.”
“Lessons are rarely disrupted.”
“The school is well led and managed”
Thursday 2nd May 2024 Commendation Evening Year 11
23 Apr 2024
Park Vale Academy is delighted to welcome parents to their Year 11 Commendation Evening on Thursday 2nd May 2024. We look forward to celebrating the success of the students with you.
Year 11 commendation winners and their families are invited to attend this presentation evening to celebrate their achievements at the academy.
Invite letters and Class Chart messages will be sent to all award winners.
Y8 PARENTS’ EVENING Thursday 16th May 2024 (4 pm – 7 pm)
23 Apr 2024
******The booking system opens midday on Monday 29th April*******
Please use the link below to book your appointments
https://parkvaleacademy.parentseveningsystem.co.uk/
Click here for a parents’ evening guide to using the system
Questions you may wish to ask at parents’ evenings
Jot down a list of questions and/or observations (not too many, though) on each subject in advance so your appointments are focused and make the most of the limited time.
Some useful questions might be:
- Is my child’s progress in line with the teacher’s expectations?
- Has he or she done anything particularly well, or badly?
- What can he or she do to improve?
- Are they attending the extra revision sessions after school?
- How can I help as a parent?
- How can you help as his or her teacher?
- How much time should my child’s homework for this subject take?
- How much time should my child be reading?
- What do his or her grades tell us about possible performance in important future exams?
- Does he or she contribute to lessons?
- How does my child get along with the other pupils in the class and the teachers?
Make a note on the night of the teachers’ answers – after a couple of hours whisking from one subject to another, it can be easy to forget or muddle the comments.
…And more questions
Most teachers have a wealth of knowledge and experience, so ask for their guidance and suggestions on how you can help your child to do their best in the subject. If a teacher says something you don’t understand, ask for clarification. Parents are not expected to know all about a subject or a method of teaching.
Constructive criticism
Good teaching means identifying areas for improvement, so don’t be offended if you hear criticism of your child. This should always be constructive and designed to help them to achieve their potential in the subject. If your child is with you, try not to sound disappointed or negative – or tell your child off! Take the advice of the teacher as a positive step towards better marks in the future. Remember that it’s rarely helpful to compare your child’s performance to other members of the class, set or year group – what’s important is that they are achieving in line with their own capabilities, not those of others.
Y8 & Y9 PSHE Workshops – 22nd April 2024
14 Apr 2024
On Monday 22nd April, Equate will again deliver PSHE workshops in school to our Y8 and Y9 students.
Y8 Equate workshop – Personal Space – periods 2 and 3
This workshop:
- Helps students to define different zones of space – intimate, personal, social and public
- Explores the different people the students feel comfortable allowing into different zones of their space
- Ensures the young people that they can always say no to any physical closeness
- Introduces and explores the meaning of sexual content through discussions of what the students would consider an invasion of personal and intimate space.
Y9 Equate workshop – Consent – periods 4 and 5
This workshop:
- Introduces consent and what it is
- Explores what is freedom, choice and capacity to consent, and what not having the freedom to consent might look like
- Students will work with scenarios to put their learning to use in assessing what is and isn’t consensual
- Discusses verbal and non-verbal cues, both positive and negative
- Signposts young people to support and advice online and in their areas.
‘Uniform Fitting Event’ for the New Year 7 Students 4th July 2024
11 Apr 2024
The Just Schoolwear team – Will be visiting’ Park Vale Academy ’ to hold a ‘Uniform Fitting Event’ for the New Year 7 Students
- Thursday 4th July 6 – 7.30pm
Students will be able to try uniform , which ensures the correct sizes are ordered on-line – Orders placed within 7 days after our ‘Fitting Event’ will receive Free home delivery on their order.
PVA Curriculum Plus- Co-Curricular Offer from April – May 2024 ***New Clubs Added *****
9 Apr 2024
Co-curriculum refers to the activities and learning experiences that take place in school alongside the academic curriculum. Academic attainment is a key element of school life and it is complemented by a broad and enriching co-curriculum to provide a rounded education. Park Vale students should aim to participate in at least two clubs a week.
See our timetable for clubs and activities on offer in our Curriculum Plus booklet
