Chairperson’s report 2011-12

Grove Academy Parent Council: Chairperson’s report 2011-12

Grove Academy has had another fabulous year. This is entirely due to the dedication of the school community including the head teacher, senior management team, teachers, support staff and students. Unusually, national attainment results are not yet available for the school. Therefore, it is not possible to report the usual facts that Grove is the top performing school in Dundee and compares favourably nationally. We have expectations that the three-year upward trajectory of the school attainment profile will have continued. The only results I can report with certainty are those from the Thurston household where my oldest daughter set a high benchmark for her sisters to follow. I offer my personal thanks to each teacher who is helping her (and every student in the school) achieve his or her dreams.

That said schools are not only measured in terms of academic performance. Grove also has notable achievements by pupils in sports and the performing arts. The large number of sporting achievements are quite rightly recognised by the school. Excellence in the performing arts is apparent and the school has allowed the talent of our young adults to flourish in a number of performances e.g. the music evening and performances at music festivals. Such successes are testament to the dedication of staff that gave of themselves to support such events. These extra-curricular performances are allied to excellent learning and teaching opportunities in the classrooms on a daily basis. They all make Grove a place where young adults continue to grow and thrive. Our thanks must go to all those in the school who facilitate the achievements of our children.

Graham Hutton has bedded in as new head teacher. We have a new uniform, a new timetable, new starting/finish times, new registration classes and a new curriculum.

The performance of the building has improved, but is still not faultless.

Dundee City Council has not delivered the road-safety improvements promised for the campus area. The council has had expert technical help from this Parent Council and it is unfathomable why this has not progressed.

Graham noted that cuts in the council budget for the school were impacting upon attainment levels in the school. The Parent Council will have an important role to play in supporting the school to ensure that Dundee City Council holds similar aspirations for students’ attainment and safety that we have as parents.

Finally, this will be my last year as Chair of the Parent Council. I would like to thank Kevin for his excellent work as Secretary/Clerk over the past four years. It simply couldn’t have happened without him. He has spent countless hours organising meetings and recording minutes.

Allen Thurston