Number 7, June 2010
Thank You
As we come to the end of a very busy term we would like to share with you some of the important issues that the Board and Senior Management have been involved with since the start of the year. We also take this opportunity to thank all parents for your continued support of our school. We hope you and your children have had a happy and successful term and take this opportunity to wish you a lovely holiday.
This report does not say anything about specific school activities, events or trips; you will find descriptions of these in site newsletters and The Falcon. However, we would like to thank all those people – parents and staff – who made these vital activities happen, giving up hours of their time in support of our children’s education and enjoyment. One group of people who work hard in support of the school and the students is the PTA. We appreciate very much the efforts and achievements of the parents and teachers who form the Executive Committee under the leadership of Mr Carlos Eduardo Palmier.
What matters most in a school is what happens inside the lessons between teacher and pupil. We are most fortunate in our school in having a dedicated and hardworking team of teachers who put the care, well-being and good progress of their pupils above all else. None of this would happen, however, if, behind the scenes, we did not have an administrative team that worked efficiently and tirelessly in support of the school’s daily activities and development. In this, too, we are blessed. Thank you all.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank our pupils. We have many visitors to our school and, time and again, we receive genuinely positive comments about our pupils’ politeness, attitude and good behaviour. Our students are developing more of a ‘voice’ through their Student Councils, which function with the good of the school at heart. Our students participate in activities which take them beyond the school and, through their endeavour and positive, lively spirit, only help to improve the good image of our school. This is true guardianship in action! Well done and thank you to all those students who strive for excellence and make our school what it is.
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Board Membership
We are always very grateful to the dedication and work of the school Board of Governors, whose efforts and serious responsibilities often go unrecognised by the school community. Following the Annual General Meeting of the ABE in April, Mr Adam Reid continues as Board Chairman and Mr Chris McLauchlan as Honorary Treasurer. Mr Ingmar Scott stood down from the Board and we thank him for his excellent and dedicated service to date as a member of both the Finance and Education Committees. Mr Scott has been succeeded by Mr Quentin Lewis. We thank Mr Lewis for supporting our school by offering to stand for this important position. There are three changes in the Education Committee. Prof. Ana Canen had to stand down after serving a full term of great service to the Board and school. We have fully appreciated Prof. Canen’s experience and great good sense over the years. Nick Walker has generously offered to take over from Prof. Canen as Chair of the Education Committee. Finally, we are delighted that Prof. Mariana Albuquerque has been invited onto the Board as a Co-opted member and a member of the Education Committee.
School Academic Performance IGCSE and IB results
At the start of the term, the Board received an analysis of the academic performance of the Senior School from Chris Blanch, Head of Urca Site. The IGCSE results from Class 9 were once again ‘the best ever’ with 90% A*-C grades. Most students achieved more than 10 A* - C grades each. 40% of all grades were A*-A which is excellent and in almost all areas were above the world average.
62 students took the IB, the largest group in the school’s history. The diploma pass rate was 90% and the point average was a very good 31, both performances matching the results of previous years. 16 pupils achieved 35 points or more and 34 pupils achieved 30 points or more. We would all like to see the recent improvements in IGCSE performance being equaled by an equivalent upswing in IB results. Comparisons and benchmarking have begun and the progress of students can now be tracked between IGCSE and IB, against internal and external parameters.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award
A presentation was made to the Board by Ms Ros Scholes about the development of this popular outdoor activity.
- The expansion of activities (Pre-DofE 10-14 years) and the number of interested pupils of a wider age range has meant that many pupils have been unable to go on expeditions which were reduced in number for 2010.
- The Board is totally behind the DofE and it is agreed that plans for staffing and ensuring sustainability of the programme should be developed within the 2011 Budget.
- A longer term plan to include the potential development of an outdoor pursuits/study centre will also be developed for future Board consideration.
Staff Development
The Board were given an overview of this vital area by Staff Development Coordinator, Mr Craig Woollard. Mr Woollard joined the school this term, having been a Primary School Head in London with considerable experience in teacher training and development both in London and the USA.
- 1% of all fee income is allocated specifically to staff development, creating a very significant annual budget.
- In January, five members of the Senior School teaching staff undertook studies and school visits under the auspices of Warwick University, Department of Education. Six members of the Primary School teaching staff attended the course and school visits managed by Bishop Grosseteste College, Lincoln.
- We began the year with the induction of some 40 new educational staff. Ten were replacements and the remainder were mainly additional Assistant Teachers and SEN support staff. We now employ 65 Assistant Teachers (29 at Barra and 36 at Botafogo), all of whom are trained and qualified teachers in Brazil.
- The school has an impressive in-house programme of professional development, led by Mrs Lynda Smith, by which Assistant Teachers experience in-service training and teaching practice.
- Mr Woollard made some clear recommendations about the priorities for Staff Development in the future.
Development Projects
We made impressive progress in meeting the targets of our school facility development plan across all three sites.
- At Urca, the development of the new house on Avenida Pasteur for the History Department has created a fine new learning environment. The space created in the main building has enabled us to develop a new Science Laboratory so that the fourth floor Science suite now has six laboratories.
- The Mackenzie Building at Botafogo is a fantastic 4-storey facility and was opened for the start of term. It has a gymnasium/auditorium, large library with two linked computer laboratories, an Art room, two Music rooms, a Science laboratory and eight excellent classrooms for Classes 4 and 5. The corridors are wide and spacious and the whole building has a roomy and airy atmosphere. One by-product is to open up new spaces in the existing Cashman Building, giving an instant sense of greater spaciousness there. Another advantage of the new building is that the children will no longer have to travel out of school for their PE lessons. The stage and Drama facilities are still to be finalised.
- After Carnaval we opened a delightful new Pre-Nursery unit on Rua da Matriz, Botafogo. Located in a totally refurbished house, the unit has been growing throughout the term. Starting with 22 children, it now has over 30 children and set to reach the ceiling of 44 for 2011.
- The major areas for further physical development at Botafogo have been identified as: the expansion and improvement of the dining room; the resurfacing and redevelopment of the playground; the internal refurbishment of the Cashman Building.
- Building projects at Barra
The Barra Site has consolidated according to plan as we have now reached Class 7 and some 635 pupils on site. The Development Committee has been finalising arrangements and selected the builder for the next building project which begins this July. The project involves the construction of two linked units, one providing new accommodation for the Lower Primary. It will be completed in time for use in February 2012.
The growth in numbers has led to some difficulties related to traffic flow and parking. The poor quality and low maintenance of the access road has also been of concern. However, both issues continue to be addressed and some progress has been made. The school is in continuous contact with the appropriate authorities and the school insists on maintaining good relations with the local community.
- PE and Sports Facilities
The search for alternative sites for PE and sports both in Barra and in Zona Sul has continued this term. Several options are currently being considered, especially for Urca, and we have identified distinct possibilities for the Barra Site.
Financial Matters
The school’s finances continue to be robust, enabling us to support planned development and maintain and further the quality of staffing and resources at the school. Student numbers are healthy and there are waiting lists for several year groups throughout the school, especially at Urca. A voluntary staff pension plan has been set up by the Committee and will be in place next term. The school will match the employee’s contribution up to 2% of salary. The Budget for 2011 has been initiated and will be approved by the Board this October.
Education Committee
The ‘Vision, Mission, Philosophy and Aims’ of the school and the ‘One School Policy’ were reviewed in the light of an opinion survey of parents and school staff. Areas needing review are being addressed, the most significant being ‘communications’ and school catering. The committee has begun monitoring the school’s Main Goals for 2010, including the review of the school’s pastoral system. A document setting out practical steps for achieving the One School Policy was developed and approved by the Committee and the Board.
Establishing an Association
The Board has made good progress towards the establishment of an Association (Asociação) designed to support fund raising and monitor, control and direct funds both to charitable causes (social and environmental) and school development. The structure and design of the association has been defined and statutes are ready. The issue was addressed at the AGM of the ABE and greeted very positively by those present. An EGM will be set up for August, when we trust the ABE will approve the project so that it can be presented to the authorities for legal registration.
Succession Plans for the Director
Following Mr Paul Wiseman’s decision to retire at the end of 2011, the Board immediately formed a Succession Working Party which has been active by identifying and contracting a top international executive search and recruitment company based in London. A representative of the company visited the school in June and a time-line for recruitment has been established. The candidate profile for Mr Wiseman’s successor has been carefully drawn up following input from a range of people, including the school’s senior managers. Advertising and search will begin at the beginning of July 2010.
Staffing 2010/2011
- The first phase of recruitment for next year has focussed on building a team of teachers for the Senior School at Barra. Appointments have already been made for February 2011 which includes: Head of Humanities; ICT teacher; English teacher; Physics (Science) teacher. The quality of all these new appointments is outstanding.
- This July, Mr Chris FitzGerald (Head of Site, Botafogo) and Ms Angie Jeary (Head of Lower Primary, Botafogo) will be leaving the school. We thank them both for their excellent contributions and warm professionalism.
- Mr Tom Gething has been appointed as Head of Botafogo Site and Mr Jonathan Smales is the new Head of Lower Primary. Replacing Mr Gething is Mr Simon Lee who will be joining us from an international school in Germany. The post of Coordinator previously held by Mr Smales will be filled by Ms Tatiana Sobral, who gains this well-deserved promotion. Congratulations and good luck to all these promoted individuals.
- Two Key Stage 2 Primary Class Teachers have been employed from overseas for Barra from August 2010: Ms Kirsty Hughes and Ms Niamh O’Brien.
University Preparation and Entrance
Specific action has been taken to improve this component as follows:
- The former ‘University Preparation Programme’ was revamped under the ‘Brazilian Extension Course’. This included the introduction of specific additional History and Geography courses, additional after-school lessons, including redação) and mock ENEM examinations.
- Philosophy and Sociology have been introduced from Class 9 and includes the development of the IGCSE course ‘Global Perspectives’ which itself incorporates IGCSE Computer Studies.
- We have appointed an additional teacher to support the university guidance programme. New developments include: the early identification and support of overseas universities applicants; mock interviews; an expansion of careers interviews; analysis of SAT performance and additional guidance; and increasing the number of university visitors. A specific focus on supporting and encouraging students with high ambitions for overseas university entrance (from as early as Class 8) is also being developed.
- A full report on university entrance and success will be published in Term 2.
- To date, we have received no news regarding the results of the ENEM.
New Educational Management Structure and Priorities
The Educational Management Team (EMT) has been reorganised into a two-tier committee. The main responsibility for curriculum development and teaching and learning is now with an expanded group of cross-site middle managers (Directors of Studies and Pastoral Director, four Section Heads, SEN Coordinator) and led by the Staff Development Coordinator. The EMT meets at each site in rotation and the Head of Site of that unit is present. An expanded group, discussing higher level matters, meets less regularly and includes all three Heads of Site and the Director.
The educational issues defined for priority development for 2010 are:
- A review of practice regarding recuperação, conselho de classe and reporting
- Standards of English (of staff and students): a cross-site working party is developing strategies to address how we shall improve the quality of written and spoken English across the school.
- Assessment for Learning and Enhanced Learning (formerly ‘gifted and talented’): a cross-site working party is developing the outcomes of the whole-school action research into assessment and will design strategies for how classroom practice can be further developed.
- The review of the Pastoral System (the whole-school goal for 2010): a cross-site working party has been established to lead this review.
- Review of all job descriptions (and the Framework for Teaching): the EMT led this throughout Term 1.
- Preparation of the move from the old staff Appraisal system to a Performance Management system to be initiated in February 2011.
- One School Policy: strategies to ensure common practice and standards in teaching across the three sites.
- Classes 4 and 5: a review of how this transition can be better accomplished at the Barra and Botafogo sites.
- Curriculum mapping: the review and development of the new software (Rubicon Atlas) to assist the school with articulating the curriculum vertically and horizontally.
- A review of the role, salaries and conditions of Assistant Teachers.
- Primary curriculum review (by Heads of Section): complete review of the Primary curriculum as a whole
We trust you have found this report useful and, once again, wish you all an enjoyable and restful break. We are both looking forward eagerly to another busy term in August when more efforts will be achieved and more hopes fulfilled.
Yours sincerely,
Adam Reid Paul Wiseman
Chairman Director |
