Dear Parent,

Since my introduction to school governance, twenty five years ago,

this year must be the most satisfying of all, and it coincides nicely with

our school centenary celebration.

The results achieved by the pupils were amongst the highest in the

country, with 5 A*-C results hitting the very high 98%. Congratula-

tions must be given to the teaching staff, support staff, pupils and to

parents. Without their support, pupils would find it difficult to suc-

ceed.

I have paid accolades to the frontline staff for their efforts, but the

people behind the scenes, whose contribution aid the smooth running

and success of the school, must also be congratulated. I refer, of

course, to the administrative, catering, support, caretaking and do-

mestic staff: these are people who play a great part in addressing all

the problems that may occur with the daily running of a school.

I have left until the end the governors of the school. We have to

support the Headteacher, but also question him on policies of finance,

staffing, curriculum and other issues. One of the roles we have sole

responsibility for, and a very important role it is, is appointments, and

in this respect the governors have performed very well. We are de-

lighted with the progress made by all our recent appointments.

Since Mr. Grimes’ appointment, he has adopted successful policies

which, with the backing of his staff and governors, have helped to

make Dyffryn the school it is today.

This year the school has been selected as a Lead Practitioner

School, recognized by the Welsh Government for its outstanding work

and chosen to exemplify best practice and to assist other schools in

their development. I am proud to be associated with Dyffryn School.

D. Snook

Chairman of Governors

There were no resolutions passed at the previous

Annual Meeting.

D Y F F R Y N S C H O O L

P O R T T A L B O T

ANNUAL REPORT TO PARENTS S U M M E R T E R M 2 0 1 3

EXAMINATION RESULTS SUMMER 2012

We are especially pleased with our Level 2 (5A* - C GCSE) results:- Level 2 (5A* - C) 98% Level 1 (5A* - G) 98%

Success at this level gives our

pupils the opportunity to

pursue careers of their choice,

either through study at college

and university or in the workplace.

P A G E 2

Examination

Results

‘ Outstanding!

Once again, we

have exceeded

all targets and

are well above

local and

national

averages .‘

Who’s who on the Governing Body HEADTEACHER—Mr. M. Grimes PARENT GOVERNORS: These are elected by parental vote and serve for a 4 year term Mrs. Suzanne Amos 30 September 2015 Mrs. Hayley Morris 21 October 2016 Mr. Ian Bolton 21 October 2016 (Vice Chairman) Mrs. Philippa Daniel 31 August 2014 Mrs. Helen Leadbetter 30 September 2016 Vacant TEACHER GOVERNORS: These are elected by the teachers Mrs. Christine Harris 31 August 2016 Mr. Anthony Staton 30 June 2016 NPT LEA GOVERNORS: These are appointed by the Local Authority Mr. Doug Snook 31 August 2013 (Chairman) Mrs Joan Richards 31 August 2013 Mrs Lisa Donovan 16 September 2015 Cllr Rob Jones 31 August 2016 STAFF GOVERNOR: This person is elected from the non-teaching staff Mrs. E. Griffiths 15 September 2015 NEATH PORT TALBOT CBC Appointed by the Local Authority COMMUNITY GOVERNORS: Invited to join the board by other members due to their specialist skills which are felt to add to the expertise of the body as a whole. Mr. Marco Tambini 31 October 2013 Rev. Jeremy Bailey 28 February 2016 Mrs. Mair John 6 June 2015 Father Mark Williams 31 December 2017 CLERK: Mrs. Paula Durnell, Dyffryn School Nominations will be sought in the Autumn Term for one Parent Governor. Governors have not claimed any travelling or subsistence expenses.

Targets set by the governing body are available in the School Improvement Plan, which is available to any parent upon re-quest.

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A N N U A L R E P O R T T O P A R E N T S

P A G E 3 S U M M E R T E R M 2 0 1 3

Welsh in Dyffryn School Dyffryn School is an English medium school and instruction in all subjects is pre-dominantly in English. Welsh lessons meet the statutory requirements for Welsh as a Second Language. In these Welsh lessons, the target language is used wherev-er possible. There is also incidental use of Welsh in all subjects and at other times during the day. The Curriculum in Dyffryn School The curriculum followed by the pupils of Dyffryn School includes subjects, events, visits, assemblies and form periods. These elements have been carefully designed and integrated so that our pupils enjoy their time in school and so that they are ready to succeed in their chosen paths when they leave Dyffryn. We are particu-larly pleased with the extensive range of subjects, in excess of thirty five. The qual-ifications at GCSE include French, German and Spanish together with the separate sciences. We believe that every pupil should experience every part of the curriculum if pos-sible. We have developed classes and experiences that meet the regulations of the Welsh Government and the guidance of Estyn, the school inspectors. The teaching in school is varied and meets the needs of individual learners. Learn-ing is an active process that develops the skills, knowledge and understanding of our pupils so that they become independent young people. We also intend that every pupil will succeed in school; achieving success in examinations and being challenged by a broad range of experiences.

Links with the Police The school continues to work closely with its Community Police Officer. PC Wozencroft is a regular visitor to school to deliver PSE lessons to all year groups with topics including Substance Misuse and Anti-Social Behaviour. He is also part of a new initiative—Team Around the Family which has been set up by the local authority to provide support for vulnerable children and families. Toilet Facilities Dyffryn Upper and Lower School provide general toilet facilities including a fully fitted disabled toilet. All are situated at ground level and consist of hot and cold water, soap dispensers with liquid soap, large rolls of toilet paper and wall mount-ed hand air blower. The toilets are cleaned each day and a cleaner is also available during lunchtimes. The facilities are cleaned and re-stocked on a daily basis. Lunch time supervisors/cleaners are employed daily.

P A G E 4

Examination Performance Over the Last Four Years

A N N U A L R E P O R T T O

P A R E N T S

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR

08/9 09/10

10/11

11/12

NUMBER ON ROLL

784 801

803

779

% ATTENDANCE

93.3 93.1

93.4

93.0

% UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE

0.2 0.2

0.1

0.2

% ENTERED FOR ONE OR

MORE GCSE EXAMINATIONS 100 100

100

98

% ACHIEVING ONE OR MORE

GCSE GRADES AT A*-G 99 100

100

98

% ACHIEVING ONE OR MORE

EXTERNAL QUALFICATIONS 99 100

100

98

% ACHIEVING 5 OR MORE

GCSE A*-C 68 75

87

97

% ACHIEVING 5 OR MORE

GCSE A*-G 99 99.2

99

98

% ACHIEVING A*-C IN NC

CORE (ENGLISH, MATHS,

SCIENCE)

49 50

51

58

% ACHIEVING 5 OR MORE A* - C INC. ENGLISH AND

MATHS 50 51

59

58

% ACHIEVING MATHS KS3 NC

LEVEL 5+ 74 73

72

83

% ACHIEVING ENGLISH KS3

NC LEVEL 5+ 70 77

76

87

% ACHIEVING SCIENCE KS3 NC

LEVEL 5+ 78 89

67

83

% ACHIEVING CORE KS3 NC

LEVEL 5+

61 66

59

77

% FREE SCHOOL MEALS

18.1 19.4

19.0

20.8

STATEMENTED PUPILS

7 7

6

6

SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

P A G E 5 S U M M E R T E R M 2 0 1 3

Dyffryn School continues to be a “good school with many outstanding features”. We are maintaining

standards in all the areas identified in the Inspection Report of June 2008 as being strengths of the

school.

Examination results this year are expected to be very good. Throughout the school performance con-

tinues to be of a very high standard. Results are expected to show significant added value, and will

compare favourably with other schools.

is also regularly re-

viewed to take account

of learning pathways,

new subjects and nation-

al curriculum require-

ments.

Arrangements for liai-

son between KS2 & 3

and KS4 & 5 are excel-

lent. Staff from all

catchment Primary

Schools and from Neath

Port Talbot College

meet regularly to ex-

Curriculum provision is

an outstanding feature of

the school. It offers a

broad and relevant cur-

riculum that meets the

needs of all students and

conforms to statutory

regulations. It is de-

signed to meet the needs

and interests of all pupils

by providing a free

choice of options to all at

KS4. Pupil choice deter-

mines the provision of

the curriculum at KS4. It

change ideas and to plan

further developments.

The School provides for

the certification of the

Essential Skills Wales,

Key Skills and Welsh

Baccalaureate.

The curriculum is en-

riched by a variety of ac-

tivities, including out of

hours and off site provi-

sion. These include

sport; music; drama;

Standards of learning are high for nearly

all pupils. Indeed, this is one of the out-

standing features of the school. The

school is using Fischer Family Trust data

in order to set targets for pupils. This is

consistent with the latest Welsh Govern-

ment requirements and means that targets

can be more specific while still being very

challenging.

Standards throughout the school con-

tinue to be high. The increased em-

phasis on skills development, along-

side the need for specialist “subject”

teaching, is creating new demands and

pressures. In particular, the Welsh

Government’s renewed focus on liter-

acy and numeracy presents a chal-

lenge for which we are well prepared.

QUALITY OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

LEARNING EXPERIENCES

Duke of Edinburgh;

visits abroad; field

trips; Languages Day;

Careers Fair; Eco

Schools; Environment

Day and a host of visi-

tors who come into

school to talk to our

children on a wide

range of matters.

P A G E 7

A N N U A L R E P O R T T O P A R E N T S

Targets set to reduce the level of

unauthorised Absences

The school’s attendance target is 95% and the school aims to have 0% unauthorised absences. Currently the school’s attendance is 93% with 0.2% unauthorised absence. The school employs an Attendance Officer to work alongside the Education Welfare Officer to monitor pupil absence.

School Prospectus

There have been no changes made by Governors to the School Prospectus since the previous governors’ report was prepared.

Pupil Destinations

Female Male

Continuing in full-time education - Same School 0 0

Continuing in full-time education - School 3 1

Continuing in full-time education - College 71 57

Continuing in full-time education - HE 0 0

GAP Year 0 0

Continuing in Part time Education 0 0

Entering employment outside WBTYP 1 1

Entering WBTYP (employed status) 3 3

Entering WBTYP - (without employed status) 8 7

Unemployed and registered with CareersWales 0 2

Unemployed and NOT registered with Careers Wales 0 2

Unable to enter Emp, Ed or WBTYP (e.g. due to illness, custodial sentence) 0 0

Known to have left the area 0 0

Not responding to follow-up and therefore unknown 0 0

Total number of 2012 statutory school leavers 86 73

P A G E 8 S U M M E R T E R M 2 0 1 3

BUDGET—Income 2012/13

Supply Cover Refund £28,599 Pupil Deprivation Grant £71,550 SEG Grant £53,356 14—19 Grant £22,866 Hire of Buildings £7,450

BUDGET—Expenditure 2012/13

Teachers’ Salaries £2,208,083 Non Teaching Staff Salaries £622,933 Wages £169,086 Administration, Exams and Local Authorities £252,947 Contracts £13,156 Premises £347,919 Capitation £53,263 Other activities £54,909

P A G E 9

“To ca tch the rea der's a tte nti on, place an in te res ting sen tence or qu ote from the s tory here.”

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A N N U A L R E P O R T T O P A R E N T S

Physical Education & Sport

Physical education is delivered throughout the school by four specialist teachers; 2 male and 2 female. All Year 7 and 8 pupils receive 2 hours per week and Years 9,10 and 11, 1 hour per week. The activities taught this year included football, netball, rugby, basketball, badminton, gymnastics and a range of fitness sessions including circuit training, multi gym and aerobics. The summer term sports are tennis, athletics, rounders and baseball. A wide programme of extra curricular activities is provided for all pupils. Progress from these is made into school and representative teams. This year Dyffryn has been very successful in reaching many district, county and na-tional finals. Football: Welsh Cup Finalists u13 girls Welsh Cup Finalists u14 girls Welsh Cup Semi Finalists u12 boys Premier league finalists at Anfield u13 girls (3rd place overall) South Wales 6 a side Winners u14 girls Afan Nedd Cup Winners Year 10 boys Afan Nedd Cup Finalists Year 9 boys Gymnastics: County Champions year 8 boys Netball: County Champions year 10 girls Rugby: Afan Nedd Cup Finalists year 10 boys. A number of boys in Year 10 & 11 have represented the district, region and Boys clubs of Wales. Sophie Cardy has represented Wales in football at u15 and u17 level. Oliver Probert represented South Wales in cricket; Shea Jones represented G.B in aerobic gymnastics. The school is very proud of them all. 5 x 60. This is an initiative run and funded by Sports Council for Wales to encourage pupils to participate in sports and activities. The officer at Dyffryn School is Miss Sharon Walters who runs many extra-curricular events at the school. Dance, dodgeball, badminton, atomic touch, athlete development club, tennis, surfing, football and basketball have all benefited from the 5 x 60 programme this year. 545 children have participated in at least 1 activity this year on the 5 x 60 programme. EURO-DISNEY TOUR RUGBY & NETBALL 56 pupils travelled to Paris to compete in international tournaments in rugby and netball at Easter this year. The standard of play was very high and Dyffryn school did extremely well. In netball year 10 girls came 4th overall, year 11 girls won the Plate competition and year 9A were 4th in the u14 tournament. In rugby, the boys performed extremely well throughout the tournament. OPTIONS GCSE Physical Education and BTEC Sport are very popular and well supported by the pupils within the school. All pupils achieve a good standard of practical performance which is supplemented by a high level of theory work. The pass rate last year was 100 % at BTEC sport. The courses this year also include a GCSE option. SPORTS FESTIVALS A primary schools sports festival was held at Dyffryn School for all the pupils in years 5 & 6 in Neath and Port Talbot, pupils from Dyffryn had the opportunity to assist in leading, umpiring and organising the events of that day. The P.E. department will also be running another primary school day called ‘Play more Football’ which will take place in the Summer Term.

Telephone:

Upper School 01639 760110

Lower School 01639 760112

The School Day:

8.30—8.45 a.m. Registration

8.45—8.55 a.m. Assembly

8.55—9.55 a.m. Lesson 1

9.55—10.55 a.m. Lesson 2

10.55—11.15 a.m. Break

11.15—12.15 p.m. Lesson 3

12.15—1.15 p.m. Lesson 4

1.15—2.00 p.m. Lunch

2.00—3.00 p.m. Lesson 5

DYFFRYN SCHOOL

PORT TALBOT

Fulfillment

through Education

Term Term Begins

Mid Term Holiday Begins

Mid Term Holiday

Ends

Term Ends

Autumn

2013

Monday

2nd September

Monday

28th October

Friday

1st November

Friday 20th

December

Spring 2014

Monday

6th January

Monday

24th February

Friday 28th

February

Friday

11th April

Summer

2014

Monday

28th April

Monday

26th May

Friday 30th May

Monday

21st July

DYFFRYN SCHOOL

Educating today’s pupils for a

successful tomorrow

Please note: The school will be closed for staff training on Monday, 2nd and Tuesday, 3rd

September 2013. Monday, 6th January, Friday, 14th February and Monday, 21st July 2014.