Agenda and draft minutes

This will be a single item meeting in which Ward Councillors are keen to hear about people’s experience of South Bank Multi Academy Trust. Whatever your links to the schools, we are keen to gather feedback that can help them to deliver the best outcomes for children.

Attendees: Councillors Kilbane, Burton, Crawshaw, Webb, MR Rachael Maskell, Michal Czekajlo CYC, Mora Scaife CYC

Attendance: 36 residents

Welcome Chaired by Cllr Kilbane who opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

Cllr Kilbane outlined that the volume of feedback received by the Ward Committee from parents and carers, existing and former school governors about experiences of the Southbank Multi Trust Academy (SMTA), changes to Teaching Assistants terms and conditions, attendance management, behavioural policies, changes in practice around working with school governors are the reasons behind calling tonight’s meeting. The meeting is being held this evening to provide an opportunity to offer feedback in an open forum, without it being personal, and with a view to start a constructive dialogue with SMTA. SMTA have been invited to join the meeting, however did not take up the opportunity. York Press reporter is present and may take photographs to accompany the press article. Should you not wish a specific matter being mentioned in their article please let the reporter know. Many apologies have been received from parents/carers who cannot be at the meeting this evening due to other commitments.

The floor was opened for feedback and questions.

·      A parent of a child with autism attending Y9 at Millthorpe School commented that when they were choosing the school for their daughter, they believed it was inclusive, however they feel that over time the school became an exam factory with a crowd control behavioural policy, with time in detention being often used as a punishment for misbehaviour. The parent felt that they are in a situation without a route to see the situation changing for the better.

·      A comment was made by a parent of a pupil attending Scarcroft Primary who feels that they are not able to be engaged with the school and are seen as a participant in victimisation campaign against SMAT staff, whereas the parent intention is to have a meaningful dialogue. When changes to the Teaching Assistant terms and conditions were being implemented a group of parents asked to meet with the SMAT CEO and Chair of Trustees, however that wasn’t allowed. The parent feels that SMAT Trustees are not being visible and there is no scrutiny over the senior management actions. 

·      Y9 Millthorpe School student with PTSD spoke about his experience of the school. The school not acknowledging correspondence from health professional and insufficient communication with the Head of School resulted in overwhelming stress. Communication with Deputy Head does not seem to be bringing positive results. The experience of being shouted at, spending time in a small room given games to play as opposed to learning made the student stop attending school and reverting to home learning. The student asked for more learning materials from school to study at home, with science and history being promised some time ago, but still not received. This seems to be due to the amount of time it takes for SENCO to communicate with respective teachers. The student perception of SMAT is of a profit-making  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.