Community Survey Results 2015

Dear Parents/Caregivers

Thank you to everyone that responded to our recent community survey. From a pool of 318 Banks Ave families, 72 took part (22.6%). 59.7% of these surveys were completed online.

The survey has given us plenty to talk about. We are very pleased with all the positive feedback received and we have identified areas to work on. In fact, the staff have already met and discussed ways, in which particular areas, can be improved. As your read through the results of the survey you will see some immediate actions we have taken and some longer term goals we have set. We will keep you well informed of any changes or future directions we take.

We hope you enjoy reading the results of this survey. All comments and feedback are taken very seriously. Thanks again for your input and for helping us to not only improve our practices, but for helping set the future direction of Banks Ave School.

About the Survey

The survey is divided into four sections:

Section 1: School Culture
Section 2: Reporting To Parents
Section 3: Communication
Section 4: Wellbeing/Other Feedback

Pie Graphs

The pie graphs represent the % of agreement to each statement.

Sample Responses

A sample of comments made that represent the overall essence of all the comments made for each statement/question.

Actions

Steps the school has in place or plans to have in place. You will find these at the end of each section.

Survey Results

Section 1: School Culture

Banks Ave’s vision to ‘learn today to succeed tomorrow’ describes the general culture of the school.

Banks Ave fosters a love of learning based on a framework of strong values, i.e., REACH (Respect Responsibility Empathy Co-operation Honesty).

Sample Responses

All my children both past and present have often quoted the Banks Ave REACH values. It shows me that this is very much a strong learning emphasis at the school.
Values espoused in REACH are not always apparent in the school grounds or the personal interactions between teachers and between teachers and students.
Great values but I am unsure how this is demonstrated to parents through children's learning.
I think it is important to equipped our children with confidence and an empathic attitude so they can be kind, caring and considerate

The top 5 values you think are the most important for our children to learn.

If you were asked to describe the strengths of Banks Ave School to a work colleague or friend, what would you say?

Please note that this section collected only qualitative responses – the following shows a representative sample of comments.

Sample Responses

Forward thinking.
Great teachers, great playground areas, approachable staff, positive feeling through the school.
Proactive, enthusiastic, contemporary, principled
My child is always happy to go to school. Loves her friends and teachers. So supportive and caring environment.
There have been a lot of changes of late and I am excited to see what the future brings. There is a feeling of a community which I have not felt before.
That the teachers are fantastic and work to help and support children that need the extra help. If there are any concerns they inform you as a parent also. They do not put any children down . All staff are friendly (teachers, office, caretaker etc).

Smaller type school with a "country" feel. Teachers appear very experienced and realistic.
The teachers I have dealt with seem genuinely passionate about their work.

Banks Ave has really helped my kids with their learning and gives them extra help when they need it which has helped a lot. Thank you.
Over the past 2 and a half years of my child attending the school what we have seen is teacher’s passion in working with the children in the class is faultless-encouragement is a word I would use to describe what the school/teachers have provided.
Effective leadership, excellent teachers, progressive.

If you were asked to describe the areas of improvement for Banks Ave to a work colleague or friend, what would you say?

Please note that this section collected only qualitative responses – the following shows a representative sample of comments.

Sample Responses

No open learning classrooms, I think closed classrooms with 1 teacher is a better option.
To embrace the other cultures of New Zealand. Such as Pasifika, Asian and European, e.g., join in the New Zealand Language week, as they have different cultures celebrating different languages per week.
To know where the new school is going to be!!!
Needs better ways of dealing with children with negative behaviours.
Safer parking ( the need to U-turn in narrow areas in problematic). Continue to grow access to technology in the classroom.

They need to improve the structure in modern learning, they have rushed into a system they know little about & children are suffering for it. They need more male teachers. They need to look at how difficult children impact on the whole class and find ways to stop this happening.
I think Banks Ave have so much change on the horizon. I think the school is in a difficult position with building sites still unavailable and appears to be in limbo a bit. Maybe start the building plan despite not having a site. If this is happening and the community is unaware you could improve this by promoting it in a visual way.

Banks Ave School has a culture of ‘continuous improvement’ for staff and students.

Sample Responses

We see (and appreciate) staff having non-contact time and attending PD courses.
Not really sure if it's that obvious as a culture yet but I can see it visibly improving.
I’m always reading in the newsletter about different areas improving.

Section 1: Actions for School Culture

Our school values are currently being revised. After considering the feedback from parents in this survey we have updated our school values to the acronym, HEART.

H = Hauora E = Excellence A = Aroha R = Respect T = Togetherness
This continues to be work in progress. Embedding these values will be a major focus for us next year.

In 2016 …

All staff will participate in professional development in Positive Behaviour for Learning. This will have a huge impact on enhancing school culture.
There will be a school wide focus on celebrating cultural diversity.
We will continue to focus on building teachers’ knowledge, skills and understanding of future focused teaching and learning. Parents will be given a variety of opportunities to join us on this journey, e.g., parent info evenings, newsletter updates, info on website, perhaps even a bus tour for parents to visit other schools.
Parking-we agree! We will continue to monitor the parking and bring in reinforcement (council) as needed.

Section 2: Reporting

We currently send two reports home a year and we have two learning conversations. What are the key things you would like to see in our written reports, for example, the key competencies: managing self, thinking, signs symbols and texts, participating and contributing and relating to others; acknowledgement of effort as well as progress and achievement, reporting against all curriculum areas , e.g., art and music.

Sample Responses

I think the reports are good as they are now. The learning conversations I don't get a lot out of as they are generally run by the child, would appreciate a bit more time from the teacher telling me what they think more about how my child is progressing
Apart from what we already get, I would like to see reporting on all curriculum areas, including art, music, and any additional learning they undertake, eg: choir, clubs, etc
An easier to understand graph of where child is at in relation to national standards.
I am happy with reporting. I think a mid year and end of year report is fine.

The learning conversations (meetings with teachers and my child) are effective in informing me about my child’s general progress and achievement.

Sample Responses

Twice yearly is good, although the first one (early in term 1) is more an opportunity for parents to convey issues/desires because the teacher is often unfamiliar with the individual child at that stage. Term 3 one is much more productive and improvements easy to identify (e.g compare handwriting from Term 1-Term 3). Great children are included. 20 minutes about right. Love on-line booking system.
I would prefer these meetings to be teacher and parent meetings. It is very hard to discuss certain areas in front of children. Also twenty minutes isn’t long enough, they feel very rushed through.
These sessions have been formative and always child directive that we have attended to date. Relaxed setting and fee we can ask anything.

My child's report (twice yearly) is effective in informing me about my child’s progress and achievement.

Sample Responses

Report should have an over time dimension as currently just an in time snapshot which is hard to compare to last time without a lot of additional work.
I really like how it gives parents advice on what they can do to help and extend the child’s learning
I found the shaded areas a little confusing!
Shaded area can be misleading (e.g. child at start of year 3 may have shading through to middle of Year 4. I take more notice of teacher comments than ticks or student self evaluation.
It would be nice to get an informal report about the child/ren's progress for each term as well as the formal report twice yearly. Even an informal email will do, as I am always curious about behaviour and other non educational such as respect for teacher and the rest of the class.
I find the ‘At’ stickers very confusing. The child may be above or below their year in subjects but get an ‘At’ sticker.

Section 2: Actions for Reporting to Parents

We have updated the written report so it is less confusing. We look forward to getting your feedback about this at the end of the year.
We are in the process of creating a labeled diagram to help parents understand the report format.
As we move toward collaborative teaching practice across the school, the format of learning conversations will be revised.

Section 3: Communication

Banks Ave School communicates effectively with families.

Sample Responses

The tweet system has not worked for me. I feel we get late notice about a lot of events and groups the children are in.
Notices and emails are received regularly.
Tweet reminders are fantastic!
The texts were great, but despite logging on multiple times and talking to the office about it there seems to be an issue with the Vodafone network. My husband has had the same issue. therefore communication is solely through the newsletter which although being great is not as "up to the moment" as the texts.
I have always had complete access to teachers and management at banks ave.
The amount of texts I receive that don't apply to us can be a bit annoying at times. Eg my son is a junior but we get lots of texts about things only the seniors are doing. Having said that the relevant reminders are very helpful!

When communicating with our families we like to ensure we reach everyone. Technology is used more and more to communicate, however, this relies on our families having access to the internet.

Have you access to the internet at home?

Is communicating via, tweets, emailed newsletters, website, the best way for us to send information to you?

Would you prefer a ‘hard copy’ newsletter?

Teachers are approachable and take the time to listen to any concerns or questions I might have about my child/ren.

Sample Responses

My child's teacher has been absolutely wonderful!
Both my children’s teachers are very approachable. They seem to have a good ‘handle’ on my children as individuals and their needs/issues. They don’t hesitate to touch base with me at the end of the day if they need info-appreciated.
Some are not as approachable as they should be but most are good.
They are generally busy in the morning preparing so feel like it is not a good time or they just talk to your child. Don't think I should have to make a time to talk.

School leaders are approachable and take the time to listen to any concerns or questions I might have about my child/ren.

Sample Responses

I have never had a need to seek assistance from leaders beyond teacher level, but I see leaders mingle at the end of the day around the school grounds and would feel happy to approach if necessary.
Who are the school leaders?
I have had fantastic support with the school leader/management team. As have my children when confronted with needing to express feeling/fears/successes with them.
Unsure of who these are.

The Banks Ave School Board of Trustees are approachable and take the time to listen to any concerns or questions I might have about my child/ren.

Sample Responses

Wouldn't really know who they are to approach them
I’m not sure! Sorry have never approached them
Na! never seen them

Section 3: Actions for Communication

We will continue to investigate why some of our parents aren’t receiving tweets. This appears to be an issue with Vodafone
Newsletters will continue to be available online as well as in hard copy.
Teachers will continue to be available to parents on a formal and informal basis.
School leaders (Principal and Deputy Principals) and the Board of Trustees will continue to build positive relationships within our school and community, e.g., explaining who we are, what we do and why.

Section 4: Wellbeing/Other Feedback

My child/children feel safe at school

Sample Responses

I trust in the teachers in lunch and play time monitoring duties and that if any issues arise I know the school will contact me if an accident or sickness occurs with my child.
There is a culture of bullying that is obvious in the senior school & my child feels vulnerable and scared at times.
I like the presence of staff members at the gates in p.m. Both children speak of peer-mediation presence and know they could approach multiple entities if they felt concerned.
There is the occasional "no one wanted to play with me today, someone was mean to me/pushed me" etc.
Some behaviour and violence incidents in the school are of concern.

Please comment below if there is any further feedback you would like to give the Board of Trustees and school management.

Please note that this section collected only qualitative responses – the following shows a representative sample of comments.

Sample Responses

Keep improving, don't ever become complacent.
The only problem I really have had is parking. Would it be possible to send home an aerial picture of the school grounds to all parents with the different entrances and exits to the school clearly pointed out? As Banks Avenue itself can prove to be an absolute nightmare and I think if a picture was sent home for parents to see the different entrances then the parking may be a little more 'spread out' between the different streets.
I think the school camp was great but i didn’t feel comfortable with my child being driven by parents, there is too many unknowns with this, not knowing if the parent is a safe driver etc, I’d rather a bus is hired and would be happy to pay a little extra for this, it is also a fun part of camp for children, travelling together is exciting.
I hope the new school location will be shared ASAP, it is unsettling not knowing. I’m uncertain about how the future teaching environments/strategies will enhance my children’s individual learning. I hope it is driven by sound research and future life/work needs rather than by tightening resources (less staff:student ratios).
You guys do an amazing job! I’m pleased and proud that I’ve chosen BAS for my children. I believe Toni Burnside has changed the environment and feel safer and more comfortable dealing with any problems, thanks guys.
The junior school is fantastic on the whole, however, I have heard mostly negative things about the ‘Dudley Experiment’ which is making us think about changing schools.

Section 4: Actions for Wellbeing/Feedback to the Board

The senior school children have completed a wellbeing survey. This will give us further information about how they are feeling at school and why, which we will be able to follow up on.
A playground audit is currently underway so we can determine what we can do in order for our children to play more wisely and creatively.
Buses will be used for school camps.
In regards to our new school location, you have been updated as we have received information from the Ministry of Education. Be assured that we will let you know when a decision has been made.
We are aiming for all to have a mindset of continuous improvement. We seek to be in partnership with you in this.