On Wednesday 7^th March Julia Wilkinson, Careers Co-ordinator at Parkstone Grammar School, attended the Careers Development Institute annual awards ceremony in Leeds. Julia was delighted to be named National Careers Leader of the Year for her work in promoting careers and workplace skills with the students at Parkstone Grammar School.

This prestigious award follows the school’s recent achievement of the highest level of the national Quality in Careers Standard that recognises the outstanding provision within the school, and the strong partnerships with local business. Careers provision was also noted in the school’s recent outstanding Ofsted inspection as “a particular strength” meaning that students are well prepared for the next steps in their education, employment or training.

Parkstone is delighted to be sponsored by Coles Miller Solicitors as members of the Young Chamber who have recently themselves received the Engagement with Education Award at the Dorset Legal Awards 2018.

Parkstone Headteacher, Tracy Harris, commented that: “We are very proud of Julia and this incredible achievement. National recognition of her fantastic work for the students at Parkstone is well deserved and as a result our students are exceptionally well supported to make the next steps in their education or training.”

    

On 29^th November 2017 Parkstone Grammar was awarded the Quality in Careers Standard via the Investor in Careers award.  The Quality in Careers Standard is the new single national award for Careers and has combined the 12 previously available Careers Awards, Investors in Careers, being one of these. The award is in recognition of the excellent Careers Information, Advice and Guidance already established in the school.

The school’s strengths are:

• The school’s recent OFSTED report (Oct 17) moved the school to “outstanding” status, with Careers Education and student guidance being specifically mentioned as a strength; “Careers guidance is a strength of the school, including in the sixth form.”
• Support for students in post 16 is also a real strength, with students interviewed showing a genuine confidence in both tutors and subject staff assisting them with important choices.
• High-quality careers guidance ensures that students move on to meaningful and sustained destinations, chiefly in higher education. In 2017, all students who had been eligible for the pupil premium when they were in key stage 4 went on to university.
• A further strength is the developing role of the Careers Co-ordinator whose influence and initiatives are embedding themselves across the school; e.g. CEIAG subject audit/ whole school CPD.

Headteacher Tracy Harris said: “We are thrilled to have been given this prestigious award recognising the superb support provided by the school in preparing our young people for the next stages in their lives.  Huge congratulations must go to Julia Wilkinson, our Careers Coordinator, who leads the tremendous support for our students.”

Ofsted inspected Parkstone Grammar School on 11 and 12 October 2017 and have judged it to be outstanding in all areas.

The report, published this week, highlights the very strong leadership at all levels that enables students to make ‘remarkable progress’ at GCSE and A Level and has led rapid progress in the school since the previous inspection.

The school’s work to promote pupils’ personal development and welfare is outstanding and was highly praised for its innovation. The report comments that “school leaders take no major decision without giving deep consideration to the impact that it might have on pupils’ well-being, which is always at the forefront of their minds.”

Inspectors commented that teachers are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and highly skilled. The report states that teachers inspire pupils with a love of learning and build successfully on pupils’ high levels of self-motivation.

The exceptional levels of progress and attainment at all levels were praised. GCSE and A Level progress is extremely high. It was emphasised that disadvantaged pupils and pupils of all abilities make outstanding progress compared to their peers nationally.

Parkstone Grammar School pupils were highly praised in the report. Pupils were observed to “have all the attitudes and habits of highly effective learners. They take a justified pride in their work and are determined to succeed. They show resilience when faced with challenging work. They do not give up easily and are keen to work things out for themselves.”

The Sixth Form at Parkstone was highlighted as having been transformed since the previous report. The school welcomes students into the Sixth Form from a range of other schools who excel in the academic environment. The outstanding progress was emphasised in the report, along with the exceptional careers guidance ensuring all students progress to high level and meaningful training and education when they leave Parkstone.

Headteacher, Tracy Harris, commented: “I am delighted that Ofsted has recognised the exceptional provision at Parkstone. Our supportive and rigorous academic environment is one in which all students can thrive. Our commitment to student well-being and a holistic education, combined with the very highest levels of academic progress all through the school, has been recognised as truly world class. I am so proud of all of the students and staff at Parkstone who make the school such a unique and inspirational school.”

 

Parkstone Grammar School has been awarded a five-star charter for how well it prepares its students for employment!

Just before Easter, Parkstone Grammar School were visited by the Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Employer and Education Partnership, who rigorously assessed our careers provision for our students. The assessors were particularly impressed with independent advice and careers guidance at the school and highlighted the following as some of the areas of strength:

• Well stocked careers library valued by students
• Apprenticeship sessions run by BPC
• Any student can ask for a 1:1 Careers interview
• Students appreciated input from peers when choosing subjects
• Dedicated Careers and Pastoral Co-ordinator
• Annual programme of Careers Convention, events, assemblies, mock interviews,
• All year 10 students participate in work experience week
• Use of Labour Market Information including local employment opportunities
• Wide use of external organisations to offer opportunities to students, e.g. Duke of Edinburgh, Young Enterprise
• Effective use of websites
• Wide range of employer links
• Focus in PHSE on employability skills, attitudes and building resilience
• Activities include all year groups
• Students enthusiastic about the materials, support and opportunities available to them

The assessors were particularly impressed with the extensive use of external organisations and employers to support and stimulate careers work and the parents evening featuring higher level apprenticeships.

A high-flyer inspired the next generation of legal eagles at the latest school to join the Young Chamber programme.  Matt Lewis, from Coles Miller Solicitors, urged students to gain work and life experience but also enjoy themselves when he spoke at Parkstone Grammar School.  The 28-year-old also revealed to students that he was just about to be made a Partner at the firm – the youngest in its history just five years after joining as a trainee solicitor.

Matt’s presentation came as the Sopers Lane school signed up to Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (DCCI) Young Chamber Programme with sponsorship from Coles Miller Solicitors.  Matt, who is head of Residential Leasehold Property, said: “The most important factors for you at this stage are hard work and the desire to succeed.” He also urged pupils to ‘go with it and enjoy’ their journey through education and work in building a career.

Matt, who studied in Southampton and Bournemouth at undergraduate and postgraduate level, will lead the Young Chamber Programme for Coles Miller Solicitors.  He was accompanied by the firm’s Managing Partner Adrian Cormack and Marketing Manager Sarah Ryan. DCCI chief executive Ian Girling and Young Chamber co-ordinator Will Montgomery also attended along with head teacher Tracy Harris and careers co-ordinator Julia Wilkinson.

Parkstone has become the first school in Poole and the first Grammar to join DCCI’s groundbreaking Young Chamber Programme, which now has 14 members.  Tracy said: “We know how hard it can be for local businesses and schools to interact so the Young Chamber Programme offers many great opportunities. It means our students can hear real world stories and about routes into professions. We are very grateful to Coles Miller Solicitors for their sponsorship and are looking forward to developing a very strong relationship.”

Adrian said: “We place great value on our links with the community and wanted to support a school close to our Poole office.  “Parkstone Grammar was the perfect choice and the launch event was a great success with intelligent, enthusiastic and engaged students.”

Adrian, who is responsible for training at Coles Miller Solicitors, added: “The Young Chamber launch was the perfect platform to announce Matt’s richly deserved promotion from Associate Solicitor to youngest ever Partner at Coles Miller Solicitors. “I interviewed him six years ago and have seen him qualify, become head of his own department and now be promoted to full Partner.   It demonstrates our commitment to staff development and the potential for career progression with the right drive and enthusiasm. Our congratulations to Matt on reaching this milestone.”

Coles Miller Solicitors is a leading law firm with offices in Bournemouth, Poole, Broadstone, Christchurch and Wimborne.

Parkstone Grammar School is a selective girls’ school for 11 to 18 year olds in Poole and the surrounding area.

DCCI, the voice of business in Dorset, has 800 members representing 37,000 employees.

Will said: “Parkstone has become the first Grammar and the first school in Poole to join the Young Chamber Programme.  The initiative has already exceeded expectations and is proving inspirational for businesses and schools alike.”

Contact Will to join the programme on 01202 714817 and Will.Montgomery@dcci.co.uk. Follow the Young Chamber Programme on social media under #bridgingthegap.

We are delighted to share a letter received this week from the Minister of State for School Standards, Nick Gibb MP. He congratulates students and staff at Parkstone for the outstanding level of student progress placing Parkstone in the top 5% of schools nationally. A wonderful acknowledgement of the fantastic work that takes place every day. Well done everyone!

We are very proud to have received a letter from Rebecca Clark, the DfE’s Regional Schools Commissioner for the South West.

Mrs Clark has written to congratulate the school as one of the region’s highest performing schools, following the publication of provisional 2016 Progress 8 scores.   The new Progress 8 measure reflects the progress of young people from their starting places across 8 subjects including English and Mathematics. With a score of 0.55 this means that students at Parkstone achieve at least half a grade better than their peers in other schools nationally with the same starting points.

Mrs Clark wrote “I never underestimate the sheer hard work which sits behind results like these, please pass on my thanks and congratulations to your whole staff team”.

REGIONAL SCHOOLS COMMISSIONER LETTER