Reports are always written to encourage and advise, but they are above all honest, so that parents and pupils can realistically assess a situation. We believe in building confidence and trust through close and open teacher / pupil / parent relationships, and this is reflected in the nature of Bromsgrove reporting. Misleading monitoring and reporting can cause as much damage as poor teaching.

Pupils’ academic performance is monitored frequently and in detail: reports are written each term. Effort and attainment grades are awarded throughout the year and we set great store by value added statistics. Tutor and Houseparent add overviews to the detailed subject comments that constitute a full report, so a pupil is never left merely with a sum of the parts. Whenever a pupil is failing to fulfil potential, they will be given positive guidance with any criticism.

We set pupils individual targets and then expect effort grades (which range from 1 to 5) to be above an average 3. If it appears a pattern is emerging whereby a pupil is falling below this expectation, the School will communicate with parents so that an agreed strategy can be implemented to improve the situation: this may involve use of work cards. There is zero tolerance of lesson disruption.

Though “tracking” sounds a little clinical, we do indeed track the performance of every pupil in the School, measuring achievement against ability. Alis, Midyis and Yellis scores figure prominently. Twice a term, the entire Senior School staff gathers for an evening meeting when the effort and attainment grades of every pupil in the School are available for discussion. This enables a complete picture of the pupil to be gathered: the subjective and impressionistic views of teachers provide nuances even the finest academic database cannot. We will never let technology and pie charts replace the wise words of a canny teacher.

And of course we hold parent evenings for each year group. We value and encourage parental feedback, and any parents unable to make formal parents’ meetings are most welcome to visit tutors, teachers and houseparents throughout the year.