Investors in Pupils

The school is aspiring at gaining The Investors in Pupils Award which is aimed at involving and informing all the students about how the school is run, how they can have a say in their education and where school money comes from and how it is spent.

It is a quality award, recognising the achievement of whole schools or class groups of pupils.

It requires pupils to set themselves individual targets, and agree class targets, to improve the understanding of their own role in the learning process and how this contributes to raising standards.

These class and individual targets, set by the pupils, relate to learning, behaviour, attendance, classroom management and induction.

All supporting adults are involved in the process. These include teachers, parents and carers, lunchtime staff, school support staff, governors, cleaners and technicians amongst others. Their roles are identified by the pupils and endorsed by the adults.

Investors in Pupils builds on the best practice which already exists in schools.

An essential factor for teachers is that the process is not time consuming and does not add to the teachers workload. In addition, it provides evidence for their own Performance Management targets, Every Child Matters and Ofsted requirements.

Currently there is only one school in North Yorkshire that has this award which is St. Joseph’s Primary School in Harrogate. We are aiming to be the first secondary school in North Yorkshire to gain this award.

The award usually takes a full school year but we are aiming to be assessed in April/May 2010. The work will be driven through the Vertical Mentor Groups (as a whole school achievement) as well as our staff and student volunteers (Investors in Pupils Coordinators) research.

Mrs. Hubbard,  as one of our Learning Managers, will be coordinating this process and keeping all students and parents/carers informed of the procedure through VMG’s and the school website by signing up to the Harrogate High School blog.

If you require further information or have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs. Wilkinson by emailing her at swi@harrogatehigh.co.uk  or by phoning 01423 548800 ext 224.