2012 Community Survey
Community Survey Results
Thank you to everyone that responded to our recent community survey - we had a huge response 153 out of the 261 families at the school took part. The Board of Trustees are very pleased with the results. It is a clear vote of confidence for the way the school is being run and for where it is going. This latest consultation is part of a process that was started back in 2007 when we first launched the Sumner School Vision for Teaching and Learning.
Back then the board ran public meetings, focus groups and based on the feedback from the community, created this Vision. We have always viewed this as a “live” document and have revisited it several times since then with BOT/leadership team workshops and last year another community survey.
We believe we have set the bar very high for what is an acceptable score. If 85% or more of respondents have answered “agree” or “strongly agree” to a question then we have taken that as a reliable indicator of success. If a question scores under this then we plan to look at the particular issue in more detail and see what we need to do to improve this.
Many of the things that were identified as important by the community back in 2007 have scored very highly. For example in the focus groups parents stated that they wanted their children to leave Sumner school with a strong sense of values. 92% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Sumner school fosters a love of learning based on a framework of strong values (eg Surfer values). Likewise, as a testament to our vision statement 88% thought that Sumner Schools mission “excellence and effort in a caring environment” describes the general culture of the school.
From the Board’s point of view we are also pleased with the very positive feedback on our professional, committed and caring teaching staff and the level of satisfaction with our focus on numeracy and literacy. The survey has given us plenty to talk about and areas have been identified to work on. In fact the leadership team have already run a one day workshop on the results and feedback on the learning conferences/portfolios and reports aspects to the survey.
Please take the time to read through this initial summary of results. As mentioned there is more analysis to carry out and we will provide you with this as it comes to hand. Thanks again for your input, all your comments and feedback are taken very seriously, and I would also like to thank the members of the staff and the Board who have put so much time into putting the survey together and analysing the results. Scroll down to read the results of the 2012 Community Survey.
Michael Inder
BOT Chair
Thank you to everyone that responded to our recent community survey - we had a huge response 153 out of the 261 families at the school took part. The Board of Trustees are very pleased with the results. It is a clear vote of confidence for the way the school is being run and for where it is going. This latest consultation is part of a process that was started back in 2007 when we first launched the Sumner School Vision for Teaching and Learning.
Back then the board ran public meetings, focus groups and based on the feedback from the community, created this Vision. We have always viewed this as a “live” document and have revisited it several times since then with BOT/leadership team workshops and last year another community survey.
We believe we have set the bar very high for what is an acceptable score. If 85% or more of respondents have answered “agree” or “strongly agree” to a question then we have taken that as a reliable indicator of success. If a question scores under this then we plan to look at the particular issue in more detail and see what we need to do to improve this.
Many of the things that were identified as important by the community back in 2007 have scored very highly. For example in the focus groups parents stated that they wanted their children to leave Sumner school with a strong sense of values. 92% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Sumner school fosters a love of learning based on a framework of strong values (eg Surfer values). Likewise, as a testament to our vision statement 88% thought that Sumner Schools mission “excellence and effort in a caring environment” describes the general culture of the school.
From the Board’s point of view we are also pleased with the very positive feedback on our professional, committed and caring teaching staff and the level of satisfaction with our focus on numeracy and literacy. The survey has given us plenty to talk about and areas have been identified to work on. In fact the leadership team have already run a one day workshop on the results and feedback on the learning conferences/portfolios and reports aspects to the survey.
Please take the time to read through this initial summary of results. As mentioned there is more analysis to carry out and we will provide you with this as it comes to hand. Thanks again for your input, all your comments and feedback are taken very seriously, and I would also like to thank the members of the staff and the Board who have put so much time into putting the survey together and analysing the results. Scroll down to read the results of the 2012 Community Survey.
Michael Inder
BOT Chair
3.4 Sumner School's mission "excellence and effort in a caring environment" describes the general culture of the school.
Sample Responses
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3.5 My Child/ren feel safe at school.
Sample Responses
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3.8 Sumner School has a strong relationship with the physical environment.
Sample Responses
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3.9 Sumner School has a strong relationship with other learning institutions and the wider world
(e.g. the Bays Cluster, the local kindergarten and early childhood providers, local high school and international schools).
Sample Responses
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3.10 Sumner School fosters a love of learning based on a framework of strong values (e.g. SURFER values).
3.11 My child/ren is/are receiving appropriate support at Sumner School with regard to the earthquakes.
Sample Responses
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3.12 Specifically, Sumner School provides rich learning opportunities through a school-based curriculum founded on quality
3.12.1 Numeracy 3.12.2 Literacy
3.12.6 Sample Responses
Please note that there was only a single comments section provided for all areas covered by question 12. As many of the responses cover more than a
single area, a sample of all responses can be seen below:
- More extension activities in numeracy and literacy always welcome
- A couple of years ago my daughter (now YR6) was involved in a writing workshop, which she got a lot of benefit from - more specialised workshops would be good. I hear very little about science projects.
- I especially like the maths interchange
- The children all really enjoy all that is offered at Sumner school.
- The curriculum - or the way it is implemented - does not cater as well to high achievers as it does mid to low. These children need and deserve as much stretching and focus as others.
- Child 2 excels at literacy, sports, other areas and is average at numeracy - the numeracy teaching does not seem to engage her as much.
- We don't feel the Numeracy curriculum is doing that much for our learners, as the other strands have been hugely neglected, but we appreciate Sumner teachers are applying the processes our govt demands of them - and doing their best, with time constraints and other programmes.
- Integrated studies unit work lag - carry across terms and lose momentum. They need to fit into one school term and care taken in the planning stages to have more small group learning opportunities carefully tailored to fit children's actual perceived needs… we think the priorities made - to cope with time constraints - have been done carefully and with good logic.
- I think there have been very recent gains made & the direction is positive. There are gaps in the sport, music & art, especially the latter. [Teacher] is a wonderful enthusiastic positive musical addition.
- I strongly feel that priority should be given to numeracy, literacy and integrated learning at school. In our particular situation, as parents we provide a healthy balance of extra-curricular activities such as; swimming, drama, music and sports tuition.
3.13 The learning conferences are effective in informing me about my child/ren's general progress and achievement.
Sample Responses
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3.14 The National Standards graph for reading, writing and maths are effective in informing me about my child/ren's progress and achievement
in these areas.
in these areas.
Sample Responses
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3.15 The work samples in the portfolios are effective in informing me about my child/ren's progress and achievement.
Sample Responses
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3.16 The teacher's report in the portfolio is effective in informing me about my child/ren's progress and achievement.
Sample Responses
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Sample Responses
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3.18 Teachers are approachable and take the time to listen to any concerns or questions I might have about my child/ren.
Sample Responses
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3.19 School leaders are approachable and take the time to listen to any concerns or questions I might have about my child/ren.
Sample Responses
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3.20 Have you read the emergency procedures and associated frequently asked questions on our school website?
3.24 The Sumner School Board of Trustees are committed to providing the best possible educational outcomes for my child/ren. |
3.25 If you were asked to describe the strengths of Sumner 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
- An open door amongst community members, parents, staff, and students. It truly is a community school.
- Great sense of community, loads of parental involvement, many excellent, committed and caring teachers, excellent principal and deputy, innovative, forward thinking place. Very safe and nurturing, a place for everyone to be themselves, feels like a family.
- Community, focal point, enthusiasm, friendliness, committed staff.
- The school has a fantastic atmosphere of caring, learning and exploring. It has a very strong identity of "Sumner School".
- The teachers at Sumner School are excellent. Stuart Cameron shows a great leadership example to the children while being approachable and accessable to them.
- Wonderful community. Plays a very important role in Sumner - feels particularly so since the earthquakes as the school is a very good reason to stay here. Feels like a real asset in Sumner. Excellent teaching staff, head & BOT. Parents welcome & involved; fund-raising events a lot of fun. Swimming pool is an important asset.
- Great community atmosphere within the school. Although the school is relatively big it feels 'village like'. Good communication between school and families. A fantastic group of teachers. A wonderful safe and secure environment for my children.
- A nurturing environment which has allowed my child to thrive academically, encouraging him to challenge himself and to grow his confidence in many ways. There is a strong sense of unity through the whole school and many of the older children are great role models for the younger kids. It's a unique, sheltered environment in which our children feel safe and love attending to learn as much as they can.
- It is like a private school without the fees. Fantastic!
- Great kids, teachers and support staff. No bullying that my children have experienced. Lovely setting. Good support with any problems both from educational point and emotional.
- Friendly community school with happy confident children.
3.26 If you were asked to describe the areas of improvement for Sumner 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
- A bit more explicit communication among the school community about the rationale for decisions, actions, and outcomes.
- IT but this getting better. Perhaps in some areas because standards are above average there is little need to challenge and continue to change. Cruising a bit perhaps in some areas.
- Strongly feel that children and classes are too mixed around each year which makes it very difficult for children to gain long term friendships in the school.
- Reports instead of portfolios; more science based topics; smaller maths classes at senior level; extension maths at top end.
- Maybe involving the parents more with some of the bigger decision making for the school and the local community. Consider that some families have 2, 3 or more children at the school and that 'spreading out' the [fundraising] can help the financial burden!
- I would say that the school is contantly improving and re-evaluating changes its self and therefore would have no areas for concern
- I'm not sure I like the composite classes for every school year. I'd like an explanation as to why this is required - particularly in years 7 and 8.
- I feel the school encourage gifted & talented children but perhaps could focus more on children who struggle with numeracy & literacy.
- More focus on reading writing science and maths. I understand it’s been a difficult time with earthquakes, and retaining the old school hall for the community but the years 3/4s have totally missed out but not having their own designated play area.
- I have been very happy with Sumner School and feel the door is always open.
- A bigger drive to encourage students onto the local high school by including and working with Linwood College in years 7 & 8.
- As a new parent to schools, it would be great for parents to be given the learning program and targets for each term. We were not aware of some of the learning requirements in term 1 and the teacher never made us aware our child was not meeting the requirements.
3.27 Please add comments below if there is any further feedback you would like to give to the Board of Trustees and school management.
Please note that this section collected only qualitative responses – the following shows a representative sample of comments
- Just thank you for making the school a very special place.
- I agree with the importance of providing a 'balanced education' but please maintain a strong focus on numeracy, literacy and integrated learning.
- Languages to be introduced.
- A great school - a wonderful environment for our kids. Thanks for the efforts of all.
- I think Sumner school is fantastic, all should be proud of the job done!
- I have had children at Sumner school for over a decade now and overall there have been vast improvements in many aspects of the school. But even after such a long (happy) association with the school I still feel uncomfortable challenging staff about my children's education and progress.
- I think the role of fundraising in the school environment needs to be addressed. It’s a reality of schools that fundraising needs to happen and that there are expectations that you will participate and funds should be set aside in your family budget for this.
- As part of the musical tuition I would like to see a small report once a term from the tutor advising the progress/needs to work more on. I appreciate the hard work and commitment by all.
- I don't know who the school's "leaders" are nor have had any connection with the board of trustees so can't rank them or comment on them. However, of what I have seen of the principal, I rate him well.
- I think the new website is great! The text alert system has been a Godsend with earthquakes and snow as access to the website is not always readily available.
- We are grateful to you for the selection of mature staff you provide us with - and the passion you bring to your work - you are all creative and willing to try new things - for that we are truly appreciative, as there will always be criticism for new ideas.
- The commitment of teachers, PTA and Board is recognised and appreciated
- I feel that Sumner School should be one of the best schools in the country with the support network available to it, and it is capable of great things… yet, too often seems happy to settle for ok, especially on the academic front.