Medical Centre - is funded out of boarding fees but is available for emergencies or illness that arise during the day. Paracetemol should be dispensed at break time rather than during lesson time.
Student Counselling - This facility is limited by Grania’s time and the CSPA funding. Appointments are for half hour slots and the resource is currently ‘stretched’. Cranbrook school is happy to maximize the pastoral support available whilst not compromising its primary objective which is the provision of education. Angela Daly is going to approach Grania to determine any additional time available.
Oxbridge - An Oxbridge group is formed in the second term of the lower 6th based upon GCSE results (7+ A*’s), pupil interaction and teacher input regarding the students transition to their ‘A’ level work. The group is provided with on-going support with swaps with Benenden and Saturday morning work groups. Last year 23 applied and around 4 got into Oxbridge. There are 3 -6 students gaining places at Oxbridge per year at Cranbrook. Cranbrook is slightly above the national average 1 in 6 or 7 compared with 1 in 8. Discussion was held regarding Cranbrook’s stance if students want to go to a university in America. Whilst not frequent, Cranbrook has sent students in the past and support is available should a student wish to move in this direction.
Parents evening in lower 6th - This parents evening is timed for immediately after the first module exam results are available thus providing a vehicle for discussion. The report should be viewed as the document alerting issues/concerns earlier in the year.
Personal Statements for university - The structured approach that the school follows was outlined. Personal Statement writing instruction starts in the summer term of year 12. There should be a balance between subject information and extracurricular information and feedback is given by Mr. Furminger and Mrs. Daly. The personal statements are ‘vetted’ several times during the process. The UCAS meeting for parents in year 12 will provide helpful suggestions - in particular the need to get the personal statements ready early to allow time for the vetting process. Statements should be written by the students themselves and not the parents.
Student choice in sports - The problem with soccer alongside rugby is that it dilutes teams. The girls have a diverse range of sport including netball and hockey and swimming is being reintroduced. The boys have achieved well and are through to the semi finals in the Daily Mail Plate, a national competition.
On-line engagement with parents - Angela Daly is to look at re-publicising the Parent Gateway which provides on-line access to data regarding their child’s achievements and issues.
Sport - On a sporting front, Angela Daly to confirm with the Head of Games whether information for kick-off times for boys and girls can be aligned. The sports match line is updated regularly and provides information on matches.
Links to the US - The school will help students to apply upon request. There will be no pro-active involvement to instigate links as the case ‘doesn’t stack up’ financially.
School Calendar - There is a bulletin update every Friday whereby Christine Newman takes information for the week from the calendar and posts it on the website. Christine Newman will investigate a single click access to improve navigation Christine Newman will document the procedure and Angela Daly will post on bulletin board or newsletter to publicise.
Disabled children - An issue was raised regarding provision for disabled children. This is done on an individual basis and has involved rescheduling of class locations in the past. The layout of the school makes it difficult but action is taken on an individual basis where necessary.
The CSPA has a role in aiding communication between parents and the school. We are collecting and collating issues that parents have, which we then raise with the Head at CSPA Committee meetings.
If you have any issues that you would like us to raise, please email them to the Chairman, David Hensley, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
