A CONTROVERSIAL North Cornwall school has set out ten ‘commitments’ as it seeks to improve relationships with parents and the local community.

Launceston College has set out 10 commitments for the new academic year, following feedback from parents through focus groups and a recent survey.

The school has been at the centre of controversy regarding its approach to teaching and discipline, which among issues raised at other Cornish colleges, ultimately led to the dissolution of Athena Multi Academy Trust.

The college’s new head of school, Linda Blackburn, who has worked at Launceston for the past three years as vice principal, has laid out these ten improvements. The commitments cover five key areas identified by parents: leadership and communication, discipline and wellbeing, inclusivity, teacher autonomy and the college’s links with its community.

She has said the commitments are ‘about listening to feedback and turning it into practical action.’

The commitments include more opportunities for parents to attend face-to-face events, with a member of the senior leadership team assigned to each year group, as well as regular parent focus groups and ‘You Said, We Did’ updates.

The college is also reviewing its Consequences System to ensure it is fair and supports student wellbeing, while changes to morning greetings and tutor time will give tutors more dedicated one-to-one time with students.

Launceston College has expressed that improving student spaces is another priority, with upgrades planned for indoor and outdoor social and break-time areas. This week, the school opened a new Year 11 sheltered outdoor space, The Pavilion.

The college is also reviewing its Inclusion Base for students with SEND, with a focus on making sure students receive the right individual support, and staff will have greater autonomy over areas including lesson formats and classroom management.

A new multi-year-group student leadership team will also be established, giving students a greater voice in shaping school life, alongside plans to find more ways to celebrate student achievements.

Linda Blackburn, head of school at Launceston College, said: “We have listened carefully to what parents told us, and we are clear about the areas where we need to do more. These 10 commitments give us a clear focus for the year ahead and, importantly, give our students, staff and parents a clear view of what we are working to improve.

“We want to build strong relationships with our families and wider community, and that means being open to feedback, acting on it and keeping people informed about the progress we make.

“We know that building a strong school community takes time, and this is not about making promises for the sake of it. It is about being clear about what we are going to do and then showing that we have done it.

“We will continue to listen to our students, staff and parents as this work develops, and we look forward to sharing progress on each of these commitments over the coming year.”