Weekly Newsletters

I am working with parents and students to listen and act on areas of the school we can improve. Testimony to this is the recent Student Council meetings and also the feedback I received from parents at the last Parent's Surgery on Wednesday. Thank you for taking time to share with me your areas for development and also for complimenting us when we do things well. Rest assured, I will be working tirelessly with the staff to further improve the school, but ask that there is a sense of realism that all things can be changed overnight. I am sure you understand this. Equally, I realise time is precious and will be pressing for change as fast as we can possibly make it happen. I aim to publish a list of actions and resolutions in a newsletter early next term so parents and students can know we are both listening and acting on feedback to make us an even better school.

This week, we welcomed back the Year 10 students following their work experience over the last fortnight. I hope that the experience has enabled them to not only gain an insight into the world of work and the skills required, but also helps them understand time at school needs to be used preciously so they can get reach their goals. Next week, I hope to see as many of you as possible for the second Year 11 subject (Wednesday 31 March). Furthermore, I wish the Post 16 students and staff a safe and enjoyable visit to Amsterdam, as part of the Travel and Tourism qualification.

Finally, as we draw toward the business end of the term, I wish to congratulate the vast majority of students and parents for their pride in consistently applying our uniform and behaviour code. I have attached the uniform expectations as a timely reminder to all. Failure to comply with these expectations will mean that Heads of House will reserve the right to isolate your child until the uniform/appearance issue is resolved. However, I believe this is a last resort as the expectations are the same as they were in September and therefore, the rules and consequences are very clear.

Comic Relief 

Here are some photos of the brilliant and inventive ways in which students and staff have gone about fund raising over the school day. You can see a video of the fun here!

Best wishes

Bryan Erwin
Principal

Following on from our visits during the students second week we were all amazed to see such confident, polite and enthusiastic individuals representing their school with pride and truly getting to grips with a taste of working life. Companies were eager to pass on messages of “extremely polite and well-mannered” and “strong initiative and hardworker” to our staff during visits. We would just like to thank the companies, the parents and most importantly the students for making this year’s work experience so successful. Thank you to everyone involved.

Mr Billitt
Post 16 and Careers Administration

Every week I will attach five topics that regularly appear on examinations, there is also a Personal Learning Checklist so students can track what they feel they have mastered and what they need more help on. This can be used alongside Hegarty maths which has video tutorials to help students understand topics.

Extra revision classes will run every Monday lunchtime in 3U22 for all year 11s.

Targeted revision classes for specific groups will take place after school as follows: 

• A1/B1 Mondays (CTK),Thursdays (JHY/NBN),
• A2/B2 Mondays (CTK), Thursdays (THN),
• A3/B3 Mondays (LDY), Wednesday (NBN), Thursdays (JCA),
• A4 Mondays (CTK) 
• B4 Mondays (ICC) and also Tuesday to Friday lunchtimes with (ICC)

Mr Donnelly
Mathematics KS3 Coordinator

The session will be after-school from 3.30 - 4.30 in 3U19. Well done to: Thomas Alexander, Emma Stacey, Klaudia Rog, Olivia Campbell, Louise Balanza, Chloe Booth, Jasmine Stiff, Shannon Butler and Lauren Tyler for taking part last week.

Mr Brown
Teacher of Maths

Being there, I got to see what it took to be a linguist; though the requirements were challenging, it was nothing any of us couldn't achieve. We also got to see the doors that opened as well as the opportunities that arose from having a languages degree. 

My aim in life has always been to become a lawyer, languages is an interest of mine however I was surprised to find out that a languages degree would enable me to become a lawyer. The year abroad particularly appealed to me, as talking to current students educated me that the year abroad gives you skills that can't always be taught in school, such as becoming an adult and learning how to manage your own financial situation. As well as having the freedom to do what you wish to do, going abroad can also be an eye opener allowing you to experience different cultures. 

Overall, I would have to say going to Cambridge University was better than the experience I pictured it to be. Encountering the experience has now made me seriously consider a future career in languages! 

Zulaikha Iqbal
Year 11 Student

There was a varied range of providers including the NHS, Aldi, Superdrug, Renault UK, Travis Perkins, IBM, Weetabix, Santander to name a few. All were keen to promote apprenticeship opportunities for young people and open up career ideas for students who may be unsure what direction they would like to go in. All our students very much enjoyed speaking with providers, picking up information, goodie bags and of course freebies! One student did not feel enthusiastic at the beginning of the day but by the time we were almost due to leave, was desperate to go round again and revisit some stands. All said they had come away with more knowledge and ideas for their future so a very worthwhile day.

Mrs Gregg
Learning and Progression Mentor

Your mentors will advise you which sessions will be most beneficial to improving your grades and help you to plan out your time after school.

A big thank you goes to all of your teachers that are making this effort to support you. 

Mr Corner
Assistant Principal