What a wonderful finish to the end of term: we have found out today that we have successfully redesignated as a Specialist Arts College for a further three years. Quite apart from the kudos gained, it also means that we continue to receive extra funding to support our Arts work both in school and within the community. Assistant Heads James Wood and Zoë Watkins together with the entire Expressive Arts Faculty have worked hard to produce the necessary paperwork and on the strategic planning for the Arts and we are all absolutely delighted with the outcome.
Be careful!
From time to time, the police warn us about local issues that have come to their attention. It seems that there have been some rumours of attempted child abductions, although none of these in the Borehamwood area.
The first incident took place in Ware where a child was offered a lift by a taxi driver. She wisely refused. A second took place in Hoddesdon where a child reported being followed by a dark coloured vehicle. More reports of this nature followed in Stevenage.
Although none of these incidents have occurred in our immediate area, it might be timely for parents to remind children of advice regarding approaches by strangers, and the police have issued this helpful list of do’s and don’ts:
· Don’t speak to strangers
· Stay alert
· Stick to busy and well-lit areas
· Avoid short cuts through quiet, unlit, secluded or wooded areas and alleyways
· Try to keep with friends rather than walk alone
· Make sure someone knows where you are going and tell them when you’ve arrived
· If you believe someone is following you, go to the nearest busy place, such as a petrol station
· Take a mobile phone with you if you have one
If any incident of this nature occurs over the summer holidays, please don’t hesitate to contact the police immediately, and if you can remember even half of the number plate, this helps narrow the field enormously.
Wonder Week 2010: Making the impossible, possible
Last week’s Wonder Week was absolutely incredible. The staff set about providing a week to remember and certainly succeeded. So many students said that they had had a simply wonderful and exciting week and how nice it had been to mix with students of all ages on such a variety of activities. There was such a variety of things going on, from creating Tower Bridge in batik or spaghetti to creating a 50 metre timeline of the twentieth century in the Humanities corridor on Lower School. With the help of a green screen in Media, students could transport themselves all over the world if they weren’t learning circus skills or laying on the floor while an eagle owl glided silently overhead. Students were absolutely full of it, and I am grateful to staff for laying on such a feast of activity so near to the end of term.
Dates for your Diary
Term finishes at 12:00 on Friday 23rd July
New Year 12 enrolment starts on Monday 6th September
Year 13 enrolment starts on Thursday 2nd September
New term starts on Thursday 2nd September 8:30am (Year 7 and 13 only)
New term starts on Friday 3rd September at 8:30am (Year 8 -11)
Year 12 programme begins Monday September 6th at 8:30am.
Lower School Presentation Evening
We finish this year with a grand celebration of achievement with our annual Presentation Evening. Guest of honour this year is Daniel Shittu, Nigerian international who recently appeared on our small screens representing his country in the World Cup. Award winners have been notified by letter and we look forward to seeing them all, along with their parents tonight in the Sports Hall at 7pm.
Uniform Does Matter
As you begin to purchase new items of schoolwear for now and September, could I please remind you to look at our list of uniform requirements and make sure that you are not being persuaded to purchase items that we do not allow? Our uniform requirements are simple but strictly applied and please be careful to purchase proper items for school. Two items that we do NOT allow are as follows:
· Shoes which are, or look like, trainers
· Shoes which are not wholly black (so – coloured laces, borders etc are NOT allowed)
Students who arrive wearing the wrong shoes are immediately sent to either the student office to trade them in for black plimsolls, or sent home to change. Please ensure that you don’t get persuaded to buy the wrong items; it’s always upsetting for parents when they realise their money has been wasted or misspent.
Could I also ask that when you are purchasing new shirts for school, that you are careful to select the type that button up to the collar and intended to be worn with ties rather than the type that are open necked?
To the Parents and Carers of all Year 7 and 8 students
As we near the summer break, I am writing to tell you about some changes we are going to make with regard to our teaching and registration groups next year.
As you are already aware, we are focusing hard on levels of literacy and students’ performance in English. We have appointed some terrific new staff within the Faculty, and, from September, we have arranged our teaching groups within English to be a maximum of 20 students. As students move up the school, we begin to set them into ability groups for key subjects like English, and also to offer concentrated support for the students who struggle in this subject as well as challenging and stretching our most gifted students.
However, with investment like this, we have to make savings elsewhere. To this end, we are taking the unusual step of reducing the number of registration (tutor) groups and consequently, increasing slightly the number of students within each. Instead of 25, tutor groups will number 28 students. Initially, this is likely to prove unpopular and I can understand that students would probably prefer to stay as they are, given the choice. The benefits, however, outweigh the reservations, and indeed, some students may well be looking forward to a change. Additionally, as students progress up the school, fewer and fewer lessons are taught within their own tutor groups as we introduce more setting into ability groups and more choice.
In addition, I need to announce to you the arrangements for Heads of Learning for 2010 - 11. Charlotte Nethercott, as you know, remains permanent Head of Learning for Year 7, and so the arrangements from September will be as follows :-
Year 7 (new intake) Charlotte Nethercott
Year 8 (current Year 7) Claire Travess
Year 9 (current Year 8) Jun Shaw
May I also take this opportunity of wishing you a happy summer break?
Jan Palmer Sayer
Headteacher
