Dear Parents and Carers

Thank you to those parents and carers who have been in touch in response to my start of the week letter on smartphones. It has been very helpful to read those emails and I shall reply to each family next week, after I have explored the general sentiment regarding the impact of this technology on childhood. Please do take a look at that letter if you have not done so already and let me know your feelings and reactions by early next week.

Stakeholder Surveys

Starting next week, I shall feedback the results of the parent and carer, and student surveys. Mr Paul James (CEO of RLT) has created letters for schools to issue beforehand and so I shall provide that with my letter to you today as well. I can share that we enjoyed a huge increase in parent and carer participation which really helps us focus on what are the key priorities. Similarly, we avoided an invitational approach with students and so we also enjoyed a higher and near universal participation amongst students as well. Next week, I shall summarise the results to our students via an online assembly and also share a letter from Mr James to them as well, via Satchel One.

Visit to Normandy

Today, thirty-two students across years 8 to 10 and staff set off to once again visit Normandy in a combined French and history educational visit. My thanks to Mrs Brocklebank for leading the trip and to Ms Stokes and Mrs Corley for taking part as well.

Examinations – Nearer the End than the Beginning

The end is now in sight for our students in years 11 and 13 as they now near the end of their GCSEs, BTECs and A levels. So far, the general reactions have been very positive and students routinely report feeling very well prepared and ready to show-off everything they have learned and mastered over many years. Good luck, keep going and then one almighty rest once they are all over.

Good luck Sophia!

Young Fashion Designer UK is an exciting national competition which focuses on enhancing the talent of students to showcase and promote the exceptional work achieved by students aged 11-14 studying textiles design, and fashion throughout the United Kingdom. Sophia Callao has been selected as a finalist in the year 10/11 age category, which is an incredible achievement.  At tomorrow’s final, Sophia will take part in an ‘upcycle challenge’ and have an opportunity to meet industry professionals who will share their professional portfolios and advice.  Best of luck to Sophia!

Sports Leaders

Earlier this week, Mrs Fisher took a group of year 9 girls out of school to participate in a girls’ sports leadership event. Mrs Fisher has described the girls as ‘changemakers in the world of girls in sport’ owing to their enrolment in the ‘Girls Coaching Academy’, led by Olympic medallist, Jenna Downing. They have explored the barriers facing girls and young women in sports and what they can do to bring about lasting changes. Our students also demonstrated their own leadership skills by running their own sports activities with younger students. Well done and congratulations to Olivia Davies, Poppy Claridge, Anna Clayson-Ward, Annie Spicer, Olivia Stafford and Megan Walker.

And finally

Thank you to those who have submitted notes of thanks to school staff as part of the ‘national thank a teacher day’. It’s all really simple and all you need to do is follow this link.

Have a lovely weekend when it arrives!

Yours faithfully
Barry Doherty
Headteacher