Dear Parents and Carers

Farewell to Year 13
Dressed in a bizarre range of costumes (some more suited to the sudden heatwave than others), our departing year 13s appeared to love their final ‘normal’ day at CNS last Friday. With just the small matter of a few examinations to be completed, all of my colleagues felt so grateful to Freddie Mercury (Mr Ward, Head of Sixth Form), Mary Poppins (Assistant Head of Sixth Form) and Captain Jack Sparrow (Mr Gent, Deputy Headteacher) for organising such a memorable final day. Following the party food and photo booth shots, their tutors and sixth form leadership team had time to present some awards, say farewell and wish every single one of them great luck in their examinations and happiness in their lives after CNS. They have been a really great group and deserve huge success this summer.

“Last Friday was an emotional day of celebration, thanks and iconic fancy dress!
Throughout our time working with this group of wonderful young people it has been heartening to see how they have supported each other and always found a reason to keep smiling and stay ambitious.
We wish our CNS Sixth Form 2024 leavers all the very best with their exams and that they go onto the next step destinations that are right for them, whatever they may be!”

Mr Ward, Head of Sixth Form

Year 11 Exams Underway

Meanwhile, the year 11 GCSE exams kicked off last week with BTEC health & social care, and then GCSE philosophy & ethics and biology. Examinations will now come thick and fast but by half term students will be over half way and students can look forward to being on the home straight. We can be as reassuring and positive as we like, but there is no escaping the reality that this is a really tough time for our students and we shall try and continue to do all we can to help them and secure the grades they deserve. Following the examinations, the Year 11s can look forward to their leavers’ buffet and assembly, followed by an afternoon of sports and ice cream. A few days later we shall be welcoming them to the Prom and then topping it all off with a trip to Thorpe Park to herald in the longest and laziest summer of their lives – but they certainly deserve it!

National Thank A Teacher Day – Wednesday 19 June 2024

Whilst this next segment carries some risks, I am really keen to draw your attention to the forthcoming ‘National Thank A Teacher Day’. The title is somewhat misleading because it is designed to enable all of us with children in schools to express our thanks and gratitude towards ANY member of staff in those schools. One of the easiest ways to say thank you is to send a ‘thank you e-card’ and by following this link this could not be any easier. I know that these small things can make a huge difference to my colleagues’ morale, wellbeing and enjoyment. Those who work in schools hope they are making a difference and there is nothing quite like some direct acknowledgment or feedback.

LAMDA in Extra-Time

Back in March, those students taking part in the Extra-Time LAMDA club sat their examinations. Led by Pippa Phillips (years 7 and 11) and Georgie Elvin (years 8, 9 and 10), the students have been working hard throughout the autumn and spring terms to memorise their lines, develop dramatic pieces and prepare for this very prestigious qualification. Many of the groups also represented the school with their piece at the Chipping Norton Music Festival for which we have received plaudits both for their drama and their all-round conduct at the festival.

Their results have now arrived and once again they have secured superb outcomes. The names of all the successful students appear opposite and I ought to note that the vast majority secured a Distinction! Well done all round.

Extra-Time

LAMDA is one of many extra-curricular clubs that can be joined through the school’s Extra-Time programme. Other activities for this term include: art, badminton, cookery, dance, digital music production, hockey, fashion design, karate, origami, pottery, squash, table tennis, tennis, trampolining and creative writing.

If your children are not enrolled for this term, then it may be worth planning ahead for the autumn term programme that will be shared next half term. Everything you need to know about Extra-Time can be found on our website or by following this link.

And finally…

We are about to receive the outcomes of the stakeholder surveys completed by students, parents and carers, and staff, across all of the RLT schools. In my first letters to you after half term, I shall share this with you and try to identify the key themes and areas for improvement next year.

Unless there is something very significant to share, I shall be in touch with you again after half term. Term finishes next Friday 24 May at the normal time of 3:15pm. I wish you all a lovely half term break and hope we are blessed with some great weather.

Yours faithfully
Barry Doherty
Headteacher