Blog week ending 22nd April

I hope you all had an enjoyable break with friends and family. This Term a key focus remains the continued support of our Year 11 and 13 students as they prepare for their summer examinations, as well as our Year 12 students in readiness for their mocks.  By providing a combination of specialist revision workshops, subject study clubs and in-class support we are equipping students with the necessary knowledge, skills and examination question techniques to allow them to shine; to build confidence and to reach their full potential.  

Another key focus for this Term is our commitment to offering an extensive and wide variety of extra-curricular and study clubs and we would encourage all students to sign up to all that interest them – these clubs provide a means of developing skills and identifying new interests as well as being valuable opportunities to socialise with their peers!  Our Timetable is likely to grow over the next few weeks, please check with subject teachers for any new clubs.  Our current schedule can be viewed on our website here and will be updated as more clubs are added.

Our Duke of Edinburgh Award programme epitomises our school values – respect, resilience and community being key to the ethos of this rewarding and fulfilling scheme.   Lead by Miss Skrine, students were joined by specialist training staff from Ben Bullen Adventures for a training day ahead of an expedition weekend in October.  In groups, students enjoyed sessions on navigation, first aid, team-building and campcraft in preparation for their forthcoming expedition.  I am delighted that so many of our students are taking part in this truly life-enriching scheme.  Thank you to Miss Skrine and all the other members of staff who have offered to support the students during the expedition.

Our Y8 students have completed a unit on travel writing and completed their assessment last term. Their assessments were returned for them to refine and edit their work and to show these improvements on yellow paper. Well done, Y8!

‘Living and experiencing somewhere else in the world is paramount to developing people’s cultural and social awareness.’ 

Either 

Write a speech for a school assembly persuading students to spend time living in another continent/country. 

OR 

Write an article for your school or college’s main publication persuading students to explore a continent/country of your choice.  

Our Year 9 PE students have been perfecting their track and field event techniques this week, specifically with high jump and rounders. 

In the below photos, students practising their high jump ‘approach’ and ‘take-off’ techniques – learning which is their strongest take-off foot and maintaining balance and control throughout.  It’s not as easy as it sounds!

It was perfect weather to be outside playing rounders this week.  Students practised learned skills in game play .. lots of rounders scored as well as some great catches.

Our PE Department run a wide range of extra-curricular and study clubs to provide lots of extra opportunities for students to develop new skills and interests and to support them through their exam preparations and revision.  A full list of clubs offered can be found at the PE office or on our website.

As part of our esafety programme we teach digital resilience and ask that you work with us to ensure your daughter is both safe and responsible.  We seek the support of parents in upholding our online safety expectations please may I ask that you ensure your daughter abides by the social media age restrictions.  In our experience, when the age restrictions are not followed the young people do not have the maturity to use the platforms in the manner which they are intended.  Please click ths link for social media advice.

We are delighted to be welcoming back Mrs Mbu (of our Science Department) and Mrs Selfe (PE Department) from maternity leave and to welcome new cover supervisor Ms Robson and Head of Physics Mrs Patel – I will include a fuller introduction for Mrs Patel in a future blog.

Best wishes,

Michelle Lawson

Head Teacher