Dear parents,

since our inspection earlier in the school year, we have started to think carefully about our priorities for the next couple of years. Our thinking at the moment is about developing the themes of:

• progression routes for pupils (how we support pupils moving here from primary school, through Year 9, and of particular importance, moving from Ribblesdale to other institutions as the raising of participation age takes effect from 2013)
• involving parents in discussion about the curriculum in Years 9-11 (Year 7 parents have been invited and a number took the opportunity to meet us earlier this term)
• professional development for teachers focused around making learning in class more consistently ‘active’
• enabling access to pupil information by parents via the internet as already set out by the government

There are more too, but more work is needed to be done before I share our thoughts with you in the summer.

Assemblies are held on a weekly basis for all pupils. The themes often relate to broad areas covering matters such as charity, respect for others, substance abuse, internet safety, ‘first impressions’ or making the right choices. Being ‘a good citizen’ could sum up much of the above. Sadly, a small number of our pupils do not endear themselves to others in our local community in a particularly positive way. Low level anti-social behaviour is too common by some young people, but especially when some of them are wearing the uniform of Ribblesdale. We, as a school, challenge those pupils whom we see and hear about. Obviously it is difficult to challenge these pupils when they are near their own homes and away from school. I want to tell you that in the last few weeks we have received help and information from some pupils who know exactly what our expectations are. With their help we have dealt effectively with several pupils letting us all down. We would like to say ‘Well done’ and ‘thank you’ to the overwhelming majority who take pride in their uniform and school and work with us to promote excellence in all we do and build up a sense of community.

I would like to again raise your awareness about internet safety. In the last few months, a number of pupils have got themselves into difficulty whilst using social networking sites at home (Facebook Bebo, etc). Do not give any personal information to anyone. Since Mr Evans led an assembly last term about e-safety, we know about pupils have done the right thing and reported the suspicious activity of others to CEOP (Child Exploitation & Online Protection).

Our attendance policy is on the school’s website. It is important that all parents know what it says. Here is a summary:

• Parents should inform school of pupil illness no later than 9.30am on the first day of absence, and then contact school every other day during a child’s absence
• Students can not be sent home without being collected by a parent or family member over age 18. (Nobody else may sign out any pupil on the grounds of health and safety)
• Pupils in Year 9, 10 and 11 will not normally be given authorization to take holiday in term time – these are GCSE years
• Up to 10 days’ holiday leave is allowed as long as attendance is at least 90% and permission has been requested (ie, writing to ask, not to tell me, you are taking your son/daughter out of school!)

Thank you for the cooperation you gave us earlier this term when the heavy snow prevented the school from opening for two days. The attendance was excellent in the two days that followed. We are grateful for the feedback, especially about the usefulness of the school’s website to keep parents and pupils fully informed. Initially, we made concessions to aspects of school uniform – we allowed boots/trainers for a time whilst we had snow/ice on the ground. Since then the core aspects of uniform have been good; but some girls persist in wearing scarves, flowery hair grips and badly applied fake tan: totally inappropriate! Boys do better, but their ties could be neater and shirts tucked in. Hooded tops are not allowed.

Year 11 and some Year 10 pupils are just weeks away from their final examinations in some subjects. We have been running revision programmes and workshops after school (programme on the school’s website), and last week, 60 pupils followed a revision technique workshop delivered by some of our staff for pupils who indicated they would like this kind of specific support. This proved hugely successful. A number of pupils have also attended a Saturday morning revision session for History; again, very successful. Over the Easter holiday break it is vital that Year 11 take every opportunity to revise thoroughly. I would ask and encourage parents of pupils in Year 11 (and Year 10 where appropriate) to support their sons or daughters by making time for them: practical help such as ‘testing them’; help by making sure they have peace and quiet for a period of time in the house, or simply cajoling them in any way possible to open their books and files and revise!

On behalf of all our staff I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your help and support this term and wish you a very happy Easter holiday.

School opens for the spring term on Monday 19 April 2010. Pupils should be on site for 8.45am.

Yours sincerely

S A Smith
Headteacher