Head’s End of Term Letter Easter 2011

Dear Parents,

As we approach the end of yet another term, I would like to remind you what some of our priorities continue to be for this school year:

• Promote a more active, quality, classroom experience for all our pupils
• Give more opportunities for our staff to train others in ‘excellent’ classroom practice
• Monitor and improve the progress of groups of pupils closely in their core subjects
• Link our specialisms to everyday teaching and learning practice
• Develop stronger parental partnerships in relation to the curriculum and pupil progress

I thought it would be interesting for you to know what we have done in relation to some of these priorities above.

Teachers continue to work hard to make the classroom experience as interesting and variable as possible for all groups of pupils. Working in groups and in pairs, using technology, listening to and exploring different concepts in practical ways, are just some of the things we are doing. We also support this work on teacher training days when pupils are not in school.

I am delighted that Year 11 pupils who sat their maths GCSE just before Christmas achieved excellent results – our current ‘pass rate’ now is what it was last summer at the end of the exam season! Of course, over the holiday Year 11 pupils must continue to work very hard to improve their grades even further and prepare themselves for the difficult period ahead. Years 11 are really focused at the moment; revision lessons have been very well attended. It’s good to see the vast majority of the pupils ‘going the extra mile’ as well as the staff; they should see the benefits of this in their summer results. Remember – everyone can reach their potential if they really want to!

Many of you will be aware that the government is currently making some changes to the curriculum of secondary schools. Year 8 parents will be aware that we chose to postpone our options process until things became clearer about how pupils would be expected to progress through school and the type of qualifications that would be available in the future. We will be holding a Year 7/8 parents’ information evening later on next term where I will explain how the anticipated changes will affect your son/daughter’s curriculum and what the changes to the education system generally may mean for us in the longer term. I will write to you shortly about this.

A number of pupils are part of our ‘Formula 1 for Schools’ teams run as an enrichment programme linked to science and technology. Having started the programme less than two years ago, the team reached the national final at the Excel Centre in London. Several parents and staff accompanied the group to the event. Whilst we didn’t win, taking part, at this level, should be seen as an outstanding success. I have seen the track and model cars in action; it is phenomenal, so congratulations to the whole team and their adult supporters – including those from local and regional businesses who have donated nearly £2,000 to date in sponsorship.

In the summer, Ribblesdale is hosting a musical/performance event at The Grand for schools from France, Germany and Spain as part of the school’s Comenius curriculum project. I know families have offered to host a young person from abroad for the duration of their stay. It is much appreciated. I know nearer the time, you will all be invited to what promises to be another outstanding event – one more reason why Ribblesdale is now designated as an ‘International School’. The school production ‘Back to the 80s’ is on this week (Wednesday and Thursday). If you planned to attend I hope you were impressed by the quality of what our young people delivered and found the evening enjoyable. Thank you to all the pupils and staff who have worked hard to put the show on over the last term.

There have been a number of charity events this term with all our pupils giving generously of their time and money. Notably, later this year, some of our parents are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on behalf of ‘Action Duchenne’, a charity supporting research into muscular dystrophy. In support of them, a number of events will be held later next term. On ‘Red Nose Day’, we raised £1,602. In order to support the recent events in Japan, we have decided to hold £800 of the funds raised ready to donate, as and when it becomes clear which charities will be working in aid of the Japanese earthquake. If no formal appeal is made, we will of course donate to ‘Red Nose Day’ later in the year. £256 was raised in January for Derian House: a brilliant effort!

We currently provide pupils with access to water in the dining areas. Please can I ask that pupils who wish to drink water use their own water bottles which can be filled up before school or during break-times? From after Easter, the menus in the dining room will be available to view on our website. A three week cycle is generally followed. Parents can request a print out of what their children purchase from the dining room on request to the kitchen.

Please take some time to read our up to date school uniform list. It is very clear and covers all aspects of pupils’ appearance. I believe that a smart school uniform sets high standards and expectations for the pupils and is also a very public statement about us, as a school, within the community.

Over the last few years, I have set this out particularly in open evenings (for Year 6) and so the majority of parents will know what our expectations are from the start.

Whilst many pupils are extremely smart and wear their uniform well, a number do not. It is often the ‘small things’ which make the biggest impression: make up; jewellery; hair style/colour, etc. It is not always about wearing a tie and tucking a shirt in. These aspects of uniform are influenced very much by the fashion of the day, but increasingly, staff are having to challenge pupils about these aspects of appearance as well. Unfortunately, some parents do not support us when we challenge pupils about their appearance. I am very grateful to the vast majority of you who work with us to promote the highest possible standards. In the summer term, I have asked all staff to ensure that their pupils in registration times (beginning of the day and at lunch time) are correctly presented. For pupils who persistently challenge the uniform standards, we will use the full range of sanctions available to us which may also involve parents coming into school to discuss any issues I, or other staff, may have.

Where there are occasional uniform difficulties that last for one or two days, please provide your son or daughter with a dated, written note, together with a contact number, for your son or daughter to hand into their coach who will initial it. They then can present the note each time they are challenged about their uniform.

Please take the opportunity over the break to ensure that your son or daughter’s uniform complies with the enclosed uniform list – including Year 11, who must sit their public examinations in their normal school uniform.

I wish everyone connected with the school a very enjoyable break. School opens for the summer term – I have already written to you about returning one day earlier than planned – on Tuesday 26 April. Pupils should be on site for 8.45am – not 8.50am when the register is taken.

Yours sincerely

 

S A Smith

Headteacher