Dear Parents/Carers,
With a week left to go before half term, I’d like to share some updates on our progress over the past five weeks.
I’m delighted to inform you that we have successfully recruited a new Math teacher who will be joining us after the Easter holiday. This, along with recent appointments in Food Technology and English, ensures that we have the right staff in place to continue delivering the best education for your children.
After half term, Mrs. Evans will take on the role of Head of Year 8 while Mrs. Broughton begins her maternity leave. Mrs. Evans is excited to work with Year 8 students and their families. As a reminder, your child’s form tutor should be the first point of contact for any concerns.
On Wednesday, we held a BTEC Information Evening for Year 10 parents and students. Mrs. Burrows provided an overview of the updated BTEC qualifications, outlining expectations and key demands. We will share the evening’s resources along with a schedule of key dates and tasks via our school website soon.
On Thursday evening, we held our progress evening for year 9 students. The evening was very busy and it was great to see so many parents talking about their child’s progress whilst also gathering information on options for Key Stage 4. We will be holding a KS4 Options Evening on Thursday 13th March. Further details about this evening will be shared in due course.
You will soon receive an email from Mr. Smart regarding changes aimed at improving punctuality. We have seen an increase in students arriving late, which impacts both attendance and their start to the day. A positive morning routine with peers and form tutors is essential for success. We appreciate your support in ensuring all students arrive at school by 8:25 AM.
This week, Mr. Billam led assemblies on internet safety, focusing on the theme: "Too Good to Be True." He discussed how to spot and avoid online scams, encouraging students to check for red flags, such as:
✔ Verifying email addresses to ensure legitimacy
✔ Avoiding direct bank transfers for payments
✔ Being cautious of offers requiring in-person exchanges instead of secure delivery
It’s crucial that we all remain vigilant online to stay safe.
After half term, we will transition to a new management information system: My Child at School (MCAS). As a result, the Go4Schools app will no longer be in use after next Friday. We will provide further details on how to access MCAS after the break, but please be patient as we implement the new system.
Next week, we’ll be celebrating student achievements with celebration assemblies, attendance reward draws, and a very important cake sale to support Ms. Fitzgerald, who is running the London Marathon!
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend - I look forward to seeing the students next week!
Yours sincerely,
Mr J Firth
Principal
