Week
B 9 – 13th September
Welcome to the new term!
After a relaxing break school has started up once again.
Fresh faces coming through the school gates with some wide eyes from the newest
members in year 7 joining the Boniface family. All appear to have settled in
well and it has been a joy to walk around the college and see happy faces.
Father John has kindly offered hold a welcoming mass for the Year 7 pupils on
Thursday 12th September at 12.30 in St. Peter’s Church next to the
school, an open invite has been extended to parents.
Summer offered a great set of results for pupils taking
GCSE and A level, the A level outperforming expected Fischer Family Trust, FFT,
targets by 20% - with nearly a quarter of those at A* and A grades. Every pupil
who wished to go to University did so. For the first time in my living memory I
was able to comment that in terms of actual pupil progress at GCSE the English
results outperformed the strong maths department results. I would once again
like to congratulate all those students involved in external examinations and
publicly thank the hard working staff for all that they have done to ensure
these students did so well.
In my opinion these results do not reflect an inadequate
school.
We are very fortunate to be able to welcome some
excellent new teachers and support staff into the college at the start of this
term.
Mr. Evans – curriculum leader of English and Media, comes
to us from an outstanding Ofsted rated college in Cornwall,
Mr. Romaine – Head of Science and Specialism, again from
an outstanding rated college but this time in Devon,
Dr Trimming – teacher of Chemistry, from St. Margret’s
School in Exeter,
Mr. Taylor – teacher of Chemistry,
Mr. Claricoates – Head of Vocational Studies and Duke of
Edinburgh Award, joins us as a decorated member of Her Majesty’s Services.
Mr. James – teacher of PE and
Mr. Allerton – higher level teaching assistant in
numeracy.
I am sure that by now you will have had a letter from me
along with our most disappointing Ofsted report – all involved with the college
are determined that never again will Ofsted be able to besmirch our good name
in such a manner. From the verbal feedback that the inspection team have given
me I am in a position to shed further light on how they arrived at such a
grading and will be doing so at the Ofsted meetings coming up at 6pm on
Wednesday 11th, for KS3, and Thursday 12th for KS4 and 5.
I shall be giving the same message at both meetings so please do not worry if
you are only able to come to the “wrong” evening. I envisage the meetings being
an opportunity for me to allay fears that you may have and to inform you of the
way forward the college is taking in conjunction with the local authority and
diocese. Please feel free at the meeting to ask me any questions that are of
concern to you. I am expecting the local press to report on the June Ofsted
inspection in the near future. The report is made available on the Ofsted
website on Monday 12th September. Could I thank the large numbers of
parents who have contacted the college to offer support after the inspection
conclusions were made open – we have work to do and as recent results show we
are well on our way, with everyone pulling together I believe that we will very
soon be able to demonstrate to Ofsted that we are once again at least a “good”
school.
Mr Neethling in modern foreign languages would love you to look at the website below please:
Mr. Greenway, our Head of PE, wants all students and
parents to know that the extra- curricular clubs run by the PE staff will start
up on Monday 16th September, week A
Clubs and Activities
Week A
|
|
Monday
|
Fitness club (lunch)
Year 7 rugby (after school)
School Play – Lord of the Flies (after school) Mr
Trimmer
STEM (after school) Mr Smart
Geography clinic (lunch) Miss Beales
|
Tuesday
|
KS3 basketball (lunch)
Drama club (lunch) Mr Trimmer
Workshop sessions catch up (lunch) Mr Griffin
Geography clinic (lunch) Miss Beales
|
Wednesday
|
Fitness club (lunch)
Year 8 rugby (after school)
Knitting club (lunch) Mrs Parsons E123
Board games (lunch) Mrs Williamson-Firth E123
School Play – Lord of the Flies (after school) Mr
Trimmer
Workshop sessions catch up (lunch) Mr Griffin
Geography clinic (lunch) Miss Beales
|
Thursday
|
Fitness club (lunch)
Year 9 rugby (after school)
Art club (after school) Miss Gosling
Geography clinic (lunch) Miss Beales
|
Friday
|
KS4 basketball (lunch)
Android club (lunch years 9-11) Mr Neethling
Geography clinic (lunch) Miss Beales
|
Week
B
|
|
Monday
|
Fitness club (lunch)
Year 7 rugby (after school)
School Play – Lord of the Flies (after school) Mr
Trimmer
STEM (after school) Mr Smart
Geography clinic (lunch) Miss Beales
|
Tuesday
|
KS3 basketball (lunch)
Drama club (lunch) Mr Trimmer
Workshop sessions catch up (lunch) Mr Griffin
Geography clinic (lunch) Miss Beales
|
Wednesday
|
Fitness club (lunch)
Year 8 rugby (after school)
Knitting club (lunch) Mrs Parsons E123
Board games (lunch) Mrs Williamson-Firth E123
School Play – Lord of the Flies (after school) Mr
Trimmer
Workshop sessions catch up (lunch) Mr Griffin
Geography clinic (lunch) Miss Beales
|
Thursday
|
Fitness club (lunch)
Year 9 rugby (after school)
Geography clinic (lunch) Miss Beales
|
Friday
|
KS4 basketball (lunch)
Android club (lunch years 9-11) Mr Neethling
Geography clinic (lunch) Miss Beales
|
A note from Miss Beales, Head of Year 7.
Year 7 have had a wonderful
start to the new year with all settling
in well. There were lots of nervous faces on Wednesday morning as they sat
silently waiting for the day to begin, however many students have already
earned themselves well deserved merits, in just 3 school days, which is so
pleasing. The boys looked extremely smart starting school and I have been so
pleased that they are adhering to the hair and uniform requirements. Please can
I take this opportunity to remind parents that black trainers/pumps are not
allowed and students should wear black shoes.
We welcomed the students on
Wednesday with an assembly. During this, we had a lovely prayer service led by
Miss Heduvan. Many of the tutors were involved with prayers/readings so this was
a really nice experience for the boys. Students then had their official school
photographs. Details of how you can purchase these will be distributed in due
course. At the end of the day on Wednesday, students were treated to a special
learning experience with their tutors on our “Building Learning Habits”
programme, looking at the skills behind the learning in the classroom. I think
this session was thoroughly enjoyed by all!
I was incredibly proud of the
Year 7’s as we took part in the practice fire alarm on Friday. The year group
behaved impeccably and were a real credit to the school, acting with such
maturity. It’s difficult to believe they were in Primary School only a few
short months ago.
Some important dates for the Year 7 diary;
·
September 10th and 17th - We
have our Year 4/5/6 Open Evenings. 6pm – 7.30pm. If you have younger children
currently at primary school in years 4/5/6 then please come along to find out
more about the college. There will be tours of the classrooms and opportunities
to meet staff and students.
·
September 12th – We have a “Welcome Mass”
at St Peter’s Church at 12.30 pm celebrated by Father John Webb. All welcome.
I wish you all a lovely week! –
Miss Beales, Head of Year 7.
Please see below a note from
Mr. McKenna our Help the Heroes link:
1st September 2013
Dear HMS Heroes
Re: Plymouth Military Kids Choir
The Military Kids Choir meets most
Wednesdays, at Plymouth Guildhall, providing a unique opportunity for you to
meet with other Service children and young people (including if a member of
your family is a Veteran) and to sing together. We have over 40 members and are
always open to new members. Why not come along and give it a try? It’s free to
any age Hero! We have members aged 4 to 18.
We meet from 5-6pm and there is
space for parents and carers to meet together and have a coffee whilst you are
practicing. Our volunteer staff are CRB checked.
We have already appeared at the
Pavilions, singing with the Military Wives, and Plymouth Argyle, raising funds
for military charities.
Please check the HMS Heroes website
(www.hmsheroes.co.uk) Military Kids Choir page as these
dates may be subject to change.
The Military Kids Choir is a
Children’s University Learning Destination.
Heather Ogburn and Gwyn Price
HMS Heroes Volunteers Choir Leads
Lord God,
At the beginning of this new term teach us to
be your hands and feet where we are,
At the beginning of this new term teach us to
love as you love us
At the beginning of this new term teach us to
pray for those in need
So that You are honoured and glorified
Amen
At the beginning of this new term teach us to
be your hands and feet where we are,
At the beginning of this new term teach us to
love as you love us
At the beginning of this new term teach us to
pray for those in need
So that You are honoured and glorified
Amen
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