Headteacher’s Newsletter to Parents

Ofsted

Outstanding for almost 15 years!

28 November 2016

Sandbach High School and Sixth Form College

Middlewich Road, Sandbach Cheshire CW11 3NT

www.sandbachhigh.co.uk

www.sandbachsixthform.co.uk

office@sandhigh.cheshire.sch.uk 01270 765031

Dear Parent/Carer

Armistice Day

The whole school came together on Friday 11 November to pay their respects.

Each form had previously made a large poppy which were strung together across the school yard. At

10.35 over 1500 students and staff quietly and respectfully lined up in the yard.

Ella Ross in Year 12 read “Taking A Stand” by Craig Piercy. A whistle then blew to signal the start of 2

minutes silence. At the end of the silence ‘The Last Post’ was played by Year 9 student Nadia James.

As a school we are immensely proud by the respect shown by all our students.

Mr Max Leese – former Governor It is with sadness that we record the loss of Mr Leese who recently lost his battle against ill health. Our condolences are extended to Judy, his wife, and his family. Mr Leese was a long standing Governor who supported and challenged in equal measure, always taking pride in our students and the achievements of our school and not least the planning for our new College building. As well as being involved in our school, Mr Leese was very active within the local community and we will all miss his example and leadership. College New Build The official opening of the new College building will take place on Monday, 12 December 2016. Having finally taken possession of the new build we are working hard to prepare the classrooms for the opening and ready for staff and students. College Taster Day On Friday we welcomed a number of external students to a College Taster Day – the students enjoyed their experience and we look forward to welcoming many of them back in September 2017. A couple of the comments received related to the “outstanding” teaching that was experienced and the breadth of choice available when compared to other local colleges. Applications continue to be received and should be directed towards Mrs Hughes at zhughes@sandhigh.cheshire.sch.uk Our current College students have been very active not least outside the classroom with many, for example, involved in an amazing Alice in Wonderland themed Afternoon Tea charity event at Cranage Hall organised by our Year 13 Business students, raising money for Cancer Research and Young Minds. The impressive, sophisticated event was really well supported by students, staff and parents. Students have been busy also with a number of other activities including an informative careers event at Radbroke Hall; a number of university Open Days; another great restaurant evening by our Hospitality students for the Rotary Club and our Year 13 Health & Social Care students having the opportunity to interview local foster carers visiting College as part of their Caring for Children and Young People unit. Focus has centred on the completion of UCAS applications. Students, form tutors, subject teachers and Mrs Gilligan have been working hard together to make sure the applications are first class. I have to say, reading some of the references is, once again, a real pleasure. Some students are also now preparing for University interviews and we wish them well.

GCSE Presentation Evening The GCSE Presentation Evening proved an enjoyable as well as a celebratory occasion as we welcomed

back members of last year’s Year 11 to receive their certificates and awards. Guest speaker Councillor

Keith Haines, Mayor of Sandbach, recognised the achievements of students and wished them continued

success.

Subject Name

Art Emma Davis

Business Studies Georgina Gill

Catering Charlotte Hesketh

Child Development Olivia Frayne

Computing Yasmine Longshaw

Dance Georgina Chenery

Drama Heléna Walsh

Engineering Danielle Taylor

English Language Emma Stephen

English Literature Michaelle Xavier-Jackson

Food & Nutrition Bryony Bell

French Anya Moss

Geography Emma Precious

German Natalie Jones

Graphics Emily Hilson

Health & Social Care Natasha Mann

History Daisy McGough

ICT Kimberley Dykes

i-Media Hannah Marks

Mathematics Lucy Masson

Music Natasha Brett

Physical Education Liberty Hughes

Product Design Isabella Shaw

Religious Studies Quinn Liang

Science - core Emma Jerstice

Science - Additional Emma Stephen

Science - Triple (Chemistry) Amy Hewitt

Science - Triple (Physics) Katie Gregg

Science - Triple (Biology) Zainab Adnan

Spanish Kelly Kerfoot

Statistics Katie Lancaster

Textiles Emily Iwancz

Travel & Tourism Madeline Allcock

Progress Daisy McGough

Achievement Quinn Liang

Headteachers Katie Gregg

Katy Guy Sophie Barwick

100% attendance 5 Years Sophie Barwick

100% attendance 5 Years Laura Holland

Other College activities included our Year 13 Travel & Tourism students accompanied by Mrs Jackson visiting Salford Quays to explore the relationship between urban regeneration and tourism. The annual Performing Arts showcase was superb. Our A Level Dance and A level Theatre students set a great example to the younger students involved in the evening, exquisite and powerful performances all round. Well done to Mrs Heywood and all the contributors. Our musicians had a lovely evening representing the music department at Keele University for the Welsh Society's Christmas dinner and our Mathematicians have supported a great Maths Festival, arranged by Mr Williams, and enjoyed an excellent Breaking The Code trip, organised by MissLeng. Paperless Reports Further to previous Newsletters we are trialling paperless reports which will now be accessed via G8Way3 except for those who have explicitly requested hard copies. The initial reaction from the trial with Year 7 has been very positive. G8Way3 (Parent Portal) can be used to view homework as well as enabling parents to access information relating to their child’s attendance, BfL grades, assessments and timetable. Parents can also update their own or their child’s personal details directly by accessing the link to the Data Collection Sheet. Access to G8Way3 can be requested by emailing helpdesk@sandhigh.cheshire.sch.uk. Budding legal experts The following is a report produced by Ms B Woodruffe and indicates the progress being made as we develop our provision for law and associated courses/careers The girls involved in the mock trials today at Liverpool Crown Court were fantastic in all respects; they not only acquitted themselves (no pun intended!) extremely well, making us - Mr Kilkenny, myself and a number of parent supporters - very proud, but were also beautifully behaved, notably leaving not a scrap of litter or mess for anyone to clear up in our room at the end of the day, which cannot be said of all the other schools' bases! As is the purpose of this event, I know, but also from what they said themselves, this has been a super experience for all participants, a unique insight into the working of a genuine court, with the benefit of real-life personnel offering their professional experience of the criminal justice system and feedback on the performance of the teams. The girls were certainly fully engaged and interested. We were, I think, again the only team to involve younger members; our line-up included, for example, Eve Naden from year 10, who 'graduated' from last year's magistrates' competition and deserves special mention; Megan Holness (year 10), whose energetic enthusiasm was unrivalled and who would have happily given up every single lunchtime to practise; Imogen Howard, who was a most resilient defendant in the face of aggressive cross examination; Emily Moss who managed dual roles (as did Amy Boardman, Laura Holland, Eleanor Sharman and Krisella Lyons from the sixth form). Katherine Isherwood-Smith from year 14, and Lee Oliver, yr 11 played pivotal roles as well. It was a strong competition, earning praise from the judges in all three rounds. Congratulations are extended to Esther Watson Following up from an article in an earlier Newsletter congratulations are extended to Esther who has won the Girton College, Cambridge Languages Day Competition. Dr Stuart Davis and Dr Claudia Domenici, languages academics at Girton, having judged all the entries have decided that the winning entry was Esther’s. They were particularly impressed by her high level of French language and the unusual and lively style in which she wrote. Congratulations to Esther and her teachers.

A couple of Reminders – Overcoats, umbrellas and shoes Sadly the weather is turning more inclement and I would like to encourage students, as necessary, to reflect on their attire when coming to school in a morning. I am amazed at times just how many turn up in a morning, when the rain is thrashing down or it is exceptionally cold, without an umbrella, wearing no overcoat or wearing very simple “ballet” style shoes offering little protection against the elements. Overcoats, umbrellas and “sturdy” shoes are acceptable whatever your daughter might say! Parental attendance on school trips An important aspect of school life is our rich and varied extra-curricular activity programme which sees students enjoying a range of enhancing experiences during the school day and beyond. We welcome expressions of interest from parents who would like to accompany any of the trips/visits (even if their daughter is not involved) in a supervisory capacity. Already several parents have accompanied a number of trips thoroughly enjoying the time and offering us in turn much needed support to help sustain our programme and hence the opportunities open to our students. Outlined below are some of the forthcoming events and in the school calendar previously circulated and available on the web site additional events are noted. If this might be of interest to you do please let me know. The impact of moving to grades 9 -1 and the new “good” pass In several previous Newsletters and possibly from reports in the national media you will be aware of the transition from GCSE grades to the New Numerical GCSE grades and that the new NNGG 5 will be deemed to be the new “good” pass national bench mark. From the tables below you can see the impact that this will have on outcomes nationally and inevitably on results in schools – something we need to be prepared for at an institutional level and a student level. The impact of moving to grades 9—1 and the new good pass 2017 Grade 5 will be awarded to the top third of those who currently get grade C and the bottom third of those currently getting grade B. In crude terms, this is what numbers could look like for England in 2017, assuming the same number of candidates:

The impact of moving to grades 9-1 and the new good pass 2018

Subject 2015 grade C and above 2017 grade 5 and above Drop in ‘good pass’ Proportion of cohort

English Language 65% 46% 85,000 19%

English Literature 75% 59% 65,000 16%

Maths 64% 44% 137,000 20%

Subject 2015 grade C and above 2018 grade 5 and above Drop in ‘good pass’ Proportion of cohort

Biology 91% 78% 16,500 13%

Chemistry 91% 78% 16,000 13%

Physics 92% 79% 16,500 13%

Science 56% 42% 75,000 14%

Additional Science 63% 42% 66,000 21%

Geography 68% 55% 30,000 14%

History 69% 57% 28,000 12%

French 70% 52% 27,000 18%

Spanish 72% 56% 14,000 16%

Please note Friday, 2 December is a staff training day – the school will be closed to students. I look forward to seeing you at one of the forthcoming events. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me at jmleigh@sandhigh.cheshire.sch.uk if you would like to raise any matters at all.

Yours sincerely

J M Leigh

Headteacher

FORTHCOMING EVENTS7 n Evening on Monday 19 September 5.30pm—8.30pm.

Thursday 1 December Year 9 Xmas Fair Parents/Carers

welcome between

11.30am and 12.15pm

Friday 2 December INSET DAY (school closed to students)

Wednesday 7 December Head of College Parent/Student drop in 5pm—6.30pm

Thursday 8 December Christmas by Candlelight (tickets from main reception

but limited quantities!)

7pm

Friday 9 December Senior Citizens’ lunch & concert 12 noon

Monday 12 December Meet your daughters’ Achievement Coordinator 8.30am—11am

Tuesday 13 December Carol Service, St Mary’s Church, Sandbach

ALL WELCOME!

7pm

Friday 16 December Year 7 (SOND) Christmas Carol Concert 2pm—3pm

Tuesday 20 December Year 7 (BACHE) Christmas Carol Concert 2pm—3pm

Tuesday 20 December School finishes for Christmas break 3.15pm