Headteacher’s Newsletter to Parents

Ofsted

Outstanding for almost 15 years!

25 April 2016

Dear Parent/Carer

The publication of my latest Newsletter has been slightly delayed and when initially drafted I had written that I hoped you and your family had had a relaxing and enjoyable Easter break. At that time we had been back for a week, with some schools due to return last week whilst for a few others they were only half way through their Easter break! If ever there was reasoning then this holiday profile offers some justification for a fixed Easter. However, returning when we did enabled those due to sit their external examinations imminently to consolidate their studying and revision, preparing for GCSEs/A levels and other examinations.

The early part of the summer term is sadly for many students dominated by a variety of examinations and it is important for us all to recognise the pressures that this places on students. To this end through PSHCE, Friday’s Alternative Curriculum Day and in lessons students will receive further guidance on revision strategies and relaxation techniques. If you as parents/carers have any concerns about the well-being of your daughter then please do not hesitate to contact us here in school where a range of support is available including access to our Nurse Practitioners.

In addition and for students seeking a short but intensive period to engage in quiet study, Mr Goodwin is running "Early Risers" - a club which is becoming ever more popular based in S11 from 7:15am - 8am every weekday morning, where students have the opportunity to complete work independently or revise quietly.

As we enter the 2016 examination season the SSAT (the schools, students and teachers network formerly the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust) have recognised our 2015 GCSE results as some of the strongest in the country as they have awarded us an Educational Outcomes Award, placing us in the top 10% of schools nationally. Our aim is to build on this accolade through this year’s results!

The last week of the Spring Term was an exceptional period in the life of our Performing Arts students. Monday saw a risqué but hugely successful performance of Bouncers (Joel Isherwood, Joe Harrington, Kieran Bailey and James Ormrod) and Shakers (Grace Elliott, Eloise O’Donnell, Tara Moir and Tamsin Stakes), cleverly directed by Miss Aldridge. The excellence of the performances was self-evident to an appreciative audience. Tuesday saw a superb performance from the choir at the Victoria Hall in Hanley whilst our dancers stole the show at the Lyceum Theatre in Crewe with some exquisite performances which showcased the additional finesse and professionalism that Mrs Heywood brings to her students. Then, we all returned on Wednesday to the Victoria Hall to hear three pieces from our Chamber Choir that sang so flawlessly drawing three evenings of wonderful performances to a close.

Our performing arts go from strength to strength and the future and listening to comments from several parents are now the local beacon of excellence. Well done to all concerned; staff and students alike.

Ms Misra and her team of editors/contributors have produced an excellent edition of The Voice – some splendid articles and a new style of presentation – making it an enjoyable and easily accessible read. Have a look, it is available on the school’s website.

For the first time ever members of the public have been invited to question prospective UN Secretary General candidates and the first ever student (and only one) to have a question selected was to Katie Busby (Year 7) whose question opened last week’s debate. Congratulations are due to Katie. Here's the video link from the UN! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdMtf7lTtYY&feature=em-share_video_user

Our Under 15 Volleyball players: Louise Elleray, Caitlin Britton, Abi White and Hannah Bennett were Bronze Medallists at the recent Level 3 School Games. Not only were the girls third in the County but the judges commented on the player’s sportsmanship and general professionalism. Well done!

With support from Ms B Woodroffe and Mr T Kilkenny, our future legal executives have been enjoying success as well as sharpening their debating skills:

1. Mollie Burns was SHORTLISTED in the Court Reporter's Competition where entries were judged by Joshua Rozenberg.

2. Aprilia Klein-Degg who entered the Court Artist Competition came a very strong runner-up.

3. Eight students from Years 8 and 9 sharpened their “mooting” skills participating in the Magistrates'

Competition held recently at Crewe Magistrates' Court.

A very busy Science and Design & Technology week, earlier this month included a superb Celebration of Design and Technology evening as well as some fantastic and informative trips and activities promoting Science and Design and Technology. Coincidentally the Science and Design & Technology week saw “our” chicks laying their first eggs. The fair on Friday afternoon demonstrated the ingenuity of our students who made the judge’s task very difficult indeed.

On behalf of the local fundraising branch of the RNLI Lifeboats I should like to draw to your attention a Family Cycle Event on Sunday 15

th May. There are three routes available to accommodate and encourage all ages

and abilities to get out on their bikes and have some fun whilst supporting the RNLI.

More information and online registration is available from on the link

http://rnli.org/howtosupportus/getinvolved/events/Pages/RNLI -Three-Shires-Cycle-Sportive.aspx

In addition to revising for their forthcoming examinations our Sixth Form students have been busy. Gabby Goodman (Year 12) has represented Wales in an U18 International Hockey Festival in Switzerland whilst Emma Fowler (Year 13) has been crowned U20 Pentathlon Champion in Gateshead. Since Easter our students have been showcasing their final Extended Project Qualification presentations, French and Spanish Speaking exams have taken place and countless 'drop ins' and revision classes are ongoing. Our Product Design Textiles students enjoyed a productive and informative trip to MMU to test a range of fabrics and our STAR students are doing well on their work placements.

Once again our College students stole the show during the Spring Music Concert - highlights being a brilliantly funny rendition of Always The Bridesmaid and Never The Bride by Katie French (Year 13) accompanied by Rachel Sanders (Year 13) on the piano and a beautiful violin solo by Jonathan Vu (Year 13).

Building work on our new College building is increasing in pace and momentum - we have floors and stairs, it really is starting to take shape which is very exciting.

Further details on the opportunities available within our Sixth Form cab be obtained from Mrs Z Hughes (Head of Sixth Form) at zhughes@sandhigh.cheshire.sch.uk

Uniform in September

Please note that with effect from September 2016 all students must be wearing the new uniform. To this effect uniform can be ordered on line at www.sandbachhigh.co.uk (follow the link to Uniform and you will see the link to Price & Buckland’s on-line shop).

Uniform sizing and retail event: Tuesday 28 June 3.30 – 5.30pm New Year 7 only 5.30 – 7.30 pm All welcome. You will be able to purchase uniform during these events by cash/debit/credit card.

Uniform sizing only events: Saturday 2 July 12.30pm—3pm & Thursday 18 August 10am—2pm

PLEASE NOTE UNIFORM WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE FROM SCHOOL AT THE SIZING ONLY EVENT

Stand down arrangements during the external examination period

Year 12 and 13 students have received details but in brief the arrangements are as follows:

YEAR 13 - Straightforward! They stand down on Friday 27 May. They will be in normal lessons period 1 & 2 and then they will have a final assembly after break and will leave us at 12.15pm ish.

YEAR 12 - Arrangements need to be slightly more fluid than in previous years because of the introduction of some linear subjects. In short, there will be a two week period of stand down for Year 12 that will start on Monday 16th May and finish on Friday 27 May BUT because not all students are sitting lots of AS exams this year, there will be an expectation that those who are also studying linear subjects and/or BTEC/non exam based courses will attend their subject lessons, unless they have an exam the next day.

Teaching of non-linear subjects will commence again [as in previous years] on the first Monday back after half term. Further details/clarification can be obtained from Mrs Hughes at zhughes@sandhigh.cheshire.sch.uk.

The arrangements for Year 11 have also received details of the stand down arraignments as they relate to them and in brief they are:

Before Whit Half Term Students are required to wear correct school uniform.

The first Year 11 exam is on 17 May. Once the exams have started Year 11 are allowed to stand down the morning or afternoon prior to an exam; so for example if your daughter has an exam on Tuesday morning she will be allowed to sign out of school at 12.15pm the day before and go home to revise. She can only sign out at 12.15pm not at break.

Some girls will decide to remain in school when they are allowed to stand down. There will be a silent study room available. If your daughter avails herself of this opportunity then will need to sign in at main reception to say that she will be going to the silent study room or attend normal lessons.

After Whit Half Term School uniform is optional

All students are to come in for lessons in subjects that they have yet to sit their examination. For example, the final mathematics examination is not until 9 June, so your daughter will be expected to attend maths lessons up to this date.

When your daughter has finished all her exams she is to return any books to the relevant department/teacher and get her leaving form signed by each class teacher.

Further details/clarification can be obtained from Mrs Halstead at SHalstead@sandhigh.cheshire.sch.uk

I look forward to seeing you at one of the forthcoming events but in the meantime please do not hesitate to contact me at jmleigh@sandhigh.cheshire.sch.uk if I can be of any assistance.

Yours sincerely

J M Leigh

Headteacher

Forthcoming Events

Thursday 28 April Parental Engagement Meeting 12.15pm—1pm

Thursday 28 April Common Room Restaurant open (menu below) 7pm

Thursday 5 May Celebration of Dance 6.45pm

Tuesday 10 May GCSE Drama Performance Evening (DS1) 6.00pm—8.30pm

Thursday 12 May Common Room restaurant open 7pm

Monday 16 May PFA meeting (ALL WELCOME) 5.30pm—6.30pm

Thursday 19 May Year 6 Parents’ Information Evening 6.30pm

Wednesday 25 May Year 5, 6 & 7 Cheese & Wine Book Club 5pm

Wednesday 25 May Sixth Form Celebration Evening 7pm

Thursday 26 May Year 6 Additional Needs Parents’ Information Evening 4pm—5pm

Friday 27 May Half Term 3.15pm

Holiday Date Date of Closing Date of re-opening

Summer 2016 Wednesday 20 July Wednesday 31 August (Staff)

Thursday 1 September (STUDENTS)

Autumn Half Term 2016 Friday 21 October Monday 31 October

Christmas 2016/2017 Tuesday 20 December Thursday 5 January 2017

Spring Half Term 2017 Friday 17 February Monday 27 February

Easter 2017 Friday 7 April Monday 24 April

Summer Half Term Friday 26 May Monday 5 June

Summer 2017 Thursday 20 July

Common Room Restaurant

28 April 2016

7pm Sitting - £12.50pp

Taste of South East Asian Cuisine

Sharing Platter

Thai Spring Rolls, Sticky Spareribs, Thai Salad

OR

Vegetarian Thai Spring Rolls (V), Miso Soup

***

To Share

Lechon (Filipino Slow Roast Belly Pork), Adobo Chicken (Chicken in Sweet Soy and Garlic Sauce)

Pancit (Filipino Fried Noodle Dish V) With Steamed Rice

OR

Vegetable & Tofu Yakitori, Pancit (Filipino Fried Noodle Dish V)

***

Caramelized Peach Samosas

with Lime & Chilli Ice Cream

or

Leche Flan (Asian Crème Brulee) with Mango Sorbet

Plans for our new Sixth Form block are already underway but

it is vital for us to raise additional monies in order to cover the

costs of furnishings and equipment. That’s why we are asking

for your help. Every brick you buy, will take us closer to our

goal of opening Sandbach High School’s new Sixth Form

Build to our students in the autumn of 2016.

How?

All you need to do is ‘Buy a Brick’

It will only cost you a small donation of £5.

Or, if you can buy a number of bricks, so much the

better. Why not buy a brick for a friend?

The more you buy, the more

our students will benefit.

Making a donation is really easy to do. Simply go to our

school ParentPay website, where an option to purchase is

easily accessible. Alternatively cash or cheque payments, can

be sent into school via the Finance Office.

www.justgiving.com/charity/sandbach-college/newbuild

In order to show how generous our school community is, we

will ask all students who have donated to sign our ‘we helped

build’ plaque, which will be displayed in the foyer of the new

build.

For more information please contact

Mrs Helen Hulse, Finance Manager

Can you help?

hhulse@sandhigh.cheshire.sch.uk

Thank You!

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