SCHOOL NEWSLETTER – OCTOBER 2019

Dear Parents and Carers Welcome back to a new school year—it is hard to believe the first half term is over already! It has been a very busy period and our students and staff have worked incredibly hard. Year 11 are fast approaching their GCSE mock examinations and we wish them well. I am pleased to say that students have returned in a very positive manner with Years 7 to 11 looking smart and making excellent first impressions across school. It has also been lovely to see how well our new Year 7 students have settled during the first few weeks of term. This is the start of my first half term as Acting Headteacher and I am incredibly proud to lead what is a flourishing school; a happy, supportive and inclusive learning community, where we strive and succeed in delivering an ‘excellent education for all’. Being distinct and effective as a Catholic school means that when your children leave us at the end of Year 11 they are in the best position possible, both academically and as well rounded young people, to take the appropriate next steps towards a successful future. I was reminded in a recent conversation of just how much we have achieved as a school over the past half term. Rest assured that we also remain fully focused on striving for even greater achievements as we start the 2019 academic year:

You may have read recently in the Burton Mail that as a school we have never been more successful in terms of KS4 and KS5 results.

At GCSE we now have an improving three-year trend of Progress 8 scores, 0.00. We remain an extremely popular school admitting students from 25 different schools from across Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Welcome to new staff This half term we welcome new members of staff to our school community: Teaching staff Mr Phil Ince (Assistant Headteacher – Behaviour and Attitudes) Miss Lizzie Jones (Teacher of Maths) Mrs Julie Priestley (Teacher of English) Miss Fran Toms (Teacher of Science) Mrs Claire Clark (Teacher of PE) Miss Emily Rokita (Teacher of Psychology) Support Staff: Miss Bronte Heath (Teaching Assistant) Miss Paula King (Teaching Assistant)

On behalf of the school community, we would like to wish everyone a relaxing half term break and to also thank parents for their continued support of the school; it is hugely appreciated. Primary Taster Sessions Year 6 students from St Modwen’s visited the Science, Art and DT departments this term and got creative. Students learned about surface tension and enjoyed creating fireworks in milk. All students had a great time. The Pastoral Team The pastoral team welcomes all our students back to school after a well-deserved break and would like to make a very special welcome to our community and the new students who have joined us this year. It is very important that every student in school is known and cared for as an individual, and as such we have a pastoral team whose role is to support, challenge and care for every student. To enable this to happen every student is a member of a Form and it is the Form Tutors role to look after and care for each student as an individual on a daily basis. If you wish to communicate with your child’s Form Tutor please make a note in their planner. Students are also a member of a Year Group led by:

• Mr Heath (Year 7) jake.heath@robertsutton.staffs.sch.uk • Miss Scott (Year 8) jade.scott@robertsutton.staffs.sch.uk • Miss Meredith (Year 9) katie.meredith@robertsutton.staffs.sch.uk • Mrs Harkin (Year 10) trish.harkin@robertsutton.staffs.sch.uk • Mrs McDowall (Year 11) amanda.mcdowall@robertsutton.staffs.sch.uk • Mr Davies-Tagg (Year 13) elliot.davies-tagg@robertsutton.staffs.sch.uk

The Heads of Year are responsible for the care and progress of all students. Heads of Year are supported by our Pastoral Support Workers - Mrs Rowe, Mrs Smith and Mrs Tarry. The collaboration and relationship between students, parents and school is key to our success as a learning community. Communication is central to these relationships, which is why we welcome communication and feedback (both positive and as areas for development). If you do have feedback please use the school’s feedback tab on our website. If you have any concerns or issues that you wish to discuss with the school, please phone 01283 749450 or email office@robertsutton.staffs.sch.uk. Please make an appointment to see a specific member of staff. If you arrive without a prearranged appointment, we are unlikely to be able to see you at that time. Our Receptionist, Mrs Field, will answer the phone/email and pass this information to our Pastoral Support Workers who will phone you back and try to solve your concern in the first instance, or if required, work with the relevant Head of Year who will then make contact. We look forward over the coming year to working with our students and parents to ensure that all students have every opportunity to flourish, grow in confidence and make the most of their individual gifts and talents.

An Exceptional Open Evening On Thursday 4th October we invited our local families and community to attend our annual Open Evening. It was a great event, with presentations from our senior leaders and students past and present. Each department relished showing off their skills and expertise through exciting hands-on activities, challenges and tasks! Our student ambassadors were, as always, a true credit to the school. Whether they were helping in the departments, taking families on orientation tours or running taster sessions. All took great pride in showing off their school to our guests. As well as information from our subject leaders on the subjects offered at Robert Sutton, there was information available about our bus routes and the admissions process. It was a very busy evening with a lovely atmosphere, and the opportunity for those attending to learn about and experience first-hand the care and guidance offered at our school. Admissions Process We have been asked repeatedly over recent weeks about applications to Year 7 in 2020 at Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary Academy, and are happy to clarity the process:

• Applications should be made through your local authority. • County residents have three choices of secondary school. • All choices should be used to indicate your preferred schools. It is wise to use all of them so that the

choice is not made on your behalf. • Your preferences for school will be considered when places are allocated. • There are no restrictions with regard to the schools you wish to apply for. • The deadline for applications is Thursday 31st October 2019.

It is essential that you apply for your place by the deadline of 31st October. Late applications receive the lowest priority. Please ensure that you do not miss out. If you have any queries or have heard differently, please contact us or contact County admissions for further clarification. We are really looking forward to working with new families and taking new students through ‘The Robert Sutton Way’ on their five-year journey with us. Careers and Education Event In early October, Robert Sutton hosted an informative event around post-16 pathways organised by our Careers Advisor, Julie McAulay. A wide range of local post-16 providers, apprenticeships and Sixth Form colleges, both state and independent, from around the county and city were in attendance to raise awareness of the great choices on offer in this area. The event was popular, highly informative and well-attended by students and their families. This important phase of education is a mixed market and we are delighted that having achieved such high GCSE grades this year, our students gained places in their sixth form of choice. The feedback was extremely positive and families went away with a strong sense of the routes available to them. Thank you to all of the providers who attended the evening. St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust Christmas Card Competition The Multi-academy Trust are running a Christmas card competition, with the winners having their design professionally printed and receiving a box of art equipment. Well done to all of the Year 7, 8 and 9 students who have entered. Such a high calibre of work has been produced that we will be picking a winning design to be printed on our school Christmas card for this year.

Artists of the Week Congratulations to all our Artists of the Week this term. There has been a diverse and creative range of work produced. Keep an eye on the noticeboard outside B106 for the weekly Artists of the Week next term!

Parents’ Forum This half term saw the meeting of our first ever Parent Forum. The Parent Forum is a partnership between parents and the school. It is a valuable way to share ideas, views and concerns and make suggestions for improvement. The Parent Forum will meet every half term and the aims of the Parent Forum will be to:

Work together to improve the education provided for our children.

Share information, knowledge and skills.

Meet in a mutually supportive environment.

Further improve communications between parents/carers and school. We welcome all feedback and thank parents for their valuable contributions. During the first Parent Forum lots of ideas were discussed, including the publication of a newsletter!

Character Ambassador Programme This half term has seen the start of the ‘Character Ambassador’ programme. Character can be defined as “the mental and moral qualities that make an individual unique.” These qualities are sometimes termed soft skills and can be overlooked in the classroom environment. The aim of the programme is to:

Inspire and expand students as individuals

Reward and enhance those attributes that are essential for employability and life.

To help students discover their own strengths, aptitudes and ultimately help them become a better person.

Currently we have selected a small group of students that we feel have leadership qualities that are not being used effectively. It is our hope that, over time, we will be able to expand this group. Amongst many other roles and responsibilities students are expected to attend ‘Character Enrichment’ sessions taking place after school half-termly. The first of these sessions took place last Thursday surrounding the theme of Leadership through team building.

Rewards and Recognition At Blessed Robert Sutton we truly value hard work and effort. Each week, Heads of Year select two members of their year group to appear on the ‘Wall of Excellence’ reflecting exceptional work and effort where students have done something extra special in lessons or in the wider life of the school. The following students have been recognised as working hard this half term: Adam Boor – Thank you for being so helpful and thoughtful in English! Miss Ayre Alberto Apostolou – Excellent start to English – well done! Miss Robinson Alfie Taylor – Thank you for being so helpful and positive in English! Miss Ayre Alishia Tomichan - Thank you for all your excellent contributions in English and your hard work to keep improving your work. Miss Robinson Amy Belcher – 100% in end of Unit Geography Assessment. Mr Turner Bailey Streather – Wonderful work in English – thank you for your effort to be neat! Miss Robinson Blessa Porras - 100% in first half term Geography assessment. Mr Turner Braidon Weir - Excellent work ethic and contributions in English– well done! Miss Robinson Caitlin Smith – Thank you for your consistently excellent effort, positive attitude and for being so helpful! Miss Ayre Caitlyn Chamberlain - For a much improved start to the year. Really well done! Miss O’Leary Cecilia Martin - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Ceejay Yates - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Charlie James – Thank you for reading in English! Miss Robinson Charlie Jordan – For a fantastic start to the year. Well done! Mrs Rowe Charlie Mills – Excellent start to Animal Farm, well done! Miss Robinson Conn O’Donnell - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Corben Jack Haynes – Thank you for all your excellent contributions in English, and your hard work too. Daisy-Mae Dorsett – Thank you for always being the first to offer any help in Form time. Miss Crowther Daniel Keilloh - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Darcie Skellett - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Darcy Doyle - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Dominik Kwiatkowski – Thank you for your excellent reading aloud in English! Miss Ayre Dominika Chudzinska – Well done for your excellent effort in English! A great start! Miss Ayre Dylan McKeown – You have shown great resilience and kept going even when things got tough. Miss Crowther Eleanor Gouldin - 100% in first half term Geography assessment! Mr Turner Ella Taylor - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Elliot Harrison – Fantastic attitude to learning and amazing practical skills – Mrs Langston Emily Ruprecht – 96% in end of Unit Geography Assessment. Mr Turner Erin Thompson – Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Faith Dickinson – Well done for your excellent effort and for growing in confidence in English! Miss Ayre Franciszek Balicki - 96% in first half term Geography assessment. Mr Turner Gabriel Begas - For excellent contributions in Maths and for always having a smile on your face. Miss Schofield Grzegorz Drozdowski – Well done for an excellent start to English and settling in well. Thank you for your effort! Miss Robinson Harley Croft - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Harrison Jenkins – 97% in first half term Geography assessment. Mr Turner Harry Hollands - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Ib Durojaiye – Thank you for all your support in Art lessons! Miss Crowther Isaac Farmer - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Isabella Kennedy - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson

Issy Cunningham – Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Iyla Perry – Well done for your effort this half term! A great start! Miss Ayre Jahim Brandon Hynan - For a brilliant start so far this year. Brilliant! Mrs Rowe James Davis - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Jay Traves- 94% in his Maths test! Jessica Taylor - 100% in first half term Geography assessment Joe Williams – Excellent effort when studying Of Mice and Men. A great start! Miss Ayre Kacper Bajuk – Thank you for your excellent ideas and reading in lesson. Miss Robinson Katy-Rose Hyde – The most stunning poetry book I have ever seen. Thank you for wonderful dedication to your studies – Miss Robinson Kemi Passey – Excellent work in English! Thank you for your effort. Miss Robinson Krystian Palczak – You have made great progress in Art and always respond well to feedback! Miss Crowther Laura Sliwinska – 94% in her Maths test! Lauren Wright – Well done on winning ‘Chef of the Week’ for your amazing Swiss Roll – Mrs Langston Leah Major Pajor - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Leela-Nell Alexander – Thank you for always been the first to offer support to other students. You have shown great skill in Textiles so far this year! Miss Crowther Leo Bull – Excellent ideas and contributions in English – thank you! Miss Robinson Liberty Chapman – Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Lilah Aldrich – 100% in first half term Geography assessment Lois Cope - excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Lucy Littlemore - 96% in first half term 9 Geography assessment Lukasz Struski – Thank you for excellent effort in English! Miss Robinson Maisie Allcott – For a brilliant start to the year so far. Well done! Mrs Rowe & Mrs Smith Mason Bent – Thank you for fantastic reading and contributions in English – well done, a great start to the year! Miss Robinson Mason Prescott – Brilliant work created in your digital media unit. Keep up the great focus! Miss Crowther Mason Thurlow – Phenomenal progress already in English – Wow! Thank you for your effort and ideas. Miss Robinson Matthew Thomas – Well done for a positive start and for being so focused in English. Miss Ayre Minu Jomy – Thank you for all your help with Year 7. You do a fantastic job and I really appreciate it. Miss Schofield Natasza Kozlak - 100% in her Maths assessment Nicholas Godzik - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Noah Baker – 96% in first half term Geography assessment Oliwia Stajszczak - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Paddy Smout - 96% in first half term Geography assessment Paige Firbank – 100% in first half term Geography assessment Patrick Garvan - Excellent work ethic and contributions in English – well done! Miss Robinson Polly Philips – Thank you for all your excellent contributions in English and your hard work to keep improving your work. Miss Robinson Rezija Gabranova – Excellence in areas of Food, practical and theory work – Mrs Langston Ruby Chapman - Excellent work ethic and conscientiousness in English – well done! Miss Robinson Ruby Smith – Well done on a great start to Textiles, you have produced some outstanding work. Miss Crowther Samson Williams – Showing great progress in practical lessons this year. Well done – Mrs Langston Sean West–Somacarrera – Fantastic ideas in English – thank you for reading and all your wonderful contributions to class discussions. Well done! Miss Robinson Sinead Sibanda – Lovely expression when reading in English! Thank you! Miss Ayre

Theo Baker – 96% in end of Unit Geography Assessment Theo Dooley Bennett – Thanks for always smiling and having a positive attitude! Miss Ayre Thomas Winch - 96% in first half term Geography assessment To all 11.5 - For an amazing attitude towards Maths intervention and for working hard this half term. Miss Schofield Zak Wilcox – Fantastic Natural Forms photography, skilfully taken and beautifully presented. Mrs Cawson Sports Results This half term has seen several of our first fixtures. Please find below our latest results: Year 7 Won v Paget 6-0 Won v Pingle 4-2 Lost v Oldfields 2-0 Lost v Granville 4-2 Year 8 Lost v Foremarke 6-0 Won v Oldfields 4-2 Year 9 Drew 0-0 v Pingle and lost 4-2 on penalties Won v Paget 10-1 Lost v Alleyne’s 5-1 Year 10 Won v Paget 10-0 Won v John Taylor 3-2 Year 11 Won v William Allitt 6-1 Forthcoming Fixtures Wednesday 6th November – Year 10 s Paulet in semi-final of District Football Cup Thursday 7th November – Inter school District Cross Country competition @ Oldfields Wednesday 13th November – Year 8 District Rugby tournament @Burton Rugby Club Thursday 14th November – Year 7 seven a side District Football tournament @Pingle Wednesday 20th November – Year 7 District Rugby competition @ Burton Rugby Club Wednesday 27th November – Year 7 and 8 Sportshall Athletics @ Robert Sutton Thursday 12th December – Year 8 seven a side District Football tournament @Pingle

Term Dates 2019-2020 The School will close for the end of term break at 2.55 pm on Friday 25th October. We will reopen for Term 2 at 8.25 am on Monday 4th November. We wish all our students and their families a happy and peaceful break. Autumn Term Half Term - Monday 28 October – Friday 1st November 2019 (inclusive) Staff Training Day - Monday 2nd December 2019 (School closed to students) Term Ends - Friday 20th December 2019 Social Media Please follow us on Twitter or Facebook to keep up to date with the latest news and events! With best wishes. Laura O’Leary

Acting Headteacher