February Half Term 2016
I hope you will all enjoy a good
break next week.
I was very pleased with the
seriousness with which year 11 received their mock GCSE results. I liked the way the results sheet placed the
target grade against the exam grade achieved:
this helps students to see that they need to work a little more sharply
on revision and so forth while reminding them that success can be theirs for
the asking. Mock exams are not an end in
themselves – they are part of a process which leads to focused revision and
successful public exams.
Year 11 students have all been
given details of three new vocational pathways which we are planning to
introduce in September, in health, in ICT and in sport. Each will prepare students for the world or
work through qualifications, personal study, work experience, English and
maths; they are especially designed for
students who gain around 5 good GCSEs.
These will be important opportunities for many of our students, and will
sit alongside our A-levels and our ‘Foundation Sixth’ GCSEs.
There have been many good things
to celebrate this term, including some excellent rugby results, some excellent
work in faculty fortnights – geography
and English have done brilliantly recently - and some really positive coverage
in the Citizen. The Holocaust Memorial
Service with readings and talks by sixth-form students and a Jewish prayer read
for us by local poet Adam Horovitz, was particularly moving. The ‘memorial baton’ was handed on to
Gloucestershire Care Services and accepted on their behalf by Paul Jennings
their CEO.
May I remind those of you with
‘smart phones’ and the like that we have a school Twitter account and a school
App, both of which keep users fully up to date with school events.
Please allow me to pick out a
couple of things I particularly appreciated. I should like to thank the staff
and students who went on the CERN trip to Geneva, and particularly Dr Taylor
whose reconnaissance and preparation were immaculate. The trip was a huge success – the team
visited the United Nations building, where the Syrian peace talks were
faltering, and the CERN project headquarters.
The trip was inspirational on many levels and the enthusiasm of our
students was obvious.
Yesterday, Thursday 11th
February, we welcomed Philip Gross, the poet, to school to unveil a bench
painted to illustrate his book, Manifold Manor.
Philip has written many books of poetry – both for adults and children –
and also novels for teenagers. I am
probably saying that everyone should read at least one Philip Gross book! He came over from Cardiff to unveil the bench
and enjoyed very much what was a return visit to St Peter’s. Big thanks to Oliwia, Jazton, Amelia, Hanna
and Emma.
It is also pleasing to report, as
you may have seen already, that our former student Caroline Quinn, now a civil
servant, has been awarded an MBE for her work supporting human rights in China.
We have had to make some changes
in the bus arrangements, especially in the Newent route. Mr Blackshaw works closely with Shire Hall to
maintain the bus services to St Peter’s, but we are dependent on the bus
companies. These are not public or
county services any more. We shall
always do our very best to maintain routes, and Mr Blackshaw has worked
tirelessly to achieve this, but we ask for your understanding when changes have
to be made.
Some notices to conclude. Firstly, we still have quite a mound of
uncollected examination certificates. If
your older sons and daughters need to collect certificates, please could they
contact the school to arrange collection.
Thank you.
Currently we are advertising
posts for examination invigilators via the St Peter’s Internet and E-teach with
a closing date of Sunday 21st February. Sadly, to-date, we
have only received six applications which is a far cry from the numbers we need
to cover the summer exams. If you are
able and willing to undertake this paid work during the exam season in May and
June, could you look at the website and submit an application form, or ring the
school to speak the exams office.
Secondly, some staffing
changes. Mrs Melton and Mrs Lally have
taken over leadership of the maths department.
Mr McAteer has been finding it increasingly difficult to balance the
demands of his leadership role with the needs of a big and important
department, and I am very grateful to Mrs Melton and Mrs Lally for having
offered to step up to the role. We are
currently advertising for a new head of maths and hope to have news of that
appointment shortly.
Mr Hudson has been appointed as
our new head of year 7, taking over from Mrs Brindley. Mrs Brindley has worked very hard in this
role this year but it was a new role for her, and after reflection she has
decided that it is not the best role for her.
The school is disappointed to have to accept that decision, which was
Mrs Brindley’s own. But the school moves
on and Mr Hudson will work alongside Mrs Brindley for a short while and then
take over the reins. Mrs Gittins
continues to oversee key stage 3.
Mrs Greenow has been appointed as
our ‘designate’ head of year, which means that she will shadow the work of our
heads of year and should in the future one of the heads of year move on, she
will be ready to take over smoothly. Mr
Edwards, currently teaching in the maths department, has accepted a promotion
at All Saints’ Academy in Cheltenham and will be leaving us at Easter. Vacancies are advertised via our
website. Congratulations to all staff
who have been given enhanced roles or have gained promotions.
And, finally, I need to tell you
that the governors have accepted my request to retire at Christmas 2016. I have announced this to staff, and obviously
I shall have something fuller and more formal to say in due course. Suffice it to say it has been an honour and a
huge responsibility to take over the running of the school and to work with
such a talented team of teachers and workers (and parents!). Leaving at Christmas will, I believe, allow me
to get the new school year under way before handing over to a successor.
The governors will be advertising the post shortly.
Yours
Philip Rush
