You can now follow us on Twitter and Facebook

@Haygrove

www.facebook.com/haygroveschool

Dec 2016 Issue 43 HeadsUP Message from The Headteacher Ofsted Report Extracts

Dear Parent/Carer “The Leadership Team has

As the end of this autumn term approaches, we are maintained the good quality of all incredibly busy. Students in Year 11 are just education in the school since the completing their HCSEs (Haygrove Certificate of Education). They last inspection.” (2012) seem to have prepared well and have approached the exams with real focus and determination. All students in Years 7 to 9 have also “The school has a strong ethos and experienced a period of assessments, so it has been quite an a well-established and widely intense half term, but we are all now looking forward to celebrating applied set of values.” Christmas. In the final week of term we have our School of Rock contest on 14 December. Everyone is very welcome to attend, “Governors are very supportive… tickets are available on the door or from the Finance Office. they share and make a strong contribution to the positive culture Ofsted Short Inspection and ethos of the school.” We have just received our formal Ofsted letter reporting on our recent short inspection. I am delighted to confirm officially that the “Pupils feel safe and are well looked school has been judged once again to be ‘good’. There are of after. Pupils are clear about what course some areas for us to work on and the report is clear that in they need to do to keep themselves some lessons there needs to be more challenge and that we need safe and what to do if they have to develop a greater consistency in providing precise and useful feedback to students. The full letter from Ofsted can be viewed on concerns.” the school website. “Pupils make strong progress in a

Becoming a ‘Teaching School’ wide range of subjects as a result of It is our intention to apply to become a ‘Teaching School’. good teaching.” This means we would work closely with other schools to provide high-quality training, development and support to new and experienced school staff. Our application will be submitted shortly; if you have any feedback you would like to give to support our proposal, or about this school development, please do contact either myself of Mr Reid, Deputy Head Teacher.

Yours sincerely

Karen Canham, Head Teacher

PLEASE NOTE! School will finish at 12.20 pm on the last day of term (Friday 16 December). School buses have been re-arranged and will depart school at 12.30 pm. Merry Christmas! HeadsUP PAGE 2

We would like to say a huge thank-you for all of the generous food bank and hamper donations we have currently received over this past term! All items will be donated to the local Bridgwater food HFA Christmas Shopping Evening bank. Collections for this will begin again in the new “Tis the season to be jolly!” year with years 8 and 11. On Friday 25 November our Haygrove Friends' Association hosted this year’s Christmas shopping Challenging Careers Interviews evening which featured numerous stalls selling fudge, chutney, decorations, cards and much more!

During November, 200 students were interviewed A huge thanks to everyone who made this event a by local employers as part of the school’s success and to those that attended and supported commitment to developing students’ confidence the evening, creating a warm festive atmosphere. and employability. A whole range of employers In addition, a special thank you to our School Choir from the Bridgwater spent a morning at the school and to Songbirds for providing some giving students a mock interview and reviewing wonderful singing during the evening. Overall we their CV including Bridgwater and College, managed to raise a total of… Homes in Sedgemoor, Army Carers, DHL, The Walnut Tree Hotel and Job Centre Plus. Over £500.00 raised for school!

“Lots of the students were a bit nervous before they went in for their interview, but afterwards the majority said they found it a very worthwhile experience,” said Mrs Plece, Head of Careers at BOOK OF THE MONTH 12 year-old Anni , “we are so grateful to the local never really questions why her employers who help us provide this opportunity frightened, ill mother won't leave for our students”. their once grand but now dilapidated house. She makes them live barricaded on the PLEASE ground floor, with Anni's mum REMEMBER! terrified of some unnamed danger. From award winning children's

Students are not allowed to author Narinder Dhami, in this wear excessive make-up in exciting, page-turning story, we school, they will be told to find out the real motives behind remove it. The school will the attempt to jeopardise the prime minister's visit - supply make-up wipes to and the astonishing reason why Anni's loving enable this to happen. mother has demanded so much of her and kept so much secret. HeadsUP PAGE 3

Thea’s Writing If you feel a little lost at lunch time and would Recognised at like to come and join us, let your tutor know Brunner Cup Awards and we’ll send you an invitation. Or you can come up and see us. C2 is a club to chill and be Evening yourself, we do lots of fun things from glass Year 10 student, Thea and ceramic painting, cards and creative Rogers was delighted to making to cake decorating, DVDs and making receive a highly- commended certificate for popcorn. We also sample and try food her creative writing at the from different cultures. Brunner Writing Competition Presentation The club runs on Monday and Evening held at Richard Huish College. Haygrove Friday lunchtimes in Room 29 (Mrs Harper’s School was one of eight secondary school that took part in the annual competition run by the Taunton- cookery room) with Mrs Brazier and Mrs based sixth-form college, alongside The Castle Wynn. School, , Heathfield Community If you want to bring your lunch and a friend School, Haygrove School, King Alfred School, you can. We would love to see you. , and Tiverton High School. You can read Thea’s brilliant story on our website!

Interested in obtaining the prestigious Why punctuality matters in a Bronze D of E award? professional world among Aimed at students aged 14+, this award offers smart people young people a personal challenge through a balanced programme of activities, in which they are encouraged to serve others, acquire new skills, and  You show respect for the people in your life. experience adventure. It is non-competitive, being based on individual improvement and achievement,  You respect yourself enough to keep your reflecting personal choice, initiative and word. perseverance.

 You prove that you can be trustworthy.  You are appreciated for being on time.

 You are regarded as a reliable person.

 You are seen as a professional.

 You are taken seriously and on your word.

 You build a strong reputation for your character.

 You open doors and attract more

opportunities to yourself.

 You eliminate stress from

your life by removing the For more information such as costs and how to access an application form, see student services or anxiety of being late. visit the “Letter and Publications” page on our  You do the right thing and feel good about it. website. Please complete the entry form and return with payment by Thursday 15 Dec 2016 to the Finance Office. HeadsUP PAGE 4 DIARY DATES Extra Curricular Programme DATE EVENT LUNCH TIME AFTER SCHOOL Thur 8 Dec Christmas Concert M  Yr 7 Rugby  Manga Club, Library O  Yr 7 & 8 Netball N  Yr 8 Boys Football Wed 14 Dec School of Rock ‘Best of  U16 Basketball British’ Concert (School  Girls’ Reading Group, Library Hall) from 7pm—9pm  C2Club, rm 29 Thur 16 Dec Term Ends  Duke of Edinburgh Award , Gym  Orchestra, rm 37 Tue 3 Jan Term Starts T  Yr 8 Rugby  STEM Club, DT Block U  Yr 7, 8 & 9 Dance E  Yr 8 & 9 Basketball Thur 12 Jan Yr 9 Options Evening  Yr 9, 10 & 11 Boys’ Hockey  Yr 11 Boys Football  Maths & Numeracy Homework Club, rm Thur 19 Jan Yr 11 Parents Evening 13  School of Rock Mentoring, Music Prac- tise Rooms Wed 8 Feb Enrichment Day  Chess Club, rm 6 W  Yr 7, 8 & 9 Girls’ Hockey  Yr 10 & 11 Open Studio Thur 9 Feb Enrichment Day E  Yr 7 Basketball for Art, Textiles and D  Yr 9 Rugby Photography Fri 10 Feb End of Term/Inset Day  The Chronicles of Yarnia (Knitting and  Y9 Textiles Club Crochet Club), rm 18  Y7 Drama Club, Drama  Show Choir, rm 38 Studio

If you would like your child to go T  Yr 9, 10 & 11 Netball  Yr 10 & 11 Open Studio H  Yr 7 & 8 Boys’ Hockey for Art, Textiles and on a planned school trip, they U  Yr 11 Boys Football Photography must return a signed Consent R  Yr 7 Basketball  Yr 11 DT Coursework Form. We cannot ring home on  Maths & Numeracy Homework Club, rm Practical Time, WS3 the day of the trip to obtain 13  Brass Club verbal permission for students to  Lego Club, rm 32 leave school for a trip.  Big Band, rm 37  Staff Choir, Rm 38  Folk Band, Live Room PLEASE NOTE: After the Christmas holidays, the School F  Yr 10 & 11 Rugby  Badminton (all Yrs), Term will start on TUESDAY R  Yr 10 & 11 Girls’ Hockey Sports Hall I  Yr 7 & 8 & 9 Girls’ Football  Gymnastics (all Yrs), Hall 3RD JANUARY 2017 NOT  Yr 9 Football  Beginners Trampolining, Wednesday 4th January as  Girls’ Cricket Gym stated in the Student Planner.  Boys’ Reading Group, Library  School of Rock Mentoring, Music Prac- tise Rooms REMEMBER!  C2 Club, Rm 29 The majority of letters that are given to students to take home are available to view and We now have a new dedicated phone number to report student absence via text 07860 027964 download from the School Website in the Letters and This number is for texting only, we no longer have a dedicated Publications Section! voicemail for absence. If you wish to leave a message please ring 01278 455531 and select option 1.