Catcote School Business and Enterprise College

Summer Newsletter

Dear Parent/Guardian,

This may be the last ever newsletter that you receive with the Catcote School logo. We are hoping that within the next couple of days the Department for Education will grant us Acad- emy status and, if so, on the 1st August we will become Catcote Academy. Whatever the out- come, however, I am proud to share with you the highlights of the past term.

I have to mention our recent OFSTED visit who judged us to be a good school with outstand- ing features. We have, however, never been complacent and are working on the few areas we need to develop further so that we can achieve our goal, which is to have a judgement ‘Out- standing’. We already have an action plan in place to allow this to happen and are working on the areas we need to improve.

We are looking forward to a new year with more students and staf than we have ever had. Catcote Futures will at last be moving into their new Centre for Life Long Learning on the Bri- erton site. Work will begin on the bungalow in September to allow access for all students and will be fully operational for the teaching of Life Skills later in the term. We have also acquired Hart Farm in Hart Village, this will be developed for use as a base for a Forest School and to develop both alternative and outdoor education.

The main school will receive a major face-lift over the summer. All corridors will be redecorat- ed and carpeted, all of the BESD department will also be completely redecorated. All existing wooden windows will be replacedPDFOptim and the Cof ee Shop conservatory Lite will have a new roof. Can I take this opportunity to thank you for all the support that you have given us this year, we are very fortunate to have such strong parental support.

On behalf of the staf and Governors, I hope that you have a great summer and that we all manage to f nd some sunshine.

Picture by: Christopher Ruff Diamond open New Creative Areas

As a Business and En- spaces within school. terprise School we are T ese are an art Gallery always striving to bring to showcase Photography creativity into the cur- and also a multisensory riculum. As a result in interactive classroom, recent changes to our which we have called curriculum we have cre- ‘Inaspace’. ated two new creative

We were delighted when ‘Ruf Diamond’ the f nalists of ‘Got to Dance’ came and opened both new areas of school on Wednesday 3rd of July. T e morning was a huge success. CATCOTE ART WORK DISPLAYED IN THE COMMUNITY Creative Arts students have their PDFOptimphotographs Lite displayed at Cafe 177 T e manager of Cafe 177 Paul T ompson was delighted with the photographs in Catcote School’s new gallery af er a recent visit to the school. He was so impressed with the art work that he wanted to display these in the new gallery at Cafe 177. T e students were all very excited about their work being on display for all of to see. T e students were invited to the launch of the New Gallery at Cafe 177 opening of the new gallery and were delight- ed with the strawberry scones! CAFE One77 ROOFTOP REVAMP BESD wanted to en- ter the ’Giving Nation’ awards again this year after the success of winning last year. We knew we would have to produce an excel- lent project so began researching ideas in the f rst half of the summer term.

Hartlepool Families First was eventually our chosen charity. They provide many services to the people of Hartlepool to enhance their education, health and general well-being. They give extra help to children with special needs and their families. We got in contact with them to ask if there were any pro- jects we could volunteer on. We were told that they are currently trying to get a rooftop garden established and would we like to help. The rooftop garden project is being set up to help disadvantaged children with special needs experience gardening. The children who access the garden can grow and learn in an alternative environment. We thought that this was a great idea to become involved in.

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During the second half of the summer term we We have used all 10 of Catcote’s Enterprise Com- spent 2 mornings a week preparing, painting mandments in every aspect of this project. In ad- and cleaning the rooftop at Café One77. We then dition, working with others in the community has designed murals and painted them on the walls to been a very valuable lesson to learn. That experi- make the place a brighter, happier environment for ence makes it more ‘real’ and gives us a glimpse of the young people with special needs to work in. how life after school will be. Our project even made it into the .

By Kelsey, Kamara, Aaron, Craig, Michael, Aidin and Robbie. farmyard flyer

T e ‘Farmyard Flyer’ visited Catcote on 16th July. T is is a double decker bus coverted into a travel- ling farmyard with lots of animals for the children to meet. We managed to get 7 classes to visit in the course of a day! You could feed the sheep, stroke the rabbits, goats and chinchillas and feel the lovely sof feathers of the chickens and baby chicks. A favourite was Patricia the very large pig who liked having her back scratched!

ATHLETICS COMPETITION On Thursday 23rd of May Catcote girls went to schools from the area and they did extremely Gateshead Stadium for an athletics competi- well winning several races. This year we got to tion. meet Paralympic athlete Stephen Miller. In the morning the girls took part in Athletics The girls sport events run throughout the year skills ran by sports Leaders from the Gateshead the next one will be held on the 24th October College and in the afternoon they took part in which will be Rugby followed by Netball on the competitive races and throwing events. 5th of December. The event saw Catcote girls take on other

PDFOptim Lite Duke of Edinburgh Award

Link students enjoy a three day Expedition Five link students took part in their Qualifying Expedition in the heart of North Yorkshire to gain their Bronze Award. T e students spent a day ca- noeing along the River Esk . T e other day was spent Gill Scrambling. All the students worked well as a team showing of their navigation and camp skills,cooking skills and f rst aid under close monitoring from a DofE Assesor. Students will now be working towards their Silver Award over the next couple of years. Gold Award

Practice Expedition in the Lake District Graeme Skinner has now completed his practice expedition in the very hot and sunny Lakes. Both Graeme and Mr Pounder found the going tough as they came under great pressure from the heat and sun. With determination both managed to pull themselves through the full f ve hard days without a scratch, maybe a blister or two! Now Graeme has to do it all again at the end of the month with his Qualifying expedition in the Dales .

Sports day this year ran for the full day with com- PDFOptimpetitive races and Lite throwing events on the morning and fun races and games on the af ernoon. Some of the older link students ran the events and students gained points for the activities they took part in. Everyone had a great day and for the f rst time in Catcote School sports day history we had the sun! Students with the best results for the year in each activity will be put onto a leader board in school. SPORTS DAY SPORTS Trip to Saltburn ADDvance into Nature Links 3 were lucky enough to visit ADDvance into Nature during Enterprise week. Addvance is a working farm on Summerhill lane where young people are given the chance to work with animals. T e aim of the farm is to give young people work experience so that they can build up their conf dence and get the skills necessary for a better future. T e staf at the farm were really friendly and helpful and seemed to enjoy our Students from Class 6 went on a day trip to Salt- visit. We enjoyed it lots! We saw chickens, ducks, burn. horses, beehives and lots of plants and vegeta- We had a walk along the pier and watched the bles. Mr Douglass even got to hold some chick- swimmers and the life guards. We enjoyed look- ens! We learned about the chickens and saw ing at the knitted decorations along the pier rail. them laying eggs. Did you know that newly laid We had a picnic in the park and watched the eggs are warm and a little bit sof ? miniature train. We enjoyed playing on the play- ground and walking along the river. To f nish our day we had an ice-cream sitting outside in the sunshine. We all enjoyed our day.

TABLE TENNIS CLUB Students took part in the 3rd in-school competi- tion of the year this term. TEES VALLEY FOOTBALL In the autumn term they took part in a Football Catcote boys visited the visit the students competition and in the Lawrence Jackson School also gotPDFOptim the opportunity spring term a NetballLite in Guisborough on the to watch local Hip Hop competition. T is term 27th June to take part Champions Ruf Dia- students from the af er- in a football competi- mond perform various school Table Tennis club and Be Healthy Table Ten- tion organised by Tees routines. nis group competed for Valley Sport. T e team 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. consisted of a mixture of Alan Hind Table Tennis students from Class 1, coach ran the event and Link 4 and BESD; they said the students had a did a fantastic job against great time and did really schools from the local well. T e in-schools com- area and managed to win petitions will carry on in several games. During the new school term. Carlton Outdoor Education Centre

Students in the Link groups took part in an Outdoor residential at Carlton Outdoor Education Centre this year in May.

T e students had a fantastic time taking part in activities such as abseiling, climbing, canoeing, raf building, archery and camping skills. Carlton was a great experience for students and we have booked next year already. Outdoor activities provide valuable alternative, of en non-competitive, avenues for achievement, as well as

opportunities to develop independence and self-con- f dence. Students face the challenges which outdoor activities provide, overcoming fears and apprehen- sions along the way.

Participation in outdoor education residentials with PDFOptimteachers and peersLite reinforces a positive attitude to education and contributes signif cantly to the gen- eral ethos of a school. Direct experience out of doors stimulates and reinforces learning across many areas of the curriculum, and the use of the outdoors en- courages young people to take greater responsibility for their own learning.

All information for next year’s visit can be found by visiting www.carltonoutdoors.org At Catcote School we consider the ability to travel independently to be a much valued lifeskill and will try to provide opportunities whenever it is deemed reasonable and possible. During this term we have delivered road safety training and how to use public transport to many students as we prepare them for life beyond school. Over several years, we have also delivered a unique personalised programme focus- ing on the journey from home to school on a 1-1 basis to students who we feel are able to safely complete this journey. We now have a long list of students who, follow- ing successfully completing the Independent Travel Training Programme, have lef school transport and are now making their own way to and from school. T is has resulted in them gain- ing increased opportunities to go out socially, being safer in the community and being better prepared for life beyond Catcote School. If you would like your child to be included on the road safety and independent travel training programme please contact Mr Currell who will give you further details.

BESD renovates Post 19’s Garden One of our pupils, on the garden. Mr Everyone had a great Brent has been work- Hay decided to man- time. ing with Post 19 for age the task, with a number of terms Mr Leck, Brent and T e garden project and has built up a Bradley volunteering is still ongoing at the really good relation- to work on the pro- time of writing. Look ship with the staf ject. out for an update in and students. Af er our next newsletter! the move to the new T ey have worked site, it was noted that very PDFOptimhard, several Lite the gardens needed times a week, dig- 19, building even a lot of attention in ging a new pond, stronger links and order to make them laying a path and relationships. We safe and attractive for fencing of sections invited Post 19 to students. of the garden. T ey our Enterprise Week even worked through open day and we Staf at Post 19 ap- these very hot sum- hosted a craf mak- proached BESD and mer days! T e ing exercise with asked if we had pu- team also worked them as well as of- pils who would like alongside staf and fering sandwiches, to volunteer to work students from Post cakes and drinks. Radio Catcote Catcote students from Cindy and Rachael Link 1 created their to help them plan a very own radio show, 1 hour long show. which was aired earlier T e students wrote this month. their own script and Radio Catcote was picked their own made possible when songs. Humour was added with jokes by visited the school dur- Caitlin and Ryan. T e was very good and with other schools in ing the community show also featured extremely entertaining. the town. enterprise week. Jason football predictions, Jason Anderson said If you would like to Anderson, Managing community informa- the schedule created hear the show again Director and Mark tion about HSNSG and by Link 1 was excellent please visit Catcote Hudson, editor at Ra- Café one77 and a jingle and he now intends to Schools website and dio Hartlepool worked sung by Caitlin and repeat the process us- follow the instructions with Ryan, Michael, Cindy. ing Catcote’s schedule to tune in. Abby-Leigh, Caitlin, T e f nal edited show Every year students collect points for Class 4 have had a Movie we have been good behaviour and brilliant term in Media making. Class 4 would ef ort in lessons. T ese T is year over 70 stu- Studies. We visited Red like to say a huge thank points can be used for dents attended the trip Dreams, a local music you to Red Dreams for a range of rewards and in the last week of term and f lm charity. Red all their help and we if they are saved up as a reward for their throughout the year excellent behaviour. Dreams allowed us to hope to see you very they can be used for an Students on the day go down to their unit soon! end of year trip. represented the school and record a song in Over the past few years exceptionally well and their recording studio. students have been sav- were a pleasure to take T ey then came and ing up their points for around the park and visited us and helped PDFOptimtrips to Flamingo Lite Land on rides. us f lm for a Superhero Adventure Park. T ey showed many of the school’s enterpris- ing skills such as work- ing as a team, using their initiative, coop- erating with others and of course meeting deadlines. Students will again be saving points up for another end of year trip in 2014. Class 5 visit the Lake District In June, Class 5 went wore waterproofs most on a residential trip to of the time! T e canoe- the Lake District. We ing was fun especially stayed at the Calvert for one boat which Trust which is a spe- found it hard going in cialist outdoor adven- the wind and got a tow ture centre. We took from the motor boat! part in lots of activities It was lovely just be- and especially enjoyed ing beside the lake and the pony riding, cy- enjoying the calm envi- cling and indoor pool. ronment. When he got T e weather seemed home James asked if f ne to us, yet looking he could go again, so it back at the photos we must have been good!

NEW GARDEN OPENING A new garden was in all of classes 2, 5, 6, completed in autumn 7 and 9! Mr Chapman 2012 outside Class 5 declared the garden room. We have been open then we had bits learning about garden- to eat and lovely ice- ing all year and it looks creams. T ere were a picture! Now that the presents from the garden is well estab- classes to add to the lished we decided to garden and we had the have a garden party for f ags out! T e garden the classes which are was designed by Mark close to the garden and Morley and is a lovely will use it throughout addition to our school the year. In the end we grounds. PDFOptimhad two parties Lite to f t T anks to Summerhill Allotment Association too! T e hanging baskets look lovely and we have for helping Class 5 to plant up a large hanging kept them well watered in the hot weather. T e basket to display in the garden. T ey provided all students have seen the plants grow and f ower the plants and basket then sent us another one and can take pride in their work. T ere’s no business like a Young Enterprise business

Young Enterprise team pro- gramme company Never Give Up have closed down af er suc- cessfully trading for 2 years. Tif , Abbie, James, Callum, Adam, Alice, Scott, Ryan, Nathan and Brandon have worked well as a team. In year 1 they designed teatowels with students portraits on. In Year 2 they made personalised cards and notepads which were very popular with the public at the Metro Centre and with the stu- list of questions before the visit students from other regions and dents in school. and found the facts and f gures making new friends. T e student’s have learned amazing. Ryan said “ We learnt During the running of Never business skills while running a lot of facts about crisps we Give Up the students learned their company and linked them never knew like at they skills for the workplace while to the world of work. make 1 million packs a day”. generating a healthy prof t. T ey enjoyed a visit to Walkers In July Never Give Up were T ey paid their shareholders crisp factory at Peterlee. T e invited to a regional master- back with a 20% dividend for students learned about ‘opera- class competition with other helping them to ‘start up’. T ey tions’ as they watched potatoes special schools at Sedgef eld then chose to reward them- being loaded at one side, seeing Racecourse. T ey set up a selves with an af ernoon at them being peeled, fried, pack- trade stand, gave a powerpoint ‘Happy Days’ ice cream parlour aged, then boxes being loaded presentation and took part in and a day out to Whitby. T e by a robot in the dispatch area. a challenge to make souvenirs. students planned the day with a T ey also all had to experience Never Give Up won Best Trade photograph shoot at the whale- ‘quality control’ by tasting a va- Stand and won a fabulous bones, round to the Abbey, riety of crisps! Which they were trophy to go in the cabinet in before a f sh and chip lunch at glad to help with! PDFOptimschool. T e students enjoyed Litea restaurant. T en up the 199 T e students had to compile a meeting and competing with steps to work of the calories! T ey also enjoyed a visit to the Dracula Experience and f n- ished with an icecream along the pier. In addition to the fun experi- ence, they also gained the OCR Entry 3 Young Enterprise quali- f cation. Well done to you all, you never gave up! Community Enterprise Week

Our f nal enterprise week details to use in the mandments have been Link 3 has worked this year was named future. (Please ask at re- met. closely with a number ‘f agging community ception if you would like of community organi- links’. a copy). Af er the students made sations (Addvance to Each class had to select a T e classes were also and served af ernoon tea Nature, Tweddle Farm community group or or- asked to write the impact to the residents of Laurel and Pony World) that ganisation to work with of the week. T ese are Gardens. We feel our work with animals in and represent. their comments:- links are stronger than Hartlepool. It has given A community celebra- “T e impact for us at ever. the students experience tion cof ee morning took Catcote Futures is that of being close to animals place, attended by par- BESD students and Class 9 really enjoyed and built relationships to ents, community groups, staf have worked with visiting parks and nature enable other students to staf and students. T e our students, staf and reserves within the local visit in the future. display stands were parents to develop our community however bright and colourful and garden at the new base. we found the paths and showed how the links Good working relation- road crossings dif cult had been formed. ships have developed on the way to the park. All classes created 2 and we all have a better We loved Saltholme and pages of information understanding of each Summerhill and look which showed where the others needs. We will forward to visiting again. organisation is, opening have by the end of the times, price (if applica- project a lovely garden ble), facilities and other to enjoy outside our new information so other Bistro.” classes can share their links. T ese pages are T e team work has been now bound together and outstanding and I think form a book of contact all 10 Enterprise com-

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Link 5 looked at the In Enterprise Week Class new sports domes. T ey 5 pulled together a term’s thought they of ered work in learning about some fantastic activities gardens and allotments, and we will be using the culminating in a Garden domes in the new school Party to open the space In a ‘Ground Force’ sort ing with students and year in ‘Be Healthy’ ses- for the classes who will of day, we worked with parents next year in af er sions. use the garden in the ‘Can Ya Dig it!’ to f ll school cooking sessions. future. the plot with vegetables. ‘Can Ya Dig it’ are work- Class 2 visited three dif- Class 7 students and staf ferent places in the com- have enjoyed working munity but Saltholme with the young people was by far the best! T e from Hartlepool Special facilities were fantastic, Needs Support Group. we felt if we had more We have gained lots of time we could have information about the explored a lot more. T e group and all the things staf were really nice! they do. We worked re- ally hard to organise the Link 1 worked with and Strawberry tea. It went visited the studios of really well with lots of Radio Hartlepool, to our family and friends produce their very own, attending. T ey had a 1 hour long show. Radio look around the groups gave everyone that real During enterprise week Hartlepool were im- centre while they were sense of community and Class 4 worked with Red pressed with the sched- there and took informa- the spirit that accompa- Dreams, a wonderful ule/pro-forma created tion leaf ets away with nies the development of charity in Hartlepool. by our students and have them. I am sure we will partnerships. T ey have put together now pledged to work use the facilities at the a short f lm about what with other schools and groups centre again and Link 4 explored the we did during the week give them the Catcote look forward to meeting Asian culture during and have posted it on pro-forma to use as their the friends we have made Community Enterprise YouTube. template. T ey envisage again in the future. Week. T e students sam- this to be a longlasting pled traditional cuisine If you type initiative that will sup- Class 1 researched all and learnt about certain ‘catcote enterprise week’ port community cohe- about emergency servic- aspects of the Asian into YouTube it’ll come sion and give schools es during this enterprise culture and made good up. a voice. Link 1 were week. T ey had a visit contacts who they will delighted to hear their from a member from continue to work with own voices during their coast watch and visited next year. own show on the radio the local f re station. T e and listen to the songs students learnt all about they chose. how the emergency services help and support Link 2 students helped their local community. the Fairtrade foundation to update the audit of BESD worked towards a Fairtrade items in shops fantastic event where a in Hartlepool and make combinationPDFOptim of elderly Lite a Fairtrade clock for the people, external provid- cof ee shop. Jenny Med- ers (Hartlepool SEN hurst regional fairtrade Team, NACRO SAMHS) coordinator said “many post 19 students and thanks for inviting me parents all met to take to your Friday morn- part in activities, look ing event there was a at students work, chat, As you can see it was a very enterprising week and lovely atmosphere, and create and strengthen the very creative staf we have, had the opportunity it was good to meet the friendships and have re- to do something totally dif erent. students. We took £73, freshments. T e event al- thanks to everyone’s gen- lowed all BESD students erous spending!” to not only show what they are capable of but Class 7 and CF 7 National Citizenship visit Flamingo Service 2013 Land Resort Class 7 & CF 7 went to Fla- mingo Land Holiday Resort for a 3 night four day stay. T e weather was def nitely on our side, the sun shone Students were approached by NCS throughout our stay and coordinator Liam Noble, to gauge factor 50 sun block was the interest in a project over the sum- order of the day. mer. T e project was aimed at young people working together as a team T e students and staf had an to build upon life skills, relation- absolutely wonderful time ship building and a community trying lots of new things. project to benef t others. Several students were interested Time spent in the theme park and instead of joining an exist- riding the rides, for some, ing group it was decided Catcote over and over. School would have their own group and work a a full team made up of 15 young people aged We spent the day at the 16yrs – 19yrs. NYMR going to Whitby on a steam train and of course f sh T e project was made up of the and chips. following: 15th July – 19th July – Residential We were lucky enough to based at Kibbleston Scout Camp in have an encounter with the Staf ordshire. lemurs, feeding them their 22nd – 26th July – Residential favourite fruit. Hartlepool (Catcote School)

29th,30th,31st July 2nd August – PDFOptim LiteDay project School bunga- low. (10am -4.15pm) Awards & Celebration Ball 2013

T e Celebration Ball was a huge T e catagories were; success this year especially with the addition of Awards being •Citizenship Award given for achievement alongside a •Student of the year Award farewell to our leavers 2013. •Literacy Award Students were met at the school •Sports Award with a Limo to arrive in style at All staf were asked to nominate •Enterprise Award T e Historic Quay. A big thank you students for each achievement cat- •Outstanding Achievement Award to Mr Gerald Martin who provided egory. T e staf then voted on the the limo’sfree of charge. nominees to decide a winner. Citizenship Award

T is award was presented to Jamie Garrington whom staf felt has supported his peers within school, and has shown a strong sense of school community. T e Award was presented by As- sistant Head Sian Lamplough.

Literacy Award

T is award was presented to Jake Calder whom staf felt had made the most progress in Literacy this academic year. T is Award was presented by Cat- cote School head of English Mrs Outstanding Achievement Hartlepool Counciller Mr Ray Pauline Williamson. Award Wells.

Sports Award T is award was presented to So- Enterprise Award phie Young whom staf felt has has T is award was presented to Kim stood out for a variety of reasons, T is award was presented to Abbie Waring whom staf felt had shown overcoming signif cant obstacles T omson to celebrate and recog- great sporting enthusiasm and PDFOptimin his educational journey. Litenise her achievement and excel- team spirit. T is Award was presented by Pas- lence within Enterprise. T e Award was presented by Cat- toral teacher Mrs Loraine Potts T e Award was presented by Cat- cote School head of P.E Ms Victo- cote school Director of Enterprise ria Russell. T e Award was presented by Mrs Alison Brown.

A sad farewell to 2013 leavers James Spence Jason Webb Mark Davison Stephen Shout Robbie Jones Craig Johnson Luke Harwood Denim Bigwood Scott Davis Jack Lindoe Anthony Turner Adam Hand Chelsea Bennet Joe Henderson Tif any Partington Brandon McCleod Jordan Appleby Student of the Year SORRY YOU’RE LEAVING We are very sorry to say goodbye Mrs Sally Reid to the following members of staf: Sally joined the school in 2009 as Mrs Diane Simons teacher for Class 6. She brought stability to this group and we all Diane has been our school nurse appreciate the work that she has for the past nine years. Over this done over the years. We would all time she has been invaluable in like to wish you a very long and supporting the medical needs happy retirement. of our students we also appreci- ate work she has carried out with families and carers. Diane is leav- Well done Joe Henderson on your ing us to begin a degree course at outstanding achievment. Teeside University. Our ICT managed service pro- vider CAPITA has very kindly donated an iPad and Mr Darren Potter ‘Service Delivery Manager’ is presenting Joe with the wonder- Mrs Lynn Hall ful gif. Lynn is fnishing her time at cat- On the 1st August we hope to an- cote afer a 25 years career work- nounce that we have converted to ing with students over 18. Academy status and a great deal of work has been going on behind We are going to fnd it very dif- the scenes to make this possible. Mr Anthony Douglas fcult to replace her as she had many skills. A change of name and brand but Anthony only joined us last year we give our assurance that the and has worked as a teaching as- From everyone at Catcote, good quality of service that we ofer will sistant with Link 3. He has decid- luck and don’t forget to keep in not change. ed to take a career break to look touch. afer his baby son, Ezra. All being well, we will begin the new term as Catcote Academy and Catcote Futures, both part of the Hartlepool Aspire Multi-Academy Trust. PDFOptim Lite

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