Festive Greetings!
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TERM 2 December 2014—Issue No 2 FESTIVE GREETINGS! In the run up to Christmas may I accessing on the net. The follow- take this opportunity to wish all ing websites offer advice: parents, friends, students and col- www.ceop.police.uk—this website leagues a very Happy Festive Sea- gives advice and allows reporting son. Some of you will have no- ticed that many of the male mem- of inappropriate activity on social bers of staff are sporting more fa- media. cial hair than usual. This is not an www.childnet.com—offers advice attempt to impersonate Father to young people about staying safe Christmas but because they are on the internet. taking part in our Movember fund- Some our Movember finalists, with the tro- raising. We had a non-uniform phy going to Mr Browne (who had unfortu- Some parents will have seen The th nately shaved off his splendid moustache day on 27 November and have before we had the chance to take his photo- Sunday Times “Parent Power” ta- been running other smaller events graph!). Donations can still be made via bles published at the end of No- within school. A magnificent sum movember.com/uk Team GGS vember. These table put together of £1,100 was raised. Although GCSE and A level results and give this charity began in the southern tickets for their Christmas Draw; school a “rating”. Whilst these hemisphere, as you might have there is still a full programme of ratings are not entirely transparent noticed if you have been watching competitive rugby and other either the All Blacks or the Walla- sports; a Colours Awards Ceremo- since they include International bies this Autumn, the focus on is- ny; grade cards are going out and Baccalaureate scores that are not sues around the health of men boys and girls are still working directly comparable to A levels, makes it something that we are hard! they do show that Gravesend Grammar School performed ex- anxious, as a largely male school, As thoughts turn to Christmas and ceptionally well in 2014, particu- to promote. It is particularly the giving of presents, especially poignant for many colleagues and those that may give access to the larly at A level, where our propor- former students for whom former internet, may I remind everybody tions of top grades exceeded all Assistant Head, Mr Chris Morgan of the potential dangers that lurk but the most highly selective was such a valued friend, and who in cyber space – I guess I don’t schools in the region. Only four fell victim to prostate cancer in have to emphasise the good schools in Kent, all of them super- 2010. things! All young people need to selective or IB, got more A* than It is, of course, a hectic time of the be very careful about revealing our students. League Tables never year. Year 7 have just presented any personal details on the internet tell the whole story of a school but their Ancient Mariner shows to and remember that people with it is, nevertheless, very pleasing to parents; rehearsals for our musical whom they are in contact may not know how well our students are next Summer have begun; students be what, or who, they say they are. performing against their peers. and staff are honing their carol The Christmas holidays may pro- singing before our Carol Service vide a good opportunity to talk GSW at St George’s on 16th December; with your sons and daughters the PTA are distributing raffle about what sort of things they are Page 2 STAFF NEWS CONGRATU- The event was, on the whole, very The main items of discussion at the LATIONS to powerful and ran smoothly – it was no meeting were a vision statement for Mrs Rhys and surprise that several hundred people the GGSAT and a policy framework turned up to watch – so I was hon- following the expansion of the Trust. her husband oured to be a part of it. A report of the next Board meeting, on the birth due to be held on 11th December of their son in October. Back in school, the team and I have 2014, will be published in the next been looking to create a list of ‘job newsletter. We say goodbye and good luck to descriptions’, which should allow stu- Miss Hunt, who is returning to Aus- dents to see what kind of roles of re- Gravesend Grammar School Local tralia at the end January. Mrs Black- sponsibility they can take on once they Governing Body man has left our Catering team. reach Sixth Form, as well as continuing The GGS Local Governing Body has We say goodbye, temporarily, to Mrs the work of last year’s team by organis- met twice since the beginning of this th Warner who starts her maternity ing a collection of items from students academic year on 18 September and th leave at the end of this term. for the Gravesend Food Bank. In addi- 25 November. tion, we’re now planning for the Carol At the meeting in September, Gover- We welcome Mrs Blazeby and Mrs Service: a big tradition for the school nors recorded their thanks to Mrs Day to our Catering and Cleaning which should hopefully be as much of a Elaine Cork whose term of office as a teams, respectively. success as in previous years. I’m happy Staff Governor ended in the Summer with our progress on these so far and after over ten years of service. Mr now that we’re over halfway through James Deamer was elected as a new our ‘term’ as the Head Student Team – Staff Governor in October. HEAD STUDENT REPORT time is really flying by! – I hope that we The main focus of the meeting was a Despite the cold days setting in and can continue to run just as smoothly discussion about the School’s Sum- Christmas rapidly approaching, students until Easter. Oh, and I wish everyone a mer 2014 exam results, are unfortunately not allowed to hiber- very Happy Christmas! Governors also adopted a revised nate for the winter, meaning it’s business Safeguarding Policy and Procedures as usual for the Head Student Team! This Robert Tucker document which is based on new term, the focus for myself and the team Head Student statutory guidance for schools issued has been on appointing a new set of Year in April 2014. 12 form prefects, who will each get as- TRUST & GOVERNANCE In November, Governors welcomed signed to a lower school form group from three newly elected Parent Gover- nors, namely Mrs Kay Candler, January. Those who applied have had to Since my last report in July, the follow- Mrs Anne McLean and Mr Dave submit statements about themselves and ing meetings of the GGSAT Trust and Mitchell, to their first meeting. have an interview with members of the GGS LGB and their relevant committees Governors recorded their thanks to team, to ensure we choose the best pos- have taken place: Mrs Jean Leggatt, whose term of sible students for the role – we received office as a Parent Governor ended in over 30 applications and there are a lot GGSAT Board of Directors th October 2014, and Mr John Thomp- of strong candidates, so cutting it down The Trust Board met on 17 July 2014. son, who had resigned as a Director- to just twelve has been very difficult! Directors welcomed Ms Jan Murray and appointed member of the LGB. However, I’m very pleased with the stu- Mr Andrew Bolland to their first Governors considered a report pre- dents we have chosen – Year 7’s and 8’s meeting following their election as pared by the Associate Head, Mr Mo- can expect to meet their new prefect Chairs of the Gravesend Grammar aby, which included information next term – and I’m sure they will do a School and Whitehill Primary School about admissions; staffing; curricu- good job throughout the year. Local Governing Bodies respectively. lum; standards; and premises. Mr Brian Simpson was appointed as a Governors noted the School’s outturn Earlier in the term I was also invited to Director-appointed Member of the report for the financial year 2013-14. do a reading at the annual WW1 Civic Gravesend Grammar School Academies Following a decision at the meeting in Remembrance Service, as is becoming Trust following the resignation of Mrs July that Governor visits to school traditional for the Head Student of the Moorey. would be much more closely linked to school. I travelled to the Civic Centre in Mr Andrew Bolland was appointed as th strategic areas within the School De- Gravesend on the 11 November and got the Trust’s Responsible Officer. The velopment Plan, rather than focussing the opportunity to meet the Mayor of purpose of this role is to monitor and on individual departments, Monitor- Gravesham (and have a look around his check the operation of the financial ing Link Governors were appointed office!), before reading a very moving management arrangements that have for Assessment without levels; Com- poem (written by a student from St. been established and are operated by munication for Meaning; and Student Johns) to the public as part of the service. officers of the academy. Outcomes. continued …... GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment December 2014 Page 3 TRUST & GOVERNANCE continued Governors reviewed and adopted the Governors also considered further analy- proval by the Board of Directors at its following policies: sis of the Summer 2014 examination meeting in December. Health and Safety Policy results and an analysis of student reten- Directors also considered, and recom- tion.