Spring 2015 Newsletter Awarded Two SSAT Educational Outcome Music Provided Firm Favourites Such As The
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Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Web: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk Headteacher: Jane Abbott Headteacher’s Letter Our main focus during this, rather short, Awards for exceptional achievement and spring term has been on preparing senior performance. These awards recognize the students for forthcoming examinations. cohort of 2014 being amongst the top 10% This is even more crucial than ever this of non-selective schools nationally for year as, for the first time, all examinations attainment and value added progress. I am are linear. Students have approached their confident that our current Year 11 students studies in an exemplary manner and are will perform equally as well, if not even being well supported in the lead up to the better, than their 2014 predecessors. Their examination period. In addition to subject diligence, commitment, careful preparation revision classes in school, after school, and positive approach to their studies is during the holiday periods and a second certainly deserving of the highest rewards. week of exam practice in March, emphasis Whilst one cohort approach their final GCSE has also been placed on helping students to exams another cohort are just beginning manage themselves through the examination their GCSE studies. Year 9 students are fully period. This can be a time of worry, anxiety engaged in selecting their options subjects for some and in school we are doing all that for study in September 2015. They have we can to support our young people through also taken internal KS3 assessments and this demanding time. are currently embarking on their GCSE When students return to school for the syllabuses in Maths, English and Science. summer term, they will continue with their A huge amount of time and effort is spent normal cycle of lessons until Tuesday 5 on ensuring that all our students and their May when they will begin an Immersion parents receive information, advice and timetable which provides for combination guidance on the courses available to them of lessons and focussed periods of revision and on possible career paths for the future. prior to each scheduled GCSE examination. The school is most grateful to Mr Sharples for leading curriculum development and the The academic success of Woking High careers support available from Mrs Addison School students is a great source of pride and Innervate. to all associated with the school. We were delighted to receive an official letter In addition to their focus on their academic from the Department of Education (David studies, students at Woking High School Laws, Minister of State for Schools) have excelled in a wide variety of extra- congratulating us on the achievement of curricular opportunities available through our disadvantaged students in February. In the school. ‘Calamity Jane’ our 2015 March we received a further letter from school production was received with much the DfE (Nick Gibb, Minister of State for acclaim in February, slightly earlier in the School Reform) congratulating Woking academic calendar than in previous years. High School on its excellent English Packed houses were treated to a show Baccalaureate performance (students performed superbly by the whole cast who gaining English/Maths/Science/Language/ really captured the spirit of the ‘Old West’. Humanity qualifications at A*-C) and in The costumes for the cast and the orchestra mid March received news that we had been complimented the setting perfectly and the Spring 2015 Newsletter awarded two SSAT Educational Outcome music provided firm favourites such as The Woking High School is an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above. Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Headteacher’sWeb: www Letter.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk Headteacher: Jane Abbott Black Hills of Dakota and the Deadwood Stage. As one visiting the school and charity support for students in of the audience commented “thank you for a wonderful schools in Zambia and Gambia, and with our action plan evening’s entertainment. It was yet another example of approved we are on course to achieve the award once Woking High School at its brilliant best”. again in summer 2015. Exchanges and visits are hugely beneficial as they raise awareness and understanding Yet again our public speaking teams have gained success of other cultures and also provide our students with the in the Rotary Club competition. The Intermediate team opportunity to practice speaking languages learned at of Stella Eyers, Maya Keynes and Lauren Finney and the school – a very valuable skill in our modern multi-lingual Senior team of Isobel Aughterson, Vivienne Mathews world. In the context of learning about other cultures and Sally Hitchings, were victorious at the local Woking we are also provided with the opportunity to reflect on Rotary competition and both teams went onto represent and appreciate British values, an aspect of education is the school in the 2nd round. Here again both teams receiving much attention at present. triumphed and gained passage through to the next stage of the competition. Although they did not win they Charity work is a key part of life at Woking High School. performed exceptionally well and were runners up in both This year our main chosen charity is Woking Hospice age groups. They have keep up the tradition of excellent – a charity very close to our hearts and part of our local public speaking at Woking High School. community. A number of activities and events have taken place to raise funds for this excellent cause, one of which The sporting prowess of Woking High School has been was the Surrey Half Marathon. More than 50 members acknowledged nationally. In January we were delighted to of staff signed up and completed the 13.1 mile run on learn that the school had been ranked 84th in the country 8th March and in doing so raised over £15,000 for the for its sporting achievement. The ranking is based on a Hospice (for a detailed report see later in the newsletter). range of 120 national competitions, covering 20 different Congratulations to all who were involved with this sports. Please see Mr Justice’s sports report later in the wonderful team effort. newsletter for full details of our students’ achievements. As we approach the Easter break may I take this opportunity Woking High School is very proud to have been presented to wish everyone associated with Woking High School a with the International School’s Award on four separate very happy, sunny spring holiday. We resume school for the occasions beginning in 2002/2003. With visits to Berlin, summer term 8.55 a.m. on Monday 13th April. Ypres, Madrid, Naples, Aachen, Prato Nevoso, Paris and Leipzig on our academic calendar, guest students With very best wishes. and staff from Japan, China, France and Germany Jane Abbott, Headteacher Welcome to Year 6 On Wednesday 11 March we were delighted to welcome ‘After receiving the offer it was lovely to return feeling our cohort of 2015, in fact our graduates of 2020, to part of the school’ Woking High School. A packed hall of parents of our ‘A lovely idea to invite the new intake to the school so new cohort were able to listen to presentations from quickly’ senior staff covering such areas as the ethos and values of ‘Really good to visit again just after the excitement of the school, the curriculum and enrichment opportunities, getting a school place’ assessment and reporting systems, the pastoral structure and details of the induction process from March to ‘Really great presentations very inspiring’ September. Meanwhile, students participated in taster ‘Very informative and definitely a family feel’ sessions in Technology, Computing, PE and Science and ‘Really motivating’ also completed a ‘getting to know you quiz’. With time ‘Made us feel part of the school’ built into the evening for small group discussions over ‘Really loved the taster sessions’ tea, coffee and cake it was a great opportunity to begin to forge relationshipsWoking High School iswith an exempt our charity newest and company students. limited by guarantee. The Registered in England‘Taster with Company session Number is 8586085 a great and hasidea a registered and office very as above. well received by x’ feedback from the evening was excellent. Jane Abbott, Headteacher 2 Welcome to Year 6 Youth Speaks Youth Speaks Woking High school Youth Speaks teams enjoyed great Both the Senior and the Intermediate winning teams then success again this year, maintaining their excellent record went forward to the second round of the competition in of performance to date. In January, we triumphed for the Hounslow in early February. Our Intermediate team were sixth year running in the Woking heat of the Rotary Club placed first again, above Hawley Place and St Mark’s competition, winning both the Intermediate and the Senior School, while the Senior team beat Claremont Fan Court heats. Stella Eyers, Maya Keynes and Lauren Finney were School, Wavell School and the Royal Russell School. placed first in the Intermediate round, beating off stiff As ever, things got really tough in the District round at competition from St John the Baptist, Winston Churchill the end of February. Despite this, Isobel Aughterson still School, and an impressive first-time entry from Ripley managed to win best speaker at Senior level, jointly with Court. Stella was awarded best Speaker, and Ellen Stone, Year 13 student from Gunnersbury Catholic School. Our a member of our second team entered at this level, won Senior team were overall runners up to The Halliford best Vote of Thanks.