Inside This Week's Bulletin

Meols Cop High School Weekly Bulletin Week Ending Inclusive Excellence for ALL Friday 14 September 2018

Inside this week’s bulletin...

NEW! Year 11 Notices

Information on next year’s Prom, Careers and Achievements. Keep up to date with year 11 news from Miss Evans, Year 11 Progress Leader.

Library News

All the details regarding lunchtimes, Book Club and Film Club from Mrs Burt, School Librarian.

School Council

With Mrs Sharp (PSD teacher).

Sports News

Lots of information from Mrs Piearce-Swift, 2nd in PE.

Community Pages

Find out what is happening in your local area, including how your children have helped to raise much needed funds for our community.

Meols Cop High School Weekly Bulletin Week Ending Inclusive Excellence for ALL Friday 14 September 2018

Welcome Back to YOUR school!

I hope that everybody in our community has had a wonderful summer and well deserved break from challenging learning! Welcome back to our older students and my colleagues and a warm first welcome to all of our new students and their families who now join our school. The new students, our largest year group for at least 30+ years absolutely filled the hall and I know that the confidence our mums and dads place in us to deliver not only top quality learning but exceptional care and social development, will be our top priority, as it always is, for the next 5 years.

I’m never sure if our students always go home and talk about the changes they have experienced at school but if they haven’t, we have made some important changes to enable us to make us an even more inclusive school in terms of developing independence in all students and opening our doors safely to students who wish to join us. We begin in the morning straight into lessons without form time, so that we immediately get down to learning with learning tutor time after lunch, where the students will benefit from a whole range of activities designed to develop and support their resilient Meols Cop mind- set and be well prepared for the learning challenges they will face throughout school. Praises as well as consequences will appear on MyEd and the whole school is geared to smashing tougher examinations and barriers that come our way.

The corridors near where the students access the field [our crush halls!] have been widened to allow safe access for the amount of students we now have. There are approximately 300 more students than there was 15 years ago when I returned to Meols Cop and we have introduced a 1 way system to ensure safety and to enable us to make sure that, should we increase our numbers to meet the huge demand the local community has of us every year, we can cope with the numbers. The RE room has been divided into 2 to provide for 2 additional maths rooms and additional dining areas have been installed. We have 185 students in year 7 but if I tell you that our first choices for admissions over the last 2 years is at least 40- 50 above that number with another 300 + 2nd/3rd choices, you can see that we have to consider how we can best meet this fantastic demand. At a time of financial restraint and lack of proper funding, there isn’t an easy solution and if we can add an extra 20 students [at least] next year to our admissions, we would be on our way to meeting demand whilst at the same time balancing the budget! Watch this space.

I’m sure that parents who have been with us for some time now realise that I won’t involve myself or the school in some of the excesses surrounding examination results and the use of data to make competitive statements and comparisons with other schools in the locality. All schools are very different and have varying intakes of students and any good school, is about far more than 1 year of examination results. Parents choose to send their students to certain schools for a variety of reasons and I am so proud that we have chosen the path to be an inclusive comprehensive community school who values each and every student and who wants to collaborate with other schools rather than say we are better than them! Having said that I have to admit that I was extremely worried the night before the examination results arrived. As the exams have got tougher and the amount of time to prepare for the changes, especially for our most vulnerable students, was minimal and allied to the fact that there was no real knowledge of what the difficulty would be based on prior exams, I had no idea of what might happen!

Meols Cop High School Weekly Bulletin Week Ending Inclusive Excellence for ALL Friday 14 September 2018

Last year, for the first time in many years, our progress slowed and whilst many of our areas of results [including whole school progress] was above national average I asked my colleagues to dig deep and to use all of their professional expertise to guide and support our students so that the challenge could be met. Progress tables topped for many years would be more difficult to achieve but I know my staff and I know their absolute commitment to making small miracles happen and aspirations to be met that haven’t even been dreamt of. I don’t make it easy for them by off-rolling students to other schools, making it difficult for SEND students to be educated here or by insisting academic subjects make way for easy option exams that massage league table and progress measures. We teach for the best of our community not league tables [although I would get rid of Jose Mourihno!] and my faith was vindicated when the results have already begun to see gaps closing from last year and pleasing national comparative grades being bettered. In ‘old money’ some of the results were the best we have ever had and if they weren’t this time, then I know from the drive and desire I witnessed on our staff inset day, that our professional development programme will get all areas up even further next year. There were superb results for all different abilities of student and I know lots of very proud mums and dads. Well done again!

15 years ago, we were bottom of any examination tables and had an intake of 70 or so students and you might be forgiven for thinking that having seen the school become what it has now in terms of reputation, numbers, progress measures and anything else that is remotely accountable, there might be a feeling that we have arrived, have no need to worry about improving further and can relax-not a chance! Demands on us change constantly and we will be ready for anything and nothing will get in the way of this school providing the quality of education and care that this community derives and has come to expect from us. On inset day I explained how I have worried that our rightly ambitious vision of providing “Inclusive Excellence for ALL’ might at times prove to be too tough an ask but having seen my colleagues take on tough examinations, devise fantastic training opportunities for the year ahead informed by the very best evidence and welcome so many other schools and educationalists with open arms to see us in action-there is nothing to fear! Your children are in the best hands possible, this will be a fantastic year and I can’t wait to welcome even more young people and their families into our very special community.

Have an amazing 2018/19 school year.

Car park reminder

Please support our safety measure of not using the school car park to drop off or pick up children. Despite many nice requests, this is still happening and sadly it may well end up with an accident happening. Unless it is an emergency the car park should not be used by parents at the start of the day or end of the day and if it is an emergency, please be extra vigilant when students are walking across the entrance and please do not block any access points and do not park in the disabled bays. There are plenty of local spaces where children can be met if necessary but for health and fitness reasons walking home, where possible, is always encouraged!

Many thanks.

Mr D. Jones, Headteacher.

Meols Cop High School Weekly Bulletin Week Ending Inclusive Excellence for ALL Friday 14 September 2018

On Opening Evening on 28th September we will be holding a Bake Off competition to see which student can bake the best cakes, muffins or biscuits within an hour.

There will be a prize of a £20 gift voucher. The competition will be judged by representatives from Taylor Shaw who provide catering within the school. School will provide the ingredients and the cakes and biscuits will be sold at break on Friday for the Macmillan's Coffee morning charity.

Anyone who wishes to apply must complete the application at the link shown by Friday 21st September. http://meols.schooljotter2.com/curriculum/subjects/design-technology

The successful applicants will be told that they are taking part on Monday 24th September.

So get your mixing bowls ready and show us want baking skills you have!

The Library welcomes back students for the start of a new term! The library is run by Mrs Burt and is open every lunchtime for students to join in with games such as chess, draughts, bananagrams and scrabble. Students are welcome to set up their own competitions and play against each other!

Book club is something new for the term. Why not bring along your favourite book and share with other readers in a group or choose a book that would be of interest for you and your friends to read. There is also an author of the month which this month is Roald Dahl. There are plenty of his books to read in the library!

Film Club is back!!! Every Thursday there will be a film for students. This week the film is ‘Peter Rabbit’. If you just want to read or do your homework in a quiet room the library is the place to be and open for all students! All students are welcome, why not pop in and have a look around.

Meols Cop High School Weekly Bulletin Week Ending Inclusive Excellence for ALL Friday 14 September 2018

YEAR 11 NOTICES

 Prom Dates – please be aware that the provisional date for Prom 2019 will be July 5th. Remember! Year 11 Prom is the event which links to the students’ Going For Gold, this is to encourage students now more than ever to ensure they maintain high levels of attendance, punctuality and attitude to learning. We are looking forward to an incredible year of hard work and outstanding results, which will be celebrated in style at Year 11 Prom!

 Careers – The Careers Team at Meols Cop have been working hard throughout Year 10 and the summer break to ensure all Year 11 students begin their year with a growing understanding of their future options. Year 11 students can look forward to one-to-one meetings with dedicated careers staff from the organisation Career Connect, ensuring that all students are in the best possible position to make decisions about their future after Meols Cop High School. The Careers Team have also organised a wide selection of visits from external speakers from provisions including Southport College, KGV, Runshaw and Liverpool University to help students understand the application process and the opportunities available to them. We will endeavour to keep you updated on all information provided.

 Starting Year 11 – What a fantastic start! Year 11 students have returned from the summer break eager to succeed and maximise their progress. Feedback from several teachers are overwhelmingly positive, students are giving a real impression of their dedication and willingness to work hard and do whatever it takes to reach those high expectations. I couldn’t be prouder of the start that Year 11 have made, they are engaging in the revision strategy and careers sessions which are delivered by tutors, requesting support where necessary and enquiring about revision opportunities. All additional support will be finalised in the coming weeks, and I will share this with the students as well as parents and carers as soon as possible. In the meantime, please congratulate Year 11 on their exceptional efforts and encourage them to continue this throughout the year. If we can keep this up, we will receive some of the most outstanding results the school has seen!

 Achievements – Year 11 students who have particularly impressed their teachers during the first week of 2018-2019! Congratulations to all those listed, keep up the impressive work!

Meols Cop High School Weekly Bulletin Week Ending Inclusive Excellence for ALL Friday 14 September 2018

P1 Excellent attitude to learn- P1 Excellent concentration P2 Excellent attitude to learning displayed shown throughout lesson ing displayed Maximilian Davies 11BK Jack Bilsborrow 11CB Jasmine Whitehead 11KM Katie Halsall 11BK Megan Tate 11CB Kieran Samuels 11BK Brendan Ingleby- P2 Excellent practical skills Max Wylder 11BK Edwards 11HT demonstrated Shakil Zaman 11BK Kiara Lawrance 11GT Tom Graham 11CB P1 Excellent contribution to Kelsie Greenwood 11CB class discussion P2 Excellent concentration shown throughout lesson Natasha Porter 11CB Oliver Maddocks 11BK Joe Stewart 11CB Cody Thomas 11BK Anthony Pickersgill 11BK Kelis Beck 11CS Connor Gruneklee 11GT Lucy Thompson 11CB Hannah Gray 11GT Jessica Dewhurst 11CS Daniel Mee 11GT Nathan Foulkes 11CS Jasmin Ridout 11GT Esme Goodson 11CS Jacob Gary 11HT P3 Excellent practical skills Michael Lawton 11CS Bekki Hayes 11HT demonstrated Ben Potter 11CS Ben Boardman 11KM Finn Radcliffe 11CS Leonardo Couto 11KM Joshua Pemberton 11BK Emily James 11GT Jessica Harrison 11KM Charlie Shields 11BK Matthew Jones 11GT Azure Hope 11KM Jonah Marsh 11GT Emily Berry 11TE

Nicholas Moore 11GT P2 Excellent contribution to P1 Excellent independence Natasha Watkins 11GT class discussion shown during lesson Arwen Corcoran 11HT Harrison Davies 11HT Sean Gowers 11CB Rezija Vitola 11BK Charlotte Maher 11CB Jasmine Hitchcock 11HT David Regan 11CB Benjamin Proctor 11HT Mia Chubbs 11CS Cheyenne Thomas 11HT Cameron Munro 11CS Jack Traynor 11HT Jasmin Nicoll 11CS Micha Williams 11HT Ellis Baker 11GT Mae Forshaw 11KM Amy Christie 11GT Cameron Hayes 11KM Tom Ward 11KM Rebekah Helm 11KM Emily Anderson 11TE Joshua Howie 11KM Nathan Wills 11TE Nathan Lovegrove 11KM Craig Black 11TE

Aodhan Blackburn 11TE Sandy McGuinness 11TE P1 Fantastic written work Nicola Powell 11TE Alfred Cooke 11GT Jude Tindall 11TE

Meols Cop High School Weekly Bulletin Week Ending Inclusive Excellence for ALL Friday 14 September 2018

Year 11 Girls– Outstanding Mind-Set in PE

A massive well done to our year 11 girls who attended their PE lessons with a fantastic Meols Cop High School mind-set. All girls were brilliantly turned out in their full PE kit, they were actively engaged in their netball lesson and went above and beyond with their helpfulness and their manners. You truly are outstanding role models for our school and we are all so very proud of the wonderful young ladies you have become.

Really well done from Mrs Piearce-Swift and Miss Twaites

PARENT GOVERNOR VACANCIES We currently have a number of parent governor vacancies at the school. The relevant documentation can be found on the school website – From the home page go to:

About Us / Vacancies.

The deadline for nominations is 12 noon on Monday, 24th September, 2018. Late nominations will not be accepted.

If you would like further information please contact me at the school. Thank you, Mrs. S. Porter (Clerk to the Governors)

SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETINGS

Every Friday lunchtime in the PSD room. A special welcome to any year 7s who would like to pop along!

From Mrs Sharp.

Meols Cop High School Weekly Bulletin Week Ending Inclusive Excellence for ALL Friday 14 September 2018

Welcome from the PE Department

A massive warm welcome to all year 7 students and parents/ carers from the PE department. We hope your child has had a good first week at Meols Cop High School and we are already starting to know what sports your children enjoy. Today we had our sports fair at lunchtime which allows students to sign up to all of the clubs on offer as well as meeting new friends and having the chance to speak to all members of the PE department.

Please may we ask at this stage that all new students (as well as all our other students) have all the correct PE kit needed for their PE lessons this year. As a minimum, all students must have the Meols Cop PE top, Meols Cop PE shorts, Meols Cop PE socks and a suitable pair of trainers. If there are any problems with this then please contact the school as soon as possible. Please can we also ask that all PE kit and uniform is named so that we can return any lost items quickly to the rightful owner.

We hope everyone has a good year with their PE and sport commitments and we look forward to the year ahead! Mrs Piearce-Swift (2nd in PE)

Netball trials

All year 7 girls interested in trying out for the netball team are to come after school on Monday 10th September. Please make your way to the girls changing room at 3.10pm and try outs will last for 1 hour. Depending on numbers in year 7 we may be able to have two teams so please if you are interested come and give it a go from Mrs Piearce-Swift and Miss Pilling

Sports Awards 2018

Our annual sports awards are to be held on Thursday 4th October 2018. Tickets go on sale Monday 10th September 2018 and can be purchased via parent pay or cash/ cheques can be brought into the finance office. All students are welcome to attend and the night will consist of food, drinks, entertainment and most importantly the sports awards medals and trophies for teams and individuals.

Meols Cop High School Weekly Bulletin Week Ending Inclusive Excellence for ALL Friday 14 September 2018

OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY PAGES...

Meols Cop High School Weekly Bulletin Week Ending Inclusive Excellence for ALL Friday 14 September 2018

OUR TALENTED STUDENTS!

Well done to Nathan Power for securing the part of Oliver at the Southport Little Theatre. Congratulations also to our Year 7 and Year 11 students who will be starring alongside in the performance which runs from 6th—13th October.