Newsletter Autumn Term 1 2019
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THE FERRERS SCHOOL NEWSLETTER AUTUMN TERM 1 2019 Update from the Principal It has been a very busy and purposeful term at The Ferrers School and students and staff have worked exceptionally hard. Term Dates We were absolutely delighted that at our recent School closes for 25th October 2019 monitoring inspection, Ofsted inspectors praised our half term staff and students for positively transforming the School re-opens 5th November 2019 culture of the school! We still have some areas to continue improving, but if we continue on this School closes for 20th December journey, we are confident that we will be removed from special measures at our Christmas 2019 next full inspection. Thank you to all our parents and students for your support School re-opens 6th January 2020 along the way. Students have settled into the new House System and are enjoying helping each School closes for 14th February 2020 other within the Vertical Tutor Groups. half term We are also very excited to have launched our Pledges with all year groups! School re-opens 24th February 2020 School closes for 3rd April 2020 Easter School re-opens 21st April 2020 Pledges is an awards system which offers students a range of character building School closes for 8th May opportunities that enhance their learning and development. It is an expectation Bank Holiday of every pupil to complete their Pledges during their time at the school. School closes for 22nd May The Pledge system aims to encourage and support many important qualities in half term students, such as responsibility, expectation, intuition and citizenship, all of which are crucial for giving students employability and brighter futures. School re-opens 1st June 2020 As always our students continue to excel, working enthusiastically and embracing School closes for 17th July 2020 school life. We regularly share our daily activities through social media so please Summer follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Follow us on Twitter @FerrersSchool or Facebook The Ferrers School, Queensway, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire, NN10 8LF T: 01933 313411 E:[email protected] Restart A Heart Restart a Heart Day is an annual event to teach as many people as possible the life saving skill of CPR. 296 students were trained in CPR. Our thanks go out to the volunteers who came to work with our students, these included East Midlands Ambulance Service, East Northants First Responders and RAF Wittering Co Responders. Duke Of Edinburgh We are delighted to introduce you to our new Duke Of Edinburgh Manager, Mr James O’Shea. He will be working closely with Caroline Thomas, Operations Manager for our region to further develop this thriving programme at the school. As a Gold Award holder himself, he is experienced in all aspects of the programme. The DofE is many things to many people, supporting generations to successfully navigate adult life. 14-24 year-olds can do a DofE programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, leads to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. There are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity. Any young person can do their DofE – regardless of ability, gender, background or location. Achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about being first. It’s all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries. So if you want a life-changing experience. A fun time with friends. An opportunity to discover new interests and talents. A tool to develop essential skills for life and work. A recognised mark of achievement; respected by employers.— Get involved now ! Contact Mr James O’Shea at the school or by email [email protected] Follow us on Twitter @FerrersSchool or Facebook The Ferrers School, Queensway, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire, NN10 8LF T: 01933 313411 E:[email protected] Brunel House Senior Tutor Review - Mr Matt Jackson Throughout Term 1, the focus for myself and all of the Brunel staff has been to create an ethos and identity that the students can engage with and to create a House that all can be proud of. An identity that demonstrates key values that will allow all students opportunities to be the best that they can be at all times. Pride, independence, self-management, self-motivation, resilience and collaboration have been the values focussed upon and as Senior Tutor I am excited and encouraged by the tremendous start that the vast majority of Brunel students have made to their new school year, and in the way they taken on-board and engaged with the transition to a vertical system of pastoral care. The simple message, ‘Be the BEST that you can be’, has been spoken about in all assemblies and the results of the students, within such a short time frame, have been amazingly positive and demonstrate the greatness that exists within Brunel House. Particular successes that deserve special mention are detailed below: A total of 4,473 Achievement Points have been awarded to Brunel students this term. Ellie and Ellie (Year 9), Nicole (Year 10), Drasius (Year 7), Alfie (Year 9), Connor (Year 8) and Evan (Year 8) have all been recognised as ‘Stars of the Week’ in assemblies for their individual Achievement Points totals. Daniel (Year 8) is the whole school leader in the PiXL Times-Tables competition. A tremendous effort by Daniel which has also helped put The Ferrers on top of this national competition. Jack (Year 9) has been offered a day-release programme by Leicester City Football Club. A fantastic achievement and one that Jack fully deserves after his efforts for The Foxes over a number of years. Jessica (Year 9) and Louis (Year 11) have been recognised by staff for being positive role models to younger students within Brunel House. Young Leaders Charlie , Daniel and Thomas (all Year 9) were recognised for their support of Year 7 students during their off-timetable afternoon. Administration staff have recognised Oliver and Grace (both Year 7) as exceptionally helpful and great ‘student runners’. Leoni for being cheerful and polite around school and brightening up each day for her form tutor, Mrs Underwood. All-in-all, it has been an exceptional start to the new academic year and as Senior Tutor of Brunel House I am extremely proud of the students and staff for their efforts, dedication and commitment. Follow us on Twitter @FerrersSchool or Facebook The Ferrers School, Queensway, Higham Ferrers, Brunel House Art, Design & Technology The academic year has taken off with a flying start in Art and Design & Technology with new staff, courses and displays. Students have enthusiastically welcomed our new members of the team Mr Eckersley (Art), Mrs Lawson and Mrs Wilson (Food & DT). Many thanks go to four of our very talented art students who produced work for the corridor in the Brunel building, using different fonts, art movements and individual artists’ work to promote the subject and bring the corridor to life. Engineering Your Future Engineering is an integral part of Design and Technology, providing a wide range of further education and career options to students with more of a practical aptitude. Year 9 students visited Milton Keynes University this term to take part in workshops and interviews with a range of engineers and practitioners, to find out what engineering could potentially offer them. They very much enjoyed the day, listening to presentations by the McLaren Racing Team engineers and a range of engineering companies demonstrating their developed specialist technology. Follow us on Twitter @FerrersSchool or Facebook The Ferrers School, Queensway, Higham Ferrers, Franklin House Senior Tutor Review - Mrs Fleming I have been so impressed by all the students in the House in terms of how well they have started the year. They are always polite, punctual and smart. The Year 7 students have settled in really well and are a welcome addition to the school in terms of their energy and enthusiasm. I have been especially impressed with how the older year groups are nurturing and supporting the younger students. Such relationships are helping to overcome any fears & anxieties that the students might have. Form time has a really lovely atmosphere with the wide range of tutor activities that students are engaged with. I would also like to thank the Franklin tutors. I am working with a very professional and energetic group of teachers. These staff are from Science and PE. A healthy competitive spirit is certainly evident between the tutors and the forms. I would also like to thank Mrs Grover who is our Student Support Assistant who provides an invaluable support to staff and students alike. If she does not know the answer to a question, she soon finds someone who does! I am extremely proud to be the Senior Tutor of such a House. Achievement Points A total of 3568 Achievement Points have been awarded to Franklin students so far this term. Students topping the table for achievement points in Franklin House are Kristers, Jack, Jack, Charlie, Caitlin, Lewis, Emma, James , Soll, Amber, Sam , and David. News From the PE Department In the middle of September, The Ferrers School hosted Wollaston in a well contested rugby fixture as part of the County Vase competition. Following on from last year’s success in the Under 15 competition, the boys started well moving the ball competently across both sides of the pitch in front of a bumper crowd including fantastic support from the English Department. In the end some strong defensive work combined with plenty of good attacking play saw us score 4 well worked tries through Louis, James, Lewis and Diya.