OCTOBER BISHOP RAMSEY 2015 Issue 1
Dates to Remember... What’s in this issue…
OCTOBER Thursday 12th St Cecilia Concert Headteacher’s Notes Thursday 8th Open Evening (5.30 – 9.00 pm) (7.00 pm in the Hall) school closes at 12.35 pm Monday 16th Year 7 Cross‐curricular News from the Governors Friday 9th School starts later Compe on (please arrive by 10.45 am) Thursday 19th House Event – KS3 History Quiz Gi ed and Talented Extended Coursework Art Club Tuesday 13th KS3 Spell In and Weakest Link Thursday 19th Careers Fair Tuesday 13th Year 8 Parents’ Briefing (2.15 – 8.00 pm) Bishop Ramsey School, ito provide Ini al Teacher Training (7.00 pm in the Hall) Friday 20th FBR Quiz Night Wednesday 14th Staff Development Day Wednesday 25th Parents’ Prayer Group Hillingdon’s Art and Literature Fes val Thursday 15th Year 11 Parents’ Briefing (8.00 pm in the Chapel) (7.00 pm in the Hall) Grease Photos Tuesday 20th Year 9 Parents’ Briefing/Futures DECEMBER rd Evening Thursday 3 Academic Tutoring Day (7.00 pm in the Hall) Friday 4th Non Uniform Day Friday 23rd Year Curriculum Day Monday 7th House Event – KS5 Speech & JANUARY Deba ng th Half Term: Monday 26th October – Friday 30th October Monday 7 Year 11 Mock Exams begin Tuesday 8th Drama Fes val Monday 4th Start of Spring Term
(7.00 pm in the Hall) Half Term: Monday 15th February – Friday 19th February NOVEMBER th Thursday 10 Year 13 Parents’ Evening Thursday 24th March – End of Spring Term for students Monday 2nd House Event – KS5 Quiz (5.00 – 7.00 pm in the Hall and Monday 11th April – Start of Summer Term Thursday 5th Sixth Form Open Evening the Hub) Half Term: Monday 30th May – Friday 3rd June (5.30 – 8.00 pm) Monday 14th Carol Service Thursday 5th Schools Shakespeare Fes val (7.00 pm at St Lawrence Church Friday 15th July – End of Summer Term (Years 9 and 10) at Watersmeet Tuesday 15th Christmas Lunch (in the Hub) Theatre Friday 18th End of Autumn Term Wednesday 11th House Event –Year 7 Boys The next edi on of the Recorder will be published to the 5‐a‐side Football website Friday 20th November Thursday 12th Art Exhibi on in the Atrium
1 Headteacher’s Notes...
1. A very warm welcome to the first Ramsey Recorder of the new year, and a 4. The summer term ended in a real blaze of glorious ac vity for the school. par cular welcome to all those parents and carers for whom this is their We were treated to a stunning produc on of “Grease” (photographs of first ever Recorder. the produc on appear later in The Recorder) and a thrilling House compe on which went right to the wire. Exeter won Sports Day on a deligh ul penul mate day of term at the Uxbridge Arena. York had 2. We begin by celebra ng the excellent performance of our students in the already secured the House Cup by this me. This means that in the public examina ons last summer. history of inter‐House compe on at Bishop Ramsey, Rochester, Exeter and York have now managed to get their names on the trophy. At GCSE, 70% of our students obtained the benchmark figure of 5*‐C including English and Maths and 32% of all our grades were A* or A. 17 5. I men oned in the last edi on of The Recorder that we had been invited students achieved at least 10 A*‐A grades at GCSE. to apply to be awarded the “World Class Schools Quality Mark”. A group of 12 senior students worked very hard at the end of the summer term – and into the holiday period – to produce a convincing case that Bishop At A2 level, 47% of grades were A*‐B, with 19% of them being A* or A Ramsey is a World Class school. Their wri en submission was backed up grades. 14 of our A2 level students achieved 3 A grades or be er. by a video of the best of life at BR. The judges liked what they saw and now 3 of our students have to take part in an assessment centre ac vity Grades at AS level, though not published in the na onal press, were also to demonstrate their “world class” creden als. strong, with 13 students achieving at least 3 grade As or be er. 6. Open Evening is on Thursday 8th October. School will close for students I am sure you will join me in wishing to congratulate all those students who at 12.35 pm to enable us to prepare for the evening. Students should took public exams and their teachers. make alterna ve arrangements for lunch unless they receive free school meals. I am grateful to the many students who will be involved in the evening, working in departments and showing prospec ve students and 3. We were able to celebrate these successes and others beside at our Prize parents around the school. Giving on Thursday 17th September. Our Guest of Honour, Nick Hurd MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, encouraged our prize winners to take me to discover where their talents lie and not to be afraid of going outside On Friday 9th October school will begin with registra on in tutor rooms their comfort zone as they explore possible futures. Sound advice! at 10.45 am.
We have published more details about Open Evening in the local press and via churches and primary schools. However, if you have a child in Year 6 and are intending to come to our Open Evening, we would be grateful if you would read on …
2 Headteacher’s Notes...
We are an cipa ng that traffic will be a nightmare. Support Staff We have parking on the school site for registered disabled visitors only. If Mrs Donna Clancy Administra ve Assistant – Personnel this applies to you, please contact the School Office. Ms Nina Clyne Senior Study Supervisor Ms Wendy Rochester Administra ve Assistant – General and SCITT Otherwise, please approach the school by public transport, on foot, or park Mr Ben Wooley ICT Technician. at some distance from the school.
7. New Staff 8. I encourage you to check Parent Portal on a regular basis to ensure that our records are correct for your child/children. Please ensure that if you change any details via Parent Portal that this is highlighted in rela on to all contacts We are pleased to welcome the following new members of staff to the which the change relates to. This applies to addresses, telephone numbers, school: e‐mails etc.
9. Please note that when repor ng a child’s absence you should telephone the Teaching Staff school and leave a message on the absence line or alterna vely forward a Ms Alison Bushnell Teacher of Sociology message via the Parent Portal, by 9.30 am. Mr Aidan Campbell Teacher of Business Studies
Mr John Flynn Teacher of History Mrs Rohineet Grewal Teacher of Geography 10. As last year, our up‐to‐date calendar appears on the school’s website. Your Mr Gurinder Jhawar Teacher of Physics son/daughter should also have brought home a small card version. We are Mrs Kathryn Lovewell Head of Psychology and 2nd in Social grateful to FBR for funding these calendars. Dates do occasionally change, so Studies please rely on the website rather than the printed calendar if they disagree. Miss Mairi Molfeta Teacher of Physics
Miss Sarah Ro mann Teacher of Music Miss Supriya Sethi Teacher of Mathema cs 11. A reminder that the only entrance to the school site for parents and visitors is Miss Kerry Stra on Teacher of Physical Educa on via the Hume Way gate from which all visitors should proceed to Recep on. The Sports Hall entrance is for students only. Students returning to school a er an external appointment should be dropped off on their own via the School Direct placements Sports Hall entrance and then sign in at the office. Miss Stephanie Chrys e Schools Direct in Physics Miss Leigh‐Anne Dennehy Schools Direct in Psychology
Mr Ethan Drury Schools Direct in Physical Educa on
3 Headteacher’s Notes...
12. When visi ng the school to see a member of staff or collect a child we would In view of the repeated reduc ons in our funding, we have added a sixth ask parents and carers to be aware of the following requirements. Ofsted goal: to be “a school that lives within its means”. regula ons require that all visitors who do not hold a DBS must be accompanied at all mes when they are on site. The member of staff that you have come to see will collect you from Recep on and will sign you out at You will be saddened to know that our budget from central government for the end of the mee ng. 2015‐16 is £6.9 million ‐ £460,000 less than it was in 2012‐13. The number of students in the school is exactly the same and, of course, there have been
several costs that have risen in the interim; notably pay and employers’ If you come in to school to collect a sick child or to collect a child for an pension and Na onal Insurance contribu ons. appointment, please report to Recep on first before going to the Welfare Room to collect your child. 14. I like to use the Recorder to celebrate students’ achievements. We would
therefore like to publish photographs of students and refer to their We understand that emergencies do occasionally arise and that you may successes. need to see a member of staff urgently. In these cases you must s ll sign into at Recep on upon arrival. Under no circumstances may parents enter the school site without signing in at Recep on. In order to minimise any threat to students we will not normally name students who appear in photographs. However we will show photographs of
students (anonymously) and refer to achievements (without photographs) in 13. A reminder that Bishop Ramsey’s 5 key strategic goals for the coming year the Recorder. are: Every learner an empowered learner If you have a concern about your son or daughter appearing in the Recorder Every lesson an outstanding lesson in this way, please contact the school office by Monday 12th October. Every day at school an enriching experience Every rela onship a posi ve encounter On occasion we may wish to include a picture of a named student. If we do this we will ensure that we have parental consent in advance. A community that looks outwards and beyond. 15. A ached to this Recorder is the list of staff telephone extensions. If you want to contact a member of staff, we would prefer you to use the email The school’s budget is directed explicitly at achieving these 5 goals. You can facility on the Parent Portal. However, we are aware that on some occasions find a fuller outline of our priori es for the coming year on our new website this may not be appropriate. in the “About us” sec on. Mr A Wilcock
Headteacher
4 News from the Governors...
On behalf of the all the Governors I would like to welcome all parents and carers new to the school, and of course those whose children are con nuing their educa on here. I hope you all enjoyed the summer break and managed to get some me to enjoy Gi ed and Talented Extended Coursework Art Club some sunny days. I hope that your children are now se ling in and enjoying learning at Bishop Ramsey. As always there is a wealth of opportuni es for your children to get involved in and I hope they take full advantage of them. There are also In July the Art Department were visited by Richard Bradley and two other members opportuni es for you to get involved such as coming along to the parents forums, of the Moor Park Decora ve and Fine Arts Society. Moor Park DFAS sponsor art projects in local schools and last year they kindly funded Art materials for our Gi ed joining the Friends of Bishop Ramsey, who always support the school so generously, th or a ending their events (which are always fun and enjoyable). Another opportunity and Talented Extended Coursework Art Club. On 13 July they came to visit the for you to get involved is by joining the Board of Governors. The governors are looking school to judge the final pieces of a selec on of Year 10 students who have to recruit a governor with financial exper se ‐ more on this follows a er this ar cle, a ended the club over the year. The winner of the first prize was Lo e Benner so please give this your serious considera on. (11Y) who received a wonderful Art book. The runners up were Keara Patrick (11Y), Isobel O’Loughlin (11M), Anna Storey (11S) and Blyth McPherson(11M). Over the summer break we saw some good exam results achieved by the students – your children – last year. I am sure you will join me in congratula ng them and their teachers and support staff for the all the hard work. However, I would also like to Well done to these students and to all who a ended the club! congratulate you for the support you give your children which helped them to achieve so well. Towards the end of last term one of the governors, Dennis Knowles, sadly passed away. This was a shock to us and a terrible loss to his friends and family, and of course us. Dennis was a dedicated governor who led our Learning, Teaching and Achievement Commi ee and our Disciplinary Commi ees. As a former Headteacher of BWI primary school, his educa onal knowledge (which he always kept up to date) was excep onal. Dennis's contribu on to the school was huge and he carried out his governors’ du es with great dedica on and tact. I am very grateful to have known him and grateful for all the help and guidance he provided for this school. He will be greatly missed. As governors we also said goodbye to John Mullaly, a teacher governor and Terry Henderson, a parent governor, who both supported the school in many ways. I really appreciate all the help and support they gave, and it is lovely that Terry's son Lewis, who is Head Boy, joined us at the end of last term as an Associate Governor, along with Head Girl, Anna Seevaratnam.
Finally, on behalf of all the Governors, I would like to wish your children a very successful and happy year at Bishop Ramsey. Mrs Chris Gentle Mrs S Windsor‐Richards Chair of Governors Head of Art
5 News, Events and School Activities...
Bishop Ramsey School, in Ruislip, to provide Ini al Teacher Training. unique and exci ng feature of the Hillingdon SCITT will be that as well as being From September 2016, Bishop Ramsey School will be opening its doors not just to placed in two different school se ngs, trainees will also have experience of Pupil students in Years 7‐13, but also to trainee teachers. As well as being a Na onal Referral Units (PRU) and Special Schools. Teaching School, the school has been accredited as a School Centred Ini al Teacher For more informa on, see www.hillingdonteachingschoolalliance.org, Training Provider (SCITT). It aims to recruit up to 100 trainees for this school‐led hillingdonsci @twi er.com, facebook: hillingdonsci training. Trainees will receive Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) at the end of their training year.
Andrew Wilcock, Headteacher of Bishop Ramsey School, said: “I would encourage anybody considering teaching as a career to look seriously at Hillingdon SCITT. You will learn, hands on, from some superb professionals in local schools.” Training will commence in September in both the Primary and Secondary Phases, working across 15 schools in Hillingdon. Currently, there are 75 other SCITTs across the country.
David Poole, Head of Hillingdon Teaching School Alliance and Hillingdon SCITT said: “Being able to run Ini al Teacher Training will allow us to build on the strong community of schools in Hillingdon.”
Whilst Bishop Ramsey School will remain the lead school for the Hillingdon SCITT, there will be a strong collabora on with the others schools in the partnership which include Abbotsfield, Douay Martyrs, Haydon, Ruislip High, Swakeleys, and Vyners Secondary Schools along with Breakspear and Deanesfield Primary Schools. Hillingdon SCITT Director, Dharmini Shah, said: “I am looking forward to working with all the different trainees across the schools. The Hillingdon SCITT will bring the schools even closer together.”
Becoming a SCITT enables schools to lead the training process. The schools in the partnership have already successfully trained and supported many teachers into the profession. The aim of the SCITT will be to provide prac cal, hands on teacher Andrew Wilcock, Headteacher, Dharmini Shah, Hillingdon SCITT Director and training which will be delivered by experienced teachers. Trainees will have an allocated Mentor/Coach who will support them throughout the programme. A David Poole, Head of Hillingdon Teaching School Alliance.
6 News, Events and School Activities...
Bishop Ramsey Student Speaks in Parliament
As member of Youth Parliament for Hillingdon I have the incredible opportunity to visit the House of th Commons on 13 November as a part of our Annual Culture Bite is Hillingdon’s month long fes val of Art & Literature. There will be an Si ng. At the House of Commons the Youth array of exci ng and temp ng events across the borough. The fes val Launches on Parliament will be deba ng five issues. These have Sunday 27th September with Big Fest Hillingdon’s street party in Uxbridge High been voted for by the young people of the UK Street. Throughout October Hillingdon’s theatres, libraries and other spaces will host through our annual youth consulta on of ‘Make Your a mul tude of cultural events including, a Young Adult Author Day, YAShot, Mark’. There are ten issues on the ballot paper throughout Wednesday 28th october, Middlesex Suite of the Civic Centre, Uxbridge which were voted for by the Youth Parliament at our Library and Waterstones, visit www.yashot.co.uk YA Shot will feature more than 60 Annual Si ng this year in Exeter. As usual, the issues young adult authors delivering a range of discussion panels and workshops. on the ballot paper vary every year, although there For the full programme of events visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/culture has been some consistency, with Votes at 16 and Living Wage being on the ballot paper two years in a row. Out of the five issues debated in the House of Commons, one will become the campaign for the whole Youth Parliament, (this year it was the Living Wage), and one campaign will be chosen for each region of the UK, (London’s specific campaign this year was on Mental Health).
However, this year there will be eight addi onal speeches in commemora on of 2015 being the 800th Anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta. This is par cularly exci ng for me as my applica on to speak on behalf of London was successful! We were asked to write a speech on what we would want a modern day Magna Carta to include. I decided to write about my wish for there to be more teaching on Human Rights and for everyone to be aware of what their Human Rights are.
Table Tennis a er school As 13th of November creeps ever closer I’m ge ng slightly nervous but I know it’s Please will all parents, carers and students be advised that any student playing table‐ going to be an excellent day and I will be so proud to be represen ng Bishop tennis a er school must finish at 4.30pm as there will be no first aid cover on the Ramsey, Hillingdon and London at the Dispatch Box. Stay tuned to BBC Parliament school site a er this me. Mr A Lunnon for a chance to see me on TV! Senior Assistant Headteacher Talin Aslanian (13.5) and Director of Opera ons
7 Grease 2015
At the end of the academic year, Bishop Ramsey put on a fabulous produc on of Grease The show was directed by Mrs Simmons, Mrs Neale and Natalie Hobkirk and was stage managed by Miss Neal (our mul talented librarian)
Students learnt how to sing, dance and act and had a great me working together to produce one of Bishop Ramsey’s best summer shows. Giorgia Carver (13.2)
During Grease I had the opportunity to perform and rehearse with a range of new people from various year groups meaning I’ve made a lot of new and amazing friends. As a company we became very close and supported each other throughout the journey. I will forever cherish my Grease experience and recommend taking part in the school musical to anyone that has a love for theatre.
Susannah King (13.5)
I played Sandy in Grease which was a lovely experience for me as I made many news friends and managed to ghten the already exis ng friendships that I had. Mrs Simmons helped us superbly with characterisa on and supported when we needed help, making the show wonderful and the cast in the show a ghtly linked family.
8 Grease 2015
Alex Wheeler (13.1) Tom Carr (13.5) Performing Danny in Grease gave me such a fantas c idea of Within Grease, I played Eugene. It was one of the what it’s like performing in a real West End show, due to the more… out there, roles within the performance and I comradery and friendship you develop with your fellow loved every minute of it. I had loads of fun being the performers. From being in the shows over the last few years it play’s lovable fool and let me play more light hearted has helped me to improve my confidence within my singing part than the ones that I usually play. voice, as well as my ac ng.
9 STAFF EXTENSION NUMBERS AVAILABLE ON 01895 639227 Contact via email is preferrable 697 Year Director Year 7 - Mr Owen 698 Mr Drury 696 Year Director Year 8 - Miss Maycock 565 Mr Flynn 574 Year Director Year 9 - Mr Aitken 633 Ms Forde 575 Year Director Year 10 - Mr Forrest 557 Mrs Goldstein 576 Year Director Year 11 - Mr Butler 566 Mrs Grewal 572 Year Director Year 12 - Mr Dawkins 629 Miss Hale 573 Year Director Year 13 - Mrs Holmes 654 Mrs Hall 664 Mrs Hamilton 577 Head of Art - Mrs Windsor-Richards 590 Mrs Head 531 Head of Business Studies - Mr Carter 564 Miss Hill 699 Head of Careers/PSHE - Mr Hall 666 Miss Hofmann 513 Head of Design & Visual Arts Faculty - Ms Francis 675 Mrs Humphreys 626 Head of English Faculty - Miss Niiranen 541 Miss Hunt 559 Head of Humanities Faculty - Miss Wood 656 Dr Jackson 560 Head of History - Mr Jeffries 708 Mr Jhawar 553 Head of ICT - Mr Ketter 630 Ms Joseph 570 Head of Mathematics - Mr Betts 651 Mr Khan 663 Head of Modern Languages Faculty - Mr Bueno 673 Miss Kochhar 540 Head of Music - Mrs Neale 561 Mrs Lally 700 Head of P.E. - Miss Curling 537 Miss Lankester 703 Head of Performing Arts - Mrs Simmons 556 Mr Mayne 533 Head of Psychology - Mrs Lovewell 658 Dr McGeady 585 Head of Religious Education - Mr Britton 514 Ms Miell 640 Head of Science Faculty - Mrs Pittaway 647 Miss Molfeta 621 Head of Senco - Ms Wiseman 676 Mr Mullaly 527 Head of Social Studies Faculty - Ms Murphy 711 Mrs Munro 652 Mr Murphy 526 Careers Office - Mrs Chandarana 669 Mrs Navarro-Bernal 661 Exams Office - Ms O'Brien 650 Mrs Ngochi 622 Learning Support Unit - Mrs Hunt 721 Dr O'Flynn 567 Library - Miss Neal 704 Mrs Oldfield 624 Medical Room - Mrs James 578 Ms Peres da Costa 505 Parent Pay - Mrs Ruttley & Mrs Hagon 628 Ms Roberts 662 Parent Portal - Mrs Sheppard 562 Miss Robinson 543 Pastoral Assistant KS3 - Mrs Hampton 649 Mrs Ross 544 Pastoral Assistant KS4 - Mrs Owen 715 Miss Rottmann 712 Support Assistant KS5 - Mrs Morrison 674 Ms Sethi 632 Mr Slaughter VOICEMAIL EXTENSIONS 535 Miss Smith 701 Mrs Aitken 702 Miss Stratton 648 Mr Azariah 679 Mrs Stuart 667 Mr Barrat 637 Mrs Tin 530 Ms Bushnell 636 Mrs Trafford 532 Mr Campbell 580 Mr Tulsidas 635 Miss Cazan 587 Mr Ubbi 655 Mrs Davies 677 Miss Vakeria 714 Miss Dell 634 Mrs White 534 Miss Dennehy 586 Miss Winn 657 Mr Doran 631 Mrs Woods PHYSICAL EDUCATION
A new year, and a new you. There are so many opportuni es for all students to get involved in PE this year. Not only through your lessons, but also the wide variety of extra curricular clubs. From Mar al Arts to Belly‐wood, Girls Rugby to Winter cricket. So much choice. What will you choose?
GIRLS FOOTBALL
Girls Football Cub has started with a bang this season, with over 40 girls turning up for the first session. Luckily football mad Miss Stra on made sure everyone was catered for and had a lot of fun. Helping in these sessions is Miss Sheppard, seen here being instructed by the very talented Andrearna Dunbar‐Bonnie (9S) in the finer points of the game.
Miss Stra on is very excited about the up coming football season, with the girls entered into the Futsal Borough Leagues. A lot of these tournaments lead into the school games finals, so if we win the Borough compe on we could go on to represent Hillingdon in the London School Games. An excellent opportunity for all involved.
Make sure you get yourself along to training each week.
Please see Miss Stra on if you would like any more informa on. GIRLS ACTIVE 2015
Bishop Ramsey school has been successful in joining the Girls Ac ve campaign for 2015.
Engaging and retaining girls in physical ac vity is a challenge and something that the Youth Sport Trust has been commi ed to for over 10 years. The 2010 PE and School Sport Survey of schools in England showed an alarming drop in par cipa on as girls become teenagers; only 15% of girls aged 17 ‐ 18 took part in at least 3 hours of PE and school sport each week compared to 68% of girls aged 10 ‐ 11. The recent Health Survey shows that by age 14, just over 10% of girls achieve the recommended 60 minutes of physical ac vity per day.
In the coming months girls will see lots of opportuni es to get involved in not only physical ac vity but also leadership and coaching. Please see Miss Curling if you would like the latest updates on this. TABLE TENNIS
Following on from the massive success of table tennis at Bishop Ramsey, we have been very lucky in securing Table Tennis England's YOUNG COACH OF THE YEAR to help and develop your skills. He will be in the Main Hall every Monday lunch me all year, so get along and get involved. He brings all equipment with him so do not worry if you don’t have your own bat. Please see Miss Curling if you have any ques ons about this. KEY STAGE 4 NETBALL
The Netball season has started already with the Key Stage 4 Netball tournament. It was great to see all teams with plenty of players and some exuberant staff support.
The standard of play was outstanding and the matches very compe ve. My thanks go to Hollie Summerfield (12.8) Georgia Bryant (12.5) and Lauren Wilkinsom (13.5) on for their excellent and firm umpiring. Congratula ons to Exeter House for their first spor ng victory under their very compe ve new Head of House, Miss Stra on. Final results: 1st: EXETER 2nd: MANCHESTER 3rd: YORK 4th: SALISBURY 5th: ROCHESTER 6th : ST. ALBANS EXTRA CURRICULAR TIME TABLE
Field MUGA New Courts Sports Hall Dance Studio 1st Half 2nd Half Yr 8 Rugby with Yr 9 Boys Girls Netball Yr 7 & 8 Girls and Mr Murphy & Football with Boys Basketball Monday Mr Slaughter with Miss Maycock with Miss Curling Mr Butler Miss Curling Miss Stra on Yr 11 Boys Yr 7 Boys Girls Indoor Dance Club Mar al Football with Football Football with with Arts Tuesday Mr Butler with Miss Stra on Miss Sethi Mr Khan Mr Forrest Yr 11 Rugby Yr 8 Girls Indoor with Mr Hall Football Cricket with Wednesday with Mr Summerfield Mr Drury Yr 7 Rugby with Yr 10 Rugby Girls Rugby Thursday Mr Summerfield with Mr Hall with Miss Curling