St Richard's Catholic College
Team reports Specialist Science status Community links and charity work Learning beyond the classroom
FINANCE
During this year the finance team has been augmented by Sallie Relf for 10 hours per week. She has taken responsibility for inputting data on to the accounting package for the School Fund Account and inputting purchase orders onto FMS. This has enabled the college to comply with financial regulations and will be a positive comment on the School‟s Financial Value Standard (SFVS) self-assessment for Governors by having segregation of duties within the processes.
The college, in the main, now follow processes compliant with financial regulations; the number of educational visits has increased and money is collected for events and all pupil sales through a central point rather than via teachers – removing risk from them.
Denise Williams has almost completed the first year of Stage 1 of the Accredited Accounting Technician (AAT), a qualification which will add to the professional qualifications of the department, again a requirement for the SFVS assessment.
The 2011-12 budget has been reconciled to the LA figures with a reported surplus of £229,261 (5.49%). The LA has allowed the additional carry forward following an appeal from the college.
HEALTH & SAFETY
A number of projects have been undertaken this year to not only ensure a safe and healthy working environment for the college community, but to enhance the facilities. Following the completion of the A block extension, some remedial work is still ongoing whilst the following projects have been completed:
Replacement windows to the South and West elevations of B Block, the drama studio and BICT. This will continue during the summer break with replacement windows to the South, East and West of the Science and Technology Block Installation of step free access to more of the college. A lift is to be installed allowing access to the top floor of the Science Block during 2012-2013. Awnings were installed on the West elevation of A Block to provide a shaded seating area. Additional seating has been installed, some of which is made from recycled materials. An upgraded electrical supply was installed and switched over in February which now provides the college with the electrical capacity it currently needs, there is little room for expansion. The planned extensions would have to be fed from a new supply, at significant additional cost After the completion of the extension, the North half of the playground was re-surfaced; the remainder of the playground will be re-surfaced during the summer break as it is now showing signs of wear. Utilising our own Site team and a contractor, a significant part of the college has been re-furbished or re-decorated, including the Drama studio, the upper floor of A block and the corridors in B block. The LA have sponsored an outdoor catering kiosk, which has relieved pressure in the dining room and provided an alternative sales point. During the summer this will be a useful addition for sales near the field. The Eco group have also been provided with growing beds, again made from recycled materials and a composter to grow vegetables.
During the year, two groups of Governors have carried out Health and Safety walks around the college site and any issues found have been addressed. I am pleased to report that there have been no notifiable or dangerous incidents or occurrences this year.
EDUCATION VISITS
The number and variety of educational visits continues to increase. When the visit is residential, hazardous or abroad approval is needed from the LA, with time constraints imposed. As a monitoring exercise in my role as Educational Visits Co-ordinator I was one of the staff who took 40 KS3 pupils to the European space camp in Belgium. There have been no notifiable or dangerous incidents or occurrences this year during education visits.
Mr G Marsh, Business Manager
- 1 - PASTORAL CARE TEAM
The Pastoral Care team consists of our five Pastoral Leaders (Year 7 - Mr Bligh, Year 8 - Miss Easton, Year 9 - Mr Doherty, Year 10 - Mrs Bligh, Year 11 - Mr Calladine-Evans), the Principal (Miss Cronin), the Learning Support Manager (Mrs Clifford), Teaching Assistant Co-ordinator (Mrs Kelly), the School Nurse (Jane Elwood), the Parent Support Adviser (Becky Ross) and Targeted Youth Support (Jackie Taberer).
The team meets termly to discuss a range of pastoral care issues such as attendance, behaviour, anti-bullying, emotional health and the Three Year Improvement Plan. A large proportion of each meeting involves discussion of the pupils in our care. All Pastoral Leaders are line-managed by a member of the LMT team and are in daily contact.
Essentially, the aim of the team is to meet the needs of all the pupils in line with the College Mission Statement and we are supported in our work by the Chaplaincy team, Attendance Officer, School Counsellor, School Nurse, Young Carers, the Substance Misuse Service and a range of other services which we buy into when required. Over the past academic year, workshops have been organised on bereavement and loss, homophobia, anti-bullying strategies, Young Carers, domestic violence and drug awareness.
Each Pastoral Leader is responsible for: providing support to his/her tutors; helping to build up a year identity; organising fundraising activities; overseeing the spiritual, academic and social welfare of the pupils in his/her year group; organising liturgies and assemblies, and leading the PSHEe/Citizenship programme.
Objectives for 2011-2012 in line with College Improvement Plan and Progress
Pupil voice strengthened - Pastoral Leaders have met more regularly with their year groups as have TA Co-ordinators. The School Council has organised themselves into committees and have received quicker feedback in relation to their queries. Online surveys have been introduced to explore options for year 9 and a year 10/11 revision survey to influence revision sessions with parents. In-house Support Services - we have continued to employ a Counsellor part-time and this year we have employed a Behaviour Consultant for one day a week. Targeted Youth Support have allocated hours to the school as has the Nursing Service. The Pastoral Care team were trained in the use of the Anti-bullying toolkit. Lack of a Lay Chaplain has had an impact. Development of pupil leadership opportunities - there is still a great deal of work to do in this area though the Student Listeners have been more effective this year. We monitor membership of pupil leadership groups to ensure there is representation from vulnerable groups. PSHEe and the Pastoral Care team were joined together successfully and were led by Mrs Bligh until April 2012. The Principal will cover the team in Mrs Bligh‟s absence with each Pastoral Leader looking after PSHEe. Use of SIMs - again, there is still work to be done but the team are making greater use of SIMs to track details on pupils. Increase the percentage of pupils accessing mentoring - this has been achieved by the allocation of members of staff with additional non-contact periods and teaching assistants. The pupils were identified from „working at‟ grades provided by Subject Leaders creating a pool of pupils to mentor, with a focus on under-achievement and emotional health. There have been some workshops for vulnerable groups notably: the TP project, anger management, social use of language, anti-bullying strategies and mediation. Parental involvement/voice has continued to strengthen. There are termly morning and evening meetings which, on the whole, are well-attended. As well as looking at policies (Drugs, Anti-bullying and Friendship, Equality Scheme and Action Plan) and school/life issues they have contributed to the re-design of the interim reports. An increase in pupil awareness of how to react in unsafe situations is covered in PSHEe and presentations such as Crimestoppers, The Challenge Team and greater links with the Schools Police Liaison Officer, Sarah Ellis. DATE audit recommendations implemented. Drugs Evening organised - Drugs policy revised and a pupil version written. Improvements to PSHEe programme of study introduced and ongoing. Pupil Focus groups used to design pupil policy for drugs awareness; they also contributed to the updating of the anti-bullying and friendship policy.
- 2 - SC-E revised the study skills/revision materials for use in KS4 - this appears to have been well- received. A parental workshop was organised too. All materials were introduced as a blog to appeal to the pupils.
Objectives for 2012-2013
Use the skills of individual staff to increase pastoral support on offer to pupils. To continue to strengthen parental involvement/voice through use of surveys and e-surveys. To increase the profile of Year Councils, Prefects and Student Listeners. To lead staff in use of SIMs to monitor behaviour, rewards and sanctions. To increase the percentage of pupils able to access mentoring in all year groups and to set up a monitoring system to ensure its effectiveness. To improve transition across all years. To revisit behaviour systems and introduce change where needed. To review rewards systems across the school and introduce change. To increase pupil awareness of how to react in unsafe situations with a focus on e-safety.
PSHEe Objectives 2012-2013
More attention to be given to topics such as eating disorders/self-harm. To strengthen transition arrangements between KS4 and KS5 through a partnership project. To carry out an audit of PSHEe topics in line with RE and science. To explore alternatives to the „Learn to Learn‟ programme. To set up an annual circle time programme for new year 7 tutors. To continue to develop programmes and resources related to DATE. Differentiation of materials/resources to be developed throughout both Key Stages. The „Be the Best You Can Be‟ programme to be developed further. Profile of pupil focus groups for PSHEe to be developed so that they play a key role in the planning and reviewing of PSHEe.
Miss D Cronin Pastoral Care Team
- 3 - PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Overview of the year
The Personal and Professional Development team has focused this year on teaching and learning and literacy. To this end, we have been learning from each other in meetings, briefings and inset in-house, collaboratively through partnerships and through contributing to programmes that we are involved in such as the Improving Teacher Programme. The trial of learning 3 sets from last year has been rolled out across the whole staff and was completed in April of this year.
Objectives for 2011-2012 1. To focus CPD activities on teaching and learning, investigating new technologies to enable effective development. 2. To trial and develop the Outstanding Teacher Programme. 3. To strengthen links between CPD activities and pupil impact. 4. To continue to develop ICT skills to improve outcomes for our pupils.
Achievement 1. Every opportunity has been taken to share teaching and learning opportunities: at meetings, inset days, in-house sessions, external inset, learning 3 sets. 2. Two members of LMT undertook the facilitators programme for the Improving Teachers and Outstanding Teachers programmes. They have facilitated a joint programme with partnership schools to deliver training for other staff and have used their learning in house at each level of the school: staff, subject leaders and governors. We aim to use some of our capacity building grant from the DfE to facilitate the programme further. 3. With a focus on Teaching and Learning and progress in lessons, links between cpd activities and pupil impact are much more closely embedded for instance T&L and literacy tips in morning briefings. 4. ICT learning has continued with staff increasingly confident in providing resources and support for pupils through ICT.
Overview The team, along with the leadership team, has continued its focus on providing more whole school staff learning opportunities through team meetings, staff meetings and inset time. Considerable resources have been allocated to high quality inset days which have been attended by both our own and staff from other schools too.
In Service Training Days 2011/12 September: College Review and Preparation. Performance Management Review and Target Setting. Alastair Smith – „Beyond Outstanding‟ January: Whole staff inset on „Working in a Catholic School‟ – David Wells. April: Moderation Day. July: Planning Day.
External Inset (increasingly courses impact on more than one strategy)
92% (includes 30% impacting on Strategy A, B & D) - creating a high expectation and success culture 5% - Strategy B - developing breadth and depth of leadership. 6% - Strategy C - to enhance the principles and practice of our Christian community. 4% - Strategy D - to develop an inclusive and sustainable community.
Objectives for 2012-2013
1. To use our grant from NCSL to build capacity towards applying for Teaching School status. 2. To strengthen and develop our cpd focus on Teaching and Learning and pupil progress. 3. To develop a St Richard‟s Outstanding Teacher Programme. 4. To further develop ICT skills to improve outcomes for our pupils. 5. To continue to build leadership capacity throughout the staff.
Mrs J Calladine-Evans Personal and Professional Development Team
- 4 - SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
The SEN Department includes Mrs Julie Leggatt (SENCO), Teresa Clifford (Learning Support Manager), five Learning Support Co-ordinators: Moira Kelly, Nikki Campbell, Tracy Eaton, Karen Park and Kathryn Lea-White. There are six full-time teaching assistants: Brenda Kent, Heather Douglin, Cecilia Hubbard, Anouschka Hood, Wendy Gill and Susannah Carter, with two part-time teaching assistants: Janie Manning and Rachel Cotterill.
Objectives for 2011/12
1. To firmly embed provision mapping within all year groups and use to track pupil progress and review provision of support for individuals and groups 2. To use existing Pupil Profiles to analyse progress of pupils in vulnerable groups 3. To establish ‘Structured Conversations’ with parents twice yearly to contribute to the review of progress and provision 4. To further develop the programme of intervention strategies for pupils with weak literacy skills 5. To extend Pupil Voice to include all vulnerable groups
What we have achieved
1. Dyslexia Friendly Status achieved via the English Department. 2. Introduction of Lexia Reading to pupils with low reading ages. 3. More frequent testing of reading ages established across all year groups to track progress. 4. Closer liaison with the English Department to improve reading and spelling intervention. 5. Implementation of improved literacy programmes provided by the English Department for use when working with small groups of pupils with literacy difficulties. 6. Provision Mapping firmly embedded. 7. Increased use of laptops and IT to assist pupils with literacy/handwriting difficulties to access the curriculum. 8. Structured conversations held in the summer term and will be offered to parents during the coming term. 9. Use of pupil profiles to highlight lack of progress and implement intervention. 10. INSET to TAs on literacy assessment focuses 11. Pupil Voice used with pupils with EAL, those receiving literacy intervention as well as pupils with SEND. 12. Assemblies related to the needs of SEND pupils.
Objectives for 2012/13
1. To explore a more effective use of TAs in the classroom. 2. To re-launch the Equalities Group, involving parents and the wider community. 3. To continue to raise awareness of disabilities among peer groups to support vulnerable groups 4. To embed the enhanced literacy provision, continuing to monitor impact. 5. To provide more INSET to support TAs in developing skills to develop literacy and numeracy across the curriculum
Mrs Teresa Clifford Learning Support Manager
- 5 - SPIRITUALITY TEAM
Objectives 2011 – 2012
1. Develop the Chaplaincy website page with college Liturgical events / news. 2. To plan for training of Eucharistic Ministers for pupils in Year 11. 3. To continue to develop and enhance liturgical music throughout the school – liaison with the Liturgy team, chaplaincy and music department 4. To develop further the range of Justice and Peace campaigns supported by the college. Prioritise different campaigns for different year groups throughout the year 5. Continue to develop community and parish links. Pupils to be encouraged to play a greater role in Parish life where possible. 6. To continue to give opportunities for Pilgrimages / retreats for all year groups. 7. To plan a yearly celebration Mass for those who have made their Confirmation and their parents. 8. To continue to develop Fairtrade awareness across the college and participate and promote campaigns in college, parishes and in the community.
Progress
1. The school diary contains the Gospel readings for each week – these form the focus for the weekly prayers which are given out to staff. These weekly prayers are also displayed on the TV screens around the school. Staff leading assemblies are encouraged to use the weekly Gospel theme. 2. The form services are now masses. Staff have a planning sheet to fill in which helps the priest plan for the mass. 3. Liturgy reps do a number of jobs including the setting up for Friday morning mass. They also write about liturgy events within the school in the school‟s newsletter. 4. Numbers of pupils who are attending Friday morning mass have grown significantly. 5. New members of staff had an INSET on liturgy and were shown the different resources that were available for them to use for their masses. 6. Pilgrimage to Lourdes with year 11 pupils who helped HCPT: the Pilgrimage Trust. 7. Parish Masses in Eastbourne, Hastings and Bexhill. The pupils led the music, readings and drama. 8. Pupils were involved in Youth Gather. 9. Mission Week took place. Pupils were involved in assemblies, workshops, after school activities, confession and personal prayer. 10. The Spiritual Life team have worked on the Chaplaincy website. They have put forward items to go onto the website. 11. The last Monday of each month a Buddhist Nun from Bexhill comes into the school to do meditation with pupils. 12. CAFOD campaigns in the autumn and spring term raised a lot of money and many pupils were involved in them. 13. During Fairtrade fortnight there were activities at the college and a stall selling Fairtrade products. These products are also sold during parents evenings. 14. There was an INSET day on Spirituality led by David Wells attended by all staff. 15. There has been an increase in the number of priests visiting to celebrate mass and hear confession. 16. Youth Chaplaincy Leader, Emily Staffiere, has led morning prayer weekly.
Objectives 2012-2013
1. To plan a retreat for staff. 2. To continue to have high quality services (Advent and Easter services). 3. To have an outline of the mass with an indication of what each part is for tutors to use. 4. To continue to develop the chaplaincy website. 5. To appoint a Lay Chaplain. 6. To organise Eucharistic ministering for year 11. 7. To strengthen liturgical music.
Mrs Mead Spirituality Team
- 6 - SUBJECT LEADERS
New teams were introduced in September 2011 which is when the new Subject Leaders team was created. This report reflects some of the targets set for the original Teaching and Learning team.
The Subject Leaders team comprises all Subject Leaders, LMT, MB (exams), GM (timetabling) and TCL (SEN). Some staff who are second in charge of departments also attend for professional development.
The team will continue to share good practice, look at curriculum design, assessment and marking policies, target setting and tracking of pupils, reports and parent consultation evenings, reflect on feedback from pupils, teachers, parents and Governors and try and plan for changes coming from the DFE. We will plan for and review curriculum events such as Open Evening, Curriculum Evening and Block days.
Objectives for 2011 to 2012
1. Develop the curriculum to take account of the English Baccalaureate. 2. Implement the college based 10 features of outstanding lessons (rewrite this section of departmental SEF). 3. Review and update the departmental SEFs with regard to the new OFSTED framework. Be prepared for OFSTED inspection. 4. Diary to have an indication of when controlled assessments can be expected. 5. Future meetings to focus on increasing use of peer leadership in experimentation, feedback and development of teaching and learning. 6. Coordinated programme of revision skills development and scheduled subject-based revision sessions. 7. Inclusion of Literacy in departmental SEFs. 8. Targets set centrally using FFT D and FFT +1 and to keep targets up to date using data capture points.
What has been achieved:
1. The curriculum provision for 2012 to 2013 has increased the take up of MFL. 2. The 10 features of outstanding lessons are incorporated in departmental SEFs. 3. Literacy targets are written into all departmental SEFs. 4. Data capture points are in the diary but have not yet been acted upon by all departments. 5. OTP has been delivered in Subject Leader meetings. 6. Controlled assessments are shown in the diary. 7. A fully co-ordinated revision schedule has not been successfully implemented. It has been difficult to co-ordinate the considerable programme of extra revision sessions put on by all departments. 8. Year 7 settling-in reports have been updated to have a common format in line with the other summative reports. All subjects now use the same layout.
Objectives for 2012 to 2013:
1. New Interim reports to be implemented which utilise SIMs. 2. Update of the profiles (plus, tick, minus) to use SIMs. 3. Set aspirational targets and review methods of tracking and helping pupils achieve their targets. 4. Improve tracking and intervention for vulnerable groups, particularly disadvantaged pupils (FSM and CLA). 5. Continue preparation for OFSTED inspection by monitoring lesson observations 6. Implement the new Appraisal process. 7. Review the use of Block Days. 8. Review the monitoring programme especially work scrutiny to observe evidence of progress by pupils in their work. 9. Improve data capture points by reviewing the timings and follow up by Subject Leaders.
Mr Clark Subject Leaders Team
- 7 - SUSTAINABLE SCHOOLS
The team consists of the following members: S Calladine-Evans (chair), T Stickland, J Durkin, P Avery, L Williams, C Halligan, S Heseltine, S. Weakley, S. Curtis, F Nicholls and I Fairbrass. The team works in collaboration with the pupil Eco Rep team.
Objectives for 2011 to 2012
• To recycle food waste from the canteen. • Solar panels to produce electricity sufficient for one ICT suite. • To have a Climate Awareness theme in each term. • To reduce energy consumption by 10%. • To increase bicycle usage by 30%.
What progress have we made?
• A wormery and compost bin have been installed on-site. This consumes the non-cooked food waste from the staffroom and Food Tec room. • Chartwells now recycle all non-cooked food waste. This is currently performed off-site but, with the introduction of the wormery and compost bins some of the waste will be recycled on-site. • Go Low days have continued to be a feature of the school diary. An energy use survey was conducted by Eco-reps, the conclusion of which was that a significant percentage of electrical appliances were being left on or on stand-by overnight. • Solar panels proved to be unfeasible due to costs resulting from a change in government subsidy policy. • A team of Eco reps, led by Mr Stickland, won the Highly Commended award from Bexhill Achievers for their beach cleaning activities. • Year 7 have worked with Mr Avery to raise money to sponsor endangered animals. • A recycling club has been established by Mrs Nicholls and Mrs Williams. In its first meeting the club recycled Christmas and birthday cards to create present pockets. • The benching in front of the A block extension uses recycled plastics. • Eco reps (with assistance from Doctor Durkin, Mr Stickland, Mr Curtis and Mr Calladine-Evans) worked with Bexhill Environmental Group to plant twelve apple trees on-site (traditional hardy varieties). • Eco reps (with assistance from Doctor Durkin, Mr Stickland, Mr Curtis and Mr Calladine-Evans) have installed three raised vegetable beds and started food production on-site. • Eco Reps and other pupils had the opportunity to visit the Eden Project on a residential trip. Thanks to Doctor Durkin and Mr Weakley for organising and leading this trip. • Thomas Trainor (lead pupil for Eco Reps) gave a presentation to the Deanery meeting (priests, Primary Heads and Governors).
Objectives for 2012 to 2013
• To reduce the energy costs of the college by 10%. • To incorporate Eco themes in the school curriculum. • To have a three crop cycle for the raised beds. • To have all electrical appliances shut down by 6:00pm each evening where this is safe to do. • To raise awareness of seasonal and local food choices.
Mr Calladine-Evans Sustainable Schools Team
- 8 - TEACHING AND LEARNING TEAM
The Teaching and Learning team is a new team following the reintroduction of Subject Leaders Meetings (formally called Teaching and Learning).
The team consists of Mrs Andrews (Link Governor), Mr Beaumont (Maths), Mr Byrne (RE), Mrs Byrne (Science), Mrs Campbell (Humanities), Ms Cook (ICT), Mr Gallivan (Maths), Mr Holloway (Science), Mrs Leggatt (English), Miss Machin (Maths), Mr Peachment (Art), Mrs Robertson (Technology), Mr Tadros (Science), Mr Varney (PE), Mrs Vanvuchelen (RE), Mrs Wood (English).
The team‟s core purpose is to improve the quality of Teaching and Learning across the college by reviewing current practice, sharing good practice and experimenting with new and innovative teaching strategies and interventions.
Objectives and Progress for 2011 to 2012
1. Evaluate St Richard‟s 10 Outstanding Features of a Lesson. A simplified version of the St Richard‟s 10 has been produced for each classroom. 2. Experiment with different mediums that promote team work and develop other Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS). Members of the team have trialled online software that identifies optimum team roles in light of personal strengths and weakness. This is now to be trialled in other departments. 3. Evaluate the extent to which the curriculum promotes independent learning skills. Pupil independence is a major challenge for all schools, including St Richard‟s. Members of the team experimented with different strategies that promote independence. One example from RE involved a whole unit of work being completed online. During this, pupils decided both the success criteria and the format of their presentation. 4. Review Learn to Learn programme - it is recognised that significant parts of the Learn to Learn programme are either inappropriate or covered in a more effective way elsewhere. This programme will be streamlined and the Pupil Profiler will be dropped. 5. Develop strategies that promote pupil engagement and active learning. The team acknowledges that some learners are passive and fail to engage fully in lessons. This is a bigger challenge for non-practical subjects. Different ideas and strategies were shared and are being trialled in departments. 6. Develop the use of ICT in lessons - the team completed an initial audit produced by SCo (Subject Leader for ICT), SCo has also demonstrated several new technologies that can be used by teachers e.g. prezi, wikis, and online podcasts. 7. Review the quality of pupil voice at St Richard‟s - there are some pockets of excellence in this field but a lack of consistency across departments. The team acknowledges that there is further work to do in this area and this will be carried over into next year. 8. Develop the quality and variety of plenaries used across the college - a plenary booklet has been created for all staff that has instructions for 30 different plenaries that can be adapted for all subjects. 9. Share good practice from our own teaching - during each meeting there is time for staff to share good practice from their own teaching. These ideas are then fed back into the next department meeting. Team members also share bite-size practice in morning briefings (butterfly inset).
Objectives for 2012 to 2013
1. Further develop St Richard‟s 10 Outstanding Features of a Lesson in a way that they influence lesson planning and scheme of work development in all departments. 2. Continue to explore strategies that challenge passivity and promote pupil engagement. 3. Explore how new technologies can impact positively on pupil learning. 4. Improve the quality of starters that are used across the college. 5. Develop the use of AfL across all subjects, implementing the feedback from Consultant, Helen Howard‟s visit. 6. Develop a consistent and effective model of pupil voice that is used by all departments. 7. Improve the quality of questioning that takes place in lessons. 8. Develop strategies that promote thinking skills in all subjects.
- 9 - 9. Across departments, develop and share intervention strategies that are effective with C/D borderline pupils. 10. Continue to share good practice. 11. Develop a Teaching and Learning website that can be used to share good practice, provide resources, and develop staff.
Mr Byrne Teaching and Learning Team
- 10 - SCIENCE SPECIALIST STATUS
Overview We have now almost completed our eighth year as a Specialist Science College. In June 2010 we went through the full re-designation process and successfully re-designated as a High Performing Specialist Science College in July 2010 (re-designation report available from GC). There is now no re-designation process so our status will remain without having to reapply.
The results relating to our last year (GCSE in 2011) are again high and are the best in the LA. Science and Maths results match the best in the college.
Capital spend No capital projects were undertaken this year.
Pupil progression targets The college has had its seventh year in a row since becoming a Specialist Science College with results that are the best in the LA (although in our eighth year, we have only had 7 years of actual results). The target was 89% and the whole school result was 92% so the target was exceeded again this year. 83% of pupils achieving 5 or more GCSEs at C or above including Maths and English was very high this year (2011) and above the high target of 79%. The value added scores for KS2 to KS4 for this year (2011) is high at 1019 and puts us within the top 17% of all schools in the country. The college is again a member of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust “70% Club” and its “60% club (inc English and Maths). The Maths department had another excellent year for GCSE results: Maths 87% A* to C. Maths also delivered the highest % of pupils achieving 3 levels of progress from KS2 to KS4 at 95%. Science delivered 90% of pupils achieving at least 2 GCSEs at C or above. This is a new Government benchmark and is the third time it has been published.
Science College Ethos Displays around the college continue to have a science and maths theme. More technological themes in some assemblies are still in evidence. Mr Beaumont from the Maths department is leading G and T activities in the college and has been instrumental in working with local Secondary Schools to help them with G&T activities. Almost 100 pupils in years 7 and 8 volunteered to participate in the 2012 Maths challenge. We look forward to receiving their results.
Since the last report science has had 2 lunchtime clubs running. Science Club for Year 7 pupils run by Mr Holloway and Fab Fizzix run by Year 10s and for Year 8s. Various pupils have also been involved with the StRATOS project which was successfully launched and recovered in May. We have had a number of pupils from Astronomy attending the ESAS regular meetings with one of our Year 7 pupils giving them a presentation on Space Camp. As part of Astronomy GCSE we have a subscription to the Bradford Robotic Telescope in the Canary Islands which is a brilliant resource and has been well utilised.
Dr Durkin has been attending STEM advisory Group Meetings at University of Brighton on behalf of the school and Mrs Jones (Lab Tech) and Dr Durkin have been involved in Physics & Astronomy Twilight training sessions at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys and Charterhouse (Stimulating Physics programme).
There have been a number of trips and activities since the last Governors report which are listed below:
Master classes for Key Stage 3 and 4 in Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Astronomy G&T alternative homework – presentations to class with exemplary pupils being rewarded with a „Speaker Slot‟ at the Tea Party (all G&T parents/carers, LMT and pupils invited). G&T Tea Party for Celebration of work Year 8 & 9 Daytrip to University of Brighton‟s STEM launch Year 10 Daytrip to University of Sussex Particle Physics Masterclass Year 7 Block Day to Greenwich Observatory Trip to Institute of Mechanical Engineers talk on „Bloodhound‟ at University of Brighton Herstmonceux Twilight Supper and Observing evening
- 11 - Trip to „Night of a Billion Stars‟ – professor Brian Cox 6 monthly Institute of Physics‟ talks at the University of Sussex Stargazing Live Evening (hosting East Sussex Astronomical Society) Science and RE day trip to Chichester and South Downs Planetarium Science Week Activities: o Wicked Wednesday (Inflatable planetarium, rockets & IR imaging with Sports Science Year 10 pupils) and a Special Science Supper supported by Year 10 Student Listeners o Potions Day for all of Year 7 and 8 (themed enhancement activities with practical focus) o Freaky Friday (120 pupils from 8 primaries and 3 secondaries and 2 special schools for a morning of practicals with Institute of Physics Lecture 2011 from Dr. M. Wilson delivered to our Year 10s and guests) o Science Teacher Outreach trips to primary schools STEM Science in Antweight robot challenge (Year 7 & 8 G&T) Space Camp 2012 – 4 day residential Trip to Belgium Ethical Eden 2012 – Weekend Residential trip with RE and Sustainable Schools. Dr Darren Baskill of University of Sussex Outreach for Year 9 G&T (Astronomy Taster Day)
Forthcoming in Term 6: Big Bang South East (STEMfest in Crawley) (Year 7&8) July 2012 Future‟s Day at Farnborough Air Show (Years 9 & 10) July 2012 Day Trip to London Aquarium
Planned for 2013: Institute of Physics‟ talks at the University of Sussex ESAS Schools membership and monthly meetings Year 7 Block Day to Greenwich Observatory CAT Camp (residential trip to Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales with Sustainable Schools) Herstmonceux Twilight Supper and Observing evening Stargazing Live Evening Science and RE day trip to Chichester and South Downs Planetarium Science Week Activities (15th – 24th March 2013) CERN Trip (residential trip to Geneva)
Community
Maths teachers have made visits to our feeder primary schools and delivered a variety of mathematical activities. These include investigations and advice to staff for boosting pupil performance. Recently they have visited St Peter and St Paul Primary to support 4 year 6 pupils who are taking the level 6 Sats paper.
Mr Beaumont has been running a lunchtime A Level taster class to give pupils a good foundation in maths at KS5
Year 10 pupils who wish to study A Level maths at Bexhill College will attend enrichment classes at the college from October 2012 onwards to enable them to get a taster of what A Level maths is like and also listen to advice from teachers there about independent study and skills required
The links to partner primary schools has grown stronger. Once again, members of the science department went out to primary schools and special schools in Science week. There is also a regular link with Glyne Gap Special School.
National Science week has become the main vehicle for working with our partner schools. This year‟s had the theme of Harry Potter. Over 1000 pupils in all the local schools were actively involved in science projects over the week. Despite there being no funding from the EBP, it was again described as the best ever.
During the week, science and PE came together and used a science ambassador to help PE pupils do investigations in fitness.
There were evening activities open to other schools and parents to take part in a “moon watch”.
- 12 - The work done during these weeks has won an award, and is reported by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust on their website.
Of particular note is the work done with St Mary‟s Special School and Glyne Gap Special school.
Wider community links/Business Links
Links to businesses and cross-curricular projects continue through the Lions Peace Poster competition and the Stem Pirates Project.
Further links to businesses are being made through Leisure and Tourism. The annual convention of employers giving interviews and involving themselves in the Work Experience training (which came via the links set up with the science status) was the largest and most successful ever with 58 employers taking part. The feedback from pupils and employers was very positive. This year we will link up with Bexhill College to do the year 10 Leadership training day.
Buckswood school has again joined us for the Science Week activities.
There is an Interact Club that links with the Rotary club with pupils doing commerce related activities.
The Science and Maths departments have increased their number of trainee teacher placements from universities. The number of pupils going to the colleges to take Maths and Science A level courses has risen. According to the Local Authority‟s own figures, St Richard's has the highest percentage (at 92%) of pupils continuing in education post 16.
St Richard‟s continues to play a pivotal role in the Hastings and Rother Partnership and the Bexhill Consortium.
Teaching and learning
The Performance Management system along with self-evaluation has this year enabled us to quantify the percentage of excellent, good, satisfactory or poor lessons. For the eighth year of the status, 98% of lessons were good or better.
Way Forward
Due to the changes in end of Key Stage Assessment introduced by the DFE where the whole course has to be examined at the end of the Key Stage, the science department has been innovative with a curriculum plan which stops pupils doing Physics, Chemistry and Biology having to do all examinations at the end of KS4. All pupils will take Core science at the end of year ten and pupils at A and A* can then follow the separate sciences; most will follow the Additional Science and therefore sit fewer examinations at the end of year 11. The plan also discourages year 8 perceiving the year as a 'coasting' year as they begin their GCSE in year 9. It allows pupils to take separate sciences (reflecting parental wishes and DFE guidance), Astronomy is now taught to one group with plans for two groups in September 2012.
Mr G Clark Science Specialist Status Co-ordinator
GIFTED AND TALENTED ACTIVITIES
The college has had an extremely successful year progressing Gifted and Talented Education, especially with regards to extending our outreach work. There have been numerous extra-curricular activities:
Art Extended activities in class G&T year 9 pupils working with designated Fine Art teacher on GCSE material
Dance „Time to Dance‟ performances at the Phoenix Arts Centre and White Rock theatre
- 13 - Dance clubs for Key Stage 3 and 4 Joint Primary / Secondary dance venture Dances for services and masses
Drama Weekly drama Clubs for Yrs 7,8,9 Expressive Arts Event in summer term Theatre visits Theatre workshop for advanced pupils Autumn term production Shakespeare Schools project performance in October 2012
English Public Speaking competition Newsday with the BBC GCSE Poetry live (was open to all doing Literature) 1066 Schools Book Award Southern Schools Book Award Carnegie Shadowing Group Film Club Media Club
Humanities History - Berlin Trip Year 10 who went on GCSE Geography Swanage trip are preparing revision session for the rest of the cohort.
ICT Early entry OCR Nationals - year 9 Computer programming club
Mathematics UK Maths Challenge – Junior UK Maths Challenge – Intermediate G&T Booklets being used for more able pupils „Extension Maths‟ books specifically designed for G&T pupils in KS3 and year 10 Increased use of NRich resources (Univeristy of Cambridge Maths Education Department) for developing problem solving skills Bridging Unit for pupils taking AS Maths at 6th form college – year 11 Booster classes for year 11 G&T pupils AS Level Transition booklet from Bexhill College KS4/5 Transition project: enrichment programme, closer tracking of pupils taking AS Maths, improved sharing of pupils‟ strengths and weaknesses. Forthcoming: Enrichment programme for KS4 at Bexhill College every Wednesday after school Forthcoming: closer links with ICT department to develop use of Autograph software to develop G&T pupils‟ understanding of graphing software
MFL Early Portuguese Early German (4 pupils) Double option group After school coaching G&T trip to Park college (year 10 re A Level) Collaborative work with Bexhill College – our pupils (year 10) going to the college and using their facilities (language lab etc.) and their students coming here to work with ours. To be tried with KS3 pupils next year. Early Polish Early Russian Early Dutch
- 14 - Early Tagalog Early Arabic Early French
Music Orchestra Upper & Lower choirs KS 3 & 4 Music Showcases Summer Sing „Rock School‟ sessions after school each week (New venture from Term 6 this year – run by East Sussex Music Services) String Orchestra Regular opportunities to support the music for Liturgies
PE County G&T Enrichment programme Be The Best You Can Be Cross Country Academy Junior Sports Leadership ( 100+ pupils) 10 pupils awarded Sports Development Grants by ESCC. Year 7 PE enrichment day at Brighton University Year 9 PE enrichment day at Brighton University Year 11 PE enrichment day at Brighton University CAFOD Great Generation Leadership Day at St Mary‟s University
Science Master classes for Key Stage 3 and 4 in Chemistry, Biology and Physics G&T alternative homework – presentations to class with exemplary pupils being rewarded with a „Speaker Slot‟ at the Tea Party (all G&T parents/carers, LMT and pupils invited). Young Investigators - year 7 Fab Fizzics lunchtime club run by Year 10 pupils for Year 8 Herstmonceux Twilight Supper and Observing evening Daytrip to London Zoo Daytrip to University of Brighton‟s STEM Daytrip to University of Sussex Particle Physics Masterclass 6 Institute of Physics‟ talks at the University of Sussex IR imaging with Sports Science Year 10 pupils Trip to „Night of a Billion Stars‟ – professor Brian Cox STEM Science in Antweight robot challenge Space Camp 2012 – residential Trip to Belgium Stargazing Live Evening Science Week Activities – Wicked Wednesday (Inflatable planetarium, rockets make and launch) Guest Speaker Dr. Michael Wilson giving Institute of Physics „From X-Rays to Anti-matter‟ ESAS membership Dr Darren Baskill of University of Sussex Outreach for Year 9 G&T (Astronomy) Science and RE day trip to Chichester and South Downs Planetarium Ethical Eden Trip – residential trip to Cornwall (Science, RE and Sustainable Schools) Forthcoming this term: Big Bang South East (STEMfest in Crawley) Future‟s Day at Farnborough Air Show G&T Tea Party Day Trip to London Aquarium STRATOS Project (ST Richard‟s Adventure To Observe Space)
RE Various presentations delivered at Great Debate Wonersh Seminary Essay competition on The Bible
- 15 - Year 10 produce lessons to be used across Key Stages RE writing competitions on moral issues Gifted and Talented trip to a Mosque, Hindu temple and Sikh Gurdwara The G&T Summer Philosophy Conference
Technology Weekly Technology Club. Pupil led lessons in Product Design – Graphics After-school support sessions
Developments for forthcoming academic year
There will be an increased focus on STEM work within the college. This will involve collaboration between Science, Technology and Mathematics. We aim to develop cross curricular projects that will inspire pupils through enrichment and also let them see how Mathematics is used for practical reasons.
Mathematics and Science will be used as focus departments for Gifted and Talented practice to enhance practice across all subjects.
I will be looking to ensure that departments review their Gifted and Talented registers and provision in term six rather than the beginning of the academic year.
Mr Beaumont
ENTERPRISE
During this year we have run a number of Enterprise Competitions and projects. The fairtrade stall has been expanded and ran for two weeks before Christmas as a lunch time stall with Christmas gifts and cards. It did very well - especially at parents evening. A stall was also run during Fairtrade fortnight. The stall managers ran a fairtrade Easter raffle before the Easter break.
Year 9 took part in an Enterprise day in September which was extremely successful. The year 9 pupils and teachers gave very positive feedback and enjoyed their day.
Years 8 and 9 are currently taking part in an Enterprise charity challenge to turn £10 into £100. They will have to write a report at the end of the task and the winning form in each Year group will be the form who has raised the most money in the most enterprising way. They will win the Enterprise cup and some chocolates for their form group.
There was a school wide competition called the Snack Attack Competition where pupils had to create a fairtrade snack and design the packaging and a marketing campaign. The winning group and the runners up were both groups from Year 10 and the winners entry was entered into the national competition. Unfortunately, we were not placed but the in-school winners won £5 WHSmith vouchers each and the runners up a large bar of chocolate each.
Mrs Forster-Simmons
WORK EXPERIENCE
Work experience is now run by East Sussex County Council who charge the schools for taking part. It was decided to continue with the experience as work experience is a valuable part of a young person‟s development whilst in school, and that the pupils tend to come back more grown up and with a positive attitude towards work.
The preparation for work experience begins in October with pupils picking three possible placement choices from the online Veryan database of employers provided by East Sussex County Council. With over 200 pupils to place this is a significant challenge and we are always looking for high quality placements that will stretch our pupils. Some pupils find their own placements which then need to be approved by the East Sussex County Council on Health and Safety grounds. Whilst this process continues, the pupils begin to prepare for their placement week through their PSHEe lessons. The final preparations occur one month before their placement in the form of a morning of activities. This year this
- 16 - took place on the 29th May. Along with writing their Curriculum Vitae and letter of application to their employers each pupil took part in an interview. The interviews were conducted by local employers and members of the Rotary club who provided feedback to the pupils including tips and advice for the future. This year‟s event was very successful with over 50 employers taking part.
Work Experience will take place from 25th to 29th June. It was decided to move the work experience week as we felt that the month of May, when work experience used to take place, was too busy in terms of exams and controlled assessments.
Miss Thomas
COMMUNITY LINKS AND CHARITY WORK
During the past academic year, our pupils have once again demonstrated their care and consideration towards their fellow man. Both pupils and staff respond enthusiastically to the needs of the community, whether it be on a local, national or international level.
Whole School Projects
Mufti Day - October 2011
A regular request of the School Council is to have a Mufti Day. This helped us raise nearly £1,000 which was donated to the following projects:
Chestnut Tree House £300 Child Reach International £100 Guide Association International £100 Global Volunteer Projects £100 Guide Association International £210.00 Family in Crisis £200.00
Let the Children Live
At the end of September we had a leaving mass for Father Chris. The collection at the end and some fundraising in the days to follow raised £409.28 for Let the Children Live.
Sponsored Walk for Youth Gather - October 2011
A small group of pupils participated in this but between them they managed to raise £672.50 for Diocesan charities.
CAFOD: Harvest Appeal - Aim Higher Dodgeball tournament
During term 2, pupils were set the challenge of raising £30 per form as an entry fee to a whole school Dodgeball tournament for the CAFOD campaign „Aim High‟. Each form was encouraged to enter a mixed team of 5 pupils. The forms were only allowed to submit a team once the £30 had been raised through a fundraising event. The tournament was a great success and created a lot of buzz around the school giving the CAFOD campaign great exposure throughout the term. The pupils raised £877.00 with 9T being the biggest fundraisers and 10S winning the whole school tournament. Certificates and prizes were given out to the winning form in each year group; the overall winners of the tournament and to the form who had raised the most money as a reward for their efforts.
Remembrance Appeal - November 2011
Loose change collections over a seven day period netted over £300 for the British Legion.
Love in a Box Appeal - November 2011
Pupils were once again extremely generous in their support of this campaign which provides gifts for children who would be unlikely to get one otherwise. Over two hundred and fifty boxes of love were collected along with £600: our best total to date.
- 17 -
Community Carol-Singing
Our pupils always enjoy the opportunity to visit local Residential Homes for the Elderly to sing a range of carols - this year was no exception. In the week before Christmas, members of the local community and parishes were invited to St Richard's for an afternoon of Christmas Carols. The Interact Club members provided and served the refreshments of tea and mince pies.
Surviving Christmas - December 2011
For many, many years St Richard's has raised money and food hampers in support of 'Surviving Christmas'. This year, the pupils once again exceeded their usual generosity by providing a record number of hampers filled with Christmas fayre and a staggering amount of boxes filled with gloves, coats, scarves, socks, toys and games.
£1,333.09 was also donated to help needy families. The organisers were absolutely delighted with the college's contributions calling our pupils 'champion fundraisers' once again.
CAFOD World Gifts
Once again, CAFOD World Gifts was supported by some forms who gave the money they would have spent on Christmas cards to World Gifts.
Collection of Used Christmas Cards - January 2012
We have been recycling Christmas cards to raise funds for local charities for the past fourteen years. Each year, the number collected rises and this year was no exception.
Collection of Used Stamps
For the eleventh year running we have been collecting used stamps for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
End Polio Now Campaign
Interact club members sold flower badges and donuts for one week to raise awareness of the End Polio Now campaign. A total of £284.63 was raised.
CAFOD Lent Appeal - Thirst for Change
Thirst for Change Water Walk - this was a very successful event. Pupils were encouraged to raise £10 in sponsorship money in order to gain a place on the walk. Each form was encouraged to have a minimum of 5 pupils per form. The water walk took place along Bexhill seafront. The aim of the walk was three fold: 1) get the pupils to think about the difficulties of transporting water over a long distance; 2) to highlight the poor quality of water that those in developing countries collected and 3) to raise awareness to the general public who witnessed the water walk to the plight of villages in remote parts of developing countries.
The pupils walked 3 miles along Bexhill seafront led by the CAFOD and St Richard‟s banners. Each pupil held 2 litres of sea water which they had collected at the beginning of the walk. The walk began with a prayer and ended with the pupils reflecting on the difficulties they had faced along the walk. It was a humbling experience for all involved.
The pupils showed excellent support of this event with over 100 pupils taking part. The pupils raised a staggering £2073.82.
A whole school mufti day was also organised alongside other events such as cake sales sponsored runs, silences, sale of textiles goods, jellybean competitions and loose change collections from which £1131.72 and a further £882.51 from a „Wear Something Blue‟ Mufti.
- 18 - In total, the sum of £4495 was raised for the „Thirst for Change‟ campaign. Importantly, the Government pledged to match fund all monies raised during Lent meaning that the pupils‟ fundraising was worth just under £9,000 to CAFOD.
Rotary Club Annual Community Walk
The Interact Club supported the „Rotary Club‟s Annual Community Walk‟. They registered walkers on the day and helped with administration at the starting point of the walk.
Mufti Day
A mufti day in aid of Yellow Day for St Michael‟s Hospice will take place in July.
Miscellaneous Donations
Each year the School Council receive requests from a number of organisations and past pupils to help them in their fundraising. Decisions are made at each Council meeting. The School Council has been able to be particularly generous this year donating to the following causes:
Kilimanjaro Climb £300 St Michael‟s Hospice £50 CRY £100 Colombian Fathers £100
In total, the pupils have raised £10,000 so far this year through whole school projects with more to come from the Year 7 Stay Awake, Lower School Enterprise Challenge and the mufti day for St Michael‟s Hospice. Further funds raised by year groups are listed below.
Other Charitable Works organised by Year Groups
Year 7
The academic Year 2011- 2012 has been a very successful year. The fundraising activities of the year group have been varied and well supported. We once again had a fancy dress disco which raised £100 and was a great way for the pupils to make new friends. This year the stay awake will be held on 29th June and we aim to raise £2000. The monies raised will be donated to The Guide Dogs for The Blind Association and the Year Eleven Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
Year 8
Year 8 have worked very hard this year and have been very generous in their efforts to raise money for charity.
Year group activities in which all tutor groups took part include:
Love in a Box Talent Show Crazy Specs Day organised by 8C Mufti Days CAFOD Thirst for Change campaign fundraising during Lent (a total of £633 was raised)
Tutor group activities:
8C - organised and ran the Crazy Specs Day, charity stock sponging 8O - Sponsored silence 8M - Charity run around the field which raised almost £400 8I - Raffle 8T - CAFOD fundraising 8A - Raised £35 from cake sale. Sponsored silence raised £287.00 8S - Sponsored silence and charity horse ride raised £70
- 19 - We will also be supporting the „Football4Peace‟ charity this year. This is an active-based community relations and reconciliation initiative, involving young people enjoying learning and playing football in non-threatening settings, bringing together Jewish and Arab children. For further details and information please visit www.Football4Peace.com.
The year group will experience a day off timetable in term six to work on a variety of „Be the Best You Can Be‟ activities throughout the day. It is hoped we will raise enough money to send at least one student to Israel with Football4Peace which would be £450.
To date, just over £1,000 has been raised, with hopefully more to come from the Football4Peace fundraising activities.
We are also supporting the CAFOD staff bike ride and the £10 to £100 enterprise challenge.
Thank you to everyone: pupils, parents and carers for their generosity and support this year.
Year 9
Year 9 have taken part in a variety of interesting charity events and they are planning many more soon.
As a year group, there was almost universal support for our usual Crazy Tie Day in January, which raised £140. Our second year event is planned for July.
9C, with Mr Drake, raised £200 for CAFOD with an innovative idea involving pupils raising charity cash to match their success in collecting prize points 9O, with Mr Standen, raised £50 with various charitable events in the first three terms 9M, with Miss Chong, have raised an impressive £238 via an interesting variety of charity events such as a sponsored silence and computer games 9I, with Mrs Robertson, took part in the Thirst for Change walk for CAFOD and led the way on the Crazy Tie day. 9T, with Mr Campbell, have been very active in their charity work. They have raised £370 for the CAFOD Thirst for Change campaign with a cake sale, sponsored walks and by leading the dodgeball tournament. 9A, with Mr Weakley, are currently washing cars in their „Posh Wash‟ charity event. Predictions are that this will raise well over £150. 9S, with Mr Heseltine, are eagerly planning their term 6 shoe-shine event which promises to be a success.
Year 10
Year 10 have been working very hard this year to raise funds for different charities in a range of different ways.
10C - 10C sponsor a child in an orphanage in Siemreap, Cambodia through a cake sale, Easter egg sale, loose change collections and pupil donations 10O - three cake sales to raise funds for Demelza House, CAFOD and St Michael‟s Hospice 10M - participated in whole school events 10I - cake sales, chocolate tombolathon, Summer Fayre activity (Guess the number of bears in the bug) - 10I‟s nominated charity is the Marie Curie Foundation 10T - raised money for Demelza House selling wristbands 10A - participated in whole school events 10S - loose change collection, CAFOD water walk
Year 10 have been actively involved in supporting whole school events with a number of the year group organising cake sales, participating in the Water Walk and loose change collections.
SOS Children remains a favourite charity with loose change collections being made on a regular basis. To date £197.82 has been donated.
The big event for year 10 is organising and hosting the Christmas party for the infant children of Glyne Gap Special School. This is always a memorable event with pupils organising the food; buying suitable
- 20 - presents and organising the party games. It is always well-received and this year was no different with many a smiling face after the event. Year ten fund the whole event themselves.
£55 has been donated to Demelza House.
Year 10 are also heavily involved in running the Fairtrade stall at Parent Evenings.
The focus for term five was organising the PTFA STRUT cup - the college talent show. This raised £332.77.
In total, the fundraising by year 10 amounts to nearly £900.
Year 11
The annual Pink day for year 11 saw all of the year group in school wearing pink ties, shirts, jumpers, hats and scarves. The aim of the day was to raise funds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, a charity who provides material that supports our PSHEe lessons on well-being.
Before the Christmas holidays year 11 pupils created a Christmas grotto, granting wishes and giving out presents.
Year 11 marked St Valentine‟s day with the delivery of specially wrapped chocolates, roses and messages of love. A group of talented year 11 pupils also toured the college singing a selection of corny love songs to the unwitting objects of another‟s love!
Additional funds have also been considerably boosted from the sale of Prom tickets, the leavers hoodies and the year book.
Year 11 Forms have also held individual events, some linked to wider school initiatives: 11O and M Santa‟s grotto. 11M Basketball shootout, £30. Raffle for Japan earthquake, £20. 11I £45 for Ugandan Pen pals through a cake sale and festive bag sale. 11T Fair Trade hamper raffle carried out by Jade, Maddie and Jemima, raising £40.00 which went to Cafod. Guess the number of sweets in the jar by Emily, Mary, Cyril, Sarah, Sophie, Luce and Janine and Anna, raising £20.00 which went to Cafod. Walk for water supported by a number of pupils, we raised the most in year 11 for this cause, £160.00. 11A Music gig - £100, Lourdes Sport relief mile - £113 Cake sale - £300, Lourdes Heart mascot - £290, British Heart Foundation Sponsored walk - £135, Lourdes 11S Co-ordinating the staff sponsored bike ride for Cafod and Fairtrade - £200.
LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
As well as participating in Community Links Projects, our pupils have many opportunities during the school year to try something 'new' or extend their talents in some way.
Daily, there is a wide choice of extra-curricular clubs ranging from sporting activities, drama, art, chess, computing, orchestra, choir, Young Engineers, Young Investigators to extra study support classes in most subjects. We have an Eco-School Club, a Liturgy Council, an Interact Club, a Sports Council and a School Council which meets monthly.
Outlined are just a sample of the activities that have taken place since the 2011 Report.
- 21 - Technology Club
This year‟s take-up has predominately been Upper School pupils who have been working on their GCSE projects. We have seen a huge increase in GCSE pupils attending which is very encouraging and shows commitment to their studies. Lower School pupils often attend to finish off classwork and enjoy the social side as well as the chance to catch up with work. We have been fortunate enough this year to have our technician, Mr Steadman, joining us and he has used his considerable skills to greatly improve the standards of the pupils work, this has been of great benefit to our GCSE pupils.
Mrs Nicholls has also been running a technology club this year with a sustainability theme.
This coming year will be very exciting for us as the Laser Cutter has been delivered; pupils will be encouraged to use the club time to become familiar with the Cutter. The Laser Cutter will see us producing products of a very high standard.
Mrs Robertson
Young Investigators
The Young Investigators Science Club has been running on Thursday lunchtimes all year, it is being run by Mr Holloway. The club initially attracted well over 50 Year 7 pupils. Our numbers have now settled to a committed core of around 15 regular attendees.
Every Thursday lunchtime we meet at 1pm in Lab 3 to investigate numerous fun aspects of science that are not always covered by the curriculum. Since September such investigations have included: making slime, making acetic acid rockets, creating catapults, making and erupting volcanoes, conducting flame tests, making bouncy balls, creating lava lamps, investigating explosive alkali metals, using electrostatic forces, measuring fitness, manufacturing and playing with buzz boxes, making periscopes, investigating liquid densities, creating electromagnets and making and using invisible ink as well as numerous other experiments.
We will also branch out into growing fruit and vegetable crops later in the summer term. Seeds will be sown and grown in pots which the pupils made out of recycled paper and will be nurtured in Lab 3. We will be liaising with the Eco-club to establish a useable outdoor site for further planting in the future, and to grow certain vegetables and herbs for the Summer Fayre.
Mr Holloway
Chess Club
Chess Club takes place after school on a Wednesday from 3:20-4:20pm. We have a coach, Patrick Donovan, who comes in from outside.
We have had an internal school chess competition. The first prize was shared this year by Brandon Izzard and Matti Bruuns, with 3rd place going to Ben Bruuns.
We took part in the Sussex Junior Chess Butler cup (U-14) chess competition. It was a 4 team match played at Bishop Bell school in Eastbourne. Our team included: Brandon Izzard, Ethan Durkin, Pete Gibbons, Tom Abdilla. Everybody played well with a particularly valiant effort by Brandon who lost an exceptionally close game to Jonathan Finn, (an excellent player from Bishop Bell). Peter and Ethan both won games for us. We drew with the Bishop Bell B team, but lost against Bishop Bell A and the Darvill team. This meant that we did not qualify for the second round but all thoroughly enjoyed the competition.
Mr Corbishley
Computer Strategy Games Club
The club has had a successful year with numbers holding steady at around 12 pupils per week. Tournaments have taken place in the following games: Tiberian sun, Warcraft 3 and Command And Conquer generals. The computers have behaved themselves very well this year and we have had few
- 22 - technical problems. Those problems that have arisen have been sorted out promptly by the IT department. Last term we had an Empire Earth tournament and this term we will have an Age Of Mythology tournament.
Mr Curtis
Eco-Schools
The Eco-Schools team meets every term at lunch-time. Every form group sends one representative. The elected Chair this year was Thomas Trainor, a senior prefect. Thomas gave a presentation to the Deanery meeting (priests, Primary Heads and Governors) and led the pupils in our tree planting.
The Eco-reps have been involved in several aspects of college life, from energy conservation to crop production. A team of nineteen Eco reps (with assistance from Doctor Durkin, Mr Stickland, Mr Curtis and Mr Calladine-Evans) worked with Bexhill Environmental Group to plant twelve apple trees on-site (traditional hardy varieties). These have been planted on the sheltered north side of the site where they will form a screen at the back of the link classrooms and the canteen. Eco-reps were recognised for their work in the local community, through the Bexhill Achievers ceremony. A team of Eco reps, led by Mr Stickland, won the Highly Commended award from Bexhill Achievers for their beach cleaning activities. The ceremony was attended by Eco-reps and their families. Year 7 Eco-reps have held a campaign to raise money in order to sponsor endangered animals. This has been led by Mr Avery. All Eco-reps support the termly Go Low days and a team of reps also held an energy use survey to identify those areas where we need to improve our practice. A team of Eco reps (with assistance from Doctor Durkin, Mr Stickland, Mr Curtis and Mr Calladine-Evans) have installed three raised vegetable beds and started food production on-site. These are located by the science labs, beside the wormery that has also been installed.
Eco Reps and other pupils also had the opportunity to visit the Eden Project on a residential trip. There they explored the impact of human activity on the environment and discovered ways in which we can live more sustainably.
Looking to the future a new recycling club has been established by Mrs Nicholls and Mrs Williams. In its first meeting the club recycled Christmas and birthday cards to create present pockets for sale to other pupils.
Mr Calladine-Evans
MFL extra-curricular activities June 2011 - May 2012
Lower school French Club (Run weekly in B14 during Tuesday lunchtimes with Miss Chong)
The club is open to years 7 to 9.The first term of the academic year focused on a carousel of group activities led by a group of 8 Year 10 pupils. The aim was to enable the year 7s in particular to practise the basics of the language that they were learning in class for the first time in many cases. The practice activities included; flashcard games, singing short French songs, bingo games on numbers and the alphabet, spelling quizzes and games using the interactive whiteboard. Attendance varied each week during terms 1 and 2 as advertising focused on encouraging year 7 in particular to come along for a taste of the club. A group of 10 Year 8 pupils also regularly came along. By the end of the winter term, a more regular group of attendees was established.
In December, the focus of the activities was on learning key language associated with Christmas and gaining an insight into French traditions at Christmas time. In January, the group learnt about the way the “Epiphany” is celebrated in France. The group enjoyed the chance to play the “King Cake” game with the special cakes kindly brought by Mrs Herring from France. A regular group of ten Year 7 pupils and ten Year 8 pupils attended on a weekly basis along with 6-8 Year 10 helpers.
In the spring and summer terms of 2012, there was an introduction of thematic projects which involved learning topic-related phrases as well as gaining an insight into the French culture and traditions. During the spring term, projects focused on “Mardi Gras” including a carnival and pancake event. Then, there
- 23 - were a series of “Easter” themed activities including learning about traditions at Easter in France and a treasure hunt based on the words learnt.
During the summer term, the group have been focusing on learning language to deal with real-life situations such as shopping in a typical French town. Additionally, there will be a project on “Bastille” day which is the French National Day in July.
Throughout the year, the pupils have had the opportunity to use the interactive whiteboard, computer, board games and authentic materials to practise their French skills during the club. For the Year 10 helpers, it has been an opportunity for them to develop their leadership skills and to develop supportive relationships with their younger peers.
Year 9 French Pen friend Project
On Wednesday 14th March 2012, we welcomed 57 French pupils and 5 teachers from the Collège Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in Lesneven, Brittany. Fifty Year 9 pupils and a group of eight Year 8s have been involved in setting up pen friend links with the French school during a series of extra-curricular lunchtime sessions with Miss Chong since January. Following these sessions, the St. Richard‟s pupils have written initial letters or emails to their French pen friends.
During the visit, the French pupils had a chance to gain an insight into a school day at St. Richard‟s which included lessons, tours led by our pupils and presentations about school life. This was followed by the exciting opportunity for all the English and French pen friends to finally meet each other! The interview challenge saw both groups having to communicate with each other using their second language. Mixed nationality groups then had to work together to present the similarities and differences between school life in their respective schools in England and in France.
All the pupils involved from both schools impressed us with their enthusiasm, friendliness and perseverance in using their foreign language skills to get to know each other.
„It was exciting to meet our pen-pals‟; „it helped my French speaking skills‟; and „I found it interesting to learn about their culture and school life‟ were some of the comments about the project from our pupils.
Hopefully, an exciting start to some new international friendships.
Taster language Event
In the winter term 2011, pupils had the opportunity to learn how to wish each other “a Happy New Year” as well as communicate other festive phrases in eight different languages during a lunchtime event held in Link 1. Pupils who speak Polish, Tagalog, Malayalam, Arabic, Portuguese, German, French and Spanish were on-hand to teach their peers during the workshop which was open to the whole school community. The pupils who led the workshop had attended 2 meetings prior to the event to plan the activities and prepare the resources.
Following the large attendance at a similar event last year, the taster language event on the theme of “Christmas around the world” was again very well attended with many pupils from all year groups dropping by during their lunch break to choose a language to learn. It was also supported by other members of the MFL department and staff who came along to learn phrases from the pupils. As soon as each pupil had learnt how to pronounce two phrases for one of the languages, they were invited to try their new knowledge out at a “judges” table of pupil representatives for each language. If successful in remembering what they had learnt, they were able to choose a treat from a selection of festive foods from different countries around the world.
As well as being a chance for all to experience the different languages and cultures existing within the St. Richard‟s community, it proved to be an enjoyable experience for those sharing their knowledge.
Miss Chong
- 24 - Public Speaking Competition
Five teams across both Key Stages participated in the in-school Public Speaking competition from which one team were selected to go further. They then competed in the Local Youth Speaks Competition organised by the Rotary Club.
Mrs Standen
School Council
The School Council has had another successful year, continuing to ensure that pupils have a safe, clean and pleasant environment in which to study. Maintenance of the grounds and buildings is always discussed, along with issues relating to transport and the canteen. Sub-committees have been set up to deal with these issues and have met regularly throughout the year to discuss specific issues and put forward a plan of action.
Earlier in the year, the Council met with the catering company to discuss issues which are frequently brought up in meetings. A follow up meeting has also been arranged for our final meeting of the year. As a result the cashless catering system and our new outside sandwich bar are both in full operation and pupils are delighted at the impact on waiting times during break and lunch times.
Many of the suggestions made by the Council result in small discrete changes which contribute to both improving and maintaining the whole environment. A significant development this year was the erection of outside canopies on the side of A block which have provided relief from the sun for our pupils. A specific request by the School Council and we are delighted with the result.
The School Council have also been involved in important developments in teaching and learning including the creation of ‟10 Outstanding features for Learning‟, a pupil friendly Drugs policy and providing ideas and suggestions for the new look St Richard‟s website. It has been clear that the role of the School Council is vital in influencing both physical features around the college and the educational side also.
The School Council continues to actively support our charities and this year Mufti money has been donated to Surviving Christmas, St Michael‟s Hospice and Cafod. We have also supported a number of past pupils who have gone on to take part in their own charity endeavours.
The School Council also liaised with the PTFA regarding the pupils‟ wish list which has resulted in the purchase of additional picnic benches for the playgrounds, extra seating, canopies for A block, and additional activities for the playgrounds during lunch times.
The School Council has again played an important role in school life and has had a positive impact on the whole community. The Council members have represented themselves and their forms well and as a result it is clear that all pupils have the opportunity to influence decisions made for their school.
Mrs Campbell
Prep Club
The aim of St Richard‟s Prep Club is to support and motivate pupils in all aspects of their education: it particularly benefits those children who have difficulties, for whatever reason, in completing their homework in their home environment. Some of our children do not have access to computers or broadband at home, and therefore Prep Club significantly contributes to St Richard‟s practice of equality of opportunity and inclusion.
Prep Club has been consistently well attended this year, with all year groups represented. The club is always supervised by a member of staff from 3.15 to 5.00pm on Mondays to Thursdays. Staff are on hand to answer questions and point children in the right direction, but always stop short of actually completing the homework if asked!
- 25 - Both staff and parents have been complimentary of the excellent service that the Prep Club provides for those children who regularly attend.
Ms Hubbard
Mathematics Challenges
The Mathematics department at St Richard‟s has participated in the UKMT Mathematics Challenges over a number of years. The Challenges are national competitions organised by the United Kingdom Mathematical Trust. The competitions encourage reasoning, precision of thought and fluency in basic mathematical techniques to solve non-standard problems.
In April 2011 pupils in years 7 and 8 were entered in the Junior Challenge. In recognition of their high scores the following certificates were awarded to St Richard‟s pupils: 4 Gold, 6 Silver and 11 Bronze. The gold certificates were awarded to Year 8 pupils Gearoid O‟Callaghan and Ethan Durkin and Year 7 pupils Henry Porter and Dominic Power. Year 7 pupil Henry Porter was also awarded a certificate for the best in school. Almost 100 pupils in years 7 and 8 volunteered to participate in the 2012 challenge. We look forward to receiving their results.
The Intermediate Challenge is taken by pupils in years 9, 10 and 11. The following certificates were awarded to St Richard‟s pupils: 6 Gold, 19 Silver and 30 Bronze. Gold certificates were awarded to: Jakub Poroslo, Lucy Tomasetti, Benjamin Arayathel, David Evans and Hamish Mardell. Following on from his high score in the intermediate challenge, year 11 pupil Jakub Poroslo was awarded a certificate for the highest score in the college and also invited to participate in the next round.
Miss Machin
Drama Department
The Drama department has continued to provide extra- curricular opportunities throughout the year for pupils through separate drama clubs for years 7 and 8 and a Theatre workshop available for high achieving pupils, and pupils in years 9 and 10.
In the last year, the focus of the work as we moved to the end of the academic year was in preparing for the Expressive Arts evening in July where two short plays were performed: „Briar Rose‟ and „The Donkey, the Stick and the Bag of Gold‟. At the same time rehearsals continued for the musical „Return to the Forbidden Planet‟ which was presented in October.
Drama clubs restarted in the new academic year and again are focused on rehearsals for the July Expressive Arts evening with the presentation of two plays: „Agnes Smith and the Barbie Girls‟ and „Flora May versus the world‟.
At the same time as preparation for these performances, rehearsals will be continuing for the production of „Promise‟ by Megan Barker by the theatre workshop, which will be presented alongside the Shakespeare Schools entry „A Comedy of Errors‟ in October
Mr Fairbrass Subject Leader - Drama
Art Department
The New specifications for Art and Design and Fine Art were completed for the first time. The GCSE results were pleasing in 2011. This year, Art divided into a Fine Art course and an Art and Design course. The A* to C pass rate was 84.2% in Fine Art with the A*-A pass rate 57.89% which beats the previous year‟s A*-A rate of 38.2%.The average point score for Fine Art rose from 46.88 to 49.16. Art and Design achieved 100% pass rate A*-C.
The 2011 SAT‟s result at Level 5+ was 89.26% up from 85.64%, which was last year‟s result. 18.87% achieved EP level as opposed to 11.68% in 2010. 31.11%achieved level 8 as opposed to 24.26% in 2010. 45.9% achieved level 7 as opposed to 41.08% in 2010.
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Art rooms, stairs and the lobby have been completely covered in display boards which have allowed us to produce a much more focused display of the pupils‟ work. A shared Expressive Arts event allowed us to show off these displays. It is anticipated that a similar event will happen towards the end of this academic year. Good quality artwork continues to be displayed around the college, filling large areas of A Block and the lower floor of B Block.
3D work has continued to benefit from the new kiln and damp cupboard.
The department continues to be active in both local and national competitions and arts activities:
Work from last year‟s Year 11 was exhibited at the De La Warr Pavilion as part of the Bexhill Art Society exhibition. Georgia Landy emulated her sister by winning the college round of the “Lions‟ Peace Poster competition. Pupils will be entering this year‟s “Imagine Peace” poster competition at the end of term 6. There has also been a Community Links painting competition set up between Southern Railways and the college. Work is presently being displayed at Bexhill station. Georgia Lea won the Sketchbook section of the Farley‟s Yard Schools‟ and Colleges‟ awards exhibition at the famous Surrealist centre. Eila Limpin and Paul Maglasang won a Bible illustration competition set up by local author Jenny Hall.
There are supervised art sessions at lunchtime. The Art Room fills with pupils furthering their coursework or working on their own individual ideas. After school, there is a chance for pupils to carry on with their work until 4.00pm on Mondays and Fridays.
Mr Halligan Subject Leader - Art
Music Department
The Music Department has continued, this year, to offer a varied range of performance opportunities to pupils throughout both Key Stages. The activities are designed to nurture the musical growth of our young musicians, and to give them opportunities to experience the joys of ensemble performance, in a supportive environment.
Regularly rehearsing ensembles include the Orchestra, String Orchestra, Choir and „Young Voices‟; all are open to all KS3 and KS4 musicians, regardless of ability. Additionally, all Year 10 and Year 11 GCSE musicians rehearse ensemble performances regularly, which supports their curriculum work, and include a varied range of advanced vocal and instrumental work.
We are blessed with support for many of our performances from members of staff at St Richard‟s: Steve Heseltine and Barry Jenkins, in particular, regularly enjoy music making with the music department, and I am grateful for their ongoing enthusiasm and help. Pupils gain so much from seeing staff clearly enjoying music making! Additionally, I am keen to encourage KS4 GCSE musicians to help run rehearsals, and in particular, this past year, Matthew Geer has given much to, and gained much from, the department in terms of these opportunities.
Performances during the year have included the following events:
- Joint Drama/Music performance of „Return to the Forbidden Planet‟ - Three Parish Masses - Music for Open Evening - Music for Prize Evening - A „Community Christmas‟ concert - Advent Service - KS4 Music Showcase
Additionally, performances prepared during the regular weekly extra-curricular music programme support Masses, Services and other Liturgical events throughout the year.
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The AppleMac computers in the music area continue to be used regularly for extra-curricular work; pupils use the computers during lunchtimes and after school, to work on composition work begun in class. The recording studio facility is also available as a bookable resource for pupils wishing to record their own songs.
GCSE pupils have also, this year, had the opportunity to visit Glyndebourne, and greatly enjoyed a performance of „La Boheme‟. Another visit is planned for October 2012, to see Dvorak‟s „Rusalka‟.
An exciting new opportunity for pupils to learn some of the skills of playing in a rock band is being offered from June 2012. In partnership with East Sussex Music Services we are running weekly after school „Rock School‟ sessions, which are open to young instrumentalists or vocalists. We are also in the early stages of negotiating a series of weekly percussion workshops, again in partnership with ESMS.
Our young musicians have most recently contributed to the music for the Bexhill Confirmation Mass; Below is a brief quote from a recent email sent to me by Peter Dolan; „On behalf of the Confirmation Team in Bexhill, may I offer our grateful thanks for the excellent contribution to the music by pupils present and past. Your rehearsals paid dividends. The Bishop stated that the music was the best at any Confirmation service this year so far. The soloists: Eden Richards, Chloe Seal, Lauren Kemp and India Landy sang beautifully.
For this particular event, I had the pleasure of supporting past GCSE music student Daniel Getty in preparing music for the service. It is a joy to see our past musicians flourishing, whilst keeping a link with us!
Forthcoming performances this academic year include: Expressive Arts evening The Bexhill Festival of Music „Big Sing‟ event
Mr Roadknight Subject Leader - Music
PE Department
Successes/Events - May 2011 to May 2012
A busy, successful and very enjoyable year.
As detailed below, successes have been across a wide range of activities/sports.
Staff have striven to develop extra-curricular activities, extending the provision on offer and pupils have once again risen to the challenges set.
With London 2012 looming, the college became a Get Set School, benefiting from many free resources. Through the scheme the college‟s Sports Council visited the Olympic Park and were also involved in an Olympic Leadership event organised by CAFOD at St Mary‟s University, Twickenham.
Our links with the local sports partnership have led to greater opportunities for our pupils to display their leadership qualities through the medium of sport.
Representing the college
College teams continue to have successes at national, county and local level.
Examples:
The year 10 girls‟ biathlon team won the National Schools Championships at Crystal Palace . The year 10 - 11 girls‟ swimming team won county relays championships for a record-breaking fifth year. They also qualified for the English Schools Swimming Relay finals in Southampton.
- 28 - The year 9 boys‟ football team reached the semi-finals of the Sussex Schools Football, only losing out on penalties after extra time. For the fifth successive year the college won the Spar Cup - awarded for overall points total at Hastings and District Town Sports. Rugby, Netball, Basketball and Cricket successes in local, area and county competitions have been very pleasing.
Successes linked to the Physical Education and School Sports for Young People Strategy:
Overall points winner for the fourth year running in the Hastings and District Schools Partnership, for successes and participation in competitions run by the competitions manager. 150 year 9/10/11 pupils helped organise and run multi skills/sports Festivals for 500 Bexhill primary school pupils. 45 year 7/9/11 pupils attended a „Gifted and Talented in PE‟ Academy at Brighton University.
Team Successes Year 7 Girls Hastings and District Schools Cross Country - winners Girls Hastings and District Schools Athletics - runners up Boys Hastings and District Schools Rugby Festival - runners up Girls Hastings and District Schools Rounders – winners Combined Hastings and District Schools Indoor Athletics – runners up Year 8 Boys Hastings and District Schools Athletics - runners up Girls Hastings and District Schools Athletics - runners up Girls Hastings and District Schools Cross Country – runners up Year 8/9 Girls Sussex Country XC Championship Team - winners Year 9 Boys Hastings and District Schools Basketball - winners Boys Hastings and District Schools Athletics - runners up Girls Hastings and District Schools Athletics - runners up Girls Hastings and District Schools Cross Country – runners up Boys Hastings and District Schools Cross Country – winners Girls Hastings and District Schools Football – runners up Girls Sussex Schools Cross Country – runners up Boys Sussex Schools Football Cup - semi-finalists Boys SE Sussex Schools Football Cup – semi-finalists B Team Boys Hastings and District Schools Football League – runners up B Team Year 10 Girls National Schools Biathlon - winners Boys Hastings and District Schools Cross Country - winners Boys Hastings and District Schools Athletics – runners up Girls Hastings and District Schools Athletics – winners Girls Hastings and District Schools Cross Country – winners Boys Hastings and District Football League – runners up Boys SE Sussex Schools Football Cup – semi finalists Year 10/11 Girls Hastings and District School Football - winners Girls Sussex Schools Relay Swimming - winners Girls English Schools Relay Championships – finalists Year 11 Boys SE Schools Football - semi-finalists Boys Hastings and District School League – runners up Girls Hastings and District Schools Basketball - finalists Boys Hastings and District Schools Cross Country - winners
Individual Successes
Over twenty pupils have represented the county or the SE Region at cricket, golf, cross country, biathlon, hockey, athletics, triathlon, rowing, football and swimming.
The achievements by pupils at the college would not have been possible without the time put in by staff. Thanks to all the PE department. They have also been assisted by Mr Corbishley, Mr Heseltine, Mr Holloway, Mr Venner, Mr Stickland, and outside coaches - thanks to those also.
Dance is an integral part of the curriculum . With the Dance Troupe now fully established, the pupils have not only produced an excellent standard of work during lessons but have also performed in the
- 29 - Hastings and District 'Time to Dance' Festival and the Gala Performance at the White Rock theatre and have also contributed to college services. Many thanks to Mrs Kimberley for her expertise and enthusiasm.
Mr Varney Subject Leader - PE
Extra-Curricular Dance
This academic year has been a busy one for Dance, and certainly one in which pupils have been challenged both in the number of dances to be learnt and in the greatly varying number of dance styles they have experienced. In October a talented group of pupils took to the stage, dancing in the college production of 'Return To The Forbidden Planet', in which they performed in a number of 50s and 60s rock and roll numbers. Shortly after this, auditions took place for the 2011-2012 Dance Troupe, with a fantastic turnout from the lower school in particular.
The Dance Troupe performed 3 numbers at the Community Christmas party in December, including a very well received tap solo from one member and a big jazz dance featuring the entire Troupe. The Advent Service then provided an opportunity for the Dance Troupe to perform both a large group dance and also a smaller duet, showcasing contemporary and lyrical dance styles.
In February, the annual A Time To Dance festival featured an Olympic Theme and the Dance Troupe performed a contemporary dance piece based on striving to achieve against the odds. This featured a collaboration with the English department, whereby pupils submitted poems based on the same theme, and two winners were chosen to record their poems, which were then added to the music for the dance to feature in the final performance.
In a particularly busy term, dance was then featured in the Parish Mass at St Martha's with a beautiful lyrical duet, and a further two new dances were performed at the Easter Services: one a contemporary piece and the second a balinese-inspired piece!
Over the coming term, the dancers have many more opportunities to perform, having received an invitation to perform at the Armed Forces Day Parade in June, and also opportunities to dance in the Expressive Arts showcase, Strut Cup and the End of Year services. 2011-12 has been a fantastic success dance-wise with pupils continually being challenged to learn new styles, work with new music and poetry and to improve their dance technique. With a new Dance Instructor now joining the college, dance at St Richards is going from strength-to-strength.
Mrs Kimberley
Geography - Swanage
A geography trip to Swanage took place on 27th – 29th April. The trip was made up of twenty-two year 10 pupils. The purpose of the trip was to prepare pupils for their unit 1 exam by providing the opportunity to study the features covered in the Year 10 syllabus in situ.
The weekend saw us investigating the Flood Alleviation scheme that protects Swanage from serious flooding and gave us an opportunity to appreciate the massive investment in such schemes.
We also looked at how dunes are formed and why they are important to the tourism and eco-system of the area. It formed the case study for the special area in their coastal unit highlighting the fragility of eco-systems and the need for management.
Finally, we looked at coastal erosion and associated landforms by visiting Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door.
Mr Weakley
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Berlin Trip Review
The Year 11 Berlin Trip was another success with pupils and staff gaining a huge amount from the four days spent in Berlin. This year‟s trip began with a 3am start at St Richard‟s where pupils were collected and taken to Gatwick. Following an excellent flight we were taken to our hostel where we unpacked and prepared for the days to come. The afternoon was spent touring a Stasi Prison, and exploring the causes and consequences of the Cold War. A very tired group returned to the Hostel following this and got an early night in preparation for the busy day ahead.
Tuesday began with a delicious buffet breakfast followed by a short coach trip to the 1936 Olympic Stadium. Pupils were amazed at the scale of the stadium, and got a great insight into Nazi Propaganda and how it influenced an event such as the Olympic Games. Following this we travelled to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp where we were given a fascinating tour by a local guide. Whilst we were there we were lucky enough to meet a former prisoner who was visiting the camp for the first time since its liberation. Offering an insight into how he lived and survived in the camp was a truly moving and inspirational moment that I know none of us will ever forget. Tuesday finished with a pupil led overview of the day and an interesting discussion on life in a Concentration Camp.
On Wednesday the group spent the morning at the Jewish Museum finding out about the treatment of Jewish people throughout German History with a particular focus on Weimar and Nazi Germany. The architecture and the exhibits at the museum were a stark reality of how Jewish people have been treated throughout their History. The afternoon was spent touring Berlin on foot. In rather damp and chilly conditions, the group saw a number of memorable and infamous sights including the Reichstag, Brandenburg gate, Hitler‟s bunker, the memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe, and Babelplatz (the sight of the famous Burning of the Books). Another long and tiring, but fascinating day was finished with a delicious warm dinner, a review of the day and a quiz. Well done to Team Goebbels who won the highly sought after prizes!
Thursday, the final day of the trip, provided the pupils with the chance to unwind with a trip to Berlin Zoo. With some of the world‟s most endangered species at the zoo, along with their unique enclosures, the pupils enjoyed the chance to relax in Berlin. Following this visit the group journeyed back to the Hostel and then the airport to return to the UK.
The trip was a real success. All pupils who attended behaved in a mature and sensible manner and approached the trip as true „historians‟. Mr Brennan was invaluable with his tales of Berlin and was a very believable and interesting tour guide. Mr Campbell provided great support and the team as a whole enjoyed the trip immensely.
Well done and thank you to the pupils and staff who helped make this trip yet another successful one.
Mrs Campbell
Berlin 2011 Review by Charlotte Rouncivell 11T The History department organised a trip to Berlin to aid our Germany studies for this year‟s exam paper. It was a fantastic trip that enlightened all the pupils who attended about the extent of the terrifying events that took place under Hitler‟s rule.
The first place we visited during the trip was the Stasi Prison. It was an amazing experience because you were allowed in and around all of the actual cells and the tour guide was very informative about how the guards would work and what took place in the prison. This was so much so that I could actually imagine being there at that time and how horrific it would have been. In the evening we briefly visited Alexanderplatz where we embraced the modern Berlin by shopping and enjoying our leisure time.
The second day, in my opinion, was the best day. In the morning we visited the Olympic Stadium in which our very own Mr Brennan gave us a very detailed guide of the stadium and what happened during the Olympic Games of 1936. The facts were shocking and almost unbelievable because it was over something so racist. In the afternoon we visited the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. I know that I, and many others around me, were very moved and emotional from having a tour of all of the parts of the Nazi concentration camp. We saw everything from the barracks to the gas chambers and cremation
- 31 - rooms. We were also very lucky to have met an elderly man who in fact was a prisoner at Sachsenhausen when he was just 14. We were able to ask questions and got the truth back, no middle men and publishers involved. This is when it hit home just how terrifyingly real this all was.
On the third day we started off by visiting the Jewish Museum. This was very interesting because we didn‟t know much about Jewish lifestyle and the history of Jews. We found out many interesting facts that we would have never known if we hadn‟t visited the museum. For example, many leading supermarket chains such as Marks and Spencer‟s and Sainsbury‟s are Jewish because this was the main job of Jewish people years ago, because they weren‟t allowed to do jobs such as blacksmiths or other ordinary jobs. We also realised just how much Jews were affected by the Holocaust, as we saw a poem from a young girl to her mum, whom she probably never saw again.
Later on that day we did a walking tour of Berlin. Although our mood (and clothes) were dampened because it started to rain and everyone‟s feet hurt, it was a vital and extremely interesting part of the trip. We passed many famous sights, such as the Jewish memorial and our group had very mixed opinions of the memorial: some thinking it showed perfectly the rough time the Jews had, whilst others thought a statue would have been much more respectable and suitable. We also saw the Reichstag although we did not enter the building. To add to this we saw the university and library from which many, many books were taken and burned in Hitler‟s time. This made the whole experience and everything we had learnt more real. We also saw the Brandenburg Gate and where the Berlin wall used to run through a main road and finally Hitler‟s very own bunker and also Checkpoint Charlie.
Finally on the last day, we lightened our moods from the History of Berlin and Nazi Germany and visited one of the leading zoos in Europe. This was a fun experience to do with your friends and classmates. Throughout the trip everyone was well behaved and got along extremely well with not just each other but the teachers as well! Charlotte Rouncivell, 11T
Interact Club
St Richard‟s Interact Club continues to build on its links with the Bexhill Rotary Club.
The Interact Club is linked with the local Rotary Club and supports charity fundraising events as well as local community projects. Meetings take place during lunchtime on the first Wednesday of each month. The Rotary club are represented by at least two members at each of the meetings. Elections have just taken place for the new President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Interact Club. We have plans to support these roles further with training in the new academic year.
The Interact Club has supported the Rotary Club‟s „End Polio Now‟ campaign, raising nearly £300 through the sale of badges and donuts.
The current Interact members have shown such enthusiasm and commitment that they were invited to attend a Rotary meal where they also ran a raffle, again raising a further £300 for the local community. Three members also gave a presentation to rotary members about the work that club members have been involved in over this academic year.
Some of the community events the Interact club have been involved in this year are:
Supporting the local community by attending a tea party for the elderly, organised by the Bexhill Rotary Club. The pupils welcomed the guests and served tea. Organising the Love in Box campaign which involved a whole school commitment in which over 200 boxes were sent along with a £600 donation. In the week before Christmas, members of the local community and parishes were invited to St Richard‟s for an afternoon of Christmas Carols. The Interact Club members provided and served the refreshments of tea and mince pies. The Interact Club have again supported the Rotary Club‟s End Polio Now campaign raising £300. The Interact Club will be supporting the Rotary Club‟s Annual Community Walk. They will be registering walkers on the day and helping with administration at the starting point of the walk.
Mrs Hills
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Retreats, Pilgrimages, Parish Links
HCPT Lourdes Pilgrimage 2012 Twenty-three Year 11 pupils and three members of staff (Mr Campbell, Mrs Campbell and Mrs Mead) had another successful Pilgrimage to Lourdes at Easter as HCPT Group 715.
The pupils were involved in a comprehensive preparation programme of weekly workshops. In these workshops the pupils met with other group leaders who shared their experiences of taking groups of disabled children to Lourdes each year.
The workshops provided pupils with an opportunity to learn what was expected of them in their capacity as a Service Group including preparing Liturgies, practical duties to help the Pilgrimage such as marshalling the torchlight procession, and how to care for children with disabilities. The workshops also tackled the story of Bernadette and the formation of the HCPT charity to give the pupils a greater understanding of the purpose of their trip.
The pupils also took part in a sponsored event as a group and fundraised an extra £200 each to help to send a child to Lourdes.
The group left on Easter Monday and returned the following Saturday. Throughout the week pupils were involved in a wide range of activities such as carrying the Madonna at the torchlight procession, carrying banners at the regional and trust masses, delivering the Daily Tattler newsletter around Lourdes, as well as teaching songs to the children, face–painting, animating for the family groups at The Torchlight and Trust masses and forming the choir at the regional mass.
Pupils took prayer intentions for their families, St Richard‟s community and their parishes. These were placed in the Grotto. A large candle was also decorated with the names of people whom the pupils wanted to pray for. This was also placed at the Grotto in an emotional evening prayer time.
To help support the family groups the pupils put on a fancy dress party with games and prizes. The pupils played with the children in the family groups giving the helpers a short break away from their children.
The pupils had a fantastic trip and were praised by both the Head Brancardier and Leaders of Groups 154 and 71 for their help with the children.
Year 7 Church visits At the beginning of the year, all year 7 pupils visited St Mary Magdalene Church to learn about the signs and symbols of a Catholic Church. This visit was combined with a time for quiet reflection and meditation.
Year 8 and Year 10 Block Days These have taken place in the beautiful setting of Ashburnham retreat centre. The Year 10 retreat focused on sex and relationships in the context of our faith. Year 8 had a very interactive day exploring issues surrounding poverty and fairtrade.
Parish Links Parish Community links have developed this year with Masses in the parishes of Bexhill, Eastbourne and Hastings. We have also had a record number of priests into the college to lead Masses, hear confessions and speak in RE lessons.
The school celebrates a Friday morning Mass each week at 8.10 in the Chapel. This is supported by both pupils and staff, and occasionally parents.
All form services this year have been a Mass as we attempt to embed the New Translation of the Roman Missal. My sincere thanks to all of the priests in both deanaries who generously give their time to enable this to happen.
- 33 - SION Mission Mission week was a huge success: the team from the SION Community inspired our pupils as they shared their faith in fun and engaging ways. Each day began with an assembly for each year group and explored a particular theme for the day. During lunchtime the team led a time of voluntary prayer called „Time Out with God‟ which involved lively singing and praying. During the afternoons there was „Prayer for You‟ in the Chapel, in which pupils and staff were prayed for by the SION team and prayer leaders from the Upper School. On Wednesday we were delighted to welcome seven priests into the college to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with our pupils.
Our week finished with a celebration of Mass on the Friday. This was a joyous celebration and it was lovely to have the different parts of the Mass explained during the Mass itself.
My thanks to Rebekah, William, Helena, Ondrej and Sara from the SION Community for an amazing week. My thanks also to our priests, the PTFA and the many members of staff who worked behind the scenes to make the week such a success.
I know we are all looking forward to our next Mission in five years‟ time.
Mr Byrne
Science Week 2012
St Richard‟s science department celebrated National Science & Engineering Week in style this year. In the weeks leading up to Science Week itself, every science teacher visited at least one primary school to deliver an interactive fun science lesson on a variety of requested topics. 15 of our SEN Year 7 pupils visited St. Mary‟s Special School to be entertained by a Magic Show and 40 pupils ventured to Chichester for a Saturday day trip to Chichester Cathedral and the South Downs Planetarium.
During Science Week itself, the college enjoyed three days of dynamic and delightful science fun, loosely based around this year‟s chosen theme of „Harry Potter‟. As in previous years, Friday morning saw the hall and labs filled with 120 keen Year 6 pupils from local primary schools as well as our own cohort of Year 8 Science Ambassadors, on hand to support the younger pupils. While the laboratory scientists were beavering away, Year 10s (including guests from other local secondary schools) were undergoing some stealth revision for their Physics GCSEs while listening to the Institute of Physics National Lecturer, Dr Michael Wilson, delivering the last ever rendition of his lecture „From X-Rays to Anti-Matter‟. The laboratory results conclusively proved that it was the evil Lord Voldemort who was the culprit (Mr. Clarke again!), but fear not, the laboratory wizards had already identified a potion to defeat him once and for all.
New to this year‟s celebrations was the introduction of Wicked Wednesday and Potions Day on the Thursday. We were fortunate to be able to welcome Dr. Darren Baskill from the University of Sussex Physics and Astronomy Outreach Programme and his team of Post Graduate nuclear physicists (including a former St Richard‟s pupil) for a jam-packed day of exciting science. From the Building Rockets workshop and Infra-Red Sports Imaging with Year 10 to the Inflatable Planetarium, GCSE Astronomy revision and „Ask an Astronomer‟ tea and cakes session after school, the team managed to „Outreach‟ to over 300 of our pupils. Once we had waved goodbye to the Outreach Team, we prepared to welcome pupils from St. Mary‟s Wrestwood and Glyne Gap Special schools for our Special Science Supper. Hands on experiments and supper with the Science of Wallace and Gromit and the support of some Student Listeners rounded off an amazing day wonderfully.
Potions Day was a departure from the normal Science timetable for all Year 7 and 8 as the whole Science Department completed a trio of magical reactions while reading about famous authors‟ magical potions. Roald Dahl, J. K. Rowling and William Shakespeare gave us our literary inspiration, while the Science inspiration had come from a „Take One‟ twilight CPD session from STEMsussex. Potions day was truly magical for everyone, including, as it did, all pupils in both year groups. Just after Science Week officially ended , our Key Stage 3 Gifted and Talented pupils undertook an Antweight Robot challenge to well and truly complete our Science Week activities.
Science Week was an amazing adventure this year. Building upon the successes of previous years, pupils in every year group (for Years 7, 8 and 10) - were involved and on reflection it is pleasing to note
- 34 - that, with the primary visits included, over 1300 pupils from 13 schools and with pupil ages from 9 to 19, enjoyed a real St Richard‟s Science celebration.
Dr Durkin
Extra-Curricular Science
Extra-curricular activities and trips in particular, offer an exciting opportunity for pupils to experience education in an entirely new environment. Here at St. Richard‟s, trips are valued by pupils and parents as part of a wider participation in college life.
Since the last annual report to Governors, pupils have been able to engage with a variety of trips with science at their heart, but often incorporating cross-curricular links with other subjects. Day trips have been well supported by a good variety of pupils from all Year groups and of all abilities with the evening events equally well supported. Residential trips have been oversubscribed despite the higher costs.
Term 6 of last academic year saw pupils from Year 8 & 9 enjoy a visit to the launch of the STEM facilities at the Science & Engineering faculty at the University of Brighton as part of the „Inspiring Science: Physics and Biology‟ event. Triple Science pupils in Year 10 were similarly enthralled by their visit to the Particle Physics seminar at the University of Sussex. This astounding day culminated in a live video conference with post graduate students working at the world‟s largest experiment, the Large Hadron Collider, or CERN, in Switzerland. The summer term finished off with a day trip to London Zoo.
The new academic year saw the new Year 7 pupils spend a glorious day at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich as part of their block day. G&T pupils from Years 9 – 11 attended a truly inspirational lecture about the „Bloodhound SuperSonic Car (SSC)‟ organised by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers at Brighton University. G&T pupils joined by some Year 9 Astronomers were also delighted to meet Sir Patrick Moore in his home near Chichester on a trip with ESAS (East Sussex Astronomical Society).
Since September‟s talk from the Astronomer Royal, Lord Martin Rees, there has been a regular presence of St. Richard‟s pupils at the ESAS monthly meetings. Similarly, a core group of aspiring Physics A Level pupils were regular attendees to the Institute of Physics Lectures at the University of Sussex. Held monthly, these talks provided plenty of stimulus for an enquiring mind and in fact, Dr Michael Wilson‟s acclaimed talk on „From X-Rays to Antimatter: The Science of Seeing Inside the Body‟ was so inspirational that he was immediately signed up as the St. Richard‟s Science Week speaker! The winter term was rounded off with a trip to Hammersmith for „A Night of a Billion Stars‟ with Professor Brian Cox and a Telescope Tour Supper Evening at Herstmonceux Observatory.
In the run up to Science Week, our Year 7 nurture group pupils were excited by the Magic Show they attended at St Mary‟s Special School and pupils across all year groups and abilities spent a day in Chichester at the world famous Cathedral and at the South Downs Planetarium.
Most recently, we have paid some return visits to destinations further afield, for residential trips. A four day visit to Belgium for Space Camp and a long weekend in Cornwall for the Ethical Eden trip, a joint adventure with RE, were extremely popular with all who attended - staff included!
Plans for next year‟s trips are already under way with residential visits to Switzerland and Wales and day trips to Bletchley Park in the planning.
Dr Durkin Science G&T Co-ordinator
Ski Trip
This year was the seventh time the college has run a ski trip to Austria. We decided to go during the first week of the Christmas holiday instead of the February holiday and took a group of 78 pupils and nine teachers. The snow conditions were fantastic and it was even sunny on a few occasions.
It was great to see how everybody‟s skiing progressed and by the middle of the week all groups were leaving Alpendorf and heading for more advanced slopes. The instructors were impressed with the enthusiasm and attitude our pupils showed throughout the week.
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The evenings were just as much fun as we experienced a range of activities including sledging, bowling, swimming and party games on the final night. We also enjoyed celebrating Mass in the cathedral of St Johann.
All in all it was a great week: the pupils were fantastic and, as Mr Heseltine always comments, “It was like being away with a group of friends.”
Katie, our Rep, also mentioned that the other Reps were jealous because she “got St Richard‟s two years in a row and it‟s the school where the pupils are amazing”.
Finally my thanks must go to the pupils involved, their parents and to Mrs Byrne, Mr Varney, Mr Bligh, Mr and Mrs Holloway, Mr Heseltine, Mrs Douglin and Miss Kent who made the week possible.
Mr Byrne Trip Leader
PTFA
Barrie Pope stood down from the position of Chair at the AGM in September 2011 after which I, Lisa Driver, was elected.
The 2011/2012 academic year has once again been busy for members and supporters of the PTFA. In terms of the PTFA‟s continued fundraising activities, it has been another productive period.
The 2011 Summer Fayre was once again our biggest fundraising event, and proved very successful with in excess of £5,000 being raised despite the weather not being as good as in previous years. Plans are at present being made for this year‟s Fayre, which will be held at the end of June. We look forward to it being just as successful with even more stalls and entertainment to offer.
The annual quiz again enjoyed high levels of attendance. The audio visual suite funded by the PTFA was utilised fully to present the questions. This remains a popular social occasion and, consequently, plans are in place to make it an annual event.
We had our very first „Auction of Promises‟ evening in February which proved to be a fantastic event and fundraiser, raising over £3000. Plans are being made to alternate this event every other year with a Spring Ball. We hope by swapping these events the interest and support of the parents will be maintained. It is our hope that the Ball, in spring 2013, will raise a similar amount of funds.
The annual Talent Show took place at the college on May 11th and proved to be very entertaining, although it was felt that the audio system provided by the PTFA two years ago, needed some attention. This, we will look into. Preliminary auditions organised by year 10 pupils whittled the cast list down to the finalists. The PTFA is always delighted to support this and other events throughout the year. These include Open Evenings, Consultation Evenings, sports day, as well as performances in music and drama.
The PTFA continues to invite requests for funding from all within the college community to ensure that we bring the maximum benefits possible to the pupils. The PTFA have recently released funds to improve the playgrounds by purchasing items such as the picnic benches, seating and awnings.
We are currently assessing very recent requests for financial assistance from a broad spectrum of departments and school clubs and we shall continue to support requests made in the future.
Our Principal, Miss Cronin, is a keen advocate and enthusiastic supporter of the PTFA‟s activities and has been ably supported by Mr Clark, Miss Kent, Mr Marsh and Mrs Hood. Staff input remains as ever an invaluable element of the PTFA's work and activities.
The PTFA members continue to be a willing and enthusiastic group of people who give their time and effort to a wide range of activities that reach far beyond the fundraising events. In addition to a very strong core of stalwart members within the PTFA, we have been pleased to welcome a number of new members this year who we hope may step into office at some future point. My thanks go to all of them
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Lisa Driver PTFA Chair
Parental Surveys
At each Consultation Evening we ask parents/carers to fill in a short survey which questions them about college life and what is offered. It also asks the parents/carers to list concerns.
Generally, the parents/carers are very positive about the teaching and learning on offer to their children. The majority of pupils feel safe and secure and the reporting of progress is well-received. Concerns expressed by parents/carers over this academic year include the following:
. Transport - Parents remain upset with the Local Authority decision to withdraw free transport - The cost of buses and trains remains a worry - Over-crowded carriages - Lateness of the Stagecoach buses - Some misbehaviour on the buses
We are often in touch with Southern Rail re the over-crowded carriages but little notice is taken of our complaints; Stagecoach has experienced a number of difficulties taking on the LA contract this year - they are always extremely apologetic. I have to say the pupils are not impressed with the service. All misdemeanours on the buses and trains are dealt with as soon as reported and there have been a number of pupils on bus report to monitor their behaviour.
. Curriculum - Changes to all studying MFL - Not enough homework/too much homework - Disappointment of not being offered both history and geography to study in KS4 - Controlled assessments proving a struggle for year 10 and year 11
To allow all pupils to benefit from an Ebacc qualification, all pupils will take a MFL subject and a humanities subject through to GCSE from September 2012.
Getting the balance right with homework has proven difficult in spite of various surveys at different points in the year.
Upper School pupils miss the old-style coursework and do not like the „test‟ nature of controlled assessments. They are given advice on how to organise their time to cope.
. Canteen - Meals are expensive and there‟s too much fast food. - Queues are too long.
The canteen provides a variety of menus but of course it is the child‟s choice what he/she eats.
Queues are usually completed in less than 15 minutes - during the summer months with the opening of the kiosk they are even quicker.
. Bullying: - Unkindness in one particular year group - Bullying exists in St Richard‟s - Facebook remains a problem
We are never complacent where bullying is concerned. We have recently rewritten our anti- bullying policy to incorporate friendship issues within it and we have invested training in our Student Listeners who act as buddies to younger pupils. This year, the Pastoral Care team has been trained in the use of the anti-bullying toolkit and we have bought into the LA Anti-Bullying Service.
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Our Safer Schools Survey analysed by the LA indicated very good results for the school in terms of what is put in place to reduce bullying incidents and to offer support. Cyber-bullying remains an issue though there have been less reported incidents this year. We will continue to monitor and review practice. Assemblies have been used to address unkindness particularly towards SEN pupils.
Other issues are raised by the parents and these are addressed by the Pastoral Leader in newsletters. As an anonymous survey, it provides a useful snapshot into parental feeling on school systems and events.
Parental Focus Groups
These morning and evening groups have now been running for three years and consist of about 15/20 parents/carers at each getting together to learn about school life. There has been Governor representation at some of the meetings which the parents have appreciated. Topics covered this year include: drugs education and policy; anti-bullying and friendship policy; interim reports; uniform; the College Improvement Plan; the curriculum, in particular planned changes to MFL; the SEF and school performance tables; tracking of pupils; Moodle; the website; homework surveys and a range of queries related to what needs to be improved.
We start each academic year with a post-it activity called „What is going well?‟ and „What could be better?‟; we will end the year in a similar way.
Minutes of meetings are available on the college website.
Partnerships
We belong to the Bexhill Consortium which consists of all the primary schools, Glyne Gap Special School, Bexhill College, Bexhill High, the Parent Support Manager as well as representatives from Sure Start, the Police, Health and the Youth Service.
The main focus is ensuring that all Bexhill children achieve their potential and live healthy lives.
The Consortium is chaired by Mr Tony Campbell OBE and Mr Charles Nicholson. Supported by Janet Smithson and Tina Frost, they lead projects and evaluate them. This year, pupils from St Richard‟s have benefited from some key funding provided by the Consortium:
Licences for Lexia. Shared practice in SEN. CAT tests for year seven were paid for. Gifted and Talented activities. The part-time service of a Parent Support Adviser.
Annually, we have contributed about £12-£15,000 to the Consortium to support the appointment of Parent Support Advisers etc. This year, a significant amount of our pupil premium will go to the Consortium and, in return, we will continue to have the services of a Parent Support Adviser; we will have access to 25 licences for the Lexia reading programme and we will be able to use Mr Campbell for consultancy work, as well as the benefits of a range of other projects as the year unfolds. The LA sees the Consortium as an example of good practice and has provided it with funding to spend on a project to raise standards in the past academic year.
The other key partnership is our link with the Hastings & Rother Partnership. We do not invest money in this group which is made up of all the schools and colleges in the Hastings & Rother area. Instead we invest time in terms of working on projects together. Our Careers Co-ordinator has worked with other schools to improve careers advice. This year, we have been involved in the OLEVI Outstanding Teaching Programme and Improving Teacher Programme which the Partnership funded. Two staff were trained to act as facilitators and they led training in the ITP for four other schools in the Partnership. Three of our staff attended an ITP programme delivered by Bexhill College facilitators. The OTP work has fitted in with the launch of „Ten features of an outstanding lesson‟. Topics from the
- 38 - programme have influenced staff meeting agendas, Subject Leader and departmental meetings. It has also influenced INSET.
In previous years, we have also worked on projects related to Diplomas and alternative provision.
Our projects for next year include further development of the OTP programme; a focus on behaviour and attendance including exclusions, and to offer more support to each other in sharing good practice. Each school has identified good practice in their school and invited others to come to view it. Our school was visited in November 2011 with a focus on outstanding practice in science and RE.
Clearly, we also enjoy partnership links with the Diocesan Heads, our feeder primary schools and the Bexhill primary schools who enjoy sports activities as a result of the Sports Partnership work carried out by Mr Varney.
Miss Cronin
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