Fitzalan High School

Ysgol Uwchradd Fitzalan

ANNUAL GOVERNORS’ REPORT TO PARENTS 2012/2013

Letter from the Chair of Governors Fitzalan High School Lawrenny Avenue I take this opportunity to thank you for your support and look forward to another successful year for Fitzalan. CF11 8XB Congratulations to all staff, pupils and parents for their examination success. In KS4, our 5 A*-C percentage, reached its highest ever Tel No: 029 2023 2850 level and our highest achieving pupil achieved 13 A* grades. Fax: 029 2087 7800

E-mail: [email protected] As a consequence, of our 80% GCSE success, Year 12 is full and thriving and our most able pupils have enrolled on an ‘Oxbridge’ Website: www.fitzalan.cardiff.sch.uk programme to ensure that as many Fitzalan pupils as possible gain access to the best universities in Britain.

Our top A Level achievers this year were Khadra Hassan who has gone on to study Dentistry at Cardiff and Amman Mader who is taking a gap year and will then be going on to study medicine at Exeter. Future prospects are also promising as our KS3 Level 5+ percentage of 66% was also the highest ever achieved by the school and record numbers of pupils achieved 7+ levels across a range of subjects.

Our success has been recognised by both the Local Authority and and Fitzalan has been placed in Band 3.

In order to continue our drive for success, the Governing Body is fully involved in target and objective setting. Our School Improvement Objectives for this year are:-

1. To raise standards of achievement across all groups of pupils in Fitzalan. Guys and Dolls at Fitzalan 2. To develop and improve the quality of teaching and learning. On 27th to the 29th November audiences in Upper School Hall were wowed by Fitzalan’s energetic 3. To embed Restorative Approaches across the school and version of Guys and Dolls. improve existing processes to improve behaviour,

relationships, attendance and punctuality. Very special thanks to all staff involved – especially 4. To improve accommodation for teaching and learning. Musical Director Mrs Morgan-Jones with Assistant 5. To raise standards in the . Musical Director Miss Cooper - who gave up so much of their time and energy since September to pull it off.

Mr Futty, Director.

High Standards High Expectations Learning through partnership Governing Body of Scope of Business Fitzalan High School

Community Governors New Appointments – Teachers Mr Nitesh Patel Appointed 12/9/11 Angela Thomas Assistant Headteacher Mr Naran Patel Appointed 20/2/12 Claire Wyatt PE Mr K Gaunt Appointed 23/2/09 Samantha Evans 2nd In English Mr D Padmore Appointed 18/5/09 Robert Edwards English

LEA Representatives Dean Seabrook English Mr J Singh Appointed 19/7/12 Kate Matthews English Mr L Ali Appointed 27/1/12 Hilary George English Dr J Gantley Appointed 19/12/12 Christopher Harding English Support Cllr R Patel Appointed 21/9/12 Melissa Forster Science Cllr C Furlong Appointed 24/4/09 Richard Leyshon Science Kirsten Gable Science Parent Representatives Thomas Stephens Science Mr A Yusuf Appointed 25/1/11 Hannah Bird Science Mrs H Mader Appointed 09/11/12 Alice Cooper Music Mrs S Spillane Appointed 25/11/11 Kirsty Speight Maths Mrs N Omar Appointed 25/11/11 Andrew Kurg Maths Support Mrs H Abokor Appointed 09/11/12 Elizabeth Nicholas French Ms D Morgan Appointed 09/11/12 Neil Jones Welsh

Headteacher Susan John Welsh Support Mrs C Bradshaw Jennifer Cuttell RSS Staff Representatives Hannah Baillie History Ms E Bailey Appointed 10/11 Rebecca Lane Art Mrs J Sargeant Appointed 10/11 Caroline Matthews Nurture Mr T Avery Appointed 11/11 New Appointments – T/As Mrs Sian Ovens South Central Systems Leader Aimee Hillman 1 year temp(SEG funded) Rachel Rees 1 year temp (SEG funded)

School Management Community Links Equalities Plan Examples of Community Focus development include stronger links with Inroads and Sustrans. Inroads have The school has completed its Equalities Plan in compliance been very supportive in the development and delivery of with the Equalities Act 2010. This reinforces our commitment health related elements of the curriculum. Sustrans have to equality at Fitzalan and has meant that various groups have supported the school and its partner primary schools in the been involved with scrutinising current policy and practice to delivery of numeracy and map reading skills. ensure that we fulfil our obligations. The plan is due for review in April 2014 and we are working on Every Year 6 child from our primary schools visited Fitzalan this currently. during October and participated in a series of engaging activities involving the use of bicycles. The maths Any parent who would like to be a part of a group considering department hosted the event and included such activities and evaluating the plan is welcome to contact the Head as pumping bicycle tyres and measuring pressures and teacher. speeds. Rob Sage of Sustrans also supported the

geography department and the Drama Hall was turned into Information for Parents a huge walk-on map complete with grid squares. Year 7 In accordance with Section 20 of the 1986 Education Act, the pupils were supplied with maps showing safe cycle and Governors will make arrangements, via the Headteacher, for walk routes around Cardiff. any information not included in this Report to be made available to parents during the academic year. The Governors have taken up Service Level Agreements with the Authority, to assist with the effective management of the school and the delivery of the curriculum. complete with grid squares. Yr7 pupils were supplied with

maps showing safe cycle and walk routes around Cardiff.

School Prospectus A copy of the school prospectus is now available. Please contact the school for a copy or download from the school website.

Finance The Budget Projection for 2012/13 is shown below: Income Formula Allocation plus income: £6,939,618 Expenditure Employees £5,568,478 Premises related expenditure £517,638 Transport & Services £11,785 Supplies & Services £524,425 Service Units £206,412 Rates £110,880

Total Expenditure: £6,939,618

Please note only by raising considerable additional sums have we been able to afford to maintain additional expenditure on teaching and support staff and pupil services. We have upgraded our registration computers and the ICT hardware in two computer rooms. A rolling programme is in place to update classroom furniture and fabric and we are currently refurbishing our school gyms. We are hoping for interest from the Local Authority to improve the existing buildings and to expand the teaching space available, especially for the delivery of Science.

High Achievers’ Evening

Whole School Attendance 2012 - 2013 100 80 60 40 20 0 Whole School

Fitzalan pupils, parents and staff have been celebrating again as highest achievers from years 10, 11, 12 and 13 were invited back to an exclusive Awards’ Evening in September. Upon arrival the pupils and VIP guests were greeted by a beautifully decorated Upper School Hall that had the glamour and glitz of the Oscars yet the prestige of the Nobel Prize Awards! Inspirational Olympic Gold Winner tables were adorned with flowers and candles whilst Andrew Boczek welcomed guests with his fabulous piano playing. The awards received ranged from £20 - £100 for pupils who have gained some of the best results not only in Fitzalan but in the whole of the city; we hope that this financial reward will go some way to purchasing books and resources for future studies. Amongst the guests was Steve Ellis, Education Manager from Cardiff City Football Club, who praised the pupils’ achievements and presented numerous awards. Special Awards were then presented to Hannah Beare for achievements in Year 10, Hamna Saeed (4 x A Grades at AS), Khadra Hassan (2 x A* and 2A Grades at A2) and the overall outstanding achievement award for 2012 went to Mohamed Eghleilib who secured an amazing 13 A* grades at GCSE. Guests were then served a delicious buffet by our current highest achievers in Year 10 who we hope will be inspired to maintain the standards set this year. These High Achievers have certainly made their families and teachers proud with their outstanding contributions to school life and we wish them all the very best in their future careers. 2012/2013 Academic Year

Term Term Starts Half Term Half Term Term Ends Starts Ends

Autumn Mon 3rd Sept Mon 29th Oct Fri 2nd Nov Friday 21st Dec 2012 2012 2012 2012

Spring Mon 7th Jan Mon 11th Feb Fri 15th Feb Fri 22nd Mar 2013 2013 2013 2013

Summer Mon 8th April Mon 27th May Fri 31st May Mon 22nd Jul 2013 2013 2013 2013

Our visit to Storey Arms

Storey Arms was amazing - we loved doing all the activities. Caving was challenging, but boosted our self-esteem. Hill walking was difficult but once at the top we were able to take in the fabulous views. The night walk gave us all the chance to talk to one another and to stay on track in the dark without falling off the edge. Kayaking was brilliant. It was something everybody participated in, we could all have a conversation with each other whilst trying hard to kayak. The rope trail made all of us nervous just in case we fell and had an injury, many people fell in ditches, walked into trees and lost the rope, but it was great fun! The main objective of gorge walking was to stay dry. Well, we failed on that one!

The water was extremely cold.

Every activity was rewarding both mentally and physically. The instructors were all brilliant to be with. Overall Storey Arms was a wonderful experience that everyone should try.

Niamh O’Brien/Sadika Meah

Rebecca Daniels, Head of Year 7 in Fitzalan, was selected for her hard work and commitment to hockey to carry the Olympic torch in Llanelli. It was a great honour for Rebecca and the pupils and staff at Fitzalan are all very proud that she is a member of our school.

Sixth form success The Welsh Baccalaureate has had another extremely successful year at Fitzalan. Many of the pupils who gained the qualification at KS5 in August 2012 went on to secure university courses of their choice, with the course helping them to achieve their entry requirements. Others chose to use the qualification to assist their role in the community and take a gap year before attending in September 2013. Pupils have taken part in a variety of opportunities to develop their learning within the wider context, with fundraising in excess of a thousand pounds for George Thomas Hospice in October 2012 being a highlight. Alongside this the current year 12 pupils raised funds and filled (with the assistance of KS3 pupils) over 160 boxes for Operation Christmas Child. This will allow pupils to successfully achieve their Wider Key Skill of Working with Others to assist with their course. Pupils have assisted in volunteering opportunities within the local community and school based projects such as Reading Buddies to support literacy with KS3 pupils. Following a Sign Language qualification has benefited the pupils considerably in an area that they have never experienced. Many of the pupils studying the course have developed their learning in different areas and enhanced their understanding and related it to the wider world, benefiting their progression to the world of work and university.

Pupils from year 12 assisted and read at our school Remembrance Service. We were also invited to attend a Community Carol Service in Canton, where Joseph Brown was selected to read. Some of our top achievers attended a mock Oxbridge interview event for the first time at Howells school which was both informative and enjoyable for all those involved. A number of students attended Medical Science days where they experienced degree level tutorials and participated in laboratory work. We also had Year 12 Parents’ Evening and Open Evening. In our sixth form many students attended from other local schools to register their interest for next year.

CEO of the Life for African Mothers’ Charity, Angela Gorman spoke at the sixth form assembly to explain the work that she does in Sub-Saharan Africa to provide vital medication to hospitals in order to prevent unnecessary maternal deaths. Each treatment costs about 50p, so the £200 donated by the 6th form will help to prevent the deaths of 400 new mothers. We look forward to seeing Angela delivering her next batch of medicines in our very own 'Fitzalan' Bag.

Sporting Achievements to date 2011/2012

Sport

Teams entered (Winter)

Soccer (boys) Cardiff Schools Under 12s Cardiff League

Cardiff Cup Runners Up 14s

Welsh Cup 19s Cardiff League

Rugby

Year 7 Cardiff Sevens Competition 2nd in group

Year 9 Cardiff Sevens Competition 4th in group

Cricket

Cardiff Cup Runners Up Year 7

Cardiff League Inter School Year 9

Athletics (boys & girls) Year 7 Cardiff County Championship

Years 8 & 9 Cardiff County Championship

Years 10 & 11 Cardiff County Championship

Years 7 & 8 Cardiff Knockout Cup

Years 9 & 10 Cardiff Knockout Cup

Indoor Rowing Year 7 Girls Individual Gold

Welsh Indoor Championships Year 7 team Girls Gold

Year 11 team Girls Silver

Netball Runner up in Year 7 Group stage of Cardiff Cup

Gwobrau Arbennig 2012 -Special Awards 2012 Year 7 Peter Colley Ymdrech Ragorol -Exceptional Effort Year 8 Soraia Robalo Year 9 Rebecca Crowley

Gwobr Ddarllen Sam Tafreshi a Nazia Begum Year 8 Izza Sajid 2012 -Sam Tafreshi & Nazia Begum Reading Award 2012

Cwpan Cymuned Trefynach -Grangetown Com- Year 7 Daisy Spillane munity Cup A wobrwyir am waith yn y gymuned 2012 - awarded for work in the community 2012

Gwobr Is-iarll Tonypandy 2012 - Viscount To- Year 11 Andrew Boczek nypandy Award 2012

Gwobr Mathew Price - Mathew Price – Contri- Year 13 Daniel Gabe-Jones bution to Wider School Life – Cyfraniad I Fywyd Ysgol-eang - Wesh Community football awards regional winner 2012 ‘Player of the Year’

Gwobr Wally Carter am Ragoriaeth mewn Year 13 Dale Hutchinson Chwaraeon 2012 -Wally Carter Prize for Excel- lence in PE 2012

Gwobr Porton am Ragoriaeth mewn Cerddori- Year 9 Yuchen Zhang aeth 2012 -Porton prize for Excellence in Music 2012

Gwobr Hanes Lianne Brookes 2012 -Lianne Year 11 Haris Ahmed Brookes Award for History 2012

Gwobr Porton am Ragoriaeth mewn Mathe- Year 9 Anna James mateg 2012 -Porton Prize for Excellence in Mathematics - 2012

Gwobr Arweinyddiaeth Dosbarth Chwech 2012 Year 12 Hamna Saeed - Sixth Form Leadership Award 2012 Disgyblion Cyfleoedd Ymestynnol âr Cynnydd Mwyaf 2012 - Most Improved Pupil in Extended Year 11 Dionne Bowden Opportunities 2012

Arferion Dysgu - Habits of Learning Year 7 Lydia Harris Year 10 Connie Wu Year 12 Khalid Rahman

Disgyblion Rhagorol Blwyddyn 2012 Outstand- Year 7 Shazed Chowdhury ing Students of the Year 2012 Year 8 Nurul Afifah Shukri Year 8 Baaqi Abdul Year 9 Megan Pratt Year 10 Hamza Nazzal Year 13 Amman Mader