INSPIRE ACHIEVE SUCCEED Page 4 Page 6 Page 13 October 2016 Volume 8 Issue 1 Mr P. Adams Hello again, We are well into the school year and autumn has arrived. I am sure you will have seen the examination results. It is all change in school performance tables so we are reporting slightly different data this year. Pupils performed very well, with over 70% of them achieving at least C grade in both maths and English. They also made better progress than would have been expected based on their results at the end of primary school. Based on both old and new performance measures you will be pleased to hear that, yet again, The Corbet School is the best performing school in North Shropshire. I must thank all staff and pupils who helped out with our open morning and evening. These were very well attended events with many really positive comments from prospective parents regarding the school, its pupils and its staff. I am sure that these pupils and parents will be making The Corbet their first choice. Next year is a very important year for The Corbet School. It will be 60 years since the school first opened its doors to the young people of North Shropshire. As it’s such an important year we will be holding a number of events, including a spring fete, which we are already in the process of planning. It also gives us an opportunity to try to raise money to help further improve the school and its facilities. We are particularly keen to improve our laboratories in the science block. We have been very successful in obtaining government funding to improve the infrastructure of the block, for instance, last year a new insulated roof was fitted. However, the government will not fund the replacement of the laboratory furniture and equipment. We have written recently about our plans and seeking any help or support you may be able to give. It would be a fantastic achievement to raise sufficient funds to refurbish the labs to equip us for the future. As always, a lot has been going on in school this half term. At the request of the pupils, we are now offering football training for both boys and girls after school and will be playing fixtures against other local schools. Our other teams in netball and rugby have also been in action; more details inside. Our new year 7 pupils have settled in really well. They have all had the experience of attending a team building day at the Red Ridge Centre in Cefn Coch, Welshpool. It’s been great to receive so many positive comments from parents about how much their children are enjoying the school. Our Year 11’s history and RE students went on an educational visit to Krakow in Poland, to enhance the students learning of the Holocaust, pre-war Jewish life and life under Nazi control. This was an important opportunity to gain an understanding of the events and aftermath of the holocaust, to reflect on what was lost, and the sacrifices that were made under the cover of the Second World War. This was a very rewarding but also highly emotional visit. Year 10 and 11 pupils enjoyed their trip to watch a production of ‘Blood Brothers’ in Birmingham. This is a play that they are studying in the new GCSE English course. I hope you will be able to attend the Talent Show in November. These are always excellent events showcasing the range of musical and theatrical talents in the school. Tickets are now available. Finally, some sad news our Site Manager, Mr Brown, who some of you may have known, particularly if you had an interest in gun sports, sadly passed away recently. Our thoughts are with his family. October 2016 Volume 8 Issue 1 2 Term Dates 2016-17 Autumn Term 2016 Tuesday 6th September - Friday 16th December 2016 Half Term: Monday 24th October - Friday 28th October 2016 Christmas Holidays: Monday 1 9th December 201 6 - Monday 2nd January 2017 Professional Development days: Monday 5th September 2016 Monday 31st October 2016 Spring Term 2017 Wednesday 4th January - Friday 7th April 2017 Half Term: Monday 20th February - Friday 24th February 2017 Easter Holiday: Monday 1 0th April - Friday 21st April 2017 Professional Development Days Tuesday 3rd January 2017 Summer Term 2017 Monday 24th April - Friday 21st July 2017 May Day: Monday 1 st May 201 7 Half Term: Monday 29th May - Friday 2nd June 2017 End of Term: Friday 21 st July 201 7 Charity, Donations and School Fund Last term’s Race for Life Non-uniform day, cake sale & sponsorship organised by Mrs Gardner raised £1104.52 for Cancer Research UK. The school has received £3328 (so far) in School Fund Donations, most of which are Gift Aided Donations - this will mean an extra 25p for every £1 donated. Thank you to all parents/carers for their generous donations. This academic year all charity donations from non-uniform days will be split with the School Fund Charity. CFA Our Corbet Friends Association’s AGM is on Tuesday 1st November 2016 at 7.30pm in the School Library. Unfortunately our current Chairperson is standing down so we are keen to invite interest from any other volunteers who may like to take up this position. Application forms are available from the school office. Governors If you would like to contact the Chair of Governors, Mr Roger Ford, please email the Clerk to the Governors, Mrs Jane Davies. [email protected] Corbet to Celebrate its Diamond Anniversary The Corbet will be celebrating it 60th anniversary by holding a Diamond Anniversary event on Saturday 20th May 2017. Further information will follow but please keep the date free for a fun, family event. October 2016 Volume 8 Issue 1 3 Race for Life The students and teachers at the Corbet School had an amazing day with the whole school taking part in their own Race for Life event on Thursday 21st July 2016. They were all asked to dress up in their House colours and run or walk for 30 minutes raising money for Cancer Research in the process. Not only were they racing for friends and family who have been affected by Cancer but also for House points to count towards the end of year House Trophy. All students donated £1 to take part and were also encour- aged to get sponsorship. Some students also baked and sold their cakes at break time to raise even more money. The schools target is to raise £1000. The day was organised by PE teacher Kathy Gardner and the school sports council who are all “incredibly proud of how the students and teachers have got behind the event and how hard they have worked at both their fancy dress costumes and their running, in very hot conditions. Everyone seems to have had a fantastic time and we hope that this can become an annual event” October 2016 Volume 8 Issue 1 4 College Partnership Will Benefit Students, Communities and Businesses North Shropshire College and Reaseheath College in Cheshire have announced that they are to form a federation from September of this year. Both colleges specialise in land-based subjects and technical and vocational qualifications, are in a strong phase of continuous growth and improvement and share a long history of delivering quality education. It is felt that, by working together to combine resources, expertise and reputation, the colleges will build on their strengths and will offer an even wider and better educational experience to further and higher education students and to apprentices. It is also envisaged that the closer collaboration will have a positive impact on the local economies of both counties by providing enhanced links with industry partners and local communities. The governing bodies of both colleges carried out extensive research before deciding that a federation would best secure the future of quality, land based education and general technical and vocational education in Shropshire, Cheshire and the wider region. Although both colleges are committed to working together, they will remain independent and retain their own names and campuses within the federation. With support from the Skills Funding Agency, and where it is considered to be in the best interests of the students, the governing bodies will explore closer ties in the future. This could include the possibility of a merger at a later date if the interests and circumstances of both colleges are in alignment. In the meantime, senior managers will facilitate the sharing of good practice, support and staff development across the colleges. The new partnership is supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ Area Review of Post 16 Education, which is committed to a move towards fewer and larger colleges which will be more resilient and efficient in the future. North Shropshire College Principal Jackie Doodson said: “The governing body has carried out extensive research and appraised its options rigorously. As a result, it has concluded that a partnership with Reaseheath College will best secure the long term future of high quality land based provision for Shropshire along with high quality vocational education and training for Oswestry and rural North Shropshire. “We will share best practice to improve the quality of provision and facilities, and our strengthened financial sustainability and resilience will enable us to grow the number and range of HE and FE courses we offer.” Reaseheath Principal Meredydd David said: “This fantastic opportunity will allow both colleges to move forward and to respond together to the challenges and opportunities facing the Further and Higher Education sector.