Whoever we are, Amwell View School whatever we do, we can get better in the context of and our own ability. Specialist Sports College Issue No. 03 May 2011 Amwell View School and Specialist Sports College Whoever we are, Stanstead Abbotts Nr Ware whatever we do, we can get better Tel: 01920 870027 Hertfordshire in the context of our own ability. Fax: 01920 871664 SG12 8EH Matt Oxley - Designer and Editor Whoever we are, whatever we do, we can get better in the context of our own ability. Jan Liversage — Headteacher “We would like to thank you for Appreciations taking Lewis for work experience at Amwell View last week. We very much It is exciting to be producing our third magazine. So much has happened since the beginning of our journey as a appreciate the time and effort that you’ve given to enable Lewis’ work experience to go ahead. Specialist Sports College. The development of the whole curriculum is still significant and continues to expand and “I just wanted to let you know what a lovely time I reflect the needs of the children and young people educated here. We have come a long way over the three years The week was a great success and the feedback had on my 2-day placement with you this week and we’ve had here at school both from the students and strive to improve educational provision at all times despite the changes that have been imposed, including the thank you so much for having me in your school. It demise of subject specialism. We continue to be responsive to the changes that face us at both Government and and their parents has been extremely positive. was a genuinely touching and inspira- Please pass our thanks on to all the members of local levels. tional experience to see how all the staff works staff who spent time with Lewis” together and in such a wonderful school with such We will still be called a Specialist Sports College and use the resources both material and human, that we have fantastic facilities. It was clear to me how happy the developed, to deliver a personalised and motivating learning opportunity for all the pupils at the school. It is Pinewood children are to be there. It is now a possibility that I School important to consider every change as an opportunity to evaluate our position and create new openings. may want to do my second year placement in a spe- cial school as I believe it may be the area I want to Two consecutive Ofsted inspections with judgements of ‘Outstanding’ in 2007 and 2010 means that we will be work in the future.” afforded a longer period of time to pass before our next inspection: at least not until 2014, according to the present Ofsted regulations. In the meantime the school continues to be a very popular provision for the Elise Clements (BEd1, University of Hertfordshire) appropriate children and offers high quality learning opportunities to everyone. “Thank you so much to you, your colleagues and the students at Amwell for making me so welcome on my visit last week. It is clearly a Jane Connolly - Deputy Head very special place and I was overwhelmed by the positive, supportive and fun learning environment that has been created for students One of the privileges of working in our school is the opportunity to share and learn with various members of the local and staff! It seems like a great place to go to and wider communities. Over the past year we have attracted a large number of regularCBE. Her volunteers interest in w sportho support as a our school / work each day. Thank you for taking the pupils’ learning in the classroom and at after school clubs. Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), Post Graduate time to show us around and give us a good in- Certificate of Education (PGCE) and Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) students from Hertfordshire and other sight into the workings of the school. I hope universities have visited us as part of their teacher training, often commenting on how much they have learnt from our Sports Day goes well for you all and wish you pupils. Our local primary schools, St Andrew’s and St John the Baptist Primary Schools as well as Simon Balle and the school all the best for the future. “ Secondary School have hosted and generously supported our Graduate Teacher Programme Trainees teachers. Students from colleges and local secondary schools continue to request work experience placements and their teachers Kind regards, Natalie, P.E Dept. St. George's School, Harpenden and parents comment on how positively the students react to their experiences with us. “I write to express my thanks for the opportunity to spend today in your school. As a component of my Hertfordshire Special Schools Network GTP training year, I found the day both informative and enjoyable, particularly in light of all of the delightful students I met who clearly all enjoy their Working with our local schools for pupils with time at Amwell View. My time spent observing Moderate Learning Difficulties is being developed. I classes, attending assembly and touring your am encouraged that both Pinewood and Middleton extensive and well-equipped facilities provided me schools are interested in establishing strong links with with a clear indication of the high quality of Amwell View. We have already joined up for two teaching and care your students receive which training opportunities and will continue to seek out reflects the highly professional approach and ways to work together more effectively in the future. dedication of all of your staff. “ Yours sincerely The following website www.aflinsld.org has been developed by the six schools for pupils with Dr SJ Coote (Richard Hale School) “I just wanted to email you to thank you for letting severe learning difficulties (SLD) in Hertfordshire. The group was formed as part of the me visit the school today, I had a fantastic time Hertfordshire project for lead practice in Assessment for Learning (AfL). We established a and came away feeling very energised with the collaborative working party, with the support of Diane Croston as Assessment Advisor, to the work that you do. I was very impressed with the development of AfL in our schools. We have been developing the use of AfL in special schools teachers and TA's and thoroughly enjoyed the two over the past ten years. Whilst AfL has been recognised as a key strategy in mainstream schools PE classes I sat in on!” there is a lack of information related to its application in SLD schools. The purpose of this website is to share our lead practice and provide a bank of useful resources for other Many Thanks practitioners to download and use. Sam Jeffery – Level 3 Social Work Student Amwell View School and Specialist Sports College Whoever we are, whatever we do, we can get better in the Amwell View School and Specialist Sports College Whoever we are, whatever we do, we can get better in the www.amwell.herts.sch.uk context of our own ability. www.amwell.herts.sch.uk context of our own ability. “we are so immensely proud of Rose Parents and all her achievements and that’s Nicole Thomson - English down to you all and all of your inspiration staff. We could not wish As a target for the whole school in the 2010/11 academic year, drama using for better” “We would just like to say thank you for what you have done for Ben kinaesthetic approaches has been a big focus and pupils have enjoyed accessing and us over the years of him being at Amwell View. He has gone from the English Curriculum through a variety of means. a child to a young man that we are proud of as a family.” Esme and Dave Willcocks To support the delivery of drama and the English curriculum using kinaesthetic demise of subject specialism. We continue to be responsive to the changes that face us at both Government and Bunny and Gill Turner learning, lots of exciting resources have been purchased and off-site visits “Just a belated note to say thank planned and carried out. you for all Amwell View has done Adult sized fancy dress costumes We“We will would still likebe calledto use thisa Specialist opportunity Sports to say College a big THANKand use YOUthe resources for both material and human, that we have developed, to deliver a personalised and motivating learning opportunity forfor allJames. the pupilsHe has at very the fond school. It is linked to English reading topics every thing that you are doing for us. For all the support and heart that memories of you all.” have been purchased to involve our you give us all the time. We would never made it without you. We are Upper School pupils in role play. so happy.” James Green and family Character costumes from William ’ in 2007 and 2010 means that we will be affordedAnna and a Tomaslonger Sliwaperiod of time to pass before our next inspection: at least not until 2014, according to the Shakespeare and Charles Dickens’ present Ofsted regulations. In the meantime the school continues to be a very popular provision for the works will ensure drama is accessible to all and is lots of fun. Lower School pupils have also seen some exciting new additions to their Governors role play collection. After many years of a key member of the Due to personal commitments we Some of the upper school pupils experienced a musical production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at Harlow governing body we have had to say ‘goodbye’ to have also had to replace Paula Craig, Playhouse whilst the lower school pupils enjoyed their annual pantomime trip to a production of ‘Cinderella’ at Duncan Rodgers.