Westcliff High School for Boys The Westcliff Diary T: 01702 475443 F: 01702 470495 E: [email protected] W: www.whsb.essex.sch.uk ISSUE 83 / SPRING 2018 IN THIS ISSUE: STEM ACTIVITIES ESSEX YOUNG POET OF THE YEAR MUSIC VISTS TO SEE WICKED AND PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA SCHOOL PLAY: THE RESISTABLE RISE OF ARTORIO UI THE WESTCLIFF DIARY PAGE 1 correlation between levels of attendance to provide coherent and consistent GCSE AND A LEVEL TRIAL INTERNET USE FROM THE and academic performance. By way of guidance and support. I hope that this example drawing on the most recent Year information is helpful in understanding EXAMINATIONS 10 Report data issued in November 2017, why the School does not authorise I wrote about the matter of appropriate DESK OF THE we had 25 pupils who had attendance holidays during term time. I thank all The Spring Term brings preparations use of the Internet this time last year. I below 96% and their average progress parents for their continued support with for the Public Examinations sharply into noted that some pupils were spending HEADMASTER was half a grade behind the cohort as a this matter. focus. Year 11 pupils have completed an inordinate amount of time on the whole. By the same token, it will probably their trial examinations and should use Internet, often playing games (sometimes come as no surprise that the 15 Year 10 PUPIL PARTICIPATION the feedback provided by their teachers late at night and into the early hours of WELCOME BACK FROM you would like to make a donation to the pupils with the least favourable conduct to inform their study and revision plans. the morning). I regret to note that these THE HEADMASTER School please contact Mr D Partridge, records were approximately a whole The return to a two-year linear A Level practices are still occurring and creating Director of Resources & Support Services, grade behind the average for the Year 10 I would like to take this opportunity course means that GCSE grades are difficulties for some pupils. This activity in the first instance. cohort as a whole. to thank parents for the support they now the only actual public examination is leaving some pupils deprived of sleep I hope that pupils and parents had an provide to their children, encouraging data universities can draw on when which is affecting their health as well as enjoyable and restful Christmas holiday. I give all pupils, staff and parents my best I appreciate that those parents taking and enabling them to attend Westcliff considering students’ Higher Education having a negative impact on performance I am pleased to welcome pupils back as wishes for the Spring Term. their children out of lessons on holidays Diary events. In the last two or three applications and those considering at School. There is an increasing we begin the two-year countdown to have no intention of damaging their years, we have seen a significant growth high demand courses at the most amount of research suggesting a strong the School’s Centenary. The School has ATTENDANCE AND educational prospects. However, in the numbers attending evening music prestigious universities must focus on correlation between adolescent wellbeing established a Centenary Committee and unfortunately the School’s data indicates events and Saturday sports fixtures. obtaining grades 8 and 9 in the GCSE and the use of the Internet. Mr Bleakley, I hope to be in a position to share some of BEHAVIOUR that is the most likely outcome of their I would strongly encourage parents Examinations. The matter of A Level Head of Lower School, has spoken about our plans for the Centenary celebrations actions. It is simply not feasible to expect to support and encourage their son/ options will be discussed this term and these matters at a number of recent in 2020 in the next edition of the Westcliff I am most grateful to pupils and parents a pupil to easily make up time lost at daughter to attend at least two evening Year 11 students should understand education evenings. It is important for Diary. for pupils’ excellent attendance and School in circumstances where there are events from the Westcliff Diary this the scale of the challenge presented by parents to discuss responsible Internet conduct at School. At present our six lessons each day and the pace of the term. In particular, I draw to parents’ GCSE Examinations and the need to use with their children and encourage and I would like to take this opportunity to statistics for both attendance and lessons is fast due to the academically attention our music concerts and drama reach their full potential next summer agree sensible parameters. This is likely thank parents and the wider community behaviour exceed national levels and selective cohort. It is the case that the cost production (The Resistible Rise of Arturo to provide a secure platform for Post to involve shutting the Internet off after for the many generous donations we we shall continue to work hard to of pupils missing school is visited upon Ui). These events involve a considerable 16 education. Equally, Upper Sixth 9.00pm and agreeing with pupils that have received this academic year. The maintain and, where possible, improve them when they return to lessons and investment of time and effort to students need to make the most of the internet enabled devices such as mobile donations to the School’s Pupil Fund our performance. I wish to draw to have to cope with gaps in their knowledge produce and we strongly encourage opportunity provided by the Spring trial phones are not kept in bedrooms. As I enable the School to assist those pupils your attention that there has been a and notes. It is difficult to make up lost pupils to attend to show support for examinations. This will allow students to have previously shared with parents, the and families who may not otherwise worrying increase in the number of time and continue to progress with new their community and as a means of sharpen their knowledge and examination best discipline is self-discipline, and home be able to contribute towards costs parents requesting leave of absence to work at a fast pace. Equally, I would increasing their own cultural awareness, technique ahead of the real examinations and School must work together to help associated with uniform and transport for extend holiday periods. I appreciate that strongly encourage parents to follow and enhancing their skills in team work this summer. Therefore, it is vital that pupils develop good habits with regard to enrichment activities. The School is also some families must travel significant up on communications from the School and leadership. a methodical revision programme is in the Internet usage. grateful for the donation of new music distances to visit relatives abroad and regarding concerns in relation to conduct place now to ensure the students can stands from the Parents’ Association and that transport and accommodation costs at School. The most effective means of fully engage with the trial examination an oboe from the Gershinson family to peak during holiday periods. However, the helping a pupil overcome difficulties is for questions. the Music Department. In the event that School’s performance data shows a strong parents and the School to work together PUPIL SUCCESSES audience. We thank him for joining us for Association (IKGA) World Champion this important School occasion. Speech representing Great Britain in the STAFF CHANGES FOR THE personal success and fulfilment. Grammar School, and also Miss Selfridge Day provides an opportunity to highlight individual kumite (fighting) division in the I would like to take this opportunity to SPRING TERM a graduate of Kings and Durham the success of pupils individually and 2017 World Championships which took thank all of those who contributed to We were delighted to welcome Ms Universities. We also welcome Ms Porter- collectively across the full range of School place in Canada. Our congratulations our highly successful Speech Day on 9 The School said farewell to Dr Oliver who Fasquel (Teacher of French) back from Mackrell our new Head of Religious activities. also to Alex in Year 12 who successfully November 2017. We were most fortunate took early retirement at the end of last her maternity leave towards the end Studies who joins us from Westcliff High completed a rigorous and highly to have Mr Kevin O’Neill, Old Westcliffian term. Dr Oliver has overcome significant of the Autumn Term. Mr Allen-Smith School for Girls. Of course, we know there is much that competitive set of auditions to obtain and one of the country’s leading difficulties having suffered a stroke just (English Teacher) retired from teaching our pupils achieve outside of School a place in the clarinet section of the neurosurgeons, as our guest of honour. over two-years ago. All those connected at the end of Autumn Term. He has We were delighted to welcome Ms Lewis and I would particularly like to offer our National Youth Orchestra. Mr O’Neil’s remarks on the value of with the School will know that Dr Oliver been an outstanding member of staff to the School’s Support Staff as our newly congratulations to Danielle in Year 12 learning from failures as well as successes has given extra-ordinary service to the who has done much to inspire a love of appointed Facilities & Premises Manager who became the International Goju-Kai resonated with the pupils and the wider School during his twenty years at the English, particularly poetry, amongst the in October 2017. We said farewell to School.