Re o THE KINGS OF WESSEX SCHOOL A Church of England Foundation School Specialist Technology College Issue no. 92 End of Summer Term – July 2010 The Kings’ Messenger Operation Wallacea Proving the adage, be careful what you wish for – because with some determination and over a year and a half’s fundraising, it may come true…Twenty-five Year 12 Biology students will soon be embarking on a trip of a lifetime to South Africa at the end of this term with Operation Wallacea. The budding Biologists will be helping Scientists research the effects of fencing off large areas on Biodiversity and will be part of the on-going studies. It is the ultimate fieldwork to test their skills – and what an adventure! Each student has raised £2,000 and taken part in many activities - including supermarket bag packing, a sponsored swim and cake- making to raise their staggering target over the past year, and they are all indebted to local businesses and Trusts for helping them make their dream a reality. Thanks go to fellow Kings students for the proceeds from a non-uniform day; the School Governors for their donation; Kings staff for a Quiz Night and many local businesses in the community who have generously donated prizes. Local Trusts have also shown their support, not least The Cheddar Youth Trust and Axbridge Trust Fund, and Derwent Flooring. Lastly, the customers in coffee shop Starbucks in Wells have big-heartedly donated £1200 from loose change over the past 18 months and enjoyed freebie coffee. But… before the students pack their safari suits, here they are now with a Big Thank You! By Teachers of Biology, Mrs Hunter-Clarke (Chief Fundraiser) and Miss Jackson (Operation Wallacea Organiser) www.opwall.com Head’s-Up from Mr Richardson Headteacher, The Kings of Wessex School Dear Parents, As this school year draws to a close, I am delighted to bring you this final Kings’ Messenger to catch-up on events this Summer Term at The Kings of Wessex School. You will be aware from my various communications – the headline news at the start of the term was the invitation from the Secretary of State for Education for Kings as an Outstanding School to become an Academy. Throughout the term, work has been on-going and I am delighted to report that we have just been informed that there has been agreement for Kings and two other Somerset Schools (Holyrood Community and Huish Episcopi) to convert to an Academy. I will, of course, keep you closely informed of progress - see our website. Following our Easter Revision programme – which, you will recall provided even more courses for students - this has been the peak exams season. As you would expect here at Kings, we have all been working hard with students to encourage them to achieve their very best. In this second year of our innovative one-to-one Assertive Mentoring Programme, all our Year 11 students worked closely with their designated Mentor to focus on areas where extra work was required to raise achievement. Whilst some students were on independent exam leave, others remained in school for an extra boost with their class teachers, with all students attending briefings before their exams, which I know they found beneficial for last minute reminders. At this point, I would like to thank our Exams Team, led by Assistant Headteacher Christian Hughes, for their exceptional administration. We all now look forward to the results in August. It is only proper after the students’ hard studying and exams-sitting that they had opportunity to celebrate. We held our Year 11 Celebration Assembly on Friday 22 June 2010 organised by Year 11 Leader Mr Green and team of enthusiastic students. The following Tuesday the year group donned their party frocks and DJ’s for their Prom at The Webbington Hotel in Loxton, with fascinating modes of transport – including a tractor, horse and cart, numerous stretch limos, sports cars, Inspector Morse Jaguar and would you believe it – a pizza delivery car! Meanwhile, the Year 13 leavers’ assembly was held in school on Friday 28 May 2010, and students later topped this at the end of their exams by dancing the night away at Weston-super-Mare’s Winter Gardens. I very much wish our students every continuing success in their Higher Education next steps – or whether opting for inter/national adventures in gap years or in employment. On this topic, our Year 10 students recently dipped their toes in the world of work for their Work Experience. Placements were wide-ranging and exciting from reporters at the local newspapers, to the Police, and even a boutique in London. Meanwhile, our Year 9 students had a wide variety of experiences on their PSHE/Citizenship Day. Earlier in the term and as part of the General Election fever, we held our very own student election. Organised by our Christian Leader Jo Slade, student representatives of the main Political Parties canvassed in assemblies before there was a day of voting in a school election. Local Cheddar Valley Parliamentary candidates were then invited into school during the election week to make their pitch and answer questions. As the educational cycle moves on, we look forward to welcoming our new Year 9 students in September. Transfer arrangements are in full flow and we had an enjoyable Transfer Day for our new students on Tuesday 6 July 2010. I also thank those parents who attended the information evening at the end of May and who will also be meeting their child’s Tutor at the time of writing. This year’s new Sixth Form Induction Day held on Tuesday 29 June 2010 was attended by over 180 students. I know they enjoyed their first taste of the Sixth Form in introductory lessons and other activities – and not least not wearing school uniform! Back to business after study leave, our Year 12’s returned to school study on Wednesday 30 June 2010 to embark on their A2 Level classes. Following its launch success last year, we are introducing the Extended Project Qualification, which equates to extra UCAS points, and facilitates independent learning in our young people who work on a one-to- one basis with a staff Supervisor. I thank formally my Assistant Headteacher (Head of Sixth Form) Miss Sally Bishop for her contribution to Kings over the past five years and wish her well as she moves to Yorkshire. Year Leader Mr Green will be stepping into her shoes and I know will be a dynamic successor in leading our Sixth Form. In turn, Teacher of History and Sociology Mrs Read succeeds Mr Green as Year 9 Leader and is already working to ensure a smooth transfer. Once again, staff have been leading a number of enrichment activities including our Sports Leaders organising various sports festivals for our Cheddar Valley First and Middle Schools; Duke of Edinburgh expeditions; Design Technology trip to Alton Towers; whilst our Mathematicians journeyed to the Eden Project in Cornwall. I was fortunate to participate on the Year 9 History Department trip to the World War I Battlefields in France and was greatly impressed by our students who embraced this experience with maturity and curiosity worthy of their young years. I am grateful to our staff for enthusiastically inspiring a love of learning in our students, which enhances their confidence and school experience at Kings. I was moved by the visiting Interactive Prayer 2010 Return to School Dates: Space in school for one week in June. Provided by We return for the new school year as follows: Orison and organised with Christian Leader Jo Slade, the space was open to all with meaningful areas for Years 9, 10 and 12 students reflection about God and prayer. I hope our Years 9 From Thursday 2 September 2010 and 10 R.E. students and also visiting children from Cheddar and Mark First Schools enjoyed their And Years 11 and 13 students dedicated sessions . We continue to be supported by our partners. Join us all from I formally thank Mendip Rotary for working with us Friday 3 September 2010 again this year, providing challenges for our students in Business Studies Big Pitch, and Young Speaker and Writer competitions. THANK YOU TO On a stylish note, I must delight with those of you who joined us at this year’s ‘A’ Level Art and Parents Teacher Association (PTA) Fashion Show exhibition of Artwork, Photography Thank you to our PTA for their marvellous momentum and Textiles - with the GCSE Show hot on the heels the following week. The standard of work was again this year in raising money from your donations to wonderful, and I thank Subject Leader Mrs Downer the Enrichment Fund, providing refreshments and raffles and her Art Team for encouraging our students to at school events and also reclaimed Gift Aid Tax. Their develop their ideas into such a stunning showcase. work greatly complements the work of our school. Recently, we also enjoyed the Design and Please do support them if you can at the October AGM: Technology Week preparing our designers for the future - complete with an impressive exhibition, Tuesday 5 October 2010 at 7.30pm exciting activities, trips and competitions. Thank you in the Learning Resources Centre to DT Enrichment Leader Miss Chapman. Still in creative mode, our Year 9 Thespians PTA AGM brought some amusement to school with their Everyone welcome! performance of Sue Townsend 1980’s favourite “The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13¾”. Well done to Hannah Shaw for her expert directing of the tortured teenager and associates.