Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ WINTER 2018 Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Web: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk NEWSLETTER Headteacher: Jane Abbott Headteacher’s Letter OUR TERMLY NEWSLETTER provides the measure, i.e. at least a Grade 4 in English and secondary schools again for the third year in school community with a superb opportunity Maths. succession. This is an amazing achievement to reflect on the many and varied achievements and an endorsement of the sustained excellent Our P8 score was 0.5 meaning that, an of our students over the past term. I have academic attainment and progress of students average of all students made half a grade more highlighted just a few of the wonderful events at Woking High School. Our congratulations progress than other students nationally. Our that have taken place. Staff and students have go to all students in this year group and we A8 score is 56 – the equivalent of a Grade 6 in contributed to the detail of the newsletter so do wish them well in their future careers. Our all subjects. please read their articles. thanks go to all staff, parents and governors, 35% of all entries gained 9-7/A*-A grades for the part they played in preparing, Amidst the August sunshine our Year 11 supporting and guiding our young people 2018 student cohort celebrated the best 90% gained 4+ in English Literature/Language towards this success. GCSE examination results the school has 83% gained 4+ in Maths ever recorded. This year almost all GCSEs Once again, the Autumn term has been an were awarded 9-1 with 9 being the highest. 82% achieved 4+ in both English and Maths exciting and successful one for all year groups. Students and schools are measured in terms Our new Year 7 students have transferred 60% achieved 5+ in both English and Maths. of the progress made during secondary school seamlessly from primary to secondary school (P8) and the outcome of their best 8 grades These results placed Woking High School and have relished the many opportunities they with English and Maths double counted (A8). in the top 10% of all secondary schools have already had of making their mark on the Additionally, they are also judged on the in England and Wales for the third year school (see Year 7 report) including speaking percentage of students who gain the “Basic” running and the top of the 11-16 Surrey at our Open Evening. Woking High School is an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above. We were delighted to see so many parents and such well-behaved children enjoying their prospective students in October, not only at learning.” our wonderfully vibrant Open Evening but Year 11 Review Throughout the term the Windband and also at our many open mornings. Feedback Choir have, as always, made a significant from our visitors, which is always hugely contribution to life at Woking High School. valuable, told us how much they had Only one term into the year, and as a year They showcased their talents at our enjoyed the amazing activities and exciting group, we’ve already achieved so much! Open Evening and deeply impressed the demonstrations. Events included Sgraffito At the end of Year 10, we supported the congregation at our Remembrance concert work in Art, participating in a Drama recycling stationary scheme and it has in November (see Mr Goodwin’s report). performance skills workshop, contributing in been very successful and each class room Equally, the GCSE Drama students were a world-wide food quiz in Geography, playing its own pen bucket. At the start of the praised for their tableau performance at the “Who wants to be a Mathematical Millionaire” year, our Year 11 students began attending same concert. As I write, we are now looking and fire and ice, CSI and optical illusions in revision sessions for a handful of subjects forward to our Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Science. Parents and students were also able - these have continued up until our on 13th December in the School Hall and the to learn about our language offers in French, indicative exams. Auditions of our very traditional Combined Schools’ Carol service Spanish, Latin and Mandarin, provision for own Woking High School production of on 17th December at 6.30 p.m. in St Mary’s Further Maths, Statistics and Triple Science, Grease took place in October, and we’re Church – you are warmly welcomed to both Music Masterclasses and our extensive proud to announce that several Year 11s events. Computing department, which is a centre for are taking part. In November, our usual Digital Schoolhouse and Ubisoft. Our sports teams continue to excel with remembrance traditions took place, with a Woking High School students achieving wonderful performance of the last post by “We visited Woking High this evening and success at local, regional, district and national Jude Rainsborough , and beautiful poetry wanted to say what a spectacular event you, levels. Please see the sports report. readings by Jude Silverton and Alexis your staff and the pupils held. I have to say Cortade. that we were very impressed with the thought Our students continue to do much fundraising that must have gone into the whole event. We much for charities. Over the past months At the end of Year 10 we collected second were made to feel really welcome and your they have contributed to the Woking Rotary hand school uniform from students. The pupils and staff were very engaging, confident Christmas Shoebox appeal, Macmillan number of donations was outstanding! and did you and your school proud. It was so Big Breakfast, Chimney Farm dog rescue, Coming into Year 11, we immediately rewarding to see you and your Head of Year Homeless Shelter, Your Sanctuary, “The started organising the uniform and 7 so proud of your pupils each time they gave Mango Tree”. actively worked together to get the a small speech in front of the parents. Again Uniform Shop up and running. We The Friends of Woking High School have thank you for a lovely introduction to Woking have sold the uniform at Year 7 Parent’s likewise been fundraising for our student High.” Consultation Evening raising £135 for community (see their report) and after a fantastic charity called ‘The Mango “We came to your open evening last night. donations, a coin race, swimathon, several Tree’, which strives to get disadvantaged What an experience, we were so impressed. recycling initiatives, are very close to reaching children in Tanzania and Kenya into Firstly I would like to commend our tour their £10k total. education. We hope to start selling guide. She was a fine example of the impact At Woking High School we are not just uniform online, and at future events, to that we would like high school have on our aware of the educational and resource needs continue providing affordable uniform to girls. She was polite, sincere, confident and of our students, but also care deeply about the school community, whilst fundraising showed such respect and kindness. She is our students’ social and emotional wellbeing for a cause we believe in! We always a wonderful ambassador for Woking High. and mental health. This term we have had appreciate any new donations. Secondly, the staff were fabulous. They a huge focus on mental health, safe use grabbed every opportunity for a learning of social media and making safe choices. A James and I Metcalfe, experience, and made the most of it. This This has included presentations from the Year 11 Senior Team showed me that teaching is in their blood and Growing Against Violence charity, the Breck a true passion. These are the people I want Foundation and Peer Productions. All have to educate my child. There was a strong feel made a vital contribution to our Personal, of honesty and sincerity, that can only come Social and Health Education programme. from a happy school. Thank you for a superb evening.” This term finishes on Wednesday 19th December at 12 noon and the Spring term Our students received much praise, with begins on Thursday 3rd January 2019 at 8.55 visitors particularly highlighting : a.m. “The student who showed us around was On behalf of everyone at Woking High School, wonderful. What a fantastic school and culture may I wish you and your families a very you have created.” Merry Christmas and a happy new year and “Very helpful tour and great to see the school thank you all for your support, commitment in its working day. Well done Woking High for and contributions towards the continuing welcoming us to your school.” success of Woking High School. “It was a lovely tour by the girl that showed Jane Abbott, Headteacher us around, tailored to our needs. Great to see 2 Welcome Year 7 AT THE START OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR we welcomed 240 very excited Year 7s, all ready and eager to begin their high school journey. We are delighted that they have settled in so well, and are taking on the challenge of secondary life with great determination. They are creating new friendships, enjoying new experiences and building new relationships with their teachers and year group. Year 7s had the joy of a `head start` in the restaurant for the first two weeks and are enjoying the wonderful selection of food that is on offer to them. “I am particularly impressed with the So far this year, Year 7 have experienced paninis being a particular favourite and efficient and fast way that teachers respond two Day 11s which have involved a coin the novelty of paying for food on their to my emails.” race, raising £536 for the Friends of finger has also been very exciting for Woking High, and a recycling activity “The school is a very supportive community many of them.