Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ SPRING 2016 Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Web: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk NEWSLETTER Headteacher: Jane Abbott Headteacher’s Letter THIS TERM HAS BEEN BUSY, Wednesday morning. After having held they had briefly examined the schools EXCITING, SUCCESSFUL AND discussions with me and other senior performance data, improvement plans and SHORT!, yet we seem to have achieved leaders, undertaken a learning walk, our own self evaluation. as much, if not more, than usual. As observed lessons and spoken to students always our newsletter highlights just and staff, the inspectors quickly decided During the time they were here, the some of the many events that have taken that our school was at least good in all inspectors observed 38 lessons, 11 jointly place at Woking High School over the respects and wanted to spend longer with senior staff, and visited 11 classes past months and we hope you like the in the school. As a result, the one day on a learning walk. Meetings were new presentation. Section 8 inspection was converted to a held with students from KS3 and KS4, full Section 5 inspection. senior staff, middle leaders, NQTs and On 9 February we received a telephone governors. The inspectors scrutinized call informing us that the school was to A team of seven inspectors then arrived students’ exercise books and spent time be inspected by Ofsted on 10 February. on Thursday 11 February to scrutinize with students both in class and around Under the latest framework for Ofsted every aspect of the work of the school. the school at break and lunchtime. They Inspections; a framework that I’m sure The quality of teaching, learning and studied a wide range of school documents you will have heard is even more rigorous assessment, students’ outcomes for and considered the views of students, and demanding than in previous years, examinations and assessments, the parents and staff – all of which were any school that was judged to be ‘Good’ personal development, behaviour and overwhelmingly in praise of the school in its last inspection has to be inspected welfare of our students, including their and its provision. At the end of the two for one day to verify that it continues to attendance, the quality of leadership days the inspectors gave verbal feedback be ‘Good’. This was the premise that our and management, the effectiveness of to senior staff and governors. inspectors held when they arrived on the safeguarding, and prior to the inspection, We were delighted that the inspectors 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. agreed that the school continued to be an at school and in their future lives. you and your staff for your hard work exceptionally good school. It is on the and professionalism. cusp of being outstanding, having gained Just a few days after the Ofsted an Outstanding grade for both Personal inspection, the commitment of our staff With Best wishes, Development, Behaviour and Welfare in ensuring the best possible outcomes Yours sincerely and Leadership and Management. We for our students was recognised by the Department for Education via Nick Gibb, are very pleased with their comments Nick Gibb MP’ and are exceptionally proud of the whole the Minister of State for Schools, who school community and especially our sent the following letter to the school. students. I would like to share with you We are very proud to have the school some of the comments made both during recognised in this way and at this level. the inspection and included in the final ‘Dear Mrs Abbott report. (see box below) Whilst inspections are very significant I am writing to convey my warmest and exiting events in the annals of The final report was published on 1st congratulations to you, your staff and a schools’ history, daily school life March and a hard copy was sent home to your pupils for your school’s excellent continues on its planned path. Year 11 all families on 4 March and also appeared improvement in GCSE and equivalent students are adopting a diligent approach on the Woking High School website. The results between 2013 and 2015. towards their forthcoming GCSE report was placed on the Ofsted website exams. Early this term they received the on Monday 7 March http://reports.ofsted. Your school is one of the top 100 results from their December indicative gov.uk Thank you to the many parents non-selective state-funded schools in exams and since then they have had the who have contacted the school with England showing the greatest sustained opportunity to sit further practice exam messages of congratulations following improvement in the percentage of pupils papers in English, Maths and Science. the publication of the report. achieving five or more A*-C grades, including English and mathematics Throughout the term they have been As with every institution there are GCSEs. Ensuring your pupils are attending revision sessions completing always areas to improve. The inspectors’ achieving at least the benchmark controlled assessments and participating recommendations endorse the current standard of attainment at key stage 4 in half term revision session. Students foci included in the school development provides a strong basis for their further in Art, MFL and English have already plan. We are fully committed to making education and employment. completed papers and tests which these further improvements in the terms contribute towards their final GCSE to come so that all Woking High School Thank you for your work in this exams and many students have gained students are given the best possible important area of a young person’s the Level 2 Certificate in IT Application educational opportunities to achieve, both education and congratulations again to Skills (a GCSE equivalent qualification). ‘Leaders have established a culture in which ‘Teachers have strong subject knowledge, every pupil aims to achieve the highest (and) high expectations.’ possible standard.’ ‘Pupils are absorbed in their learning.’ ‘Leadership and Management is outstanding.’ ‘Strong relationships between staff and pupils ‘An aspirational ethos pervades the school’. build high levels of trust and confidence.’ ‘Pupils behaviour in lessons and around the ‘Diversity is celebrated and the community is school is excellent.’ harmonious.’ ‘The school’s work to keep pupils safe is ‘There is an atmosphere of mutual trust and outstanding.’ respect.’ ‘The school’s work to promote pupils personal ‘Pupils are well prepared for progression in development and welfare is outstanding.’ their next stage of life in work or education.’ ‘Pupils are proud of their school (and) enjoy ‘Parents are overwhelmingly positive about coming to school.’ the school. “We cannot praise the school highly enough”.’ ‘The curriculum is excellent and ensures pupils achieve well.’ 2 We have also given time and attention to variety of extra curricular activities. So Raising funds for charity is a very preparing our students mentally for the far this term our Public Speaking teams important part of life at Woking High rigors of the revision and exam season. have participated in the Rotary Youth School. This term individual students, In January, parents of Year 11 students Speaks competition with both the Senior friendship groups, whole year groups, attended a revision advice evening and Intermediate teams winning the the whole school and staff teams have and students have received advice and local heats. Two students from Year 10 raised money for a wide variety of worthy guidance on revision techniques in represented Woking High School in the causes. These include: Citizenship/PSHE lessons as well as in Arete debate competition winning this their subject classes. In March, students element of the Arete cup competition Water Aid also had the opportunity to participate in and Debate Club goes from strength to Zambia 2016 a Mindfulness Workshop and a de-stress strength. “meet and greet” with trainee guide dogs Guide Dogs for the Blind organized by Guide Dogs for the Blind. “The show must go on! was the apposite During the Easter break a number of mantra for our 2016 production Oliver! Woking Hospice revision classes are being held at school The cast and orchestra willingly Cancer Research UK to ensure that our students are as prepared rearranged dress rehearsal times, staying later and staring earlier, so that we could as possible for their examinations. Next term we will see a new development ensure both the Ofsted inspection and in our fundraising programme. Students Students have been invited to specific the production could be accommodated will be able to collect tokens (similar to revision sessions: at the same time. The production played Waitrose) for each house point they earn. to packed audiences both Wednesday 10 These tokens will then be used by the Maths 29th and 30th March - 10 am-2 pm and Thursday 11 February and to a very students to post in one of three perspex appreciative junior school audience on English 31st March - 10 am-2 pm collection boxes, each one representing a Friday afternoon’s matinee. Please see charity chosen by School Council. At the ICT 1st April - 9 am-2 pm the centre pages of this newsletter for a end of each half term the tokens will be full report. Child Development 1st April - 10-2 pm counted and a sum will be sent to each The 8th annual Instrumental and Vocal charity. New charities will be selected Science 4th and 5th April - 10 am-2 pm competition in memory of Lorna for the following half term. Thank Paterson, is to be held on 23 March, so you to members of School Council for (*correct at time of printing) a report of this event will be included in developing this idea and to Mr Harman in Design & Technology for making the When students return to school after our summer newsletter.