Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ SPRING 2017 Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Web: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk NEWSLETTER Headteacher: Jane Abbott Headteacher’s Letter The core values of Woking High School – those preparing for GCSEs in Summer esteem workshops to develop calm and academic excellence, outstanding pastoral 2017 and those progressing through their reduce anxiety in the lead up to the final care and unparalleled opportunities for two year study programme) for their examinations. Following the success of students to be involved in a wide range forthcoming examinations. Year 11s have last year’s ‘Puppy Room’, in liaison with of academic, cultural, artistic and social had a huge selection of revision events Guide Dogs for the Blind, we have again activities - have been clearly in evidence to access, including revision classes been able to organize this opportunity throughout this Spring term. in school, master classes, after school for our Year 11 students. Easter revision seminars, revision during half term and classes will take place, for key students by The academic success of Woking a second week of indicative exams in invitation, in Maths (3rd/4th April) English High School students is of paramount the core subjects in early March. The (5th/6th April) Art (5th/6th April) Graphics importance to the whole school community students have eagerly embraced these (10th/11thApril) Computing (10th/11th and as such there has been a significant activities and have also benefitted from April) Business (13th April). These dates focus on preparing senior students (both mentoring, mindfulness sessions and self- are correct at the time of going to press. 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. When students return to school after Easter sixteen students attending specialist chess their lessons will continue until the 12th tuition under the guidance of International May, when an immersion timetable will Master Gavin Wall. replace the normal Year 11 timetable and During the past month we have seen provide final intensive revision prior to exceptional performances from our each examination. students in music and drama. The annual To extend our outstanding pastoral Vocal and Instrumental Competition, in provision staff and students at Woking memory of Lorna Paterson was held in mid High School are currently involved in March. Holly Tibbotts was awarded the designing and planning a new Wellbeing coveted Lorna Paterson Cup for Special Centre. This centre will coordinate our Achievement in Music having given an extensive range of activities designed to outstanding performance of Sonatina for offer all students the chance to access Flute and Pianom 1st Movement (Burton) support for their emotional and mental For a full report please see Mr Goodwin’s health. One of the key aspects of our article later in the newsletter. Just days new Wellbeing Centre will be organizing ago, packed audiences enjoyed three strategies and opportunities to develop performances of our 2017 production of resilience in the face of the challenges that The Wizard of Oz. life may present. This new centre will also Our Youth Speaks teams have continued build on our first class pastoral welfare the excellent tradition of public speaking at are extremely fortunate to work in a school provision and provide pastoral support for Woking High School. Both the Senior and with such a lovely environment. Our site any potential issues ranging from stress Intermediate teams won the local Rotary staff take exceptional care of our school and anxiety about exams to debilitating Club competition and went on to represent estate and many visitors comment on our long-term conditions. the school in the District Semi-Final where welcoming, bright and attractive school. A further pastoral development this term the Intermediate team were victorious. I would like to take this opportunity to has been the “I Need Help” campaign, This team then proceeded to the District thank our site team, headed by Mr Turner, launched with support from the ‘I Need Final on 18th March which they won and for all that they do to care for our school Help’ charity, a branch of the ‘Family Line’ then performed at the Regional final on 25 environment. We are constantly striving to in Surrey it caters specifically for school March, where they won ‘Best Chair’ but extend our site provision and I am pleased age children. 20 of our Year 10 students lost as a team to Wycombe Abbey School. to announce that when we return after have been trained as INH Ambassadors Easter our new SEND building will be Every week we seem to report on the and run a drop in clinic every lunchtime in almost ready for use. It is a purpose built, amazing sporting successes achieved school that any student can access. They Woking High School designed, facility by our students. This term teams and act as a signposting service and offer a which will meet the needs of a number individuals have added to our huge listening ear in time of need. of our students who need extra support collection of silverware by winning cups accessing the curriculum and life at school. One of our most at District and County level in Swimming, valued pastoral Badminton, Basketball and Football. We finish school at 12 noon on Friday 31st colleagues, Mr Woking High School students performed March and return for the Summer term on Scott-Boyle, who outstandingly at the British Biathlon Tuesday 18th April at 8.55 a.m. On behalf has been at the Championships at Crystal Palace last week. of everyone at Woking High School, I wish school for 9 years, Please read Mr Justice’s sports report for you a very happy, sunny Easter Holiday. is leaving us to further details. With best wishes. join his wife in the Woking High School students and staff USA. He has played a key role in pastoral Jane Abbott, Headteacher support for our young people over the years and has designed the Woking High School “Striving For My Best” programme. This has become a model of best practice and has been adopted and adapted by many Surrey schools. We thank him for his dedication and friendship and wish him well Stateside. Woking High School is renowned for providing its students with a huge selection of extra curricular activities and opportunities. Once again our students have seized these many opportunities to develop their skills and talents. This term the Chess Club has been a welcomed new addition to our enrichment offer, with 2 GASP Motor Project THREE OF OUR YEAR 9 STUDENTS observation that “I am now the only person were praised for their achievements in my family who knows how to fix an when they were visited by HRH The engine”. Woking High School students Earl of Wessex on Thursday 23 February. follow a very academic curriculum yet Tegen Brown, Allanah Collins and we are also committed to providing Lucy Francis have been attending a opportunities and experiences that help course covering the principles of motor to develop students as individuals and mechanics and engineering through the support their career aspirations. We are school’s partnership with the GASP very pleased with the progress made by the Motor Project. Prince Edward was girls during their time with GASP and their extremely impressed by the knowledge royal recognition was richly deserved. and understanding of the students and especially appreciated Tegen’s S Sharples, Deputy Headteacher Images supplied by Woking Advertiser Youth Speaks - STUDENTS SPEAK OUT AT WOKING HIGH SCHOOL we Our success in the Intermediate category pride ourselves on helping some of our continued, with our team winning once most able students to develop the skills again in the District Final. Madeleine and confidence to speak in public with again won best Chair and the whole team confidence and flair. Back in November, competed again in the Regional Final a we were successful once again in the week later. This time, despite Madeleine first round of the Rotary Club Youth winning Best Chair for the third time Speaks competition, with both of our running, the team as a whole were defeated teams winning at Intermediate and Senior by Wycombe Abbey School. categories. It takes a huge amount of effort, Both teams went on to the second round commitment and courage to write, learn in February, and the Intermediate team of and deliver a speech in front of a hall full Year 9 students Alana Lynch, Madeleine of adults. We are very proud of our teams McClements and Isabel Metcalfe won and know that their public speaking skills again, defeating competition from All will certainly help them to communicate Hallows School and The Wavell. Alana under pressure and be taken seriously Lynch won the individual award for best when it counts. Our thanks as ever go Speaker, while Madeleine McClements to the Rotary Club for organising such a won best Chair. Our Senior team were terrific and worthwhile competition, and pipped to the post by strong competition particularly to the local branch of Woking from the Year 12 girls from Farnborough District, who sponsor our teams. Hill, and it was no surprise that this same S Savory, Teacher of English team went on to win the Senior category in the District Final in March. 3 English - WORLD BOOK WEEK AS PART OF THE SCHOOL’S FOCUS on to Book Aid. The school embraced the To round off the successful week we held literacy and reading in particular, we have ‘Drop Everything and Read’ initiative with a Mega Book Fair with contributions run a number of activities to encourage exciting book tasters recorded by staff to from Waterstones, Usborne, Scholastic, both students and staff to immerse whet their appetites.