Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Web: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk Headteacher: Jane Abbott Headteacher’s Letter As the 2014/2015 academic year draws you to Mrs Smith and Mrs Coulson for to a close, I am delighted to have this organizing these two splendid events and we opportunity to reflect on another exceptional take this opportunity to wish all our Year 11 term at Woking High School. students good luck and every success in their future lives. Our Year 11 students are looking forward to receiving some excellent examination I would also like to take this opportunity results in August. They certainly deserve to to thank the 2014/2015 Headboy/girl team do so given the diligence and commitment – Headboy - Jonathan Bell, Headgirl - they have shown to their studies over the Elizabeth Kozlowska, Assistant Headboys years. Particularly this year they have - Aidan Gale, Rob Green, Alex McLean, benefitted from a specifically designed David Sugden, Assistant Headgirls, Atifah immersion timetable, revision at half Abdullahi, Sally Hitchings,Vivienne Mathews term and Maths Saturdays. The GCSE and Sophie Russell, for their fantastic examination results will be available service, commitment and support during the for collection in the main school hall on past year. They have conducted their roles Thursday 20th August from 10-11 a.m. for in a mature, responsible and highly effective Year 11 students (and 10.45-11.30 a.m. for manner, have been an absolute credit to all other years). themselves and wonderful ambassadors for Woking High School. As one year group Saying goodbye to a year group is an moves on, opportunities open up for others occasion tinged with sadness, but is also in the school. We extend a warm welcome one of joyful reflection on their past five to our new Headboy/girl team – Headboy years. On an academic note, we celebrated - Matthew Hill, Headgirl - Kirsten Young, the successes of our Year 11 students Assistant Headboys - Ross Davidson, on 24th June when 73 students received George Loxton, Hussain Mughal, Richard prizes for academic progress, attainment Sugden, Assistant Headgirls - Izzy Bostock, and achievement. Additionally, special Sana Fatima, Shannen Griffiths and Elena awards were presented, amongst which, Newton. We congratulate them and are were services to music and dramatic looking forward to working with them now performance, public speaking, community they have taken up their new posts. work and the prestigious Governors’ Award for the highest academic performance of We are very pleased to be welcoming our any student in the year group. new Year 7s who will be the Class of 2020. They attended induction days on the 7th The following evening was a far more and 8th July and we were able to meet with social occasion celebrating the wonderful their parents on 14th July. Transition from friendships which have developed whilst primary to secondary is a very exciting time at secondary school. Our Leavers Ball was and it presents a great opportunity to share once again held in the beautiful setting of our values and expectations with all our new Chobham Golf Club and this year we were students and their parents. We are looking blessed with superb weather. A huge thank forward to them joining us in September. Summer 2015 Newsletter 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. Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Headteacher’sWeb: www Letter.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk Headteacher: Jane Abbott ‘Character education’ is at the forefront of discussion in From September, Woking High School will be educational circles at present. At Woking High School, forming a new partnership with Gordon’s School and character building has always been a vital and integral part working on a number of specific educational initiatives of our secondary school provision not least, as it develops around staff training, interschool student competition, essential values and life skills for our young people. academic monitoring and action research projects. Our Respect, responsibility, courtesy, integrity, resilience and collaboration will operate under the name the ‘Arete enthusiasm are some of the many characteristics which we Partnership’ – arete being Greek for excellence in all encourage and develop throughout the school curriculum, things. both in school and beyond the classroom. Our students During the summer break we will see a number of have had great opportunities to show these character traits refurbishments and projects being completed ready for in many activities this term. These have included Duke the new academic year. The highlight will be the laying of Edinburgh expeditions, the Year 8 Newquay challenge, of our all weather 3G Astroturf pitch. This is an eagerly Year 7 camp, Maths and Science competitions, charity anticipated and much planned for improvement and will fund raising activities in House and Year team groups and be installed ready for the students’ use in September. participating in a variety of sporting and musical events, Please see details of ways in which you can help support all of which you can read about in more detail in this our fundraising for this facility in the Friends of Woking newsletter. High School section of this newsletter. This summer term has seen the commemoration of several It is traditional at this time of year to say farewell to historical anniversaries. In early June, only a few miles colleagues who are leaving the school. I would like to away from Woking in Runnymede, the nation marked thank them all for their commitment to the school and the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta. wish them well for the future. Especially, I would like Later last month, on the 18 June, the 200th anniversary to mark the retirement of Mrs Kathy Collins, Director of the Battle of Waterloo occurred. As you can read in Mr of Finance & Resources. Mrs Collins has prudently Jones’ History report, Woking High School students have managed the school budget for the last 7 years and despite been closely involved in marking this anniversary. They ever increasing financial demands and ever decreasing were delighted to attend the service of commemoration at financial resources, has enabled the school to provide St. Paul’s Cathedral and very excited to meet TV Historian the very best resources and provisions for our students. Dan Snow who is ambassador for the Waterloo project. Additionally, she steered the school on its journey to an Additionally our commemorations of the centenary of Academy in 2013 and has kept it on course in the two World War One have continued with a second battlefields years that have followed our conversion. We wish her a visit for Year 9 students. happy, healthy, long and fulfilling retirement. In the Spring newsletter, I mentioned that senior staff The Autumn term begins with two staff training days and governors at the school have been working on a 2020 on Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd September 2015. Vision for Woking High School. I am delighted to report School starts for students on Friday 4th September, with a that our vision is now published and you can read details staggered return, Years 7 & 10 at 8.55 a.m. and Years 8, 9 of our aspirational plans for the school over the next few & 11 at 10 a.m. years either on the website or in the document that is attached to this newsletter. As part of that vision, we are My thanks to our students, staff, parents and governors, developing a partnership strategy to benefit both students for their continued support. It has been a wonderful year and staff by sharing learning from our own school and and we have many exciting new developments to look gaining from excellent practice in other institutions. We forward to on our return. With very best wishes to all are delighted to announce that we will be extending our members of the Woking High School community, for a already strong links with Horsell CofE Junior School and relaxing and happy summer holiday. Goldsworth Primary School, in the coming academic year. Jane Abbott, Headteacher 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. 2 NRA 2015 NRA 2015 The Year 11 National Record of Achievement Awards careers. took place on the 24 June. It was a wonderful ceremony The event showcased the excellent achievements made by showcasing student achievement, attainment and progress Year 11 students throughout the last five years and it was a in subjects along with celebrating special achievements of lovely way for students to celebrate their final assembly at individual students. Guest speaker, Mr Simon Jarvis, Head of Farnborough Sixth Form delivered an inspiring speech Woking High School. to Year 11 students helping them to focus on their future Special prize winners: Senior Team Service Awards Jonathan Bell SPECIAL AWARDS STUDENT NAMES Elizabeth Kozlowska Literacy Award Mohammed Elidrissi Sophie Russell Numeracy Award Saibah Khan Vivienne Mathews Contribution to School David Sugden Atifah Abdullahi Robert Green Performances Alex McLean Excellence in Performing Eleanor Gravette David Sugden Art Aidan Gale Public Speaking Awar Isabel Aughterson Sally Hitchings PE Award