Website: www.brockington.leics.sch.uk | Facebook: www.facebook.com/brockingtoncollege | Twitter: www.twitter.com/brockingtoncoll Brockington Bulletin September 2017 Edition GCSE Results Day August 2017 Welcome Back: I hope that everyone had a enjoyable summer with their family and I welcome the new Year 7 parents/carers to Brockington College. Your children have settled very quickly into secondary school life and we look forward to working with you and them over the next five years. GCSE Results: Our first ever ‘all-though’ cohort at Brockington College have now settled into apprenticeships, training, sixth form colleges and further education colleges following their GCSE results. We are very proud of their achievements at GCSE level and of their development as individuals. Some of the headline data can be seen in the bulletin. Mr Chris Southall , Top Tips for Success at School: There is some really good advice that we can offer to all pupils and parents about GCSE success. All of our most Principal successful pupils had the following in common: Very high school attendance (pupils with the highest attendance rates gained the highest grades. FACT). Very high standards of behaviour. (The better the pupil’s behaviour, the better the results. FACT). Independence. (Our highest achievers made sure that they were prepared for lessons and exams. They sought out opportunities to develop their knowledge and revise independently. FACT). Hard work (Our pupils got the grades that they deserved. FACT). Supportive parent/carers. (The parent/carers of our successful pupils attended all parental events, asked us pertinent questions about their child’s work and trusted and backed the college if it was ever needed. They encouraged their child to have high standards and praised them when they did. FACT). I am sure you will agree that the route to success, as described above, is pretty obvious. On behalf of the college, we can predict now how successful your child will be in their GCSE results. We always report on these standards to you because of the effect that they have upon your child’s success at school, their potential for career progression and often, their future happiness. You will note that academic ability/intelligence is not one of the factors. This element is clearly an advantage, but counts for nothing without all other elements. Additionally, years of educational experience has taught me that the potential of the younger generation is realised only through diligence, hard work and application. In other words, all our youngsters have the potential to be successful. School Uniform: You could not fail to be aware that we have insisted upon higher standards of uniform this year. In a nutshell, we expect skirts to be pleated and 18 inches in length and trousers to be tailored and loose - fitting. Jewellery is limited to one small stud in each ear and a small nose stud if in Years 9-11. Our uniform policy has been deliberately designed to be cost effective, easy to wear and easy to maintain. We have done everything possible to consider pupils and parents/carers). Despite this, we still do have a small minority of pupils and parents/carers who seek to push the boundaries of our uniform policy. We spend too much time dealing with such issues and it will unfortunately and ultimately result in a more formal and expensive school uniform for all. Please fully support the school, to avoid this conclusion. Notable Visitors: We will be welcoming two high profile visitors to Brockington College this term. Alberto Costa MP for Blaby will be visiting to discuss local and national politics with a range of pupils. Also, we will be hosting a visit from The Right Reverend Martyn Snow, Bishop of Leicester. The Bishop will be visiting in order to take a school assembly, to bless our stained glass windows, and then subsequently to be involved in a discussion with pupils on, ‘A Christian view on modern society’. We are very grateful to both for agreeing to visit us. Sad News: We are really sorry to have to share the news of the passing of two Brockington stalwarts. Liz Durrance was a well-respected and long-serving former teacher and Governor of Brockington College and I know that a lot of current parents/carers will remember her fondly. We also have to unfortunately relay that Dawn Bingley, a member of our catering team, has also recently passed. Dawn was a popular member of the team with colleagues and pupils. We send our condolences and thoughts to her daughter, Maddy, who also works at the college, to her sons Joe and Sam who only left the college as pupils in July and to her husband, Stuart. Chris Southall, Principal Brockington Bulletin |September 2017 Edition | Page 1 More News Matters & Reminders and Dates Child Protection and Safeguarding At Brockington College we aim to safeguard and promote our students’ welfare, safety and health by Mrs Durrance fostering an open, caring and supportive climate. Student welfare is of paramount importance to us. It is with much regret, that we have to announce the death of a former Brockington College teacher, Liz Durrance. If you have safeguarding concerns about the safety or welfare of a young person or family, please contact the school on 0116 2863722 and ask for one of the school’s Designated Safeguarding Leads: Liz retired from Brockington College in 2009 after 39 years’ service. Mrs Durrance (previously Mrs Harrold), was a much-loved teacher and Mrs S Lawrence, Miss C Darby, Mrs V Carr, Miss S Heggs or Mr C Southall. If it is related to internet use or colleague at Brockington College who touched many people’s lives. e-safety at the college the lead is Mr Wilson. Passionately devoted to doing the best for her students she would do all she could to make them happy and successful. She will be sadly missed. Voice It Parents’ Forum Mrs Lawrence - Assistant Principal/SENCo Voice It was launched after a Brockington Anti-Bullying Survey revealed that Meeting students felt that it was not easy to register a concern or report bullying to Year 6 Open Mornings Monday 25 September 2017 8.45 am to 9.45 am adults, both at home and school. One reason for this was that they did not All parents are very welcome Tuesday 26 September 2017 8.45 am to 9.45 am feel brave enough to have the conversations face to face and felt it a very to be a part of the parents’ Wednesday 27 September 2017 8.45 am to 9.45 am daunting idea to have to sit and discuss their worries. Our system can be forum which meets half-termly anonymous or students can leave their names. It makes it easier for pupils to at the college. Year 5 and 6 Open Evening Wednesday 27 September 2017 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm log concerns about bullying, anti-social behaviour and any other concerns (All prospective pupils, parents and carers are welcome) they may have in and around the college. The system has proved to be Meetings last for one hour and highly effective and is used on a regular basis. Students can use the ‘Voice typical meetings involve a Parents’ Forum Meeting Tuesday 10 October 2017 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm boxes’ outside of the Pastoral Office or in the library, or they can use the briefing by a senior member online form accessed through the school website. Their concerns are then of staff with the opportunity Year 7 Consultation Evening Wednesday 11 October 2017 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm passed to the relevant Head of Year and Pastoral Manager to deal with and for parents to ask questions (Form Tutors Only) resolve the issues. and provide feedback. Year 11 Consultation Evening Wednesday 1 November 2017 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm Refreshments are always To find out more or log a concern please visit the school website or the available! following link http://goo.gl/j4Sl4n. Year 11 Mock Exams Monday 4 December to The first meeting this year is Friday 15 December 2017 Summary of Issues this Year on:- Year 9 Consultation Evening Wednesday 6 December 2017 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm Peer Issue 1 Dealt with by Head of Year/Pastoral Manager Tuesday 10 October 2017 Parent Query 1 Dealt with by Head of Year/Pastoral Manager 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm Year 9 Parents’ Options Information Evening Wednesday 10 January 2018 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm and Market Place Miss Underwood - Pastoral Manager Chris Southall, Principal Year 10 Consultation Evening Wednesday 11 April 2018 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm Year 10 Mock Exams Monday 30 April 2018 to PE Transport for Away Fixtures Friday 11 May 2018 Year 7 Consultation Evening Wednesday 23 May 2018 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm From September 2017 pupils will be asked to pay £2.00 for all away sports fixtures. This is due to an increase in the number of fixtures and the increased cost of transport. Thank you Mr Platts - PE Department Year 8 Consultation Evening Wednesday 20 June 2018 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm Brockington Bulletin |September 2017 Edition | Page 2 IntroductionMatters and from Reminders the Principal Emergency Inhaler Medication Absence Requests in Term Time We have a number of pupils in school that have been prescribed inhalers by their GP. Regular attendance at Brockington College is vital to each child’s education and development. The school aims for all of its If, in the event of an asthma attack, you wish your child to be given an emergency inhaler please would you students to have 100% attendance and ‘good’ attendance is considered to be 96% or above with no unauthorised absences.