Guest of Honour Mrs Jane Sutton Our guest of honour is Mrs Jane Sutton who wrote a moving obituary (below) about her son Stephen. Stephen died at the age of 19 after raising almost £5 million for the Teenage Cancer Trust. I couldn’t think of a better way to begin this tribute than by using a personal statement penned by Stephen in 2011. “To put it simply, I’m awesome, incredible and amazing. Quite a statement I know, but it’s an attitude I’ve been forced to take up lately, simply due to being diagnosed with cancer about a year ago. I look for no sympathy, but I thought it appropriate to mention it early, because in a really cheesy, defining and perhaps peculiarly ironic way, in the long term at least, I see it as one of the best things that has happened in my life. The drive the motivation and the satisfaction I now take from life is the reason I thought it appropriate to start with such a bold statement. I find it hard to express my feelings via the characters I am currently typing, but honestly, life is what you make it, and I want it to be good. The positive outlook I now take on life has ignited a passion to learn and desire to succeed” . Back then your bravery, your honesty and joie de vivre shone through and you remained strong, diligent and focused until you passed away. Stephen your life may have been short but it was immensely significant and you demonstrated pure selflessness and positivity throughout. The feisty, determined way you tackled each diagnosis never allowed your spirit to falter. What always came through was pure Stephen, bright as any diamond and just as tough. Each of your astonishing achievements over the last 17 months of your life created another memory, another impression to keep forever, another moment that cancer couldn’t steal. Your blog, Stephen’s Story, wittily detailed your day-to-day life and because of your positivity was inspirational. By being so willing to share yourself so totally and with such honesty you defined the best of being human. Myself, friends and people you never met loved you for that. Your love of life was amazing. You knew that while you’re on this earth, you had better have fun. You were the life and soul of the party with a wicked sense of humour. You loved your music and loved to dance. You were adventurous, had no fear and lived your life with no regrets. There’s so much I have learned from you, some to share, some to keep close in my heart forever. People have entered my life because of you; people have done wonderful things because of you and I am so proud of you. You created a strong, wonderful, vibrant legacy. In life you were in a constant state of motion. A whirlwind, never stopping or slowing down. Foreword by Chairman of Governors We live in challenging and changing times which have their impact on the educational experiences of our children. However, Pershore High School is an institution that always manages to raise its game to meet these challenges. Tonight you will witness the evidence of this in the achievements of our young people. Their commitment, enthusiasm and practical skills in academic, vocational, artistic, musical, sporting and community based activities are self evident in their presentations and the recognition of their success in the awards made this evening. As always, the dedication and competence of the staff of PHS must be recognised, for without them, there would be no catalyst to enable this potential to emerge and flourish. Pershore is a true example of outstanding comprehensive education. The young people who make up this community of learners are not only representing the school`s success but also our hopes and aspirations for the future. Please do show your appreciation of their achievements and enjoy this evening. Rob Phillips Chair of Governors` Message from the Headteacher This Review of the Year gives a flavour of the range of activities that go on during a normal year at Pershore High School. I am always staggered by how much we manage to pack in, due to the efforts of our students and the support of our staff. It confirms for me that a truly outstanding school has to be genuinely committed to the development of fully rounded individuals and the involvement of numerous community partners, whilst always striving to produce the highest levels of academic achievement. I am particularly pleased this evening to welcome our guest of honour, Mrs Jane Sutton. Her example, and that of her son Stephen, is a timely reminder that our impact on this planet is not measured by time but by the people we touch and the difference that we make. Clive Corbett Headteacher Introduction Since July 2011, Pershore High School has been an Academy for girls and boys aged 12 to 18. We have a committed team of well qualified staff who work hard to ensure that students achieve well both academically and personally. We are highly regarded in our community as a very good local school and in 2013 enjoyed a very successful OFSTED inspection. The inspectors reported that: Pershore High School is a good school with significant outstanding features. Students make good progress during Key Stages 3 and 4; Students’ achievement in the Sixth Form is outstanding; There is a positive climate for learning in all classrooms; Teachers have good knowledge of their subjects; Behaviour and safety are outstanding; Students have good attitudes to learning and behave exceptionally well around the school. They have impeccable manners and are extremely welcoming and polite to visitors; Students are proud to attend the school and many were keen to tell inspectors how much they are enjoying their time there; Students are kind, helpful and respectful towards one another. They say that bullying, in any form, is simply not tolerated and that they are committed to ‘looking after each other’; An outstanding feature of the school’s work is the way in which it promotes the development of leadership skills amongst students Students have a very secure awareness of how to keep themselves safe; The school offers a wide range of courses and subjects, both in the main school and the sixth form; There is an excellent variety of extra-curricular and enrichment activities. Staff run various revision and homework clubs, including an equestrian team; These activities, together with the school’s international links, promote spiritual, social, moral and cultural development particularly well; Visitors to the school appreciate the calm, friendly and caring atmosphere, good discipline and purposeful ethos. Our aim is to provide a high quality education in a safe, supportive and stimulating environment. In our school community, all people are valued and we expect them to make a positive contribution that will allow them to become responsible and independent members of society. The School and its Community Pershore High School serves the large, predominantly rural area between Worcester and Evesham. Within this area there are three tiers of education. Eleven first schools serve three middle schools which in turn feed into the high school at the start of Year 8. There are some 1110 students on roll, around 240 of whom are in the Sixth Form. The longstanding links between the high school and its contributory schools were extended and reinforced when we first became a Technology College in 2002. Through this we have invested in practical schemes to strengthen, in particular, liaison in Science, Technology and Mathematics. Technology College status has enabled us to offer courses in ICT and many other areas to adults in the wider community, and to develop our links with business and higher education. Recognition that we were a high performing specialist school led in 2007 to the granting of a second specialism as a Training School, something that acknowledged and reinforced our commitment to life-long learning for all. This includes placing great emphasis on the quality of staff training and induction. Although the government has made the national decision that specialisms no longer exist, they remain huge strengths of the school to which we are committed, irrespective of name or funding. We are a strategic partner in the Prince Henry’s Teaching School Alliance. The School and its Students Since June 2011 students have been placed into one of three houses, Armstrong, Kingsley and Magellan, and within these into tutor groups. The House system is overseen by a Head of Student Achievement. There is also a discrete Sixth Form team with its own Head and Deputy. There are three heads and deputy heads of House, each supported by a House Administrator. Teaching is arranged into a fortnightly timetable of 50 one hour lessons. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the numerous extra-curricular opportunities which the school provides, both on the premises and further afield. Debating, public speaking and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme are just three examples of the range of activities available. A school award scheme encourages a high level of participation, and twice a week a late bus is available to students taking part in activities after school. The school was rated by OFSTED as providing outstanding international opportunities and community links. Our Sixth Form is a particular strength of the school of which we are rightly proud. Not only is their achievement excellent, they also give an enormous amount to the life of the school, of which we are rightly proud. Not only is their achievement excellent, they also give an enormous amount to the life of the school, as again recognised by OFSTED.