"Working Together, Developing Potential, Aiming for Quality, Recognising Success"
PARENT/STUDENT BULLETIN NO 1/2009/2010 Tuesday 8 September 2009
PARENT/STUDENT BULLETIN NO 1/2009/2010 Tuesday 8 September 2009
NAME: ………………………………………………. Form: ………………….
Dear Parent
We were pleased for our Year 11 students who left us in the summer because almost all gained the high quality results required to allow them progression to their chosen post -16 course or career. Our congratulations go to them on their achievements. Dedicated study brought deserved success and it was pleasing to see so many smiling faces on the day of the results.
Overall, the year group gained excellent results and maintained the high standards of previous year groups. Unlike in the past two years, records were not broken but the consistency in which our students achieve high level success was demonstrated with the nationally recognised quality benchmark of 70% for five or more A*-C passes being exceeded for the eleventh consecutive year. To achieve this consistency is challenging and reflects considerable credit on our students, families and members of staff.
A picture of the results is shown by the following sample statistics:
97% of students gained 5 or more GCSE passes at grade G or above.
95% of students gained at least one C pass at grade C or above.
78% of students gained 5 or more passes at grades A*-C.
63% of students gained 8 or more passes at grades A*-C.
64% of students gained 5 or more passes at grades A*-C including English and Mathematics.
16% of students gained 6 or more passes at grades A*-A.
6% of students gained 10 or more passes at grades A*-A.
Average points score per student (based on 16 points for grade G through to 58 points for grade A*) 458 (equivalent to an average of 9 grade A passes per student).
1. How to Contact Us
Whilst we work hard to ensure that we meet the needs of each of our students, there will inevitably be times when parents have questions or concerns about specific situations. In such circumstances, we are happy for you to contact us and we will endeavour to respond as quickly as possible. In order to help us to respond efficiently and effectively, it would be helpful if you would use the following guidelines.
For questions or concerns relating to a particular subject, please contact either the subject teacher or Head of Department.
For concerns relating to more general aspects of learning or approach to school, please contact either the form tutor or Head of House.
You are welcome to use your daughter’s or son’s personal organiser to note any questions or concerns.
Alternatively, you will be able to make contact with the relevant member of staff either by telephone or letter.
Members of the School Leadership Team (Assistant Headteachers, Mr Storer and Mr Collins; Deputy Headteachers, Mrs Gormley ,Mrs Clark and Mrs Gent; Headteacher, Mr Freedman) are kept informed on a regular basis of issues raised by parents and will become involved in providing support when appropriate.
2. Press and Web-site Photographs
We enjoy having the opportunity to celebrate some of the school’s successes through newspaper articles and on our school web-site. These frequently involve photographs of students.
Parents do have the right to ask that their child is not included in such photographs. Should you wish your child not to be included in press or web-site photographs, I should be grateful if you would inform me of this during the coming week.
3. School Uniform
In the final bulletin of last term I asked all parents to ensure that students returned to school correctly dressed in the school uniform and I am grateful for your support in this.
We expect all students to follow the uniform code and will continue to work hard through the year in order to ensure that it is enforced. It is essential that parents continue to be vigilant in this respect in order to help us maintain the high standard of dress. In particular, I would like to reinforce the point I made in the final bulletin of last term that the only jewellery which may be worn is one pair of ear studs. No other jewellery or replacement for jewellery, including ear rings of any type, nose studs and facial studs, are permitted even if covered by a plaster. I shall be looking to enforce this policy strictly and I would, therefore, ask that parents ensure it is followed.
I should also like to stress that training shoes must not be worn to school at any time without the support of a medical note and that there is a requirement that students should not wear beads or braids in their hair.
4. Lunchtime
We believe that it is in the best interest of students for them to remain on the school premises during lunchtime, unless they return home for lunch. Should you wish to give your son or daughter permission to go home at lunchtime, please would you complete and return the appropriate slip at the end of the bulletin by Monday, 14 September. On receipt of this slip, a pass will be issued to authorise absence from the site at lunchtime. Exceptional circumstances may arise when a student without a pass needs to leave school. The student may do this after obtaining permission from his or her Head of House.
Students with a lunchtime pass, must go home during the lunchtime period, are not allowed to use local shops such as the restaurant at Tesco.
5. Open Evening
The school’s Open Evening takes place on Wednesday, 16 September. This provides an opportunity for you to see examples of students’ work within the school and we should be pleased to see you if you were able to join us from 7.15 pm onwards.
In order to aid preparation for the open evening, each lesson on Wednesday, 16 September has been reduced from 1 hour to 50 minutes in length. The lunchtime for this day only will be 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm and school will finish at 2.30 pm.
6. Homework
Homework is very important in contributing to the educational success of students. In order to support students in this respect, a personal organiser/homework diary is issued. Please read through your child’s organiser, which provides further guidance for parents and students, within the next few days. It would also be helpful if you would discuss the use of the organiser with your child on a regular basis. The organiser may also be used as a means by which you may communicate with teachers about aspects of school work.
7. Personal Property
We do take as many precautions as possible to ensure the security of personal property within school. However, as a large organisation, this is a major task and you can support us in this in the following ways:
1. ensuring personal property, including clothing, is marked with your child’s name;
2. including expensive items, such as musical instruments, in your household contents insurance as articles which are insured even when away from your home address;
3. providing a strong bicycle lock.
8. Mobile Telephones
We are keen to support the safety of students by allowing mobile telephones to be brought to school. However, for the security of these items and to prevent misuse, they should be left with Student Reception for safekeeping through the school day.
9. Year 10 GCSE Launch Evening : Wednesday, 9 September 2009 - Reminder
GLM – 6.00-7.00 pm, RWY – 7.15-8.15 pm
Letters have already been sent home with details of this evening. Please remember to return reply slips because attendance at this evening is crucial. If you are unable to attend the session allocated for your house, please attend the other session and please make sure you return the slip to let us know which session you will be attending.
10. Work Experience Week 14-18 September
All year 11 students will be attending their work experience placements next week. At this stage it is very important that your child has contacted the business to arrange a pre placement interview, ideally this should take place face to face but can be conducted on the telephone.
After this has taken place your child should be able to answer these questions:
· What time do I start and finish the placement?
· What is the name of the contact person at the business?
· What are the lunchtime arrangements?
· What should I wear?
· What sort of activities will I be doing?
Your child will be given a work experience diary to take with them every day. This needs to be completed daily and the employer will complete an employers report at the end of the week. This report will form a very important part of your child's Record of Achievement which will be used in interviews for colleges and work based learning placements later in the year.
If your son/daughter is unable to attend their work placement due to illness or for any other reason they or parent/carer needs to contact their employer. They also need to inform the school in order that teachers visiting their placement don’t waste a journey.
If you have any questions about the week then please contact Jackie Whatley or Chris Howe
11. Year 7 Study Evening: Leap into Learning - Wednesday, 23 September 2009
We would like to invite all Year 7 families and those Year 8 families who are new to the school, to the first of our study evenings – ‘Leap into Learning’.
The evening will last a maximum of one hour in the main hall, during which time you will hear about how we encourage students to learn in a wide variety of ways. You will gain an understanding of our Learn to Learn Award Scheme and have an opportunity to listen to tips from Year 8 students about how they survived and even enjoyed Year 7! We are really keen for all students to attend with their families.
*If you are unable to attend at the time allocated to your child’s form, you are welcome to attend at the alternative time. The input will last a maximum of one hour. 6.00 pm – 7.00 pm for RWY* 7.15 pm – 8.15 pm for GLM*
You are also very welcome to go on a tour of the school with your child; this might help you to ‘picture’ their day.
RWY forms – please tour after the talk in the hall, from 7.00pm onwards.
GLM forms – please tour before the talk in the hall, earlier than 7.15pm.
The evening will provide valuable information. We look forward to seeing you.
Please complete and return the appropriate reply slip at the end of this letter.
12. Student Welfare
Reminder – If your child is unwell or has a medical appointment please call Karen Cooper on the telephone absence line by phoning the school number and selecting option 1.
13. Contacting Parents/Carers
We will soon be sending a Data Checking Sheet home with your son/daughter. Please will you make any amendments, sign and return the sheet to the school to ensure that all your contact details are up-to-date (especially mobile numbers) in case of emergency.
As part of an initiative to ease communication between parents/carers and the school, we are setting up a system to use a text messaging service to contact parents/carers on subjects such as first day absence and emergency closure. The text messaging service will send a standard text message to the designated mobile phone number for each student. Apart from the contact telephone number and the student’s first name, no other personal data will be retained by the texting company.
If you require any further information, please contact the school.
14. Parent Governor Vacancy
A vacancy has arisen for a Parent Governor. Please see the letter attached to this bulletin for further information.
15. Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Year 11's - all projects must be ready to be presented in the last week of September. There are no meetings before then, but ALL OUTSTANDING EQUIPMENT MUST BE RETURNED IMMEDIATELY to Mr Whitman or to Reception
Year 10's - Information about this years arrangements will be available soon. There will be an evening meeting (probably) in the last week of September for all who want to be involved with this exciting programme.
16. To add to your school calendar
Please note on your calendar the remaining Non-Pupil Day which was left off the ‘green calendar’ in error – this is on Friday 28 May just before the half term holiday. There will also be a Non-uniform day on Thursday 13 May.
17. School Fete !- Friday 25 September – 4.00-6.00pm – This will take place under cover if wet so please put this in your diary. Also if you have any raffle donations they will be gratefully received.
18. THE CASTLE SCHOOL MENTORING SCHEME
Would you consider becoming a mentor to a student at The Castle School?
Mentors come from all walks of life and are responsible adults who want to ensure that young people achieve the best they possibly can.
Anyone can become a mentor ...you just need enthusiasm, patience and an interest in helping young people.
All mentors are volunteers.
All mentors work with an individual Student in Year 10 or 11
The Castle School Mentor Scheme is run in a very friendly and flexible way. This is one of the strengths of the scheme and one of the reasons why we enjoy so much support from the local community.
We are hoping to recruit another 40 mentors to work with individuals in Year 10 and 11 during the next academic year.
Mentors make a commitment to work with an individual student for one hour a month, used in the most convenient way, e.g. half an hour a fortnight.
Meetings take place at a mutually convenient time and place. They can take place in school, the mentor’s workplace or other place of interest. The aim of the meetings would be to motivate, encourage and support an individual student to recognise and develop their strengths and skills.
You would need to be cleared under the Police Disclosure System (CRB)
If you are interested then please contact Sue Robinson on 273856.
19. Year 7s and New Students
The Library operates an Identikit Scanner issuing system which initially involves fingerprinting the students. The actual print image is not stored. The software calculates a huge number from the image and it is the number itself which is stored. This is like any other personal identification number and is a more accurate and secure way of issuing books to students.
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner has scrutinised the technology and stated: ‘I would encourage you to employ the system…the use of biometric identifiers allows users to verify their identity without the risk of intrusions into privacy..’
If, however, you would prefer your child not to be part of this system, please inform the School Librarian by Friday 18th September.
20. Riding Club – We run weekly lessons at Conquest Riding for the Disabled Centre, on Tuesdays between 4.30 and 5.15. Lessons are £15 for 45 minutes. No equipment (or a horse!) is needed – jeans are fine, and hats etc. can be borrowed from the stables. All ages and abilities welcome – please come and see Mrs. Helliar ASAP for more information.
21. 41F Taunton and District Squadron
The Air Cadets have contacted us with information that there will be a new intake of recruits on 24th September 2009. The recruitment, which is limited to 10 places, is aimed at 13-14 year old candidates.
Should this be of interest to your daughter or son, further information may be obtained by emailing 0909@tauntonatc.org or phoning 07767 623192.
22. Girls Extra-Curricular 2009
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Lunch 1:10 – 1:40
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Basketball House Match
All years Basketball shooting
All years Fitness Suite
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All years Fitness Suite
Yr 7 Hockey (Hh)
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All years Fitness Suite
Yr 8 & 9 Hockey practise match
House Hockey Matches
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Hockey House Matches
All years Fitness Suite
Yr 10 & 11 Hockey practise match
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All years Trampolining
All years Fitness Suite
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After School 3:30 – 4:45
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Yr 10/11 Basketball (Bk)
Yr8 Hockey (Cu)
Yr9 Hockey (LoH)
All years Fitness Suite
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All years Cross Country
Yr10 Hockey
Yr11 Hockey
All years Fitness Suite
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All years Badminton
Yr7 Hockey (Hh)
All years Fitness Suite
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Yr7, 8 & 9 Basketball Club
All years spinning (starting after half term)
All years Fitness Suite
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All years Fencing
All years Cross Country
All years Gymnastics Club
All years Fitness Suite
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Yours sincerely
K J FREEDMAN
Headteacher
LUNCHTIME REPLY SLIP – September 2009
LUNCHTIME
Please return to Mrs Marney by Monday 14 September:
Student’s Name: ……………………………………………… Form: ……………….
I authorise my son/daughter to leave the school site every lunchtime to return home for lunch.
I understand that if complaints are received concerning behaviour whilst off-site, the school will advise any complainant to contact me at my home address.
I accept total responsibility for my son’s/daughter’s welfare and conduct during the lunch period every day.
Signed: ……………………………………………………….
Date: ………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
YEAR 7 STUDY EVENING – Wednesday 24 September
6.00 – 7.00pm for RWY*
7.15 – 8.15pm for GLM*
*If you are unable to attend at the time allocated to your child’s form, you are welcome to attend at the alternative time.
Please return to your child’s Form Tutor:
Student’s Name: …………………………………………. Form: ……………………………