Dear Parents and Carers,
As we reach the end of our first half term, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the great successes our students have achieved since returning to school. It has been wonderful to witness how well everyone has settled back into the routines of school life, setting high standards for themselves and striving to be the best version of themselves each day.
I would particularly like to commend our Year 7 students. We are incredibly proud of the positive start they have made, embracing new challenges and integrating smoothly into our school community. Their enthusiasm and determination are truly commendable.
I am also pleased to report that our new focus areas are being embraced by all students. Our silent entries into class have been developing well, allowing everyone to maximize the full 60 minutes of learning each period. The emphasis on calm and purposeful corridor movement between lessons has been positively received, contributing to an orderly environment conducive to learning.
Our recent standards review across all key stages highlighted the remarkable preparedness of our students for learning. It is evident that they take pride in their work and demonstrate excellent learning attitudes. The culture within our school is now firmly grounded in our core values of kindness, respect, determination, independence, and ambition, and it is inspiring to see these qualities reflected in so many of our students.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing support with home learning. Our work on sharing information via Arbor is progressing well, although there are still areas for improvement. We are excited to announce that we will be launching a student app on Arbor in the spring term, which will enhance communication and access to important information. The good habits our students have developed around their homework will be invaluable as we move into assessments in the next half term.
We have also had some fantastic events this term. The careers fair on 17th October provided every student in the school with the opportunity to engage with employers, apprenticeships, colleges, and universities, helping them to envision their future paths. This week’s mock interviews was a huge success as Year 11 were provided with the opportunity of an authentic interview and coaching experience from a diverse range of employers. I would also like to thank all parents and carers who attended our information evenings for each year group earlier in the term; your engagement is crucial to our students’ success.
Additionally, our students have had some exciting opportunities, including the KS5 trip to the regional careers fair at Anfield, a visit to the Liverpool Empire Theatre, and a rugby trip to Twickenham Stadium. We look forward to many more opportunities for students to engage in trips and activities in the coming months.
As a reminder, our school continues to enforce our mobile phone policy of being a ‘phone free school’, which aims to promote improved focus, reduced stress and anxiety, and enhanced teacher-student interactions. Phones that are seen will be confiscated and stored safely until the end of the day. We regularly remind students of these rules through posters, assemblies, and classroom discussions. After the half term, we will hold a registration session to reinforce the importance of our mobile-free environment.
In conclusion, I wish all our parents, carers, and students a restful break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, 4th November, ready for another productive half term.
Thank you for your continued support.
Warm regards,
Michael Cloherty
Headteacher