Good afternoon,

Welcome to the first newsletter of this academic year.  It has been wonderful to welcome our students back to school this week - a week that has seen more sun than the entire summer holiday it seems! I've had the opportunity to speak with the majority of the school in assemblies and have enjoyed numerous conversations with students around school. I have been delighted with the overwhelming sense of positivity that our students continue to demonstrate.   

The start of each academic year is always an exciting time, and each year group has a special defining feature: for Year 7s it's a brand new school; Year 8s 'graduate' from being the youngest to becoming role models to the Year 7s; Year 9s will be choosing their GCSE Options; Year 10s start their GCSE courses; Year 11s will sit their exams; Year 12s begin life as Sixth Formers; and Year 13s are now in the final stage of their school careers. When put like that, you can see how the years can just fly by. It is therefore so important to encourage your child to take every opportunity that comes their way.

Speaking of opportunities, today we held the Extracurricular Clubs Freshers' Fayre. It is our aim that every student participates in at least one regular extracurricular activity - please do discuss this with your child and explore what interests them. I would certainly encourage every student to try something new.

Tonight we welcome our Year 7s and their families into school for the Celebration & Information Evening. I am really looking forward to meeting the families again as we celebrate their first week in school.

Yesterday, I wrote to all families with details of two updated policies, our Behaviour for Learning Policy and our Communications Policy. 

Central to our Behaviour for Learning Policy are our school values, and the opportunity to reward our students for hard work, achievement and demonstrating the values we hold dear. It is our intention that you will see your child receiving more frequent rewards for showing the approach to learning we expect. 

Although consequences naturally exist for poor behaviour, we expect to see rewards far outshine these as we know our students regularly have exceptional attitudes to learning, are polite and helpful, and are fantastic ambassadors for the school. 

This week I had the absolute pleasure of issuing the first Headteacher's Award of this academic year to Eden Plane in Year 13.  Over the summer, Eden gave freely of her time to support a holiday club for children aged 5-10.  The youth co-ordinator contacted me to explain that the programme simply could not have run without the commitment of Eden, ensuring that 40 children were able to access this programme each day.  Well done Eden.

Next week we will be inviting Year 11 parents into school on Thursday evening for the Year 11 Information Evening - I look forward to seeing you all then.

Have lovely weekend.

James Crowther, Headteacher