THERFIELD NEWS 111 June 2003

I am pleased to report that we shall be fully staffed for next term. Like all other schools we are suffering from the new funding arrangements devised by Central Government but have decided that cuts will be made in non-urgent maintenance rather than on staff, teaching time or examination courses.

There has been a great deal of publicity on education funding in the national media and many headteachers and governing bodies, particularly in the South East, have indicated that they are being forced to contemplate four day weeks, early closures and teaching redundancies because of lack of money.

Surrey has accepted that the vast majority of its secondary schools will have to run in-year budget deficits. In some cases, this figure could be as high as £500,000. At Therfield, despite the cancellation of non-urgent maintenance, increasing student numbers (which add to our revenue) and a carry forward surplus from the last financial year, our predicted deficit is £70,000. However, assuming a similar level of funding for next year, this figure could rise significantly and present the school with major budgeting challenges.

It is my intention to work with other secondary school heads and Dr Paul Gray, the Director of Education for Surrey, in a co-ordinated national campaign that draws attention to the significant underfunding of our schools by Central Government.
I am especially grateful to all those parents who have contributed consistently to the Trust Fund. It does enable the school to provide those 'extras' which make life at school so much happier. This year the Fund has supported merit awards, improved the presentation system in the main hall and provided ongoing improvements and computers in the Resource Centre. The Friends of the school also contribute generously to the general wellbeing of the school and answer the shopping list wishes of many heads of department.

As mentioned in last month's Newsletter and in the local Press the school has enjoyed a great deal of success recently and, as additional recognition of this, I have been invited by the Department for Education and Skills to a celebration for 'High Value Secondary Schools'. The event will be held in London on July 17th to mark the success of secondary schools that "have added value well above what could have been expected". David Miliband, Minister of State for Schools Standards, will be launching the event which will be aimed at 'getting the help of headteachers in identifying the secrets of success, and how best to support success'. It should be interesting...!

Surgery Date - My next surgery for parents who have concerns or issues they wish to discuss will be on Thursday, 3rd July 4.30-7.00 pm. Please phone my PA, Mrs Sharkey, on 814432 to arrange a time.

End of Term - School will close at 1.00 pm on Thursday, 24th July at the end of the Summer term. All students will be given an Information Booklet which gives times and dates for return to school in September, holiday dates for 2003-04, information about uniform, school rules and other important items.

Changes to the School Day - As from Monday, 30th June, normal timings will be resumed and school will finish at 3.30 pm with the lunchbreak from 1.10 pm

Term Time Work - Wanted for September, an energetic technician for the Food and Textiles Technology Department. Duties include the support of teaching staff in the preparation of lesson resources and maintaining a high standard of hygiene in the department. Hours at present are five to ten per week, term time only with a possibility of eventual increase. This is a paid position and further details can be obtained from the Finance Officer, Mrs Howarth (814429).

School Terms and Holiday Dates - All parents should have received via 'pupil post' a consultation document, concerning the future structure of the school calendar. Do parents in Surrey want to stay as we are, keep to the three term pattern but with a fixed break for the Spring holiday or switch to a six term year? Your views will be taken into account so please make sure all replies reach County Hall by Friday, 4th July.

Connexions - Your son/daughter should have shown you a Connexions Surrey card which is a new service offering information, advice, guidance and practical support for all 13-19 year olds. This is the umbrella organisation for the delivery of careers information and guidance as well as a wider range of support.

Attached to this Newsletter is a document which sets out the way information will be used. Under the Data Protection Act, parents - and young people aged 16 or over - can ask that no information other than name and address be released. If this is so, please write in to the school before the end of term and we will see that your wishes are implemented.

On Show - The various departments within the Creative Arts Faculty plan a showcase evening on Tuesday, 22nd July starting at 7 pm. This will give parents the opportunity to see some of the work students have produced during lessons and clubs over the year, including drama, music, art, gym, dance, trampolining and cheerleading!

Can You Help? - Accommodation is needed to host staff from our German partner school in Cologne when they bring students over here for the second part of the Exchange programme. This will be for the week of 3rd to 10th October 2003 and any expenses incurred will, of course, be covered. If anyone can help, please contact the Head of Modern Foreign Languages, Ms Buckell.

Meeting the Challenge - Eighty students from Years 7 and 8 took part in the UK Junior Maths Challenge and they gained ten gold awards, twenty silver and 25 bronze. As the name implies, this is a very challenging competition in which 211,905 juniors took part nationally. It was good to see so many girls doing well and Sophie Butchers from Year 8 scored best in school. Gold awards in Year 7 went to Sarah Cannon, Alice Smith, Tom Line, Daniel Nicholas and in Year 8 Sophie Butchers, Edward Simms, Emma Vertigen, Nicholas Commandeur, Rosie Howarth and Gemma Barker attained gold standard.

All Counted! - Many thanks to all of you who sent in Tesco Computers for Schools tokens - the final total collected was 35,500. The new equipment they will provide will arrive in the Autumn term.

Cashless in the Canteen - The system is now up and running and seems to be working very well. Some parents have thought to put a limit on the daily 'spend' and this is probably wise, although a more open system does mean that students learn to budget! There is an overall ceiling of £5 a day. If you want to change the set limit this must be in writing to the Canteen Supervisor.

Look after your cards! - The cards will be used in other areas of the school and are already in use in the Library so it is very important that students keep them safe.

Silver Success - Six Year 10 students - Sarah Morris, Matt Willsher, Nikkita Henshall, Gillian Fox, Kathryn Greenwood and Miriam Taylor - have successfully completed the qualifying expedition for the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award. The challenge this time was set in the Dorset countryside near Swanage.

This is how the intrepid six describe their weekend - "We had a very wet and windy walk along the beach. After a long day we arrived at the campsite at 9 pm and put our tents up and cooked, still in the rain. The walking next day was beginning to take its toll as we had some very steep up and downs. We encountered some strangers along the way, including several army recruits training on the beach. We arrived at a slightly larger campsite at about 5.30 pm and put up the tents yet again. The next day our lunch stop was in Tyneham, an abandoned village and we had a brief look around the old school, then continued on our way. We completed our tasks at about 3.30 pm, fully exhausted and ready to go home. It was a testing experience that we will never forget. We would like to thank the staff who accompanied us and have helped and supported us in so many ways - Miss Kendrick, the organiser, Mr Hostler and Mr Pordage. We hope they have had some fun - we certainly have!!"

Students now taking the Bronze Award successfully brushed up on their map reading and navigation skills on Sunday on a Day Walk in the Box Hill area.

Animal Farm - Tickets are now on sale and performances will take place on 9th and 10th July. Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 have been working very hard on this production and are hoping to play to supportive houses. Tickets for adults £3, students £1.50.

Sponsored Sail and Barbecue - The weather and the setting at Papercourt Sailing Club provided a wonderful backdrop to this highly successful social occasion attended by over 100 supporters. The competitive sailing event was won by David Manders and lain Foster. The Club would like to thank the many parents who assisted and those who offered sponsorship.

A Card for Christmas - Year 9 students took part in a competition to design a Christmas Card for 'Chase', Children's Hospital Service. There was a large entry in the 11-14 age group and Michael O'Leary's design took third place.

School Uniform - The Friends will be holding a sale of second hand uniform in the Dining Hall from 3-4.30 pm on Tuesday, 1st July. Any queries please contact Fiona Thomas on 275799. Also if you have any items of uniform you could donate to the school, Mrs Gilbert would be pleased to receive them - blazers and ties especially!

Prizes for our Poets - We have experienced great success in the Mole Valley Poetry Competition, winning three awards and two highly commended prizes. All those who entered have been rewarded by an official invitation to attend the prizegiving at Denbies Vineyard on July 3rd and they also had their poems published in the local Press. The theme for the poetry was 'Roots' and congratulations should go to Award winners, James Balmont, Year 7 and Sixth Formers Gauri Chauhan and Daniel Lawrence.

Highly Commended for their poems were Sarah Pemberton and Lauren Wildman. In the competition within school, the Year 7 prize went to James Balmont, Year 8 to Lizzie Millard, Year 10 to Loma Thomas and Year 12 to Gauri Chauhan.

Materials Wanted - The Food and Textiles Department would be grateful for the donation of any felt, plain fabric and knitting needles that are no longer needed at home. Please contact Mrs Rogers.

Visiting Paris - A busy and exciting time was had by those Year 8 students and staff who visited Paris last month. They stayed in a hotel on the outskirts of the city and had barely a spare moment over the five days.

Here is their account - "on Friday we visited France Miniature where the many famous monuments and landmarks of France are laid out in a field, representing the different regions of France, The afternoon was spent around the Eiffel Tower where many of us climbed to the top, taking in the marvellous views and getting our bearings as we recovered our breath!"

"The following day we took in the sights of the Champs Elysées, with an ascent of the Arc de Triomphe and then had some valuable shopping time. After this we visited the Centre Pompidou, the modern art museum and this made quite an impression on staff and students. In the evening we took a boat trip along the Seine, where we watched the lights of Paris, including such famous landmarks as Notre Dame, the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay. Sunday we spent around the Château de Versailles and wandered around the beautiful gardens of the Palace before heading back to the hotel for a talent show."

Sport - Emily Parker, Year 13, has been selected to represent Surrey at the English Schools' Athletics Championships at Sheffield on 11th and 12th July. Emily will be taking part in the triple jump having won this event at the Surrey Championships. In addition to Emily, ten other Therfield athletes competed in the county championships, having come first or second in their event in the district competition.

Congratulations also then to Daniel Lee, Alex Hawkins, Tom Bingham, Tim Pitt, Steven Douglas, Bradley Knight, Katrina Fidler, Amy Chandler, Mary Nelson and Sarah Pemberton.

A former Therfield student who is now doing well in international athletics is Tracey Bloomfield, who secured valuable points for Britain in the pole vault in the European Team Championships.

More Sport - Matthew Dries in Year 9 recently represented Therfield in the Surrey Schools Swimming Association Annual Diving Championships and took first place in the Intermediate Boys' event. This was a particularly pleasing result as Matthew had been unable to train during the eight weeks prior to the championships, having fractured his elbow.

At the Surrey Youth Games, two Year 8 students, Gemma Barker and Lucy Smith played Netball for Mole Valley. The U14 squad competed strongly to win all their matches and take the final Gold award against Elmbridge.

In Cricket the Year 10 Boys have reached the semi-finals of both the County and Dorking Cups. Very often their opposition has come from independent schools and the facilities available in the way of pitches, pavilions and coaching has been an eye opener. However, they have played some very, very good cricket and come through - last week's win at Whitgift School by eight wickets was particularly pleasing as Whitgift were the holders of the County Cup.

Good weather on Thursday and Friday meant that Sports Day events in both track and field went particularly well.

The overall winners were students from Leith House with 836 points, closely followed by Norbury (820.5), Polesden (708) and Juniper (675). Individual winners for best in three events were
YEAR 7 - Matthew Walsh, Michelle Brown;
YEAR 8 - Haydon Palmer, Amie Turner, Katrina Fidler;
YEAR 9 - Ben Stevenson, Amy Drewett;
YEAR 10 - Sean Coppack, Anne-Lise Torode.

Congratulations to students who broke Sports Day records - Lucy Smith (javelin), Daniel Lee (100m), Ben Stevenson (200m and high jump), Jamie Brooker (shot putt), Liam Narey (discus), Shaun Burchell (long jump) and the Year 9 Boys from Leith House in the relay.

Inter-form Tennis tournaments are proving popular. In Year 8, seventeen pairs entered for the Boys' event, the winners being James Bottomley and James Fisher. In the Girls' events, the winners were Lucy Smith and Tamar Broadbent.

Music News - One of the main events in the school's Music Diary is Cabaret Evening which will take place on 16th July. An invitation and ticketing information will be going out shortly but please make a note of the date. Featured in the programme will be contributions from the Year Seven, Swing and Symphonic Bands, Main Orchestra, Main Choir and Lower School Singers.

Psychology Conference - A special revision day for AS Psychology students was held at Central Hall, Westminster and fifty of our students attended. The sessions covered such useful themes as memory, abnormality, attachment and stress and the speakers gave useful tips on examination techniques. It was a useful day and as the sun shone, the walk home along the Thames meant that it was also a happy one!

Studying the River Mole - Geography fieldwork studies for Year 7 students involved getting wet in the River Mole as they measured it, identified small creatures that live in it, including leeches and bloodworms and studied other river features as the Mole meandered across the fields at Westhumble. Those who went on the first day enjoyed good weather but the second day brought heavy rain and a muddy outlook for all - lunch in a field full of sheep provided a memorable experience. Overall the knowledge gained should prove useful when writing about rivers and their processes.

Mathematics Masterclass - A small group of Year 8 students enjoyed a visit to the Royal Institution in London where they took part in a series of masterclasses which involved problem solving exercises. The day ended with a lecture on famous mathematical experiments.

Looking at Therfield - Induction days for students who will be joining us in Year 7 in September will be held next week on July 1st and 2nd, with a meeting for parents at 7.30 pm on Tuesday, 1st. A uniform shop will be held on that day from 3-6 pm. In the past few days we have also welcomed groups of Year 5 students from local schools who have been given a taste of secondary school life by taking part in activities arranged by a number of departments.

Free School Meals - As from September, the value of a free meal token will rise to £1.45.

Motorway Bridges and Graffiti - Surrey Police have sent out a general warning to all schools to remind everyone of the dangers of throwing anything from a motorway bridge. The defacing of buildings, walls etc. by graffiti is also a criminal offence and the telephone number to report graffiti that needs removing is 01306 676858.

Lost Property - The School Office still has a quantity of clothing, shoes etc. that is unnamed and unclaimed, the last few weeks of term provide the final opportunity to come into school and claim lost items.

The Keele Survey - Earlier this year, as part of the process of School Self Review, Therfield used Keele University's student Attitudinal Survey. This provides information on student satisfaction with school; commitment to work; attitudes to teachers and peer group. Roughly 25% of the school, from each year group, completed the survey.

The responses were sent to Keele, who analysed them and produced a report. The results are detailed and interesting and set Therfield responses against the national picture. It is important, as with any data, to see this as one piece of evidence and to use the findings alongside the other evidence we have accumulated in informing future action. As a general rule, we are looking for an overall impression of student attitudes in a number of areas and, in conducting the survey over the next few years, we will be looking at trends.

Generally the responses indicate that we are very close to the average in most areas for all schools in the Keele database. However there were some very encouraging responses, for example - 78% think Therfield is a good school; 89% are happy here.

We were very different from the national figures in one or two interesting areas - 10% of our students said they had lessons taken by someone other than their usual teacher - a student/cover teacher and nationally the Keele figure is 18%. Also, according to the survey, 36% of our students do more than five hours of homework per week - nationally the figure is 22%. We intend to conduct the survey again next year and it will be interesting to compare the results.

JULY DATES FOR THE DIARY -
1st Meeting for new parents 7.30 pm
3rd Year 7 Africa Evening
9th- World Challenge group depart to Australia
9th-11th Y10 Science Visit to Swansea
16th Cabaret Evening
19th-23rd Year 7 Rhineland Visit
22nd Arts Showcase
24th End of Term - school closes 1.00 pm

AWARD WINNERS IN THE MOLE VALLEY POETRY COMPETITION
JAMES BALMONT (Year 7), GAURI CHAUHAN (Year 12), DANIEL LAWRENCE (Year 13)

I pull up the James plant to see his roots...
There are two long roots that join in the middle
Mum came from Aldershot, with the army,
The root spiders through Germany, Edinburgh
and Australia.
Dad came from Cardiff near the castle,
This root winds around the Midlands,
Manchester and Liverpool.
Shortly after Carshalton they join.
The plant gets bigger at big, white St Helier
Hospital,
The James plant starts to develop Properly.
It grows at a small flat in Sutton,
And emerges from the ground at the small vil-
lage of Fetcham.
Mmmmmmm...
What a tasty looking plant.

by James Belmont

25th June 2003

Dear Parent(s),
DATA PROTECTION ACT

Schools, local education authorities and the Department for Education and Skills (the government department which deals with education) all hold information on pupils in order to run the education system, and in doing so have to follow the Data Protection Act 1998. This means, among other things, that the data held about pupils must only be used for specific purposes allowed by law. We are therefore writing to tell you about the types of data held, why that data is held, and to whom it may be passed on.

The school holds information on pupils in order to support their teaching and learning, to monitor and report on their progress, to provide appropriate pastoral care, and to assess how well the school as whole is doing. This information includes contact details, National Curriculum assessment results, attendance information, and characteristics such as ethnic group, special educational needs and any relevant medical information.

From time to time we are required to pass on some of this data to the Local Education Authority (LEA), to another school to which the pupil is transferring, to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), and to Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), which is responsible for the National Curriculum and associated assessment arrangements.

The Local Education Authority uses information about pupils to carry out specific functions for which it is responsible, such as the assessment of any special educational needs the pupil may have. It also uses the information to derive statistics to inform decisions on, for example, the funding of schools and to assess the performance of schools. The statistics are used in such a way that individual pupils cannot be identified from them.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority uses information about pupils to administer the National Curriculum tests and assessments for Key Stages 1 to 3. The results of these are passed on to DfES in order for it to compile statistics on trends and patterns in levels of achievement. The QCA uses the information to evaluate the effectiveness of the National Curriculum and the associated assessment arrangements, and to ensure that these are continually improved.

The Department for Education and Skills uses information about pupils for statistical purposes, to evaluate and develop education policy and to monitor the performance of the education service as a whole. The statistics (including those based on information provided by the QCA) are used in such a way that individual pupils cannot be identified from them. The DfES will feed back to LEAs and schools information about their pupils where they are lacking this information because it was not passed on by a former school. On occasion, information may be shared with other Government departments or agencies strictly for statistical or research purposes only.

Pupils, as data subjects, have certain rights under the Data Protection Act, including a general right of access to personal data held on them, with parents exercising this right on their behalf if they are too young to do so themselves. If your child wishes to access their personal data, or you wish to do so on their behalf, then please contact the relevant organisation in writing:

- the school at Dilston Road, Leatherhead, KT22 7NZ
- the LEA's Data Protection Officer at SCC, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2DJ.
- the QCA's Data Protection Officer at QCA, 83 Piccadilly, London, W1 J 8QA.
- the DfES's Data Protection Officer at DfES, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW 1 H 9NA.

Please note that all rights under the Data Protection Act to do with information about your child rest with them as soon as they are old enough to understand these rights. This will vary from one child to another and you will wish to consider the position for your child, but, as a broad guide, it is reckoned that most children will have a sufficient understanding by the age of 12. We would therefore encourage you to share this note with your child if they are aged 12 or over.

Separately from the Data Protection Act, DfES regulations provide a pupil's parent (regardless of the age of the pupil) with the right to view, or to have a copy of, their child's educational record at the school. If you wish to exercise this right you should write to the school.

Providing information to Connexions
For pupils approaching or above age 13 the school is required to pass on information to the Connexions Service. This information includes the name and address of the pupil and parent, and any further information relevant to the Connexions Service's role, which is to support young people, helping them to achieve their potential and to realise benefits from education, learning and employment. However parents, or the pupil themselves if aged 16 or over, can ask that no information beyond name and address (for pupil and parent) be passed on to Connexions. If as a parent, or as a pupil aged 16 or over, you do not want Connexions to receive from us information beyond name and address, then please contact the school before the end of this summer term.

Since, for pupils aged 16 or over, the right to ask for information beyond name and address not to be passed to Connexions rests with the pupil rather than the parent, it is particularly important that you share this note with your child if they are of this age.

The LEA and DfES may provide Connexions with information they have about your child, but will not pass on any information they have received from us if you (or your child if aged 16 or over) have notified the school that Connexions should not receive information beyond name and address.

Yours sincerely,
Graham Tuck Headteacher