Issue 129 23rd February 2005
Issue 129 23rd February 2005
| FROM THE HEADTEACHER
Therfield School have learned that they are to be named in this year's Her Majesty's Chief Inspector's Report as one of the top forty five secondary schools in the country. This is based on the quality of our inspection in March 2004 when Therfield was judged to be a "very good school" with significant strengths in standards achieved, teaching and learning, leadership and the personal development of its students. In his letter to the school, HMCI David Bell wrote that he was pleased to include Therfield as one of forty-five schools that were judged to be "very or extremely effective in providing high quality education and ensuring that their pupils achieve very well." This was out of a total of 566 secondary schools inspected last year. Inclusion in this report is a great tribute to everyone associated with the school, including its dedicated and talented teachers and support staff, its governors, students and parents. I was particularly pleased that OfSTED highlighted our partnership with parents and links with the community as areas of real strength. Sports Status Update We are very pleased that the target for funding has almost been reached. We are on track for the March deadline with a view to achieving the Sports College designation in September 2005. This is an exciting opportunity and we see the attainment of Sports Specialist status as a means by which we can, over the next four years, move from being a "very good" school to one that is "excellent". It will help put us at the heart of our community, enhance our role as a centre for learning and achievement, promote leadership at all levels and secure excellence, diversity and entitlement in sport and physical education. School Sport Partnership Programme Therfield has also received confirmation that it is to act as the hub-site for the School Sport Partnership Programme, one of only three schools in the County to achieve such a status. Through the PE, School Sport and Club Links (PESSCL) strategy, the government has ensured that school sport partnerships are now playing a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of PE provision. Therfield School will play an integral part in helping the Government achieve its public service agreement target that students receive two hours high quality PE per week, within and beyond the curriculum, by 2008. In conjunction with the designation of Specialist Sports College status, best practice will be spread across the cluster of schools, professional in-service training delivered locally and Local Educational Authority strategic planning centred upon the formation of these partnerships. Building plans At long last plans are in place to remove the huts and build new classrooms and music rooms. The County have guaranteed nearly £3m to build a block with eight classrooms and purpose built music suite with music rooms, recording studio and practice rooms. We are still hoping for some more money which will enable a drama facility to be built with it at the same time. The project is looking very exciting at the moment with a plan to start during the summer with completion in Spring 2007. The planning meetings are happening at the moment and we look forward to having plans available in the very near future. This will be a valuable addition to Therfield to ensure it can continue with the musical life that has enhanced so many students' involvement at school. The classroom block will support so much of the excellent work that was commented on by Ofsted and others. Ski Austria 2005 The weather forecast was for lots of snow and cold conditions. It was correct. The part that was not forecast was the delay at Dover which meant we were late getting to the resort of Bad Hofgastein. Sixty one children and nine staff enjoyed a great week's skiing despite snow falling most of the day and night. Visibility was not good but it was great fun skiing in the deep snow unless you lost a ski. The beginners started on the nursery slopes but by the end of the week were skiing down the mountainside. The advanced skiers were very fast and covered miles of blue, red and black runs. Evening entertainment was good and included two visits to the swimming pool with outdoor swimming - in warm water but with the snow falling - plus slides and a cinema in the pool. Curling was a new event and along with ice skating, a quiz and disco completed our very busy days. The journey back was uneventful even though the coach was full of tired and coughing children. The drivers, the ski instructors and guests in the hotel all complemented the children on their behaviour and manners. Roll on next year! Important changes to Welfare Therfield will be trialing a new welfare system beginning Monday 28th February. Any student requiring medication or attention to an injury will go straight to the welfare department. All students feeling unwell will first have to report to their Head of Year who will decide if they should return to class or go to Welfare from where they will be sent home. Parents are asked to satisfy themselves that their child is initially well enough to attend and stay in school all day before they send them into school. Maths update Michael Page and Joe Newton (Year 9) have done extremely well in the Cipher Challenge and finished 59th overall out of 750 schools which took part in England. Revision guides for GCSE are available from maths teachers at £7. Maths Challenges Ninety students from Years 9, 10 and 11 took part in the intermediate maths challenge on 3rd February. Five Year 12 further mathematics students took part in the BP Surrey schools maths challenge, also on 3rd February Found Some Nintendo items have been found. If your child has lost any please contact the Main Office. Sixth Form Fundraising This term has been a busy time for Sixth form charity fundraising events. Not only were many Sixth form students involved in the organisation and presentation of the Battle of the Bands in aid of the Tsunami appeal but we also reached our target for the adopted local charity. Various events such as dress up days led to the students raising over £1000 to provide a standing frame for a local boy with cerebral palsy. Nathan Mattick and his parents are ecstatic that he now has this piece of vital equipment. Congratulations to all Sixth form students for this achievement. World Book Day This year World Book Day is on Thursday 3rd March. There will be a one week only Book Fair in the Resource Centre to celebrate this event. The Fair starts on Wednesday 2nd March and finishes on Wednesday 9th March. Please support the Resource Centre by giving the students money to spend at the Fair. Your support is greatly appreciated and is vital if the fair is to be a success. Thank you The Child Development GCSE students would like to say a big thank you to all the outside speakers who have given up their time to talk to them. The students have greatly benefited from the visits by professionals such as Midwives and Health Visitors. Tsunami events The sum raised by the school through mufti day, Battle of the Bands and other fundraising activities brought the total raised to £3183.01. Governor News Mrs Paula Scriven was appointed as Chair of Governors on 22nd February 2005 following the resignation of Mr David Crutchley. Mrs Scriven is a former Vice Chair of Governors and has been a governor for six years. Whilst her two sons attended the school she was a parent governor and she is now serving as a community governor. Mrs Scriven works in local government. In taking on this role, Mrs Scriven said that she is looking forward to an exciting time for the school with its imminent application for Sports Specialist Status and the new building to replace the hut accommodation. Mrs Scriven wishes to pay tribute to Mr David Crutchley for the contribution he has made to the school over the twelve and a half years that he has been a Governor. During his service to the school he has been involved in three rigorous Ofsted inspections which must be something of a record in Surrey. He has also been Chair of the Therfield School Trust Fund since it was set up in 2000 and has been instrumental in enhancing the facilities available to students at Therfield. With his calm and thoughtful manner he has been a very committed and dedicated Governor. News From the Friends of
Therfield Friends' Quiz Evening: Our popular quiz evening, including a fish & chip (or veggie) supper, will now be on Thursday April 28th - full details and the booking form will be in the March News - please put the date in your diary now! Quizmasters will be Frank Haslam and Graham Tuck. A rare opportunity Leatherhead Parish Church is hosting a concert by the Bridgend & District Male Voice Choir, under the direction of John Jenkin BA, FTCL, ARCM, LTCL, 1st Prize winners at the 2004 National Eisteddfod, on Saturday 5th March at 3.30pm. Tickets: £10 Concessions £8, Family ticket: £30 for 2 adults and 2 under 14s. Shepherds' Pie supper in the Parish Church Hall afterwards, £5 (please reserve this when booking): Tickets - Corbetts Book Shop, Swan Centre, Leatherhead; Parish Church Office (call or phone 01372 362544 Wed-Fri 09001200) or phone 01372 372049: Supported by Buchanan & Curwen, Howell-Jones Solicitors, Swan Centre, RT Waters Ltd, & anonymous donors Job Opportunity - Manager required for small group of mildly confused people. Paid Manager required to take daily responsibility for running a small social club in Leatherhead for middle aged and elderly people with early memory difficulties. Open 10am-3pm, Tuesday - Thursday with six members each day. Required initially for three days with possibility of Friday in future. Possible job share. Would suit outgoing person with some experience in caring. Please write to Mid Surrey Dementia Care Trust, 120 Barnett Wood Lane, Ashtead, KT21 2LS or phone 01372 274276 for further information. Cycling We have had a message from the local police concerned about young people cycling on the pavements particularly in the town centre. All adult and student cyclists are likely to be stopped if riding on the pavement. Use of cycle tracks is to be encouraged but the safety of pedestrians and particularly younger children or families needs to be paramount. In this weather it is also important to cycle carefully, bearing in mind that cars are more likely to skid on icy roads and that visibility may be poor. Early Closure Please note that the school day will finish at 3.15pm on Wednesday 2nd March due to Year 9 Parents' Evening. Lunch Cards Please remember to make cheques payable to Surrey County Council. Unfortunately if a cheque is returned to us by the bank we will require that all future payments be made in cash. If a student forgets their card then they can obtain a temporary card for that day from the Finance Office. All lost cards must be reported to the canteen immediately. Diary Dates Apr 4-9 School Sailing week |