Issue No.69 September 1999
Issue No.69 September 1999
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FROM THE HEAD TEACHER The new term has got off to a very good, if somewhat damp start. We have admitted 235 students into Year 7 (with 28 still on the waiting list). 157 students have returned to go into the Sixth Form, giving us our largest Sixth Form ever at 284. |
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EXAMINATION RESULTS These were again excellent. Full details are being sent home with the Governors' Annual Report to parents. We knew that the GCSE group was not quite as able as that of the previous year. Nonetheless we were delighted that 69% of all exams sat were passed at grades A*-C and we matched our previous five or more A*-C pass rate of the previous year at 64%. Six students gained A* or A grades in all subjects and a further 32 achieved A*, As or Bs in all subjects. At 'A' level we had a 94% pass rate with over 50% gaining A-C Grades. Nine students achieved the equivalent of three grade As, 5 students accepted places at Oxford or Cambridge and all other students in the Upper Sixth seeking university places gained them. We also had excellent results at Advanced General National Vocational level in Business Studies with all students gaining merits and being accepted onto Higher Education courses. I am very grateful to all the students and staff who worked so hard to achieve these results. |
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RECRUITMENT TIME Our Open Evening this year is to be held on Wednesday 10th November when we go 'on show' to prospective parents. If you know anyone who has a son/daughter due to start secondary school in September 2000 please tell them about Therfield. We also have a number of tours of the school 'at work' fixed for November; the School Office will be pleased to give information. |
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NEW STAFF We welcome 10 new members of staff to the teaching team. Some are starting their teaching careers at Therfield, others come with extensive experience. All seem to be settling in well. Mr D Morley-Davies joins us as a Senior Teacher with special responsibility for developing Information and Communications Technology. He has extensive school and industrial experience and we are very fortunate to have been able to recruit him. Other new staff are -
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AN IMPORTANT DATE A reminder that on 6th October, starting at 7.30 pm the Friends AGM will be held followed by the annual parents' Meeting with Govemors at about 8.15 pm. This is a social as well as an informative evening. Do please try and attend. |
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GLYN & ROSEBERRY You will probably have seen in the Press, the decision of the Government Adjudicator to reduce admission by ability at Rosebery from 30% to 10% from this coming September. Glyn school remains unchanged at 15%. In the interests of fairness to all schools, I would have preferred that this type of selection be completely abolished - nonetheless I am very pleased about the Rosebery decision and thank all those parents who supported the campaign last term. It was worth the effort. |
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WEDNESDAY TIMINGS I do apologise that the Information Booklet for parents gave incorrect information. The timings of Wednesday lessons are now the same as for all the other days and an early finish on Wednesdays has now ceased. We shall however, be closing school slightly early on those days where we have a Parents' Evening involving large numbers, so as to give staff a brief break. On those days, school will finish at 3.15 pm. The days involved are:- 3rd November |
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SCHOOL FUND I am very grateful to parents who have contributed to the Fund. I cannot yet report the total received, as contributions are still arriving. This Fund especially supports clubs, societies, merit awards etc and is much valued. Our budget from County this year represented a significant cut in purchasing power (see Governors' Report to Parents). We only survived without having to make serious cuts by using all of our reserves. If future funding looks to be planned at similar levels, I will do my best to let you know, so that you can contact your County Councillor. |
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ACADEMIC TUTORING DAYS Research shows that one of the most powerful strategies for raising pupil performance and self-esteem is to get them (and their parents) engaged in directing their own learning. To enable this to happen, and to make sure that this process is properly focused, we have set aside three days - one each term - for individualised target setting and review. The first of these is on Tuesday, 5th October. Schools which have followed Academic Tutoring report that it has contributed significantly to raised levels of achievement. Precise details are being sent out by separate letter. |
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DIEPPE DELAYS Fourteen Year 11 dual linguists - those who have opted to take on the challenge of GCSE French from scratch in two years as well as core GCSE German - had a true test of patience as well as linguistic ability when they embarked on a day trip to Dieppe. Accompanied by Miss Buckell and Mr Andrews, the group experienced a four and a half hour delay to the hoverspeed Newhaven-Dieppe journey which meant them missing the main market day but still gave plenty of opportunity to practise French conversation, especially as this was a 'French Only' day. |
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VISITS TO SAVOUR Our present Year 7 pupils can look forward to two enjoyable trips which will help them extend their language skills. 40 pupils now in Year 8 experienced an action-packed five days in the Rhine Valley at the end of July. They were able to explore the historical and shopping delights of Koblenz and visited a vineyard by cable car. Highlights of the visit, however, were a Rhine cruise enabling pupils to spot the many picturesque castles on the shoreline and a visit to a museum housing the largest collection in Europe of self-playing musical instruments. Thanks to the variety of shops and a specially devised treasure trail pupils also had plenty of opportunity to practise their Gennan. At the same time, a group of pupils were able to savour the delights of the Normandy region of France, whilst staying in Dieppe. Their activities included a visit to Rouen, where they saw the tomb of Richard the Lionheart in the cathedral and found the precise place where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake. The Maritime Museum in Dieppe proved a popular place to visit and the pupils delighted both their teachers and the locals with their willingness to 'have a go' in French, whether shopping, buying lunch or trying to find information for their quiz and work books. Invitations for next July's visits will soon be going out from the Modern Languages Department. Years 9 and 10 have the opportunity to take part in Exchange Visits to Germany and France but need to get their applications in quickly. |
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PARENTS' PRAYER GROUP There will be a meeting of the Prayer Group on Monday, 4th October at the school at 8pm. All parents are welcome to attend - more information from Mrs Jill Poole on 01932 865476. |
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MONEY IN SCHOOL We keep very little money on the premises and certainly none in the Main Office. It is therefore impossible for us to give change when asked by pupils - there is no way we can change £20, £10 or even £5 notes. Also, pupils should always try and have 10p for the telephone. |
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LOST PROPERTY The Main Office is getting taken over by the amount of 'lost' clothing being handed in, much of it being un-named so that we cannot return it. |
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FOSTER CARERS Surrey desperately needs more foster carers for children of all ages, who cannot live with their parents for various reasons - often of a temporary nature. Social Services offers training, support and payment - Sandra Madgwick on 01483 756523 is the person to contact if you are interested. |
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PARENTLINE This is a confidential telephone helpline for Surrey parents. It is based in Leatherhead and provides a listening and support service to callers. Trained volunteers who are all parents themselves staff the helpline. Callers are not criticised or judged but Parentline can make suggestions as to possible ways forward. The telephone number is 0345 56780 and is open Monday to Saturday 10am - 4pm. If you want more information or would like to help, the contact is Jill Ward on 01372 362743. |
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Parents might be particularly interested to know of the range of musical activities on offer - we have:-
Mr Pratt would love to hear from youngsters - whether new to the school or not - who would like to join in. Taking part does require a certain amount of commitment and dedication but the rewards are tremendous! Therfield's Sailing Club is wonderfully successful, not only in winning trophies but also in introducing youngsters safely and enjoyably to a sport which they might not always know about. Parents might also like to know that there is a Homework Club run Monday to Thursday lunchtimes at school. Here pupils can do homework, under supervision, in a peaceful and quiet atmosphere. |
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THE SAMBA BAND This will soon be up and playing . Thanks to a generous donation from the Friends plus other fund-raising activities the Music Department par now feel able to launch this exciting venture. |
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OVERDUE BOOKS Mrs Burnham, the Librarian, asks all parents to check at home to see if any overdue library books are lurking there - about 200 books are missing, from the shelves. The same applies to text books, we are constantly having to replace books which students have failed to return and this is an unnecessary drain on our very tight resources. |
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PRACTICAL USE Mrs Hook's Year 8 Food & Textiles Technology group put their project of running, designing, marketing and selling a mini-enterprise to good use by raising £62 last term. The money will go on 'luxuries' for the department, such as scissors, textiles and teaspoons! The Technology department is grateful for all the parental contributions this term. |
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SWIMMING Congratulations are due to Samantha Green, Year 11, and Julie Hunt, Year 9, for their achievements in the National Age Group Championships at Coventry in August. Sam triumphed in the 200 metres individual medley, winning a bronze medal; Julie qualified for the final of the 200 metres back-stroke. They were also successful in reaching the finals in their respective relay teams. Both girls have been chosen to represent Surrey in the Inter-County Championships at Sheffield and also to swim for Division 11 (Surrey & Kent) in the National Schools Swimming Championships at Gateshead. These events take place in October. |
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BADMINTON Chris Langridge, Year 10, has been selected to represent the English Schools' Badminton team in the Danish Cup, 15th-19th October. The chairman of the Association describes Chris as "an excellent ambassador for your school and the sport. He worked hard to gain selection for this event and thoroughly deserves this opportunity" |
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YOUR LETTERS Wednesday is the day set aside for all letters to go home by pupil post. A list of letters you should have received this term is given below - if you have not received one please ask your son/daughter about this and, if necessary, contact the school for a replacement:-
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