THERFIELD SCHOOL
HEADMASTER'S NEWSLETTER
March 1991

The arrival of spring flowers and longer days marks the end of the Spring Term and with it the arrival of my termly newsletter to keep you informed of the major developments at Therfield. Although it has been a short term, it has nonetheless en very busy.

We have had pupils visiting Austria, Switzerland and Russia. Most year groups have had parents' evenings. All our one-year Sixth Formers have been out on two weeks' work experience and we have survived Comic Relief Day and a multi-cultural music workshop and concert.

The work on the National Curriculum has occupied most of the staff. Work in Maths and Science has already begun for Year 8 pupils, with English and Technology due to start in September. Geography and History follow next year. Preparations for this major change are requiring huge amounts of staff time in planning and implementation.

The coming term sees us preparing for the next round of public examinations. GCSE exams begin on Monday 13th May and A levels start directly after half-term.

SCHOOL BUDGET
May I thank all of you who wrote to MPs and Councillors about the proposed budget cuts that all schools in Surrey are having to face. Dr Parker and I are very grateful for your support and all the very complimentary comments about Therfield you included. I would like to be able to say that all was now well, but the cuts remain unchanged.

The Governors are now having to decide how best to budget for the coming year. Fortunately we have some small savings from this present financial year, without which the school's financial position would be very serious indeed. As it is we will not be replacing some staff who leave, some small courses may not be run, classes may be larger and there will be less spent on maintenance and furniture.

PUPIL NUMBERS
Therfield remains as popular as ever. We have about 200 pupils whose parents have chosen us as their first choice of secondary school for next September. We also have a steady trickle of applications from pupils in private schools.

We also anticipate a further increase in our Sixth Form numbers. Our Sixth Form is presently about 210 pupils, and applications from Year 11 pupils and those seeking places from outside indicate a Sixth Form of between 240 - 250 in September. This reflects the confidence of both pupils and parents in the school's ability to offer a wide-ranging, quality education with excellent exam results.

STAFF CHANGES
Mr Richard Everington, who has been one of the two Deputy Heads of the school for the last 18 years, has announced that he will be retiring at the end of the Summer Term. The school owes him an enormous debt of gratitude for all that he has done. We shall sorely miss him.

Easter sees the school saying farewell to Mr John Pitt, Head of the Science Faculty, who is taking up a post as Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at Kingston Polytechnic. Mr Pitt in the five years he has been with us has been one of the people most responsible for the massive strengthening of Physics teaching in the school. He will be replaced by Mr J Harris from Epsom & Ewell High School.

Following the tragic death of Mr Broderick, our caretaker, we have now appointed Mr M Jones to replace him. Mr Jones was a former Colour Sergeant in the Coldstream Guards, responsible for royal palace security!

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
1) Our Food & Technology Lab is now complete and in use. This is the first such laboratory in the country and puts us in an ideal position to implement the Technology element of the National Curriculum
2) The re-decoration of the school will soon be complete.
3) Work on the girls' showers and pupil toilet areas starts during the Easter holiday and will take about five weeks.
4) County has agreed to completely re-clad the outside of the Humanities and Sixth Form blocks.
5) The school's front entrance and administration accommodation is to be re-modelled by County, with work starting during Easter.

SCHOOL MEAL PRICES
I am sorry to have to tell you that there will be a further price rise by the catering service, to take effect after the Easter holiday. In effect, a full meal will rise from £1.20 to £1.90.

HELP REQUESTED

• We are trying to develop an exchange with a school just outside Cologne in Germany. We have not been able to find enough of our own pupils to go, but we do not want to let down our German partners, nor lose the contact. We are therefore looking for parents who would be prepared to offer accommodation to a German pupil for a week. We would try to cover the cost of food. If you could help just after half-term, please ring the school and leave your name.

• We are looking for a room, or small flat, for a single lady teacher. Please ring the school if you can help.

• Help is needed for preparing and serving coffee to staff in school on Tuesday and Friday mornings from 10.00 am to 11.15 am. Please ring the school for details, and ask for Mrs Kinloch or Dr Martin.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
19th MARCH - Last day of Spring Term for pupils. (The staff still have two training days.)

1st APRIL - Sailing Holiday begins.
8th APRIL - Start of Summer Term.
10th APRIL - Parents' "Help your Child to Spell" Workshop.
13th APRIL - Friends' "RACE NIGHT" at the school.
14th APRIL - Music Concert featuring the Orchestras and Swing Band.

1st MAY - Parents' "Help your Child to Spell" workshop.
6th MAY - May Day Bank Holiday
7th MAY - School closed for staff training.
13th MAY - Study leave begins for Year 11 pupils,
27th-31st MAY Half Term.

5th JUNE - Year 12 Higher Education Evening.

4th JULY - Early closure at 12.30 pm for Subject Panel meetings.
10th JULY - Year 12 Parents' Evening.
17th JULY - Sports Day.
23rd JULY - Last day of Summer Term.

May I wish you all a very happy and peaceful Easter. All of us on the staff are very grateful for all the help and encouragement that so many of you have offered.

Yours sincerely,
TJ Reddin