THERFIELD SCHOOL
HEADMASTER'S NEWSLETTER
April 1990

On behalf of the staff and pupils at Therfield School I am writing to wish you all a very happy Easter and to give you the latest news from school. After another hectic term there is a great deal to report to you. First and foremost the ordinary work of the school continues. Examination groups are now on the final lap before GCSE examinations begin on 14th May and A Levels begin on 4th June. We do ask parents to help those students preparing for exams. Certainly the Easter holiday should be used for revision and answering practice papers.

Alongside this the school is operating over 40 clubs and societies, and during the course of the year fielding in excess of 50 sports teams.

AGE OF TRANSFER
The County Council is considering changing the age at which pupils transfer from First to Middle Schools and also from Middle to Secondary Schools. If this happens it will involve an enormous re-organisation of the County's education provision. Some of the reasons for re-thinking the age of transfer are included in a pamphlet which accompanies this letter. The County Council would very much value your views.

In order to further explain the situation and how this might influence Therfield, a meeting for all parents interested will be held at 7.30 pm on April 25th at the School. Please come.

STAFF CHANGES
We shall be very sorry to lose Miss Alevropoulos who will be leaving in the near future for a post in industry. Miss Alevropoulos has made a great contribution to the school, both in Science teaching and in leading our recent Exchange visits with Lystrup School in Denmark. We wish her well for the future.

We also thank Mrs. Bryant who has stood in for one term to help us with a vacancy in the Geography department.

We shall also be saying farewell to one of our long serving administrative staff, Mrs. Pam Smith who moves to a promoted post after being with us for eight years.

The following staff have been appointed to take up posts from 1st June.
Mrs. G. Cox - Teacher I/C Chemistry
Miss K. Penny - Teacher of French and German
Mrs. T. Scarsbrook - Teacher of Geography

VISITS
This term has seen school visits to the Alps (Alpine Village Project) and a skiing holiday at half-term to Austria. We have our French Exchange happening immediately after the Easter holiday, also a visit to Istanbul during the holiday period.

BUILDING DEVELOPMENTS
The work on the new Library/Resource Centre is now well under way and the first phase is due for completion during the Easter holiday. This means that the school will only be able to offer a reduced library service during the Summer term when the main building work on the Library itself will be completed.

Major areas of the school are also in the process of redecoration and considerable repair work has been completed to our flat roofs. Over the summer holiday extensive refurbishment to the school kitchens will be carried out. We are grateful to the County Council for their help in this way.

MORE GENERAL NEWS
Presentation Evening - The School has just welcomed the eminent engineer Professor Eric Laithwaite of Imperial College to make the presentations of awards at this year's Presentation Evening.

The School's Swing Band and Orchestras go from strength to strength. Last Friday saw one of the best Concerts that this school has produced, and follows quickly on the heels of the auditions in the National Festival of Music for Youth.

The number of parents who have identified Therfield as the secondary school for their children has increased and we shall be admitting up to 30 more pupils next September than were admitted a year ago. Also all the early indications suggest that the very high staying on rate into our Sixth Form (65%) will continue this coming year.

As from last April the school takes over responsibility for its budget. This amounts to £1.6 million. Although this gives very little room for manoeuvre, it should just about be sufficient to cover our basic needs.

REQUESTS FOR HELP
Exam Invigilators
We are seeking two responsible adults to assist with the invigilation of our Summer GCSE and A Level exams. Dates:

If you are interested in helping the school with the conduct of their exams, please contact the Bursar, Mrs. Laker. We would prefer that parents of those actually sitting their exams (i.e. those in the Sixth Form or Fifth Form) are not appointed. No previous experience is necessary as a member of staff will always be invigilating in case of difficulties.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
The last day of this term will see an early closure with pupils being dismissed at 12.30. This is to allow for the considerable amount of furniture and book movement necessitated by the next phase of the Library re-development. Coaches have been ordered for the new time. Lunch will be available but only if booked in advance.

23rd April : School re-commences after Easter holiday.
25th April : 7.30 p.m. - Parents' Meeting on 'Age of Transfer'.

3rd May : Meeting of the full Governing Body of Therfield School.
14th May : GCSE exams start and study leave for 5th Forrners begins.
14th May : Fourth and Lower Sixth exams start.
28th May-1st June incl. : HALF TERM

13th June : Meeting for Sixth Form parents on Higher Education Routes and Application Procedures.
25th & 26th June : School closed for staff in-service training.
5th July : Early closure for local teachers' Panels to meet.
13th July : School musical Cabaret Evening.
20th July : Last day of Summer Term.

Yours sincerely,
TJ Reddin