| Dear Parents
As the end of the school year approaches I am writing to keep you informed of some of the things that have been happening at Therfield. There are a number of changes in staffing and various proposals for the new year that I would like to share with you. STAFF CHANGES Miss Jean Douglas is taking a well earned rest, having spent 32 years in the teaching profession, 9 of them at Therfield. Mrs. Marion Rutland is taking up another post in London, having been Head of Home Economics at Therfield for 12 years. Mrs. Gill Wadmore, Head of Drama, is also leaving. Mrs. Wadmore has had an enormous influence on the musical and theatrical performances of which the school is justifiably proud. Finally, Mr. Mike Perkins, Head of Sixth, is moving to take up a Deputy Headship at St. Bede's School. All of them will be sorely missed but I am sure you would want to join me in wishing them every happiness for the future and to thank them for all their service to young people in this area. Other teachers leaving are Mrs. Janet Eyet, Mrs. Pauline Fancourt, Mrs. Sue Halliday, Mrs. Shelagh Livesey, Miss Sue Rimmer and Mrs. Tonwen Stockwell. Mrs. Pat Jenkins, Lab Technician, is also leaving, to train as a teacher. We thank them for all their hard work and wish them well in the future. Internal Staff Changes: Mrs. Hack will take over as Head of Sixth on a temporary basis. Mr. Hoggins will become Head of Fifth Year, Mr. Cox will become Head of Fourth Year, Mr. Jones will take over as Head of Third Year and Mr. Stewart will become overall Head of Science. END OF TERM ARRANGEMENTS NEXT TERM Important Change. Would all parents please note that it is my intention to shorten the school day on Tuesdays. Instead of closing school at 3.40, it is my proposal to close school each Tuesday at 3.10 p.m. The reason for this is to create a brief period each week when staff in-service training can take place. I am sure that you will realise the need to create time when staff can plan for developments, not least for the new G.C.S.E. courses. The Library will be open staffed for pupils who may need to wait for transport. School Fund. I shall be writing to parents early in the new term about arrangements for the School Fund, and request that no money is sent in until that letter is received. PUPILS Next year's Sixth Form is estimated to be slightly in excess of 200, with well over half the present Fifth Form wanting to continue their education at Therfield. From this year's Upper Sixth (subject to satisfactory exam results) 4 have places at Oxford or Cambridge, 4 have acceptances at Medical Schools, 4 have acceptances on other degree courses, 14 are going into employment, 2 are going into the armed services, 5 are continuing at school and 2 are taking a year off. G.C.S.E. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS The refurbishment of the Science Laboratories is now complete and we are assured that the new music room will be in place by January. It is also hoped that Therfield will become a satellite ground station, able to make use of information being sent down from certain satellites orbiting above us. The Sponsored Run for the Commonwealth Games Appeal raised £3,024. The following pupils have represented Surrey in the U14 Badminton Team: Alex Bennet, Jo Chaffey, Simon Chaffey and Kate Cunningham. Therfield Sailing crews won the Slow Handicap and Enterprise sections of the Surrey Schools Sailing Regatta at Walton-on-Thames Sailing Club in May. They also won six of the major trophies at the Surrey Schools Sailing Association Regatta at Hayling Island. Matthew Forrest has been selected to sail in the Norway to Gosport section of the Tall Ships Race on the 74ft ketch 'Donald Searle'. This race takes place end of July. A former pupil, John Lewis, will also be on board. A team of Sixth Formers was placed second (out of 27) in the S.E. Regional heat of the Heriott Watt/Hewlett Packard/BP Business Game Competition. A team of Sixth Formers, Michael Jefferies, Clare Addenbrooke, Richard Bolton, Peter Mockeridge, John Shields and James Glaysher, has won a week-long Business Game organised by Frazer-Nash against teams from some very prestigious independent schools. UNIFORM WANTED VISITS FORTHCOMING School Calendar: Finally, may I thank you for all the support that you give to Therfield School and wish you all a very happy Summer holiday. Yours sincerely THERFIELD SCHOOL 1) May I thank all those parents who have responded with help in relation to office furniture. We have been delighted with the offers that we have received. We are still, however, looking for a source of cheap carpet in large quantities and any help in this area would be gratefully received. 2) Since writing last time, we have also been asked if we can help with providing either short or long-term accommodation for Mlle. Emmanuelle Hardy who is coming to work as a French Assistante at Therfield School. If any parent knows of reasonably priced accommodation would you please contact the school office (L'head 377661). 3) University Places. My previous Newsletter did go out with one important error. The number of Upper Sixth Form pupils planning to read for a degree course should have read 41 and not 4. Best wishes for the summer holiday. T.J. Reddin |