THERFIELD SCHOOL
HEADMASTER'S NEWSLETTER
July 1989

Another school year is drawing to a close and staff and students are all looking forward to a well earned rest. This letter is to inform you of the arrangements for the end of this term and also those for the start of next term. Therfield remains a lively and thriving community and it is important that I share with you news of the school and its developments.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE END OF THE SUMMER TERM
19th July : Sports Day beginning at 1.10. Parents are very welcome.
20th July : School Cabaret Evening - 7.30 (Further details on separate sheet)
21st July : Last day of the Summer Term. Pupils will be dismissed at 1.10 pm (although school lunches will then be served to those requesting them).

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE START OF THE AUTUMN TERM
Tuesday 5th September
8.30 - 10.45 : Exam Clinic for returning new Sixth Formers with course changes.
9.30 : New Second Year pupils report to Tutor Groups.
11.00 : All new Sixth formers report to Tutor Groups.
1.05 : 3rd, 4th, 5th Years and Upper Sixth report to Tutor Groups.
Wednesday 6th Sept.
8.55 - All pupils report in to school full normal timetable for all pupils starts. 6th Form start two day induction.

STAFF CHANGES
There are a number of staff who will be leaving Therfield at the end of this term. One of the privileges of being at Therfield is to be able to work with such a first class team of professional teachers. I want to pay my tribute to hours and hours of work that they put in over and above the teacher's contract.

It is always a matter of regret when teachers leave but the vast majority will be moving on for promotion, others are moving for family reasons and some are taking a well-earned retirement.

Mr. C. Tweedale will be leaving to take up the post of Deputy Principal of Okehampton College.
Mr. Bell (Art) after 11 years at Therfield is now wanting to follow a career using his design skills.
Mrs. Henshilwood has taught Home Economics part time for 16years and will be retiring.
Mrs. Higham (Maths) is leaving to continue her studies.
Mrs. Hayes has taught commercial subjects for 14 years here, and will be using her valuable skills in passenger liaison at Gatwick Airport.
Mrs. Jackson (Music) goes to be Head of Music at Howard of Effingham School.
Miss Mitchell (R.E.) is getting married and moving to a similar post in the Midlands.
Miss Newman (Science) is taking a promotion and moving into Middle School work.
Mr. Tomlinson has made a massive contribution to the young people of Leatherhead. He has taught at Therfield for 27 years. He is retiring and his enormous energy and enthusiasm will be sorely missed.
Miss Tovey (German) is moving back to her native Wales where she will continue to teach German.
Mr. Wakeford (Craft Design & Technology) is moving, after 17 years at Therfield, to Ashcombe School.
Mr. Wright (Maths) is moving to a school in Essex.

I cannot express in the space available to me here, the enormous debt of gratitude this community owes to these teachers. I am especially grateful to those who are leaving Therfield after many long years of service during which time the education service has undergone massive changes. They will be sorely missed and the school wishes them every happiness in the future.

New staff joining us are:-
Miss Woodcock (Art), Mr. Greig (Music), Miss Bailey (German), Mrs Huggins (RE).
Appointments are still to be made for Maths and CDT. If any parents are aware of someone who could offer some part-time Maths teaching for one term I would be very grateful if you would contact me.

NEW SCHOOL DAY FROM SEPTEMBER
Better to meet the needs of the 1988 Education Act and the National Curriculum we plan to restructure the way our school day is timetabled. This will involve virtually no change to starting and finishing times, but will influence how our day is broken up. The results of these changes will be that all pupils will get more assemblies than at present, that all pupils will have a period of Personal Social and Moral Education taken by their tutors and that all pupils in the 2nd and 3rd years will have the opportunity of studying two foreign languages, or one foreign language and Latin.

Parents should especially note that pupils arriving late in the morning will be missing lessons and not tutor time and assembly as at present. The new timings of our school days are as follows:

BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS
Our new Resource Centre/Library is now well under way with final architects' drawings being prepared. We expect building to begin in November. This will cause some disruption but will provide us with a superb new learning resources. (Cost £130,000).

During the summer holiday, the halls and gymnasiums will have all their floors sanded, sealed and polished. Also the whole fire alarm system is to be replaced.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
National Curriculum
Plans are well advanced in the school to begin to implement the Government's National Curriculum proposals. Its first effects will be seen in a year's time when all the new pupils joining us will have to follow the Government's curriculum in Maths and Science. Other elements will be phased in over the next three years. More details will be provided at the Friends Annual General Meeting on 27th September.

Local Management
The school Governors will take over the responsibility for virtually the whole school budget from April, which will be in excess of £1,500,000. Again, plans are well advanced for what we hope will be a smooth transition.

SOME MAJOR EVENTS OF THE SUMMER TERM
Sail Training Holiday
French Exchange Visit
Inter-House Music Festival Exchange
Visit to Denmark
220 Fifth Form pupils sat GCSE exams
70 Sixth Form pupils sat 'A' Level exams
Visit by London Institute of Contemporary Dance
Mock European Elections (The Greens won!)
Bastille Day - celebration of the Bi-centennial of the French Revolution, for pupils and parents.

I never cease to be amazed and delighted at the variety of experience offered to the pupils at the school. The wide range of extra-curricular clubs, societies and sports teams continues.

We are determined to continue our high standards and I would especially draw your attention to the school's uniform requirements if you plan to purchase new uniform over the summer period. Our aim is to provide for each young person a sufficiently vigorous educational experience that they are able to develop in the fullest possible way for the adult world.

May I wish you all a very happy relaxed and safe summer holiday.

Yours sincerely,
TJ Reddin