All Hallows Catholic College Newsletter Michaelmas Term Issue 1 - Friday 7 September 2018
‘You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. And people don't hide a light under a bowl. They put the light on a lampstand. Then the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do. Live so that they will praise your Father in heaven.’ Matthew 5: 14-16 Dear Parents / Carers, I hope you have had a relaxing and enjoyable summer holiday. A special welcome to parents of Year 7 children who are new to All Hallows. This College has always prided itself on its unique family atmosphere and supportive climate. All parents can be assured that the staff here do their very best to ensure that each and every child feels safe, makes progress and is known as an individual. We want all children to experience the joy of success in and out of the classroom and to enjoy and achieve in equal measure. On a personal level, I am delighted to be taking up the post of Principal, and am looking forward to leading All Hallows Catholic College into the next phase of its development. This is a very exciting time for both myself and the College, and my main challenge is to ensure that the outstanding things about All Hallows continue and flourish, whilst bringing to it a new drive and vitality to address identified areas for improvement. In the short time that I have been here I have seen clear evidence of a commitment to learning, and our results in the summer exams certainly show that this is the case. Once again we celebrated an excellent set of A Level results, with 72% of all grades awarded at A*-B, compared with 52% nationally – provisionally the best results in Cheshire East. The majority of students secured their first choice university place at some of the country’s top universities, including Oxford, Durham and Kings College London, while others have been successful in securing very competitive apprenticeships. GCSEs were also a cause for celebration, with Year 11 students achieving the College’s best ever set of results, and students of all abilities making good progress, given their starting points. 82% of student’s attained 9-4 grades in both English & Maths, and 53% attained 9-5 grades. Student performance at the highest grades was excellent, with 37 students achieving the coveted grade 9 in at least one of their examinations, whilst 13.7% of all grades were at either a grade 8 or 9. We are thrilled with the individual performances of all our students, and they deserve our congratulations. One of the key reasons the College is so successful is because of the many opportunities provided to all youngsters. Please encourage your son or daughter to get involved in a range of activities, as school is more than just learning in the classroom. As we know, valuable learning takes place out of lessons too. ‘Engage Positively’ is one of the messages I have given to the students this week. As well as youngsters becoming engaged in school life, parents are welcome to get involved too. The best way is by taking an interest in what your child is learning in lessons. Have a look at exercise books and ask questions about topics being covered in class. Check Show My Homework regularly. If you ever have outstanding concerns, please e-mail the relevant member of staff. I read the above passage, from the Gospel of Matthew, to students during my assemblies this week – ‘You are the light that gives light to the world’. We have the fantastic job of developing our youngsters into successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens. It is our job to help them shine! Together, All Hallows’ staff, parents, governors and, most importantly, the young people themselves, will make this happen. I place a high premium on the importance of regular communication between home and school, and I strongly believe that we are all in partnership for the benefit of our young people. I will therefore be writing to you weekly, via this newsletter, which will continue to be sent directly to you by e-mail, and will also be placed on the website, http://allhallows.org.uk As you are aware, it is our Open Evening on Monday 17 September. If you know of anyone who would be interested in attending Open Evening, or would like to make an appointment at any other time to come and visit the school, then please encourage them to do so. There are also Open Mornings from Wednesday 19 September to Friday 21 September, at 9.30am. One of the main reasons All Hallows is so popular with new and prospective parents is because of ‘word of mouth’. Your endorsement is the best form of publicity for the College and it is very much appreciated. Finally, I would like to thank everyone for the very warm welcome that I have received so far. I look forward to working in partnership with you over the coming years, and if you ever wish to contact me about any issue, please do not hesitate to email me via my PA, Mrs Metheringham, at principalpa@allhallows.org.uk. Tim Beesley, Principal 01