Message from the headteacher

I don’t know if you ever notice your children doing last minute homework? Not long ago I caught one of my own kids dashing off to do a drawing one morning which later prompted the feedback from the art teacher: ‘how long did you spend on this … to the nearest second?’ Well, this evening I must admit I am rushing this as, to be quite honest, it’s getting towards my deadline and I note from my schedule that few further slots exist tomorrow when I can get it done.

As normal, however, I have been into my usual number of lessons this week: an average of three a day. On my travels I came across this lung. It was being investigated by the same team that brought to you a locust’s respiratory tract a few weeks ago. I thought twice about including this photo for fear of offending people. But the discussion I had with the owner of one of the set of hands in the picture changed my mind. We got talking as she started exploring the sheep’s organ and it transpires that she is determined to become a brain surgeon. Understanding anatomy is, therefore, something she needs to do and so we shouldn’t be secretive or shy about it. It may be that one day in the not too distant future she saves the life of you or a loved one by completing a journey which she started some time ago in Y7 biology. I asked the teacher how you would know if the lung had belonged to a smoker. He pointed out that the lung would be visibly blackened from the outside. He also pointed out that sheep don’t generally smoke which, obviously, was hilarious.

Meanwhile in my own lessons we have been looking at careers, as have all Y8 students in PSE. After a period of research students stood at the front and presented their plans for their ‘plan A’ and ‘plan B’. I really enjoyed the presentations and they were well delivered. I punctuated the presentations with some bursts of philosophy and ethics. One of the videos we discussed explored why it is, in our society, that some people earn far more than others and why ‘pay’ should always be separated from ‘worth’ of ‘usefulness to society’. The ensuing discussion was really insightful, I thought. The level of difference surprised me between those young people who felt that money was their focus because of the lifestyle it might bring and those who already seemed to have worked out that money might not automatically bring happiness.

I have relocated for this paragraph because we needed some cover in our ‘Hustle Hub’ which offers a quiet place to revise for Y11s on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It is 5.30pm and a range of students are still hard it. It starts at 4pm which means that students can pop out after school to the shop and return with some snacks before the workshop starts (so far this evening I have been offered NOTHING so will soon start to commandeer supplies). It’s now 5.50pm and the students are still going strong AND they are mostly boys, I note with pride, given some concerns about the progress of boys nationally.

I hope my words were worth reading this week. Next week is looking quieter so I shall try and say something far more insightful/amusing/important.

Have a lovely weekend.

A Marsh Headteacher

Student Bulletin Issue 23: 6 March 2020

Week commencing Monday 2 March 2020 Year 10 Engineering Controlled Assessment in lessons until Easter Year 11 art/photography exam preparation in lessons until 20 March 2020 A level art/textiles exam preparation in lessons until 1 May 2020

Monday 8.40am – Year 7 assembly Year 11 drama practical exam – technical rehearsal day

Tuesday 8.40am – Year 8 assembly 8.40am – Sixth form assembly Year 11 drama practical exam – technical rehearsal day 5.30-10.15pm - Y7&8 book club 'A Monster Calls' Lyceum theatre, Sheffield

Wednesday 8.40am – Year 11 assembly Year 11 drama practical exam - performance all day 6-7pm Year 11 parent revision evening – Wheeldon Hall

Thursday 8.40am – Year 10 assembly

Friday 8.40am – Year 9 assembly

See extra-curricular clubs section for lunch and after school activities