SJT Autumn 2017 Newsletter

GCSE & A LEVEL RESULTS

AWARDS EVENING

MULLER ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE DAY

LATIN TRIP Autumn 2017

We have had an excellent start to the term with the celebration of a fantastic set of GCSE and A level results. We have had an early indication of the progress score for the school which has come out positive at +0.1. This means that as a school we take students on a positive journey from their start point at Key Stage 2 up to their GCSEs. We are constantly pushing all students towards their potential and as a result we open doors for their future. I am pleased to see that so many of our students go on to study at A level and then go on to find routes into university, training or employment. The Ofsted in the summer said that we have knowledgeable staff who work hard to get the best out of our students and the results in the summer have backed this up. I wish all our students well and thank all parents for working with us to enable our students to reach their true potential.

We have introduced new target setting this term which has helped students to see their potential and to set themselves goals. In the student planner every student has a set of targets for each subject showing what grade they should be going for to make minimum, good or exceptional progress. We have indicated where the teacher currently believes the student could achieve in the subject but hope that all students will push themselves for good and exceptional performance. The PPG (Professional Predicted Grade) that will be given each term can then be compared to these targets to give you a clear idea of how well your child is doing. Please let us know how you feel this is going as the year goes on.

As you know we have high standards at Sir John Talbot’s School and we expect all students to wear their uniform with pride. We expect all students to come prepared for lessons with the correct equipment and to be punctual to school and lessons. By maintaining these standards we are able to help your children to achieve the very best. The new student planners clearly state the expectations for uniform, attendance and equipment along with providing helpful guidance for subjects and supporting independent study.

Please take the time to go through your child’s planner with them and help them take responsibility for themselves, their conduct (inside and outside school) and personal organisation. We have revised the permissions for digital equipment and mobile phones and will now confiscate any device being used outside the school behaviour policy or being used inappropriately. The device will be kept for collection by a parent at the end of the day.

Students and staff have taken part in a wide variety of community events already this term. The Founder’s Day sponsored walk was a massive success and I am incredibly grateful to Mr and Mrs Taylor, Lea Hall Farm for the access provided to their farm where the walk took place. Students have been taking part in arts workshops for the Blackberry Fair under the supervision of Mrs Clarke and the creations are spectacular. We have had language days, a Muller enterprise competition, Colomendy weekend, Duke of Edinburgh’s activities, a wonderful open day and a variety of sports fixtures. I am looking forward to the year ahead and know that you will work with us to make every year a resounding success.

David O’Toole Headteacher

Reminder

Students should be dropped off and collected from the front of school only (Leisure Centre entrance).

School Meals daily spend limit The school operates a daily spend limit of £5.00 per student in the canteen area.

Should you wish for this limit to be increased in respect of your child, please write to the school, indicating what limit you wish to be in place.

Please clearly indicate your child’s name in the letter and the preferred daily spend limit.

H.M.Prince Facilities Manager

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Awards Evening Mr O'Toole opened the evening by congratulating the students on their great achievements, some of the best that SJT have ever had. The evening was hosted by Mrs Dawson, Assistant Headteacher who never missed an opportunity to thank special guests, students, parents/carers and our guest speaker, commenting on how they had made the evening very special indeed.

Guest speaker Mr Paul Morland spoke of life being like a game of snakes and ladders, snakes being the difficulties we face which can set us back and ladders that we climb to overcome challenges. He congratulated the young people for the tremendous efforts they have made to climb the ladders to success in achieving their results. He asked us all to look at and appreciate the people who were holding our ladders for us as our support. Executive Headteacher Mrs Longville closed the evening by highlighting the school's journey from 2013 until now, where everyone in it has made it the first school of choice for parents/carers in Whitchurch and the surrounding area. She particularly praised the efforts of parents/carers, students, staff, governors and members of the community in making it a great school. It was a wonderful evening.

www.sirjohntalbots.co.uk

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GIRLS’ HOCKEY

U16 Girls Hockey team came 3rd in the U16 North Shropshire Tournament held at Ellesmere College.

Tête a Tête!

On Tuesday 3rd October French Theatre Production Tête-a Tête performed for Year 7 and 8 students. Monsieur Dan Roro used a variety of entertainment from mime, juggling, unicycle to ventriloquism!

LATIN TRIP Students took part in three workshops building willow bugs and flower props and creating bottle bunting that was on display in Whitchurch at the Blackberry Fair on Saturday 7th October.

www.sirjohntalbots.co.uk

Latin students from Years 8, 9 and 11 recently travelled to Northumberland with Mrs Scott, Mrs Morcumb and Mr Sanders from the Humanities Faculty to stay in the newly built 'Sill Youth Hostel' which is on Hadrian's Wall. Over the two days they visited the Roman museum and had a lesson in Latin from a 'Roman teacher' and found out about how the Romans occupied the area and the significance of Hadrian's Wall. They then went to the site of Vindolanda where a talk from a resident archaeologist about its on-going excavations was fascinating. They then saw the Vindolanda collection which includes the famous writing tablets (Roman postcards covered in ink handwriting), the finest collection of Roman footwear from the Roman Empire, textiles, pottery, militaria and personal items from the communities that lived there.

The next day the group visited Housesteads, a Roman fort on the Wall and then walked 4 miles along the Wall seeing the area’s most spectacular scenery.

GCSE RESULTS With the new GCSE grading system in English and maths and the introduction of grades 7, 8 and 9 replacing A and A* it was incredible to see 17% of all grades at 7 and above. For subjects other than English and maths still using the A*-C measure the school continues to see great success with the majority of students achieving 5 A*-C grades.

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ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE EVENT On Friday 15th September Year 11 students started the day with a presentation from Director of Human Resources, Mr Filmer for the whole of the Muller group which employs approximately 12,000 people. He informed students about his ambition to be a judge and his career journey which took him from secondary school in Lancashire to Law school in Chester. After working as a solicitor for a few years he then went back to university to complete a Master’s in Business Management. He worked at a senior level for several companies including Bentley and Celestica before being appointed to this very prestigious position at Muller. Students took part in a number of talent spotting activities which Muller use as part of their recruitment process. Students were then given the challenge of creating a new product for Muller. They included information about design, market audience, nutrition and packaging. We are very grateful to Muller for providing the students at SJT with such a useful and enjoyable challenge event.

Individual notable performances are: Ben Fry – 3 Grade 9, 6 A*, 1 A, 1 Distinction Hannah Smith – 2 Grade 9, 1 Grade 7, 7 A*, 1 A, 1 Distinction Victoria Hopwood – 1 Grade 9, 2 Grade 8, 7 A*, 1 Distinction Adrienn Karl – 1 Grade 9, 1 Grade 7, 1 Grade 6, 3 A*, 4 A Rebecca Brookfield – 3 Grade 7, 5 A, 2 B, 1 Merit Shola Bailey – 1 Grade 8, 1 Grade 6, 1 Grade 5, 1 A*, 2 A, 4 B, 1 Pass Louis Allman – 1 Grade 8, 1 Grade 7, 1 Grade 5, 1 A*, 5 B Ashleigh Bruton – 1 Grade 8, 1 Grade 7, 1 Grade 5, 3 A, 2 B, 2C Benjamin Mifsud – 2 Grade 5, 1 Grade 4, 3 A, 2 B, 2 C Hayden Evans – 1 Distinction *, 2 Grade 5, 1 Grade 4, 5 B, 2 C, 1 Pass

WHITCHURCH ROTARY CLUB BOAT TRIP

Whitchurch Rotary Club organised a canal boat trip for Sir John Talbot's Interact club. The Year 9 students enjoyed the opportunity of 'steering' the barge as well as helping with mooring the boat.

www.sirjohntalbots.co.uk

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Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award On Saturday 30th September the new Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award group climbed to the top of Snowdon in rather inclement weather. They did this brilliantly and without complaint. Such resilience and determination! Well done to everyone.

The group went with four staff members including Mrs Morcumb, Head of DofE.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD PRESENTATIONS Participants of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver and Gold Award gave some interesting presentations about their expeditions. The presentations to parents/carers completed the expedition section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

YEAR 7 COLOMENDY TRIP Year 7 had a wonderful weekend in September at Colomendy. They challenged themselves with rock climbing and Jacob's Ladder; developed teamwork skills when completing the night line and low ropes; and learnt new skills when trying out archery.

www.sirjohntalbots.co.uk

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Sixth Form Mural The work of Liam Higgins and Aiden Holland which incorporates ideas from the students has been created with the hope that future year groups will continue to add to the design.

TERM DATES Autumn Term 2017 Tuesday 5th September to Thursday 21st December 2017 Half term: Monday 23rd to Friday 27th October 2017 Spring Term 2018 Monday 8th January to Thursday 29th March 2018 Half term: Monday 19th to Friday 23rd February 2018 PD day: Monday 26th February Summer Term 2018 Monday 16th April to Friday 20th July 2018 Half term: Monday 28th May to Friday 1st June 2018 PD days: Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th July

TALBOT THEATRE - WHITCHURCH LEISURE CENTRE EVENTS SATURDAY 4TH NOVEMBER - 8PM NORTH SHROPSHIRE FOLK ‘THE PAPERBOYS’ With support from Sarah Jane Scouten A welcome return by this acclaimed Canadian-based band which serves up a heady blend of country-folk-celticbluegrass-rock with a bit of traditional Mexican music thrown in for good measure. Lead singer Tom Landa and The Paperboys are renowned for their energetic live performances and create a buzz wherever they play. Their excellent musicianship creates a sound that fills the venue and the overall effect is exhilarating. They are supported by Sarah Jane Scouten from Vancouver. Two-time Canadian Folk Music Award nominee, her songs are faithful to a long-standing folk music tradition, but often spill over into modern themes that are outspoken and edgy.

Tickets: £14 adults/£12 adult concs/£6 young people

WEDNESDAY 22ND NOVEMBER - 7.30PM FARNHAM MALTINGS THEATRE ‘BRILLIANCE’ 1963, winter. Daisy places her hand on the switch, presses it down, and life is never the same again. Long after its arrival in the city, the slow process of rural electrification is starting to illuminate every corner and crevice of village life. As the dark evenings hold us in, 240 volts of alternating current and the humble electric light bulb allows us to gather and sing long into the night. A welcome return by this company which brought ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ to us. High quality, interesting, rurally relevant drama. Arts Alive event.

Suitable 10+ Tickets: £11 adults/£10 adult concs/£5 young people/Family £30

www.sirjohntalbots.co.uk

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SIR JOHN TALBOT’S SIXTH FORM Charlie McCarthy has been awarded a place on a very prestigious industry based training course with the British Film Institute in partnership with BAFTA, Pinewood Studios and the Department for Education.

LEADERSHIP GROUP

Cambridge Technicals – Level 3 Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity Ben Dawson, Ashleigh Heath and Hayleigh Busby, the first year group to be studying the new Cambridge Technicals, Level 3 Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity which is worth two A-Levels.

A LEVEL RESULTS DAY 2017

Pictured (l-r) are this year’s new Deputy Head Boy, Edward Chadwick; Head Boy, Charlie Davies; Head Girl, Georgia Downward and Deputy Head Girl, Ottilie Fairhurst.

Sir John Talbot’s Sixth Form students and staff celebrated having achieved record A Level results for the school. The average grade was a strong C, with Art, English, Maths, Philosophy and Psychology having 100% of students achieving A*- C and Maths and Psychology achieving 100% A* - B.

Sir John Talbot’s School T. 01948 660600

Tilstock Road, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 2BY

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