NORTHFIELD SCHOOL AND SPORTS COLLEGE OCTOBER 2012 NEWSLETTER
The Class of 2012: Historic Results! 2012 will be remembered for many reasons, but for Northfield School it will go down in history as the year in which we achieved our best examination results ever! Our Year 11 students really excelled themselves and proved that all of their hard work throughout Year 10 and 11 was worth it . In all, 88% of our students achieved 5+ A*-C grades. This is an astounding improvement of 19% on last yearʼs result. In addition to this, 59% achieved 5+A*-C (Including English and Maths), an increase of 14% from 2011. These high levels of achievement are the culmination of two years of focussed intervention programmes and support strategies, put in place by our dedicated staff to encourage students to achieve their academic potential. Our HAT (High Achievers Team) programme resulted in increased numbers of students achieving the highest grades. Indeed, a large number of students achieved A* and A grades in all subjects with several achieving 14 A* grades. The Raising Attainment (RAF) programmes also successfully increased student success at 5+A*-C and 5+A*-G. Northfield really is going from strength to strength as a result of the commitment and endless efforts of our staff and students! ACHIEVEMENT SUMMARY
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22 students achieved 10+ A*A grades an increase of 2% 65 students achieved 5+ A*A grades an increase of 2% 113 students (over one third) achieved 3+ A*/A grades an increase of 9% 187 students (55%) achieved 10+ A*C an increase of 13% 266 students (78%) achieved 6+ A*-C an increase of 16% 48% of students with Special Educational Needs achieved 5+A*-C, an increase of 16% 330 students (97%) achieved 5+A*-G an increase of 1%
Costa Challenge Complete! Whilst most of the country was gripped by Olympic fever and the on-‐going possibility that it was never going to stop raining this summer, Northfield School took part for the first @me in a project called World Challenge. Fourteen students, accompanied by teachers Mr Taggart and Miss Booth, travelled to Central America and the tropical des@na@on of Costa Rica for three weeks. This was the culmina@on of two years of hard work that had seen each student have to raise £3,400 each through a combina@on of ac@vi@es ranging from cake sales to bag packing and even to grave digging in one extreme case. On July 18th, at the less than pleasing hour of half past twelve in the morning, the excited group of travellers boarded the “Mega Bus” from Middlesbrough to begin a long and cold journey to London Heathrow. This would be by far the most daun@ng part of the trip as naviga@ng fourteen teenagers, equipped with full trekking equipment; via London’s rush hour tube traffic, was worse than anything we had to contend with whilst on the other side of the world. The UK’s busiest airport would also be where one unfortunate member of the party managed to lose their full spending money, before we had even boarded a flight! This would be the only real mishap to occur as we arrived in Arenal at Cerro Chato in the North West of the country, a dormant Volcano, to begin our acclima@sa@on trek. This would involve a six hour trek in hot condi@ons that some students thought they would not be able to complete, but a very happy and proud party arrived on top of the mountain proud of their achievement. The students had to cook, clean and set up camp in several new loca@ons across the country – most never having been on holiday without parents before. The whole point of World Challenge is the students lead and are in control of their trip. The two teachers and fearless Trek Leader Cliff Lowther provide advice and ensure no harm comes to them, but the emphasis is on the students leading their own experience – and they were an absolute credit to the school and to themselves. The second week was on the West coast in Os@nal where the students completed a project phase helping clear the beaches for turtles to come ashore at night and lay their eggs. This was an experience that we will never forget. The sight of such magnificent creatures emerging from the Ocean under a full moon and the clearest, starriest skies I think I have ever seen, and then digging a hole before laying up to 100 eggs was an awesome sight to behold. We also went into a local school to meet students whose school day runs from 8am to 5pm -‐ our students were suddenly thankful for the hours they study. Part of this visit was to donate $500 towards a new canteen and dining area facility as they currently do this outside on stoves and have three tables for over one hundred pupils! The final trek was down to the South West of the country and an arduous four day trek through jungle and rain forest with full packs, which would prove to be the toughest physical challenge of the trip. The terrain was mountainous in parts, although the monkeys that swooped down to provide the perfect Kodak moment and the tree huts that we stayed in surrounded by the kind of jungle sounds people download apps for, made this as rewarding as any other part of the trip.
A sweaty, dirty and exhausted group then emerged onto the Pacific coast and some much needed R & R before the long journey home. It was a browner and much leaner group that arrived back in Teesside on the Megabus to an expectant set of parents with some relieved teachers eager to enjoy the rest of the holiday without students for a liele while! This was a magnificent experience, which has helped develop the student’s independence, leadership and decision making skills. The next World Challenge trip will be the Mayan trail through to Mexico to Belize in 2014. I urge any current Year 9 or 10 students to get involved – See Miss Dickinson for further informa@on. Mr Taggart
D L E I F NORTH Y R A R B I L
As the home to 14000 books and a range of PCs and resources for study, Northfield School’s Library and Resource Centre is at the heart of our school community. Its central posi@on within the school building ensures that it is always a hive of ac@vity and students are able to to access our excellent library facili@es every day if they choose to do so. The following are a just a small range of the fantas@c opportuni@es on offer to our students:-‐ · Access available during lessons, at lunch@mes, before and aler school. · Hundreds of books to choose from to suit all ages and interests. · Help with homework and support with research. · Book Clubs and Film Clubs. · The chance to become a student librarian. Everyone is welcome, so why not pop along and see what you can discover?
Opening Hours
Before School
Lunch Time
A8er School
Monday
Closed
12.30 Yr 7 only 3.30 – 4.15 p.m. 1.00 – 1.20 all year groups
Tuesday
8.30 -‐ 8.50 a.m.
12.50-‐1.20 p.m. All 3.30 – 4.00 p.m. year groups
Wednesday
8.30 -‐ 8.50 a.m.
12.30 Yr 8 only
Thursday
8.30 -‐ 8.50 a.m.
12.50-‐1.20 p.m. All 3.30 – 4.15 p.m. year groups
Friday
8.30 -‐ 8.50 a.m.
12.50-‐1.20 p.m. All year groups
Film Club 3.30 -‐4.30 p.m.
Closed
On Tuesday 3rd July our Year 9 students completed a Guinness World Record attempt for the highest number of bottle tops in a continuous chain. The record stood at 34,149 but Year 9 managed to achieve an amazing 37,170. We have now had confirmation that Northfield School is indeed a Guinness World Record holder. Well done to all of the students who were involved and to Mrs Story, who persevered against the odds to ensure that we had the best chance of achieving the record.
y t i r Cha rk wo
Our Year 10 Hospitality students proved that they were made of sugar and spice and all things nice, when they took part in ʻThe Worldʼs Biggest Coffee Morningʼ on September 28th. The students made a huge array of cakes and biscuits and then sold them to staff, allowing them to raise £60 for MacMillan Cancer Support.
PE
In September, Northfield PE Department had the honour of hosting the Valencia Roadshow for the North East schools. Inspireport organised the event with Northfield to promote their football trips abroad and in the UK. They chose Northfield because of the excellent facilities we provide and as a result of the good relationship that Mr Alderson has built up with Valencia CF in recent years.
The Valencia coaches travelled through the UK offering training to young people, starting off in Glasgow and ending in Brighton. A group of Gifted and Talented footballers from various schools in the North East were involved in the event and Billy Hadfield and Brad Popple were Northfield's representatives. In the last two years, Northfield has visited both Valencia CF and Villarreal CF and the students have really enjoyed each football trip. This Easter, approximately 42 Northfield students will visit Ajax in Holland for further training opportunities.
Year 7 lead the way at the top! Although our Year 7s have only been at Northfield for a maeer of weeks, they have certainly made an excellent impression so far! Mrs Charlton, Head of year 7, is ‘delighted’ with the year 7 intake and the transi@on that they have made to our school. Mrs Charlton went on to say ‘There has been an extremely high standard of uniform, behaviour and organisa@on from the year 7 students. They have been highly mo@vated and are enthusias@c about their transi@on to Northfield. They have seeled into the school very well. All students have adapted brilliantly to school life and many are par@cipa@ng in a range of extra curricular ac@vi@es outside of school. This is very pleasing to see’ Mr Taeersall, Assistant Head of Year went on to say 'Each @me the Guidance Team visit Morning Form Time or Year 7 lessons, we are witnessing a high level of aeainment and progress. The students are engaged in their learning and are a credit to the school.’ Each student has the opportunity to excel in our school community and we are already seeing many taking full advantage of the excellent resources being made available to them. This month the Whole School Aeendance Reward Scheme was launched. It was Mrs Cameron’s tutor group, 7TO, who were on top out of 56 tutor groups on the first launch, closely followed by 7TT in 3rd place and 7TI in 8th.
7TO
In the Achievement Points League year 7 dominate with 7TI, 7TT, 7TH & 7TE taking some of the top spots. However it is Mrs Poppleton’s tutor group, 7TR, who have dominated the achievement point tables for a number of weeks, with Savannah Hoban as the top scorer in the whole school. Bethany Wynee is in second posi@on with Vithu Sivanesan in third.
7TR
Mrs Charlton went on to say that this has been an excellent start to Year 7 and, the Year 7 guidance team, including Mr Taeersall, Mrs Harvey and all of the Year 7 form tutors, are said to be very excited about the future of our students . It certainly looks very bright! Congratula@ons Year 7. Keep up the good work!
duke of edinburgh award
Seven intrepid explorers from Year 10 set out on their first Duke of Edinburgh expedi@on on Friday 12th October! In order to work towards aeaining their Bronze Award. They were accompanied on their expedi@on weekend by Mr Simpson, Mr Bimson, Miss Smith and Miss Bowes, all of whom were extremely impressed with the students' behaviour and determina@on. The group camped out over night at Pybus Scout Campsite near Stokesley. This involved students putng up tents, cooking meals on camping stoves and sleeping under canvas on a very wet hill side. On the Saturday morning they showed off their orienteering skills, with the students taking turns to lead the group around a 9km walk around the Cleveland Hills. Highlights of the weekend were Mr Bimson playing with fire and the birthday celebra@ons for Sophie Smith and Jack Bloomfield. The beau@ful birthday cake was very much appreciated aler all of the exer@ons of the expedi@on! Miss Bowes said "All of the students were brilliant and really enjoyed it. They are now looking forward to our next, hopefully much warmer, two night expedi@on in May." The students are now planning their skills and voluntary parts of the award. We wish them every success!
Following the success of their worldwide and UK tour, a group of forty American Performing Arts students from the Young Americans initiative are visiting us in March to create a whole school show with our students. The Young Americans promote music education and performance opportunities to young people all around the world, through the provision of music and dance workshops. Over 250 students will be involved including local primary schools and this will be a fantastic way of bringing our local community together. When : It is happening between March 11-14, 2013 Where: Northfield School Sports Drome What: The students involved get a 3 days performance workshop which is full of fun, fitness and performance. Anyone can take part!! They are taught by and perform with the Young Americans!! This will truly be an amazing and inspirational experience...
Visit www.youngamericans.org/ to find out more and contact Miss Dickenson in school for more details.
Royal Seal of Approval
During the school's Jubilee Week earlier in the year, Mrs Story encouraged her Year 7 and Year 8 classes to enter into the spirit of the celebrations by making congratulations cards, decorative posters and poems to mark the occasion. They were so beautiful that she then sent them to the Queen. This has now resulted in Her Majesty sending us an extremely complimentary letter, thanking the students for their efforts. Congratulations to Mrs Story and her students!
Dates for your diary October Half Term Holiday PD Day
Monday 29th October - Friday 2nd November 2012 Monday 5th November 2012
Year 7 Parents Evening with Year 7 Guidance Team
Thursday 8th November
Year 10 BP Oil Trading Enterprise Activity Year 11 Parents Evening
Thursday 22nd November
Carol Concert (Thames Road)
Thursday 12th December
Carol Concert (St Cuthbert's Church
Wednesday 19th December