Issue 52 Spring 2015
ST
ALBANS
SCHOOL
Highlights
‘EXCEPTIONAL’ This was the judgement of our pupils’ achievement by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, who visited the School before half term to make its inspection. The team of inspectors spent a week in the School, observing lessons and extra-curricular activities, interviewing senior management and staff, and working through paperwork. They worked hard to achieve a thorough examination of the School. An ISI inspection model does not give an overall grading for the School, but makes judgements on a four-point scale (excellent, good, sound, unsatisfactory) on eight aspects of the School’s work. However, in one area, achievement, the judgement ‘exceptional’ may be made where inspection evidence indicates performance in the upper reaches of the ‘excellent’ category. It is therefore a real testament to the enthusiasm and application of our pupils, and to the inspirational guidance they are given by their teachers, that the inspectors found that ‘The achievement of pupils across all age ranges is exceptional.’ Inspectors were As well as their ‘exemplary attitudes to learning’, it was impressed by noted that ‘pupils’ personal development is excellent’ and that ‘they grow into confident and independent students’ attitude to learning and people who demonstrate a high standard of personal the excellence of development ready to contribute to society’. the teaching they Headmaster Jonathan Gillespie is delighted with the receive report, coming as it does so early in his tenure. ‘I offer my warm congratulations go to my colleagues whose ‘inspirational force both in and beyond the classroom’ has rightly been cited in the evidence for the grading of teaching as ‘excellent’, and to our pupils, whose exceptional achievements, attitude and personal qualities have been recognised in the report. This only adds to the keen sense of the privilege I feel in leading such an outstanding school.’
City Art Exhibition City centre art venue Gallery Rouge hosted an exhibition dedicated to the work of our art students in October. The walls of the ground floor were lined with paintings, prints and multi-media works created by GCSE and A Level pupils, in a week-long public exhibition. The Mayor, Cllr Geoff Harrison, welcomed visitors to the viewing and commented on the high quality of the work on display. Director of Gallery Rouge, Kuldip Chohan, is keen to promote new art and the art industry, especially to young people: ‘I try to make young people and their parents understand that art is a viable vocation.’ It was with that in mind that he invited the School to hold an exhibition in his gallery, with nearly 40 works on display. ‘This is a prestigious opportunity for our students,’ said the School’s Head of Art Tim Jenkins. ‘Many artists have to work for years before they feature in an exhibition.’ The Mayor was so impressed with the School’s art that he commissioned two of our art scholars to produce designs for his official Christmas card. Alex Daniel’s stylish city cut-out design appeared on the front of the card, with a beautiful drawing of the Abbey by Sami Ali featured on the back. As well as a city centre exhibition, therefore, work by the School’s art students was dropping onto doormats and adorning mantlepieces throughout the City and District the Christmas period.