LANGLEY SCHOOL A SPECIALIST COLLEGE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, LANGUAGES AND TRAINING Tel: 0121 706 9771 WEBSITE: www.langley-sec.solihull.sch.uk
Friday 12 September 2014 Langley School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Dear Parents and Care Givers GCSE Examination Results 2014 Students and staff at Langley School are celebrating yet another set of excellent GSCE results. The success of our students is a tribute to their hard work and commitment, together with the tremendous dedication and support offered by staff at the school. The 2014 summer examinations were predicted to go down this year across the country, as government changes to GCSE examinations made them more rigorous and challenging. Like almost all schools in Solihull, we saw a small drop in 5 A*-C in English and Maths in response to this. 65% of the year group have in their final results achieved 5 or more A*-C grades including English and Maths with 63% achieving this benchmark at their first attempt. However, in other measures, we saw our best year ever with many option subjects achieving record breaking results. Our most able students did particularly well with 27% of all grades being awarded at the highest grades of A or A*. The percentage of students who gained the English Baccalaureate this year increased from 40% to 44%. The English Baccalaureate – though not a qualification in itself – is a measure of success in core academic subjects; specifically A*-C in English, mathematics, history or geography, the sciences and a language and is looked on favourably for entrance to university. We were particularly pleased with the attainment by our students who came to Langley from Primary School at SATs Level 5 in this particular measure. 81% of those students achieved the English Baccalaureate; one of the highest percentages in Solihull and significantly above national averages. A significant number of students excelled this year. 28 students have achieved 8 or more A* or A grades and a quarter of students achieved at least 5 grades at A* or A. 76% of students achieved an A*- C in Maths. 72% achieved the same A*-C grade in English. Both these figures compare favourably to national averages. We are all proud of the significant milestones achieved by our students and warmly congratulate everyone on their success. We thank them for being such fine ambassadors for the school and wish them every success in the future. Mr W Keddie, Deputy Headteacher i/c Curriculum WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR Firstly, may I thank you for supporting us at the start of term to ensure that all pupils are in the correct uniform, have appropriate equipment and that the ‘Code of Conduct’ has been signed and returned.
Throughout this week, Mr. Talbot has delivered assemblies to each Year Group with the following key messages: •
There is to be a clear focus on recognising the achievement of our pupils and rewarding them for their positive behaviour. Positive behaviour points will be collected and these will then be transferred into rewards at various stages during the course of the year.
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ALL students must be prepared for ALL lessons, be punctual to school and lessons and ensure they accept the authority of ALL staff at all times – defiance will not be tolerated.
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Where a detention has to be issued, every student WILL attend – if this is not the case you will be contacted via text message, phone call or letter home.
By using a more coherent rewards/sanctions system, we hope to ensure that all pupils are clear about our expectations, resulting in an even more successful year at Langley. May I thank you for your anticipated support and I trust that we can work together to ensure your child will achieve their full potential. Mr D Evans, Deputy Headteacher i/c Pastoral Open Evening / Open Morning – Thursday 18 / Friday 19 September These events are for parents of current Y5 and Y6 students considering which secondary school they wish their children to attend in September 2015. Please note that on Thursday 18 September students will leave school at 12.35pm. Lunch will not be available on that day, but those entitled to a free school meal will be credited with this for morning break. Open Evening Thursday 18 September - 6.30 - 8.30pm [Headteacher’s talks at both 6.30pm and 8pm] Open Morning Friday 19 September - 9.00 – 10.30am and 11.00 – 12.00 noon
Academic Mentoring/ Review Mornings May we remind you that on Monday 15 September the Review Morning for Year 11 students will take place as follows: •
Year 11 students will be given an allotted time to meet their mentors between 8.40 - 9.25am on Monday 15 September.
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All other year groups, ie Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 will register with form tutors at 9.30am on Monday 15 September. Thank you in anticipation!
Important Health Information: Nasal flu vaccination pilot for pupils in Years 7 and 8 in Solihull Flu can be serious and immunising students in Y7 and Y8 should help stop the spread of the virus through school and to vulnerable friends and family members. The Fluenz immunisation is a simple, painless nasal spray that protects children against many strains of the flu virus, used safely and effectively in the USA for over 10 years and last year introduced into the UK as a way of protecting healthy 2-3 year olds against the virus. It is expected that immunisation will be brought in for all
children in future, but Y7 and Y8 children in Solihull are amongst the first to benefit. Consent forms will be distributed nearer the date of Tuesday 21 October 2014. Water: Please ensure your child has a water bottle with them which can be re-filled during break and lunchtimes. Medicine: If you need to send any medication into school please ensure there is a note giving a member of staff permission to administer this. If you have any concerns please ring Mrs Kehoe on 0121-706 9771, extension 217. Shoe Box appeal Please send shoe boxes to the main school office from Monday 15 September, as we are launching the ‘Operation Christmas Child’ appeal next week, through assemblies and in tutor time. . Thank you in anticipation of your support. Mrs S Cooke & Mrs E Lynch, Year 10 Book of the Week For the week beginning Monday 15 September is ‘Arrowhead’ by Ruth Eastham When thirteen-year-old Jack moves to Norway, he's sure there's no truth in the local myths. But then he comes face to face with one: the body of a Norse warrior, frozen in the ice, carrying with him an ancient arrowhead - that contains a terrible curse. If Jack's going to survive, he has to overcome both an ancient wrong and a newly-risen enemy. Golf Coaching at Langley School If your child wishes to take advantage of free golf coaching at school, provided by a professional coach from Hatchford Brook Golf Club, please come to the PE corridor after school on Wednesdays at 3.05pm from 17 September onwards. Greater Birmingham Rugby Development Group (GBRDG) U13 Workshops • Sunday 28th September 2014 Fiveways O.E. RFC, Masshouse, Ash Lane, Birmingham, West Midlands B48 7BD • Sunday 5th October 2014 at Sutton Coldfield RFC Roger Smoldon Ground, 160 Walmley Road, Birmingham, West Midlands B76 2QA These will be formal assessment processes with successful candidates invited to play representative rugby for Greater Birmingham RFU (GB) in the North Midlands festivals and against other Domestic Unions and counties. U16s trial Sunday 14th September 2014 at Moseley RFC, Billesley Common at 2pm We will be holding a trial session for selection for the Greater Birmingham under 16 training squad as above. This trial is to determine suitability for inclusion in the GB training squad, which will be holding training sessions with a focus on the North Midlands selection process at the end of September. Those players selected for the Greater Birmingham U15 squad last season DO NOT need to attend on 14th September and will be advised of the training dates separately. What we are looking for at the GBRDG are ‘talented and gifted’ players with: 1. The right attitude – towards coaching and developing as a player 2. Physical potential - speed, strength/power agility 3. Core Skills - handling, running, tackling/contact. If this applies to you, please see Mr McCallum or Mr Cox for an application form.
Family Fun Day – Saturday 13 September 12-5pm You are invited to a Family Fun Day at St Mary’s Church, St Mary’s Meadow, Hobs Moat, Solihull, B92 8PN. The free event will provide live music, poetry, Asian dhol drummers, Caribbean style steel pans, pottery and a bouncy castle. There is also a range of hot food [halal] available to purchase between 1.30-3.30pm On Friday 26th September 2014 Langley will be taken over by Oompa-Loompas, Willy Wonkas and Charlie Buckets as part of The Dahlicious Dress Up Day, where our young people (and staff) come to school dressed as their favourite Roald Dahl character for a wonderfully fun and creative way to raise money for Roald Dahl’s Marvellous-Children’s Charity. The charity exists to make life better for seriously ill children and young people around the UK. It’s simply a donation of at least £1 per pupil and you’ll help our school to raise money for specialist children’s nurses and support for families living in poverty while caring for seriously ill child. Please help your child decide what character to come as, create their costume and remember to send them in with their donation on the day. Your child can dress up as a Roald Dahl’s character, or wear his favourite colour – yummy yellow! Mrs Thorpe, Whole School Literacy Coordinator
Yours sincerely, Mr P Talbot, Headteacher