WOODLANDS NEWSLETTER
ISSUE: FEBRUARY 2020
Enabling aspiration and achievement through delivery of a knowledge-rich curriculum underpinned by our CORE values:
C
O
R
E
COURAGE
OPTIMISM
REGARD
ENDEAVOUR
WELCOME This half term has seen some significant but important changes for us as a school with the launch of our new statement of intent and values as well as the implementation of a new mobile phone policy. Our statement of intent underpins what we are about as a school and in the first week back after the Christmas break, I held a series of assemblies to help students to understand what this statement means for them and all of us as a community. As a school we believe that knowledge gives power and feel it is an important part of our role to ensure that all of our students can learn lots and acquire deep knowledge and understanding of a range of subjects. For this reason, we have not reduced our curriculum in key stage 3 and we offer a wide choice of GCSE and A level subjects but we expect our students to really get to grips with what it means to think scientifically, mathematically or like a historian for example. To do this, they need to know their subjects well; this is something we are also doing a lot of work on behind the scenes. We also recognise that school is about a wider type of learning; this is where our CORE values come in. We have committed to promoting, demonstrating and developing some important human characteristics to enable our students to be citizens who can participate in and contribute to their wider community. We have stated that we value courage, optimism, regard (for self and others) and endeavour. These traits will feature in many areas of development as we move forward as a school. Our mobile phone policy has been really effectively implemented and I want to thank parents and carers for the support with this change. It is wonderful to hear the buzz of conversation and see students playing chess, Uno, football or joining new lunchtime clubs. Students have now got used to the new routines around phone usage and many have reported feeling a sense of relief about having a break from their devices. This half term has seen the first two of three headteacher/parent forums which have an objective of strengthening the partnership between parents and school to support school improvement. The first group focused on communication and there are some developments in the pipeline to improve channels of communication around key dates, reporting progress etc. The second group has a focus on behaviour and culture and the feedback from parents will contribute to our review of policy which is underway within school and will also tap into student and staff perceptions of what works and what could be better. As part of our review, we are looking closely at how we reward students for demonstrating courage, optimism, regard for others and endeavour; we will be asking students for their views.
Alongside all of this, the school runs as usual with trips and visits planned and undertaken to Auschwitz, the theatre to see GCSE literature texts such as ‘An Inspector Calls’ and ‘Macbeth’, Derby University, Italy for skiing fun and Cumbria for science field work. In addition, we have had some tremendous success in The Big Bang science and engineering competition, Top of the Bench Chemistry, the debating society and several sporting events including being runners up in the National Deaf 5 a side football championships. Well done to all involved, including those who commit to train and play for teams and events week-in-week-out. I’d like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable half term break. Gemma Penny Headteacher
ALLESTREE WOODLANDS SCHOOL