27/03/18

Dear Friends,

As we come to the end of Term 2, I would like to thank every member of our community – pupils, staff & parents/carers – for your ongoing support and dedication. We continue with our mission to help our children to ASPIRE - Achieve Academically, enjoy Success, be Professional in attitude, grow in Integrity & Respect and recognise that hard work and Endeavour are keys to achieving our goals. I am delighted to say that it has been a term of considerable successes.

At the end of term you will receivea copy of our school newsletter which is a collation of just some of successes we have celebrated thus far this year. I’m incredibly grateful to our staff who go above and beyond to make sure our pupils have lots of positive experiences and opportunities. This Term alone, there have been 1332 opportunities for our pupils to do something a bit special and to learn outside the classroom.

An important part of our ASPIRE goal is to help our young people to explore the many opportunities they have available to them. This term our pupils have visited Leeds and Manchester Universities, attended career workshops and information galas at Old Trafford Football Stadium and Lancashire Cricket Club, enjoyed an army residential in Liverpool, visited the Manchester Medical school and our Year 10 Psychologists made us proud on a trip to the Oxford Road University campus.Experiences like these guide our pupils so that they can make an informed decision and have clear career goals.

As well as exploring future prospects, our pupils have also had opportunities to explore their current learning outside the classroom: photography trips to Manchester City Centre, Longford Park and Anglesey, science trips to Media City, Manchester University, Lancashire Cricket Club, exploring the arts in Hulme, Theatre visits to The Lowry and The Opera House, geography field trips to Formby beach, an English & Maths residential to Derbyshire and debating trips to London – even an invite to visit Parliament which you can read about in full in the newsletter. These are just a few of the activities that have taken place and I always get the same message back: Our Pupils Are Amazing!

Talking about Amazing people: Stretford pupils have represented the school with pride this term: Handball, Football, Dance… the teams have excelled. None more so than the Year 10 Basketball Team who claimed the Trafford Basketball crown this term. A massive well done is well and truly deserved. They have all been true sports people whose respect for their game is equalled by their respect for their opponents!

And then there have been the trips abroad – Year 7 were off to Rome, Year 9 & 10 explored the Science behind Magic in Disneyland, Paris and Year 10 took part in a Battlefields Tour in France & Belgium. Did I mention the trip to Anglesey in Wales?

It’s not always about going out either – we’ve had a number of visitors to school who have been wowed by our wonderful school: Ex-Footballer Gary Neville, Ex Rugby Player George Fouche, Local MP Kate Green, Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham, Council Leader Sean Anstee, Poet Tony Walsh, The Manchester Actors and, most recently, Leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn. On each occasion our pupils conducted themselves within intelligenceandintegrity. In fact, I overheard Mr Corbyn’s aides commenting on the quality of the questions put to him during his Q&A with Years 8 & 9, saying they were more articulate than the press!

All this in a short 11 week term! It really is true: Time does fly when you’re having fun.

On a more serious note, it has come to my attention that a letter promoting 'Punishing a Muslim' on 3rd April has been circulated in the UK and, specifically, within our local community. I urge our pupils, indeed our families, to take care on this day and, should anything occur, please report it to the Police. It is our duty to stamp out hatred and racism in all of its guises - should any of our pupils or families hear of intentions to cause harm on the day, please also report this as a preventative measure. It goes without saying that any pupil who involves themselves in such actions would be face our most severe sanction. This day – indeed all days – should be opportunities to practice love and celebrate the richness of our multi faith and multicultural community.

Reminders:

Year 11

  • School is open over the Easter holiday for targeted sessions in preparation for GCSE exams. Please check the email which has been sent to your child by Mrs Barry and encourage them to attend all sessions they have been invited to.
  • Please also note that exams will begin on 1st May and will continue to 18th June. Pupils will be expected to attend school up until they have sat their last exam. Year 11 pupils have received their Examination guidance pack in the first half term with lots of useful information. Included in there are dates of the formal exams – please check these dates before you book family holidays.

Year 10

  • Pupils in Year 10 will sit their GCSE English Language exam on 5th & 8th June 2018.

Should any parent have a query or concern, you are more than welcome to attend the next Head teacher’s surgery which will take place on Wednesday May 2nd between 3.30 and 5.45pm. Should you want to an appointment, please contact my PA Helen Adshead on 0161 876 1850.

School will close on Thursday 29th March at 2.55pm and we look forward to welcoming pupils back on Monday 16th April 2018 at 8.30am.

Finally, may I take this opportunity to thank you – parents, carers and families – for your ongoing support and care. It is very much appreciated. Have a wonderful break and stay safe.

Yours sincerely

Nicola Doward
Headteacher