September 15th 2016
Dear Parents
September 2016Newsletter
Now that the school term is well under way I wish to update you on events in school and flag up some key dates for your diary.
Outstanding GCSE Results 2016
Well done to our Year 11 leavers who achieved record GCSE results in the summer. In a year when national results went down, ours went up by 17% to 68% good passes including Maths and English. All of our GCSE measures are significantly above the national average. Staff as always, worked so hard to ensure students did well. There was no secret formula for success this year. It is the simple fact that last year’s Year 11 believed us when we told them GCSEs were harder andthey duly worked so much harder. There is a real message there for students in school now: keep working hard, learning from mistakes and trying again.
Attitude to Learning Challenge
We know that positive attitudes to learning (ATL) are what makes a difference at Brownedge. This is why when we send you termly Reviews of your child’s progress the ATL scores are the first things you see telling you how hard your child has worked. There are four grades: 2 (Excellent), 1 (Good), 0 (Cause for concern), -1 (Serious Cause for Concern). The definitions of these scores are in your child’s planner. Have a look at them. At the end of this half term, your son or daughter will be given a grade for ATL in every subject and you will receive a summary of this. No student has yet achieved grade 2 for ATL in every subject so I have offered a challenge and promise that the first student that does achieve straight 2s will win a £100 prize. I know that many students are now working for this prize.
School Production of Grease
Rehearsals are well under way for the Brownedge production of the musical Grease. School productions are big events and bring staff and pupils working together to pull off a night of great fun and entertainment. I will write to you soon with details of how to get your tickets but please note the date and time: October 12th, 13th and 14thstarting at 7.30pm.
Open Evening Thursday September 29th : Earlier Finish to School
As in previous years, school will finish at 1.00pm on Thursday September 29th in readiness for our Open Evening which starts at 6.30pm on that evening. So many of our students come back on that evening to help for which we are very grateful. Please let us know of your child needs to stay in school on that afternoon and we will make arrangements for them to be supervised.
Staff departures and Arrivals
We said farewell and thank you to some of our administrative staff before the summer. Mrs Cooper (Attendance), Mrs Winstanley (Exams Officer) and Mrs Taylor (Assistant Business Manager).At the start of the new term, we welcomed two new teachers to Brownedge in September: Mr Livesey (Science) and Mrs Henshall (Head of Maths).
Dates for Your Diary
Cancer Awareness and Fundraising Day Friday Sept 30th
Year 7 Service of WelcomeThursday Oct. 6th at 7.00pm
GreaseOct. 12th, 13th and 14th at 7.30pm
Year 7 Information EveningTuesday Oct. 18th at 7.00pm
Year 9 and 10 GCSE Information Evening Thursday Nov. 3rd at 7.00pm
Year 7 Parents’ EveningTuesday Dec 14th 4.00pm to 6.30pm
Looking forward again to working in partnership with you.
Yours sincerely
Martin Reynolds
Head Teacher