Head Teacher's Message 

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been another quick fire term, seven weeks have already passed since our return in the new year and again an awful lot has been accomplished by our young people. January and February in school, whilst full of new year promise and optimism is also a challenging term with the realisation for many senior students that this is the beginning of their final stages and for lower school students, the understanding of the effort required to keep developing subject knowledge and skills in this middle phase of the year.  Congratulations to all students who continue to try their hardest each day in whatever year, that effort will always be rewarded and will stand you in good stead moving forward.

As we learn to live with Covid and respond accordingly to national guidance, it’s important to note that we still are experiencing higher than normal student and staff absence. We are seeing normal winter related absence combined with the challenges of the pandemic, but I am thankful the school continues to remain fully open for all. Undoubtedly, most students will have experienced lessons that have been covered by another teacher due to staff absence or themselves have been absent. I ask that all students continue to work with their teachers to ensure any gaps in learning are addressed as we move forward.

I am pleased to announce that the school has been awarded the first level of the FairTrade Schools Award which means we have become a FairAware School. We join a worldwide movement – a movement where young people learn that, whatever their age, they have the power to make a difference in the world. It offers a great opportunity to look at global issues such as where our food comes from and how we are connected to people around the world linked closely to our international schools work.

Please do take time to read some exciting stories in this edition of the parent bulletin, Blackdown students have regained the college lead for one. A personal highlight this term was the opportunity to travel with a group of our Year 7s to Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Our students got a day out of school, learning in a different way, building what I hope will be such important relationships with peers and their tutor moving forward. Members of the public and staff at the Garden remarked on how polite and respectful our young people were whilst they were going about their visit, it was a great and different day working with our students.

Have a lovely half-term.

Mike Lowdell

Head Teacher