Mr Bevis' Words Lent 8
There were shouts of excitement and joy emanating from the Chapel on Thursday afternoon - our latest drama workshop or PSHEE programme? No IGCSE results for Maths and English were in and we are delighted with the grades achieved. Resulting from the GCSE exams taken in January 78% of Year 11 have their English qualification, with 38% at A* or A, and 73% have their Maths, with a pleasing number of the highest grades. Inevitably there are some pupils who were disappointed with their results but we can see the great progress they have made and already have plans in place to give them the specific support they need so they can look forward to the summer exams with confidence.
Outside of GCSE work World Book Day gave another boost in our drive to keep everybody reading. Lots of Junior pupils and their teachers in full character costume, and Senior girls engaging in a Book Treasure Hunt. The Treasure Hunt was completely organised by the Year 10 ASDAN group, who lead an assembly on Monday to introduce the event. We are very proud of the great leadership shown by pupils as they rise up through the school be it in music, drama and sport, and to see them drive another initiative is a powerful testament to our commitment to an all round education.
Huge thanks to the Girls PTA team who ran a fantastically well organised Nearly New Uniform sale and as well as taking over £800 provided a brilliant service to our parents including those joining us in September.
Senior netball continues to flourish with a dominating 1st team victory over Reddam House 41-7 and the 2nds narrowly losing Upton Court Grammar lost 18-20.
The Under 14B netball team won the RBWM tournament with wins over Windsor Girls, Charters 7-3, Furze Platt and Holyport 8-5. Under 14As did not fare so well this time, and didn't get to the final round. In hockey U13 defeated Holyport College 13-0 and the Under 16s victors 5-0, and Under 15s winning against Marist 1-0. I am delighted that we continue to field A and B teams in our team sports giving so many pupils the chance to represent their school.
Good luck to the those competing in the ISA National Cross Country on Saturday and the U13 & U11 London West Hockey on Monday. Year 7s are busy going to Rushall Farm, a visit that supports their studies in geography
Thoughts about GCSE were looming large at the Year 9 Parents evening on Thursday. Following on from the Subject Fair in January parents received subject specific feedback on progress and advice on GCSE choice for next year. I am delighted with the comments that parents made as they left and I am confident that pupils will be making well informed choices - and remember those forms are due back by Monday 6th March.
Trips to Ashmolean museum and the English National Opera went really well. The research bible for school intervention programmes, the Sutton Toolkit shows that continued participation in the arts has a positive impact on GCSE outcomes generally, and I do feel that the great results we have just achieved show the benefits of a broad education philosophy - along with inspired teaching and really hard work from pupils!
Another area of concern for us is the pervasive impact of social media and the availability of instant digital communication. Whilst these technologies have many benefits there is no doubt that the reliance by teenagers on digital communication has some serious disadvantages. By its very nature it is less effective as you do not see facial expression, body language or hear tone of voice. The instant response syndrome alongside those other disadvantages is leading to misunderstanding based on partial knowledge and communication without reflection. This then can then have a corrosive effect on personal relationships. We do a lot of work on internet safety but are reviewing the timing of our programme, and whether we should focus more on how it impacts upon relationships.
You will no doubt have seen the recent decision by the DfE to make SRE (Sex and Relationships Education) a compulsory in schools. This has always been a part of our PSHEE programme, and we have reviewed our provision and have made some significant changes to our programme. That review is ongoing.
Finally, and pleasingly, science comes to the fore again next week when a Year 11 team will once again compete in the Heroines of Science day at Reading University.
So as ever a busy week in the life of CC Senior Girls but then that’s what gives us the buzz!
Wise people speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. Plato
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