Maths and Computing Specialist Status redesignation
I am delighted to report that we enjoyed a very successful redesignation visit from our School Improvement Partner, Steve Hume, on May 27th 2010. Following a morning interrogating our evidence he has recommended us for redesignation.
ICT Diploma
A small group of staff, Andy Asante Head of ICT, Glen Bown and Jenny Lockwood in particular have spent a significant time this year preparing our bid to run the ICT Diploma for RBWM. Having been successful with the bid and ‘passing through the gateway’ we are now preparing for first delivery of the diploma in September 2011.
Enrichment Day
On Tuesday 29th June we held our first whole school enrichment day. Finding opportunities for enrichment days has been part of our development planning this year. The ‘germ’ of the idea came from a whole staff training event where we looked at possible ideas for celebrating diversity and the global dimension (a key cross curricular theme). The World Cup was used as the launch pad for a number of learning activities. Students spent the day in mixed age tutor groups. The day began with a live draw broadcast to every classroom. Every tutor group was drawn as one of the 32 countries of the World Cup. The draw was conducted by the Mayor who kindly came in at 8.45 to launch the day. During the day they engaged in a variety of activities designed to develop team working skills and raise awareness of the distinctive cultures of countries. I visited a number of lessons including one where students were making wall hangings reflecting life and culture in Algeria and Nigeria and one where they were using words and images together to create short videos encouraging their country to win (in this case Mexico). Points were awarded for team work and successful completion of the task in each session. At 3.00 tutor groups returned to their bases to hear the results. Many thanks to all the staff involved and in particular Mr Bown for his inspiration and the many hours he put into its successful organisation.
Farewell
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of staff and governors to record our thanks to Jenny Lockwood who retires from Furze Platt after 21 years. She has been an important part of the Senior Leadership Team and will be missed by us all. Whilst she was not actively looking for any further employment Jenny has been successfully ‘headhunted’ by the LA and will take up a post (one day a week) as Lead Teacher for Children in Care.
