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Dear Parent / Carer 

I am delighted to be writing to you to offer you the opportunity to purchase a Class of 2023 Leavers’ Hoodie for your child.

We are working with Fizz, the UK’s premier supplier of Leavers’ Hoodies, and are eagerly anticipating what is sure to be a wonderful keepsake to celebrate their time at the academy.

The hoodies will have a large ‘23’ print on the back, containing the names of all students in the year group, and will also feature an embroidered logo on the front. Each student will be able to choose the colour they want from the wide selection. 

All of the students have the opportunity to purchase a hoodie. It is essential that their orders are placed in plenty of time so that they don’t miss out. There will only be one order; students will not be able to place orders after 6th April 2023.

 To place an order, please visit the following website:

https://shop.fizz-group.co.uk/

  Our School Unique ID is: 25703YR11

You must place an order before 6th April 2023. I cannot stress this deadline enough, as we do not want anyone to be disappointed. The academy will not be ordering any spare hoodies, so if your child later wishes they had ordered one once they see everyone else’s hoodies, unfortunately it will be too late! So please don’t miss out.

All orders will be delivered directly to the academy for you to collect. We will advise you when this will be in due course.

 Yours faithfully,

 

Andrew Murray  

Year 11 Achievement Team Leader.

 

I hope you enjoyed half term. I spent the first part of mine dreading a visit to the dentists.

You see I discovered, aged 14 and courtesy of a golf club to my nose, I hated the sight of blood. This was a bit of a blow as I’d set my heart on being a dentist.

I should add at this point the drawing of blood on the golf course was an accident. I just got too close.

But the incident meant I had to change my plans. I had thrown all my eggs into one basket, with the other basket empty.

From that moment, I focused on becoming a teacher not a dentist.

Anyway, off I went to the dreaded but regular appointment last week. For the first time, it was with a dental therapist. I had never heard of the role.

When my name was called out my heart was beating to excess. I went up the stairs, knocked on the door and entered.

Two young female professionals greeted me on the other side. They could tell I was nervous but soon put me at (relative) ease with their brilliant communication.

They asked about what I did for a living, talked about my plans for the week and explained what they were going to do. I knew at this point I was going to see my own blood.

I was there an hour, during which I asked what was a dental therapist?

She was not a dentist but her course had been fully funded by the NHS. She studied in Sheffield as she did not want to travel far from home.

Fully qualified and registered with the NHS, she has flexibility with the practices she can work for. It had worked out perfectly for her and she is a credit to her profession.

While I was sitting in the dentist’s chair with various implements in my mouth, I distracted myself further by thinking of my own career plan switch.

It is a lesson for our students. If something unexpected happens, you can change tack. And there are lots of opportunities out there they (or their teachers) might not have thought of or be aware of.

I tell the story as we prepare for National Careers Week, which starts on Monday, 6^th March.

To our young people I say please listen to the advice and guidance given during the week. Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities. Prepare to be flexible.

Take advantage of all the things being planned, something we did not have in my time at school.

There might well be something that you’d not thought about, openings you never thought were possible.

Thank you to my inspirational new acquaintance at the dentist. Hopefully, I won’t dread my next appointment quite as much.

A key date for Year 11 is next Thursday, 2^nd March. The Final Push Evening is the last opportunity for parents / carers to see how their child is doing and what they can do further to support them ahead of their forthcoming exams.

Students will find out their results from the last set of mocks and see how much grades have improved since their exams last term.

The national tutoring programme, being paid for by the Academy, has been launched this week, with students committing to the subjects they will have additional online coaching sessions for, twice a week, after school.

I ask parents / careers to ensure children are fully engaged in the lessons, which will give them further support.

Our new library will be formally opened by influential author and role model Jeffrey Boakye (pictured) on Friday, 10^th March.

I am sure his talks to some of our really deserving children will be inspirational.

It is a visit I shall look forward to.

 

 

 

 

 

Our Ref AMY/DWA

 

February 2023

 

Dear Parent/Carer

 

Year 11 Final Push Consultation Evening – Thursday 2nd March 2023 at 4.00pm

 

Academy Exam Results will be given out at 4.00pm

 

On Thursday 2nd March 2023 at 4.00pm you are invited, along with your child, to our Year 11 Final Push Consultation Evening.  

 

There will be a presentation to parents and students in the Westaby Hall, after which the academy examination results will be issued to the students.  This will start at 4pm and you therefore need to arrive promptly for this.  

 

All subject teachers will be available to meet with you after the presentation until approximately 6.30pm. You will be able to find out exactly how your child is progressing with regards to their current levels of attainment and what they will need to do in order to maximise their potential for achieving success in their forthcoming GCSE examinations. We have much work to do together in the final few months which will impact directly on your child’s future success. This cadmium review evening is designed to give students and parents all the information and guidance needed at this crucial time as we prepare for ‘the final push’. In order for this programme to be successful, we would appreciate your support and attendance for the evening, which gives you the opportunity to ask as many questions as you may have in order to piece the jigsaw together. 

 

On arrival you will need to proceed directly to the Westaby Hall.  There is no individual subject appointment system, however prefects will be outside classrooms to organise a reservation list and help to ensure focussed timings of appointments. The evening will finish at approximately 6.30pm.  Please confirm attendance by completing this link. 

 

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

 

Yours sincerely 

 

Andy Murray

Achievement Team Leader Year 11

 

Dan Ellerby

Deputy Headteacher for Learning and Progress

 

PDY

 

Half term is almost here – marking the midway point of the school year – and it is appropriate to reflect.

Sometimes, it is important to communicate when things should be better and need to improve.

Readers of this blog will be familiar with me returning to attendance a number of times recently. We needed to do better.

Well, I am pleased to report that, consistently, over the last 6 weeks, attendance has been higher then the local authority and national averages for secondary schools.

It is important to stress it is not by much and more needs to be done.

Our boys are above the national average; persistent absentees are below the national figure in two year groups; and unauthorised attendance has reduced.

However, we have one year group below the national average for attendance.

A great deal of hard work has been put in to improve it and I am grateful to parents for their support and the whole staff team.

I would like to particularly thank Jo Evans and Terri Loftus  in our student services team for their efforts.

It is not an easy job, ringing parents/carers and calling on families at home. They are following the local authority’s Attend framework and their tireless work is paying off.

Last week’s strike by the teachers’ union the NEU received a lot of media coverage. The data showed of approximately 2,400 secondary schools, 8.7% closed completely, 70.6% closed partially and 16.7% were fully open. We fell into the latter category.

The next day of action by the NEU affecting this region is on 28^th February. Again, I will not be passing comment or making a judgment. At this moment, we don’t know whether it will happen or if there will be more talks. I will communicate in due course.

Parents/carers and certainly our students know it is National Apprenticeship Week #NAW2023 #skillsforlife

It has been another opportunity to talk to our young people about planning ahead and looking at pathways into employment.

There are so many different routes.

For some, further and higher education will be the appropriate option but others may see that an apprenticeship at 16 is right, with a chance to earn money, receive a qualification and probably get a job at the end.

One of the messages this week to our young people is that it is possible to earn and learn through an apprenticeship in a subject they love at school.

Examples of famous, successful businesspeople who started their careers as apprentices have been highlighted.

Students have looked at how much an apprentice costs, what they might earn and should they choose a university route or become an apprentice? Our job is to give them the advice and guidance to enable them to make an informed decision.

It is also Children’s Mental Health Week. I highlighted a speech by Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel De Souza – who hails from these parts –  last week. She’s been in the media again, making a powerful case for excessive screen time being responsible for some children’s poor mental health.

She’s campaigning for families to do more together so children spend less time on their mobile phone. It is having a detrimental effect on how young people are interacting with each other and their families.

More children are becoming isolated, anxious and troubled by what they are seeing and being exposed to through devices.

The Big Ask survey conducted by her team said children wanted to be cared for and enjoy a stable home life. To do so, the Children’s Commissioner is arguing they need to be prised away from their screen or mobile phone.

I agree with her 100%.

It is why we engage with our young people one-to-one, face-to-face. We want them to build their social skills and have proper conversations about good decision making.

We are, as I mentioned, half-way through the school year. It is always a good time for students to think about their contributions to school life. Some are in a happy place but others could do much better with their decision making.

Year 11 have just finished their final mock exams and Mr Ellerby will be talking to them on Friday about expectations in the final two half terms of their entire school life.

He has organised a programme of additional online support given by specialists in a variety of subjects. It’s vitally important our young people make the most of this huge opportunity.

We need our parents/carers to support their children and ensure they access the extra support at home.

At the end of their exams, we want our children to be able to say they did their best to give themselves maximum opportunities in later life.

That would be a perfect reflection on their time at the Academy.

Time away from a school as a headteacher is difficult to take and justify – but a day in London last Friday was time well spent.

I was fortunate to attend the Church of England’s National Conference, titled ‘Flourishing Together’.

The pick of a busy day of speakers was Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel De Souza.

It turns out she was born in Scunthorpe – her father was a steelmaker and mother a refugee – and educated at St Bede’s School.

She had several key themes I’d like to highlight, as all are relevant to what we believe and practice at this Academy.

Dame Rachel (pictured) was clear the reason we are talking about flourishing in school was down to the Church of England.

“The actual school system set up in this country was set up by the Church of England before there was a state school,” she told conference.

It was the reason why Church of England schools did not just do academics and had always had a strong pastoral focus and ethos-driven culture.

She came into post in 2021 and launched, with footballer Marcus Rashford, The Big Ask survey, which received more than 557,000 responses from those aged four to 18, the largest of its kind anywhere in the world apart from the United States.

From it, Dame Rachel wanted to find out from children “what they needed to thrive or to flourish, what were the barriers in their way, and what did they want and hope and dream for their futures.”

The “amazing thing” was that, whether a boy or girl, their family, income level, ethnicity, location or vulnerability, what children wanted was consistent: “A good home, a good education, a job, enough money, friends, to feel well, to be part of a community, fairness, a good environment.”

That crystalised the Academy’s transformational learning experience through the church’s vision of hope and aspiration, living well together, dignity and respect, and knowledge, wisdom and skills.

Dame Rachel explained the survey relayed children cared about their physical and mental health.

While many were happy, some were really struggling.

“Children told me they wanted simple things to help; someone to talk to when they are worried and before things got worse, and where they wanted to have those conversations you will know: it’s at school.

“They look to school for the support that they need and to teachers that they trust.”

This is our experience. We have a significant number of networks and connections in place that come into their own when children are seeking help.

74% of children wanted “a great job” in the survey. Many said they wanted to learn a trade or get an apprenticeship in their local area.

This is where our careers programme comes into its own.

We are recognised for the high quality of careers provision, advice and guidance over the five years a student will spend in the academy.

“People don’t realise how much education is important for life in general,” one student told Dame Rachel.

How true this is.

Children “want schools to be places where they can learn about life skills, relationships and how to set themselves up for the future.”

But “for a child to flourish in their education and any aspect of life, family is fundamental.”

A strong, loving and caring family helps any child to thrive.

78% turn to their family in a crisis which is why we need to continue to celebrate, understand and invest in families.

Dame Rachel went on: “When families invest in themselves and spend quality time with each other, children and parents’ well-being is higher. Children are happier and more successful as adults if they are happy at home.

“If they’re closer to their parents, they do better in exams.”

The evidence also shows where these relationships are strong, children earn more than the average at 25.

When sometimes families become overwhelmed, that is when they turn to services and schools have an important role to play, Dame Rachel said.

“You are right at the heart of the trusting community relationships where families will turn.”

Her mission was to make England the best place to grow up in the world.

She ended with a quote from The Big Ask.

“When we asked children what was holding them back in England in 2021, a 16-year-old boy told us something sad: ‘The social stigma of children from lower class backgrounds trying to achieve something bigger than themselves’.”

The speech was so powerful.

I agree with the Children’s Commissioner. There is nothing bigger than the lives of children. We need to build on their ambition and provide the hope they deserve.

Dame Rachel’s words come at a time when we are dealing with opinion from anyone and everybody on  teachers’ industrial action.

Parents received a text message, as promised, two days ago that indicated the Academy would be open today.

I’m not going to enter into a debate with anybody on the strikes or issues around them. But what I will say is this is not a St Lawrence Academy problem.

I’m fully supportive of those schools and teachers who have made their decisions, whatever they are. I respect an individual’s right to have an opinion.

I don’t know what will happen on the next strike date (28^th February). I can’t foresee the outcome of any talks or a potential deal.

All we can do is deal with one strike day at a time and communicate as soon as we are able, just as we did this week.

I thank parents / carers for their patience and support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 2023

 

Dear Parent/Carer

Your child will cover four practical assignments studied in Creative lessons this academic year. They will have the opportunity to cook a selection of dishes in Food and Nutrition and produce a range of products in Technology.

We order and purchase the ingredients and materials required for each practical Food/Technology lesson as well as for the practical assignments over the remaining academic year. We would ask you to support us in this venture by kindly making a voluntary contribution up to a maximum of £10.00 to cover these costs. Payments should be made via the online parentpay payment facility.

All the necessary ingredients and materials will then be provided and, of course, students will bring their completed products home for you all to enjoy.

Yours sincerely

Mrs W Letherland
Curriculum Progress Leader Creative

Families will be aware that, as a country, we are approaching a period of uncertainty in education.

I mentioned a few weeks ago about the potential for strike action and impact on this Academy.

Members of the largest teaching union, the NEU, voted to strike and it has detailed seven dates for industrial action.

Four impact on this area:

• Next Wednesday, 1^st February, (members on strike across England and Wales)
• Tuesday, 28^th February (members on strike in the North, North West and Humber regions)
• Wednesday, 15^th and Thursday, 16^th March (members on strike across England and Wales)

At this point in time, teachers across this area are considering, individually, whether to join the action.

There are a number of teaching unions nationwide and, because of this, the industrial action only affects a percentage of teachers employed across the country.

What I’m unable to do today, out of respect to my staff, is absolutely guarantee anything because I do not know what decisions individual teachers have made.

But I am conscious I need to give families as much notice as possible to make their own arrangements at home in terms of child care and work.

I commit to informing our academy community by Monday morning – at the very latest – what we will be able to offer and put in place next Wednesday for all children and their families.

The decision to strike or not is not something for the Academy to be involved in. It is very much down to the individual teacher.

Uniform is another issue we have mentioned before.

Our policy  has not changed in a long time and we are grateful to the majority who stick to it.

However, we sent communication to parents / carers this week referring to jewellery, particularly the wearing of nose studs, which are not allowed.

There has been a level of discussion and challenge. Parents choose schools for their children based on the framework of rules and policies in place. Ours on uniform has not changed in a long time.

If a child comes into the Academy wearing a nose stud, they will be challenged.

It is important we stick to our uniform policy and, once again, thank you to those who do so consistently.

More than 145 Year 9 children and their families have committed to attending the Parents’ Consultation Evening tonight, which is terrific.

It is the start of an important few weeks for those young people, culminating in them choosing their GCSE options. Tonight (Wednesday) starts the discussion around the progress being made and the career paths that may be open.

If you are one of the Year 9 parents who have not yet committed to attend from 4pm onwards, there is still time to confirm. We look forward to seeing everybody there.

Finally, talking of careers, the BBC will be joining us tomorrow to highlight opportunities in the media, whether in front of the camera or behind it.

Workshops will be held for Years 7 to 10, with chances to ask questions.

The visit offers a touch of certainty in an uncertain world.

 

 

Dear Parent/Carer

On Thursday 9th March 2023 all Year 10 students will be visiting Elland Road, Leeds to take part in the UK University Search 2023. This exciting and informative event will provide our students with the opportunity to speak to a multitude of colleges, FE institutions, universities and apprenticeship providers. This event is designed to raise the aspirations, motivation and inspire students using hands-on demonstrations and activities.

As the visit will be taking place during the academy day, students will be expected to wear full academy uniform and will be accompanied by staff at all times. We will be leaving from the academy at 9:00am and returning at approximately 2:45pm.

Students will be required to bring a packed lunch and drink, however if your child is on free school meals, lunch will be provided.
There is no charge for the visit, but we do require your consent, please therefore complete the permission form to allow your child to attend by Friday 10th February 2023.
CONSENT FORM LINK

As with any academy visit or event, the academy reserves the right to remove students from the visit if they fail to, or are at risk of failing to adhere to academy expectations.
If you wish to discuss the visit, then please do not hesitate to contact me at the academy: [email protected].

Yours sincerely,

Sally Walker
Year 10 Achievement Team Leader