This has been a fascinating half term that has seen many of our plans for the future being confirmed. The drainage of the fields will be completed in late April. The next phase of our building programme will start in the summer holidays. The £1 million project will 're-house' those teachers in the 'temporary' huts which have become such a feature of Priesthorpe life. We are also seeking a substantial grant from the FA to add a changing room facility to the Sports Hall. We really are beginning to see the benefits of our Specialist Status. There is a section in this Newsletter labelled Sports College News. I ask that parents pay special attention to the item on the School Sports Forum.

Life is as hectic as ever as we tackle the Government's agenda to raise standards. There is much to do but the benefits are there for all to see. I'm sure that the next Newsletter will detail real success in the Key Stage 3 SAT's. Year 11 are about to go on study leave prior to the demanding schedule of exams. We wish them well - I know they will do us proud. Over 110 of the cohort intend to return to join our 6th form. In fact we are in danger of still being short of rooms before the building programme has begun. We will have an intake in excess of 203 in September. We have a long list of parents who have not got a place and who will appeal. We may have to go to 8-form entry for a second year.

The splendid unseasonable weather has been a real bonus. Spring is always the time when we turn our attention to the next academic year. We know that we will need to replace staff who are moving. Two of our excellent middle managers have gained well-deserved promotions. Miss Liaqat is going to a senior post at Benton Park. Mr Taylor is going to Mirfield where he will be Head of English. Both go at Easter and we have already appointed their replacements.

Let's hope the sun keeps shining and that we have an excellent summer. I conclude this section by reminding all parents that we have a training day on Friday 11th April. We return after the Easter break on Monday 28th April.

P.S. I hope you get chance to watch the London Marathon this weekend. I realise that Paula Radcliffe may well smash another world record but Priesthorpe eyes will be searching a little further down the field. Mr Hollis and Mr Hardaker have been in serious training for several months. They are raising funds for St Gemma's Hospice and I'm sure they would appreciate further donations. They are both extremely fit (considering a combined age of approaching 100), extremely competitive and deserve our best wishes. If you wish to support St Gemma's donations can be made through your child directly to me.

DIARY DATES

Thursday 10th April End of Spring Term
Friday 11th April Training Day (no pupils in school)
Monday 28th April Start of Summer Term
Tuesday 6th May Year 9 SAT's (to Friday 9th May)
Friday 9th May Year 10 exams (to Friday 19th May)
Friday 9th May Year 11 Standdown
Monday 12th May Start of GCSE exams
Monday 19th May Year 12 Standdown (to Friday 6th June)
Friday 23rd May Year 13 Standdown
Friday 23rd May Half Term (to Monday 2nd June)

CHANGES TO THE SCHOOL UNIFORM

From September 2003 the school jumper will be replaced by a black 'V' neck sweatshirt with the school logo. There will also be a different tie for pupils to wear in Years 10 and 11. Pupils will continue to wear white shirts, black skirts or trousers and black shoes. The changes will be phased in over a 12-month period.

The PE kit will also see some changes. The boys will have a new design of football shirt and their indoor vest will be replaced by a polo shirt. The girls will have a new design of shorts. Priesthorpe tracksuits will also be available - the tops and trousers may be purchased separately.

The school supplier will be Frank Harrison, Lidget Hill, Pudsey.

New Curriculum Plans for 2003/4

Course Choice procedures have now been completed and Year 9 students have given us their preferences. We have made these choices even more flexible this year, offering students the opportunity to choose courses which best equip them for what they wish to do after Year 11. This includes an increase in the numbers who may go part-time to college or on extended work experience, though these numbers are still small.

We have offered Booster classes once again in Mathematics, English and Science for Year 9 pupils who wish to have a go at getting the next level up from the one they're on, or who feel a bit insecure and wish to have a bit of help. These classes run on Saturday mornings or, in the case of English, on the first day of the Easter break. Well done to the many who have turned up so far. We hope you are successful.

Year 11 are approaching the final stages of their courses, with Easter coming up for some intensive revision and only 9 days after the late holiday for catching up with teaching staff to sort out any last minute misunderstandings. We have had a very full and varied programme of support for them, including lunchtime and after-school revision classes and mentoring sessions for around half of them, as well as special packs of support material. Good luck to them all!

Visits have been many and varied this last term. They range from fieldwork trips in Geography for students in Years 8 (local), 12 (Redcar sands) and 13 (the East coast) as well as visits to local universities by students in Years 9 and 10. Year 12 are currently completing a weeklong Danish exchange and most of the Year 10 ski trip arrived back unscathed (Mr Pickles did not!). Year 7 have had the opportunity to go on a 5-day residential at Holly How in the Lake District and were fortunate with the weather. More residentials are planned for Year 8 next term. Each of these events generates a huge amount of careful planning and paperwork and I would ask parents to sign and return permission slips as soon as they receive them please. Sending out reminders and dealing with last-minute details causes us a great deal of anxiety and extra paperwork.

It is not just our students that we have been supporting with extra sessions. We have arranged a number of staff training sessions too this term. On February 24th we spent time in our teaching teams updating our schemes of work and on April 11th we will be working together on our planning for next year, ready to spend the new department budgets on appropriate resources. We have also had almost 20 staff complete their ICT training, and some of them now feel confident enough to know what it is they are asking their students to help them with!

Sally Bavage
Deputy for Curriculum

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