SEPTEMBER 2003

HEADTEACHER'S INTRODUCTION
I trust you have had a splendid summer. The weather was brilliant and our exam results equally glorious. You will hear more about these results shortly, but suffice to say they were our best ever.

The purpose of this letter is to relay a series of important messages which we must bring to your URGENT attention.

We are about to become a building site. The much-needed and long-awaited extension has begun. The building company Birch won the contract and their compound is in place. The build is at the top of the drive and severely restricts movement up and down our single-track drive. It is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL that no parent comes to collect their child via the drive. The gates will be closed, on local authority advice, between 3:15 - 3:30pm. This is purely to ensure the safety of the children leaving after registration. We have no extra parking and certainly nowhere to turn.

Parents can drop their children off and collect them from the Rockwoods.
It is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL that we respect the neighbours and ensure that we do not inconvenience them. We must use a one-way system.

WOULD PARENTS WHO COLLECT CHILDREN FROM THE ROCKWOODS PLEASE CONSIDER OUR NEIGHBOURS. WE MUST NOT BLOCK DRIVES AND WE MUST ALLOW EMERGENCY SERVICES ACCESS TO THE AREA. IT IS CRUCIAL THAT THIS MESSAGE IS TAKEN ON BOARD, EVEN IF IT MEANS THAT YOU PARK FURTHER AWAY FROM SCHOOL. A ONE-WAY SYSTEM IS ESSENTIAL. PLEASE APPROACH THE SCHOOL FROM THE LEFT AND GO AROUND THE CUL-DE-SAC TO LEAVE.

I will be asking senior staff to ensure that this is enforced.

We have always had a parents' presence on our Governing body. Legislation has changed and the number of Parent Governors has increased. We are now entitled to seven. We have a number of parents - Mrs Craven, Mr Nash and Mr Stark - who are mid-way through their terms of office, but we do need to elect four Parent Governors. I will be circulating the whole parent body next week asking for nominations and explaining the election process.

The pupil Planner is an essential feature of our communication systems. It is vital that it is used correctly by pupils, parents and staff. This year there are some pages which I would particularly like to draw to your attention. The Home-School Agreement and the Computer Use Agreement both require parent signatures to indicate both knowledge and support of our policies on supporting students. Please take a moment or two to read these through with your child. There is also space on each weekly diary page for explaining absence.

The remainder of this Newsletter will contain messages from a variety of senior staff, so do read on. Our next Newsletter will be produced in October, to be distributed before half-term.

Clive Pickles
Headteacher

SITE MANAGER'S REPORT

We now have a new site Manager - Mr Chris Toner - who is beginning the task of implementing the complex arrangements for the new build as well as continuing a programme of refurbishment. Our Open Learning Centre (OLC) is first on the list - it has already been painted and had some new carpet put in - and will hopefully be ready before half-term. The Dining Room has been partially upgraded; more will come at half-term.

Mr Hardaker
Deputy Head

CURRICULUM UPDATE

So far we have arranged training days for
Tuesday 14th October
Friday 13th February
We have two more to arrange; these will be communicated to you at the earliest opportunity.

We welcome the following new teaching staff:
Mr Blackburn, Sports Co-ordinator
Mr Bowker in Geography
Mrs Din in ICT
Mr Gibbons in Business Studies
Mr Hutson in Geography (Head of Dept)
Ms Kidd in Chemistry
Mrs Lazenby in English
Mr Moyo in Maths
Mr Naylor in Geography
Mr Ryder in ICT
Ms Sherratt in English
Mr Smith in Maths
Mrs Speers, Sports Co-ordinator
Mr Stewart in English

In addition we welcome the following non-teaching member of staff:
Mrs Platt in the OLC

Mrs Bavage
Deputy Head

UPDATE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SPORT

We have just gone to press with our first, 20-page full colour issue of the Priesthorpe Sports College Newsletter, with full details of curriculum developments, extra-curricular opportunities and school-club links. You will be receiving your copy shortly.

Mrs Raper
Director of Sport


SIXTH FORM UPDATE

We have 185 students in our biggest-ever Sixth Form, with over 60% returning from Year 11. Our A-level pass rate of 92% is also very pleasing indeed! Well done to all concerned.

Mr Williams
Head of Sixth Form