PRIESTHORPE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

We welcomed 210 students into Year 7 in September. Despite declining numbers in Leeds we are yet again at the maximum number we are allowed to take. Every year is full, which is a pleasant position to be in. The new Year 7 have settled in well under the leadership of Miss Metcalfe, their Year Head. The parents of that cohort will have the opportunity to meet their child's group tutor in November. They will be able to discuss how their child has settled in and what targets are being set.

We did not just welcome new children; we had additions to our work force. Miss Calvert joined the PE department as maternity cover for Ms Graham. Mr Cox, Mr Rose and Mr Abdul joined our growing Maths, Science and ICT departments. Miss Sheldon is a dance specialist who is here in a part time position. We welcomed Ms Vann as the new Head of RE following the retirement of Mrs Gaunt. Mr Schofield is joining the technology department in January; Mr Slezak is covering those classes until January. Mr Rigg is the new Head of PE. Miss Brookes and Mrs Chaney also joined our team as Learning Managers. Miss Gonzalez is here until May as a Spanish Language Assistant. Our non-teaching team continues to grow; Mrs Marci and Mrs Goldthorpe are new to our administration team. Miss Ballard works in our inclusion team as a Behaviour Support Worker. We are a Sports College and we are delighted to have employed Mr Heptinstall as a Rugby League Coach and Ms Brown as Competition Manager. In the last academic year we had an ever-increasing bill for transporting students to college placements and Sixth Form consortium classes. We have now appointed our own driver, Mr Benton, who uses our own transport to get students to their placements.

We spent much of the summer holiday improving our site for the benefit of students, staff and community users. We have created a further computer room in Room 12 and extended provision in two technology rooms as well as the careers room. We have bought and installed interactive white boards in five more rooms and all our Maths rooms have access to white board provision. We are creating outdoor quiet areas. The playground area is a very active area at breaks and lunchtimes. We have as many as nine cricket games (the Flintoff factor!) going on most days. We have lacked outdoor areas for those who want to just sit and chat; that is being addressed and should make a real difference. Our next major project will be the complete refurbishment of our art rooms.