Thursday 3 April 2014

Headteacher’s Blog April 2014

Dear Parents, Carers & Guardians

Welcome to my Easter Blog

As you will be aware from our daily news feed our successes of the first term have continued at a pace and the achievements of our young people have been simply spectacular and never cease to impress me. These on-going achievements, together with our track record of success mean that once more, we will be welcoming a maximum intake of 237 Year 7 students in September 2014. It is interesting to note, that despite this year’s Year 6 cohort being small, there were over 260 applications to join the school.

Our target for 75% of Year 11 students achieving 5 A*-C GCSE grades including English and mathematics, whilst challenging, is achievable.  It is essential, however, that students realise the level of commitment that is now required from them at this stage of their school career. This commitment should also be extended to ensure that they turn up for scheduled booster and intervention sessions that are taking place both after school and during the supported study programme during May and June. Some of these sessions will take place at weekends and during holidays, including over the Easter vacation.

The Easter holidays will provide all those students who are preparing for public examinations with the perfect opportunity to undertake some quality revision. Also remember the impact that MyMaths, SAM Learning, BBC Bitesize and other e-learning sites can have on your child’s results. I am sure you will join me in wishing all our students the very best with both their preparation and their actual tests and examinations. We will be waiting for the results every bit as anxiously as they will as we look to set more new records for ourselves.

I have been informed that there is a rumour circulating that I will be leaving the school this summer to take on the leadership of Selby College. That is not true. I am committed to serving Selby High School as we move towards being rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Incidentally, since the new Ofsted Inspection Framework was introduced in September 2013 we remain one of only three secondary schools in North Yorkshire to achieve a ‘good judgement.’ Nationally, since September 2013 66% of schools have received a RI (requiring improvement) or below judgement; clearly illustrating the punishing nature of the new inspection framework. Moreover, only 6 schools nationally have received an outstanding judgement.

I hope you have a restful and peaceful Easter!

Yours sincerely



Paul Eckersley
Headteacher


Important Dates for Diary

Training Day (school closed to students) – Tuesday 22nd April
School re-opens for – Wednesday 23rd April

Early May Bank Holiday – Monday 5th May

School re-opens – Tuesday 6th May

Trestle Workshop event – Thursday 8th May

Duke of Edinburgh practice weekend – Friday 9th – Sunday 11th May

Eurofest languages event – Tuesday 20th May

School closes for holidays – Friday 23rd May