Friday 23 May 2014

Headteacher’s Blog May 2014

Dear Parents, Carers & Guardians,

It has been an incredibly busy, but hugely rewarding half-term as the news stories on our website www.selbyhigh.n-yorks.sch.uk are testimony to and clearly highlights the tremendous range of opportunities available to our students, together with the impact they have had both locally and nationally. I would like to thank you for the on-going support you provide in order to ensure that our youngsters can engage with these activities. We are looking forward to welcoming a maximum intake into the school in September for the seventh consecutive year as more and more people want to take advantage of the exciting opportunities and excellent education Selby High School provides.

We continue to work relentlessly to drive up standards and improve the accommodation and resources. Over half-term we will be starting the refurbishment of SC3 & SC4, which will provide more top class science facilities for our students. In addition, the enabling works will be starting in readiness for building the new Guidance Base which will start in July and be completed for the start of the new academic year. During the summer vacation, we will also be continuing with our corridor modernisation and painting & decorating programme, together with our annual maintenance programme.

In addition, we are currently working closely with an architect and a project management company putting together the plans for new sports changing rooms and changes to the sports hall to accommodate, amongst other things, Selby’s very own wheelchair sports centre and additional classrooms. Moreover, we are seeking additional funding for this project from various sporting organisations and other sponsors; so if you or anyone you know would like to sponsor all or some of the project for negotiated publicity rights, then please get in touch.

Once again, I am seeking your continued and much appreciated co-operation in ensuring that your child is wearing the correct uniform, including their House tie, when the weather is not too hot. If we experience a heat wave we will of course issue separate daily instructions in respect of wearing blazers and ties. It is also important that they bring the right equipment to all lessons. It is vital, as you will appreciate, that students approach their studies with the correct focus, attitude and determination to achieve at the highest level and aim for excellence in all that they do.

Every student’s aim should be to become a Selby 5* student. Talking of which we will be taking 303 students on an all-expenses paid trip to Flamingo Land, split over two days, 7th and 11th July 2014, to celebrate being a 5* student on all their trackers this year, together with putting on a free film show for the 435 4* students!  Over 88% of students are currently either a 4* or 5* students with 46% being 5* students. This is a tremendous achievement; thank you for all that you do in ensuring your child(ren) put the maximum effort into their studies; there is no substitute for hard work!

Staffing Update for Parents, Carers and Guardians
Since my last Blog the following members of staff have left Selby High School to take on new challenges.  Mrs Andrea Lawson (Examination Officer and Office Manager for Student Services), has taken up the position of P.A. to the Headteacher at Woodthorpe Primary School, York; Mr Richard Hanson (Assistant Headteacher), has moved to the Outwood Grange Academy Trust to become one of their Vice Principals and Mrs Sharon Wilson (HLTA) has taken up the post of Transition Co-ordinator at Tadcaster Grammar School.  Mrs Kay Crompton (English teacher) decided to take a career break and left the school’s employment at Easter.

Mrs Yvonne Bruce has taken up post as both an exam invigilator and a midday supervisor to cover the outdoor eating area.

We are advertising for a new Examinations Officer. Currently, the position is being undertaken on a temporary basis by Mrs Laura Currey. The new Office Manager is Mrs Gillian Reed who will undertake this role in addition to her duties as the school’s Cover Officer.

Mrs June Jarrold (cleaner), having worked at the school for ten years, retired on Friday 9th May 2014 two days short of her 75th birthday. We wish her a well-deserved retirement!

Mrs Margaret Legge (cleaner) started work as June’s replacement on Monday 12th May 2014.

Mr Mark Jennings (ASSM) is leaving the school on 11th June 2014 to pursue a career in accountancy.

Watch this space for my end of term Staffing Update

Important dates for next half term:
  •      Monday 2nd – Friday 6th June – Bewerley Park visit (Year 8)
  •      Monday 9th June 5.30pm – Parents’/Carers’/Guardians’ meeting regarding Barcelona trip
  •     Tuesday 10th June 5.00pm – Parents’/Carers’/Guardians’ meeting regarding Belgium trip
  •     Tuesday 24th June – Sports Day (we have chosen two reserve dates in case of bad weather; Wednesday 25th June and Friday 27th June
  •     Wednesday 25th June 7pm – Year 11 Prom
  •     Monday 30th June – Friday 4th July – Activities Week
  •     Monday 7th July – Year 7 & 8 5* students trip to Flamingo Land
  •     Monday 7th July – Year 9 Enterprise Day
  •     Monday 7th July 5.00pm – Year 10 Careers Fair
  •     Wednesday 9th July – Year 9 Prison Me No Way
  •     Thursday 10th July – Year 10 Taster Day at Selby College
  •     Friday 11th July – Year 7 Enterprise Day
  •     Friday 11th July – Year 9 & 10 5* students trip to Flamingo Land
  •     Monday 14th – Friday 18th July – History trip to France and Belgium
  •     Wednesday 16th July – 4* students Film Day
  •     Monday 21st July – Parents’/Carers’/Guardians’ Consultation Day
  •     Tuesday 22nd July – School closes for holiday

Yours sincerely,

Paul Eckersley

Headteacher