Tuesday 22 July 2014

Summer 2014 blog

Dear Parents/Carers/Guardians

Welcome to my last blog of this academic year and what a fabulous year it has been, but you already know that from the website and Twitter news feeds!

We will be publishing our 2013-2014 Highlights booklet at the end of September so don’t forget to look out for your copy. It is certain to be a bumper edition, but we are already planning for 2014-2015 to be another year to remember

Talking about developments, this summer we will be constructing our new Student Guidance Base. This £250K facility will hopefully be finished at the end of September; watch this space.
   
I would like to thank you for all your support this year, because as we tell your child(ren) success is all about team work and the part you play is vital. Discussing and clarifying issues with your child(ren) is an important daily routine. Occasionally, we have to deal with problems that have arisen as a result of miss information that could have been avoided, if only students had engaged in a frank and honest conversation with their parents, carers or guardians.

In addition, we send a large number of emails and letters including numbered ones out to parents, carers and guardians, but any communication system will only work well if people regularly check their messages. In this regard I should be grateful if you would check your emails at least twice a week, together with following us on Twitter @selbyhigh. The hyperlink to the school’s website is:


We have a new calendar available from September that can, once again, be accessed via the school website.

Once again, I look forward to your continued help in ensuring your child is properly turned out for school throughout the 2014-2015 academic year and ‘keen to treat others just like they would wish to be treated themselves’; a simple phrase, but such an important one for Selby High School. 

I have just received information from NHS England that on 8th & 9th December 2014 students in Years 7 & 8 will receive a childhood seasonal flu inoculation as part of an immunisation pilot project that we have been chosen for. Consent forms and information packs will be available in September 2014.  

From September, the daily maximum spend for students in Food4Thought will be £4.50 to reflect inflationary price increases averaging 5%.  Please note, this is the first price rise for three years.

In addition, the following are important dates for your diary.

Monday 1st September           – Training Day – school closed to students
Tuesday 2nd September           – School re-opens – Year 7 students only
Wednesday 3rd September     – School opens to all students
Friday 19th September – School photographs & HSA signing by Mr Eckersley
Tuesday 23rd September         – Raising Aspirations Evening
Monday 29th September         – Training Day – school closed to students
Monday 29th September         – Open Evening for prospective parents
Tuesday 30th September         – Training Day – school closed to students
Wednesday 1st October          – Shakespeare Schools Festival cast workshop
Wednesday 15th October        – Governors Awards Evening at Selby Abbey
Thursday 16th October            – Shakespeare Schools Festival dress rehearsal and performance
Thursday 16th October            – ‘Get Skilled’ careers event at Elland Road
Thursday 23rd October            – Year 7 Consultation Evening

Staffing Changes from September 2014

Mrs Barbara Palmer (cleaner), retired from her position with effect from 27th June 2014; after 13 years’ service to the school.
Mr Luke Parkinson (English teacher) has secured a new post as a teacher of English at Beckfoot School in Bingley, which is much nearer to where he lives.
Miss Rebecca Lloyd (mathematics teacher) has secured a new position at the Biddick Academy, an 11-16 school in the North East of England.  
Miss Lynne Eagles (ASSM) has successfully secured a place on the Primary PGCE course at York St. John’s University.
Mr Ben Lewis (HLTA mathematics) has secured a NQT teaching position in respect of physical education at Hornsea High School in the East Riding of Yorkshire.  
Mr Carl Booth (SSM), who completed his GTP QTS with us, has been appointed as a PTI with one of the newly formed RAF Reservist Units.
Mr Tom Oldfield (SSM) has secured a PGCE place at Sheffield Hallam University in design and technology.
Miss Hayley Dobson (SSC Ensuring Entitlement Officer) has secured a new position as a Student Support Officer at Rossett School in Harrogate.
Mr Rob Claxton (SSM) will be leaving to take up a post within the local council.
Mr Robert Macdonald (science teacher) who has, since his retirement as Head of Science in 2012, been teaching science two days a week part-time has, in the short term, finished his contract, but we hope to welcome him back to do some work in the future.

We are moving to a faculty structure to further improve our provision, comprising:
o  Mrs Jackie Seils Head of the Faculty of Global Languages, which will encompass Business & Enterprise, Mathematics and MFL. In addition, she will be the leader of The Faculty Heads Group.
o  Mr Gary Bowell Head of the Faculty of English & Social Sciences which will encompass English, History, Media, RE & Sociology
o  Miss Rebecca Brigg Head of the Faculty of Personal, Pure & Physical Sciences, which will encompass Computer Science, Geography, PSHEE & C & Science
o  Mr Derek Block Head of the Faculty of Performance & Creative Arts, which will encompass Art, Design & Technology, Dance, Performing Arts & Physical Education

Moreover, we have appointed four Associate Assistant Headteachers. The Associate Assistant Headteachers Miss Lizzie Crawford, Miss Vicki Gorton, Miss Samantha Johnson and Miss Gail Smith will work alongside our T&L Lead Practitioners, Mrs Jackie Seils, Mrs Samantha Sheard and Miss Lydia Jackson to develop our teaching and learning to routinely outstanding:

Following Miss Smith’s promotion, Mr Stephen Field (PE teacher) has been appointed as the Assistant Curriculum Area Leader for Physical Education.  With Miss Gorton’s promotion, Mrs Jennifer Mackey will step up temporarily to Assistant Curriculum Area Leader for Science in addition to her duties as Transition Co-ordinator and Mrs Sarah Wardell (Assistant AIM Co-ordinator) will take on the additional responsibilities of KS3 Science Progress Co-ordinator in a temporary capacity whilst Mrs Katherine Fielden is on maternity leave.  Dr Paul O’Gorman (ASL for PSHEE & C and ALM for Garrett House) will become the Curriculum Area Leader for PSHEE & C and Mr Simon Birkenshaw (SL for ADT and soon to be Curriculum Area Leader for design & technology) will take on the additional leadership responsibilities for careers education and work experience.  Mr Andrew Milson who taught at the school between 2010 and 2012 will be returning to teach science and Miss Rebecca Harwood and Mr Colum McArdle have been appointed to the positions of Assistant learning Manager for Garrett & Mason Houses respectively

Mr David Martin and Mr James Dyke will be joining the school to teach English, Mrs Rachel Blatchford and Mr Nicholas Blanchflower to teach mathematics and computer studies respectively and Mrs Sharon Baron will be our new Examinations Officer.  Miss Noelle Burston; Ms Elaine Cowling; Ms Demi Wright and Mrs Iryna Durham will be joining our team of SSMs and Mrs Tina Clayton who will become new SSC Ensuring Entitlement Officer.

Finally last, but by no means least, I would like to announce the retirement of Mr Michael Dobson (Head of PSHEE & C and Careers Education & Guidance) in August 2014 after 30 years at the school and 38 years in public service as a teacher. We wish him a happy and healthy retirement and pay tribute to his dedicated and selfless service.

Have a wonderful summer!!


Paul Eckersley
Headteacher