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
