Headteacher’s Blog - May 2016

It has been an incredibly busy, but hugely rewarding half-term. The news stories on our Twitter feed and website www.selbyhigh.co.uk are a fantastic testimony to the tremendous range of opportunities that are available to our students, both locally and nationally; thereby developing and enhancing their social, moral, spiritual and cultural well-being. I would like to thank you for the on-going support you provide in order to ensure that our students, your child(ren) can engage with these activities. 

We continue to work relentlessly to drive up standards and improve the accommodation and resources. During the half-term holiday and summer vacation, we will also be continuing with our refurbishment and maintenance programmes. The really exciting news is that the construction of the extension to the sports hall will begin on the 1st June 2016. This will provide modern high quality, and accessible male and female changing facilities; four new classrooms; additional office space; a viewing gallery into the sports hall and two additional teaching spaces re-developed from the old changing rooms. One of those teaching spaces will be a new fitness room. In addition, amongst other things, we are hoping to establish Selby’s very own wheelchair sports centre.

We are equally excited about welcoming a maximum intake into the school in September for the ninth consecutive year as more and more people want to take advantage of the exciting opportunities and excellent education Selby High School provides.

Once again, I am seeking your continued help in ensuring that your child is wearing the correct uniform, including their House tie. 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 students bring the right equipment to all lessons. It is vital, as you will appreciate, that students continue to 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.

Watch this space for details of the new uniform vouchers and images of the school’s new corporate identity.

Every student’s aim should be to become a Selby 4 Key student. Talking of which, we are hoping to take 440 students on an all-expenses paid trip to Flamingo Land on 18h July 2016, to celebrate collecting 10 Keys (mean of keys over 3 trackers) for year 7 to year 9 students and 13.3 keys over 4 trackers for Year 10 students, together with putting on a free film show for over 397 students collecting 8-9 Keys (mean of keys over 3 trackers). Currently, 93% of students are currently either a 3 Key or 4 Key students with 49% being 4 Key students. This is a tremendous achievement with over a third more students qualifying for this award; thank you for all that you do in ensuring your child(ren) put the maximum commitment and application into their studies; there is no substitute for hard work!

Furthermore, I welcome your support in ensuring your child(ren) eats healthily with regard to their breakfast; break-time snacks and lunch. A young person’s diet has such an impact on their ability to concentrate and study, therefore, this is something we cannot leave to chance! In addition, I should be grateful if you would spend a few minutes reiterating the need for staying safe on their journey to and from school, together with upholding the school’s image on those journeys. We will be holding a series of information sessions, week beginning 13th June 2016, with regard to ‘Road Safety’, expectations and reputation.


Staffing Update for Parents, Carers and Guardians

Since my last Blog the following members of staff will either be joining Selby High School in the next few weeks or have been promoted internally:

Mr Chris Daniel will be joining the staff as the new ICT Technician as from the 1st July 2016. He is currently undertaking a very similar role at St. Aidan’s Church of England High School in Harrogate.

With immediate effect and for at least 12 months in the first instance, Mr Simeon Birchall (science teacher) will be the new whole school ITT (Initial Teacher Training) Co-ordinator and Mrs Sarah Wardell (Assistant AIM Co-ordinator and Former ITT Co-ordinator) will be the Head of the new E.Bacc. Faculty (Geography, History, RE, MFL, Sociology).

I’m sure you will want to join me in wishing them all every success in their new jobs.

Watch this space for my end of term Staffing Update, which will provide details of all the staff changes for September 2016.

Paul Eckersley

Headteacher


Important Dates for Your Diary

Monday 6th June	School re-opens after half-term
Monday 6th – Friday 10th June	Year 8 residential visit to Bewerley Park
Monday 13th June 6pm	Spelling Bee final at Barlby High School
Wednesday 15th June	Year 8 More Able Challenge Day
	Year 9 photography shoot at Selby Abbey
Thursday 16th June	Year 8 Holocaust trip
Friday 17th June	Form robot event
	Year 7 Maths Roadshow
	Year 9 photography shoot at Selby Abbey
Monday 21st & Tuesday 22nd June	Carnegie Challenge at Selby College
Thursday 23rd June	Eurofest final
Friday 24th June	Year 9 Enterprise Day
Friday 24th – Sunday 26th June	Duke of Edinburgh Weekend
Tuesday 28th June	Year 10 trip to Fountains Abbey
Wednesday 29th June	Year 11 Prom
Thursday 30th June	Year 10 trip to Fountains Abbey
Monday 4th July	Year 7 trip to Yorkshire Wildlife Park
Monday 4th – Friday 8th July	Activities Week and Year 10 Work Experience, Paris and Barcelona trips
Tuesday 5th – Friday 8th July	Year 7 Camp
Monday 11th July	Prison Me No Way (provisional date)
Tuesday 12th July	Year 6 Induction Day and Parents Evening
Wednesday 13th July	Year 10 More Able STEM Day
Thursday 14th July	Consultation Day
Friday 15th July	Sports Day
Monday 18th July	Selby Keys Film and Rewards Day
Wednesday 20th July	Reserve Sports Day (in case of bad weather)
Friday 22nd July	Whole School Assembly, school closes for holidays