Principal's Blog - October 2018

The first half term has been a really successful one for us at Selby High School. One of the great privileges of my job is being able to show visitors around school, and to get a clear picture of all the fantastic learning that our young people are involved in on a daily basis. Without exception, our visitors have commented on the friendly, calm and purposeful atmosphere across the school. One feature OFSTED commented on when they came to visit us in June, was the excellent work of student leaders across the school. The Student Councils and Wellbeing Councils have already been active this year, exploring a range of ideas for improving the school, and in October 14 students were trained to as Wellbeing Ambassadors.
 
Our new year 7s have settled in very well and are playing a full role in the life of the school. It was great to see many of them, as well as students from other year groups, helping out at the Open Evening on 1st October. Other key events this half term have included the 100% Attendance Assembly, which included a good number of year 11s who have never missed a day of school, whilst they have been at Selby High School. We were also involved in the Re-start a Heart project, which aims to train up as many young people as possible in this important aspect of First Aid. Our year 9 students were part of 29,768 students trained across Yorkshire this year. We also welcomed parents, carers and guardians from year 7 and 8 to our KS3 Supporting for Success Evening, and look forward to delivering the Key Stage 4 event on 26th November.
 
There have also been a wide range of activities taking place out of school. Students from a number of different year groups performed “The Taming of the Shrew” at the Shakespeare Schools Festival at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre in York. Students have also enjoyed a number of successful visits in the November sunshine. Trips have included Photography in Leeds, Geography coursework in Bridlington, and a visit to Cambridge, to see what life and learning is like at the University there.
 
As ever our sporting teams have been involved in numerous fixtures. Year 9 boys and girls football teams are through to the North Yorkshire cup second round with a 6-0 win against Sherburn and a 5-0 win against Richmond, respectively. The Year 7 boys football team are through to the second round of the York schools cup with a 4-2 penalty victory over Barlby, after a 1-1 draw at the end of full time. The Year 8 boys football team are not only through to the second round of the York schools cup with a 4-1 victory against Fulford but are also top of their York School league having played and won all 4 league games, conceding only 2 goals but scoring 21.
 
Well done to all year groups who have taken part in the local festival fixtures in Netball and Rugby this half term. The attendance at Netball and rugby club after school and at lunchtime has been excellent and these sessions will continue after half term.
 
Finally, the Selby High School Equestrian team goes from strength to strength. On Saturday, 22nd September the team went to the National Schools Equestrian Association regional show jumping qualifier competition at Bishop Burton College, and performed very well. Everyone jumped fantastically and did the school team proud coming in an amazing 6th place in the 85cm event with Kaytlyn Fella, Issy Khosla, Ellie McNeil and Martha Ward as a team which takes them through to the National Championships, as places 1-6 qualify. In the 95cm event we had Issy Khosla, Ellie McNeil and Martha Ward as a team of only 3 instead of the 4 allowed (best 3 scores count) and they rode brilliantly to come 4th, again qualifying to the national championships. In the 95cm Ellie McNeil rode a fantastic course and came 2nd individually.
 
Thanks as always to all the staff who are so generous with their time in organising and supervising the impressive range of activities we have on offer.
 
I hope you have a happy and safe holiday, and look forward to seeing all the students on the 5th November.

Best wishes,

Nick Hinchliffe
Principal

Forthcoming dates:

Monday 5th November	School re-opens
Wednesday 7th November	Governors Awards Evening
Monday 12th November	Year 11 mock exams start Upper School Careers Fair 5pm
Tuesday 13th November	Book Fair in LRC starts Year 9 YOLO
Tuesday 20th November	Year 8 Enterprise day
Monday 26th November	KS4 Supporting for Success Evening
Tuesday 18th December	Year 11 Parents Evening 5pm
Thursday 20th December	Christmas Concert 7pm
Friday 21st December	School closes for holidays