Principal's Staffing Blog - July 2016

• Miss Jennie Crackles (business studies and ICT teacher) returned from maternity leave on 9^th May 2016.
• Dr Mark Smith (science teacher) will be leaving the school at the end of August 2016, in order to take his career in a new direction.
• Miss Rebecca Newman (science teacher) has tendered her resignation with effect from 31^st August 2016, in order to take up the offer of undertaking a fully funded PhD. The PhD is a network PhD run by York, Sheffield and Leeds Universities. It is working in partnership with the CGIAR Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) programme. She will also have a desk at Nairobi University. The project is funded by White Rose (ERSC). The research itself takes place in the Taita Hills, Eastern Arc Mountains Kenya. It would be great to see if there is any way in which her work could link in with that of the school.
• Mr Christopher Johnson (mathematics teacher) has secured a new teaching position at South Holderness Technology College.
• Mrs Cadence Knights (HLTA for mathematics) will not be returning from maternity leave, following the birth of her third child. Her husband has secured a new position in Norfolk and the whole family will be relocating at the end of June 2016.
• Miss Rebecca Brigg will be taking maternity leave from the end of July 2016 until Easter 2017. Mrs Jenny Mackey, Assistant Curriculum Area Leader, (ACAL for science) will temporarily take over the leadership of The Science Faculty and Mrs Sophie Bell and Mr Andrew Milson additionally become the Acting ACALs for science.
• Miss Jenna Strain (PE teacher) has been offered the opportunity to undertake a sabbatical year at the English School in Dubai. I have agreed to a twelve-month sabbatical. Miss Lucy Holt will, therefore, stay with us for another twelve months.
• The Board of Governors have decided that in line with the school's September re-branding and redefinition of responsibilities, members of the leadership team will be known, from that time, by the titles of Principal; Vice Principal; Assistant Principal; Deputy Assistant Principal and Associate Assistant Principal. The team and their titles will, therefore, be as follows:
  Principal
  Mr Paul Eckersley Vice Principals
  Mrs Joanne Carter-Mills; Mr Stuart Lewis & Mrs Amanda Lumb
  Assistant Principals
  Mr Carl Cousins & Mr Matthew Sinclair
  Deputy Assistant Principals
  Miss Vicki Gorton; Miss Gail Smith & Mrs Caroline Young
  Associate Assistant Principal
  Miss Samantha Johnson
  Lead Practitioner
  Mrs Samantha Sheard
• From September 2016 Mrs Elizabeth Roberts (Head of Year 9, from September 2016 and CAL for drama) will be going part-time and reducing her hours to 0.84FTE.
• Mrs Henna Iqbal (history teacher) will be taking maternity leave from 24^th September 2016 until May 2017. Miss Sarah McCabe has been appointed as her temporary replacement.
• Mr Josh Lewis and Miss Jo Tattersall have been appointed as full-time permanent teachers of science, together with Mrs Lola Brackenbury, as a 0.6FTE temporary teacher of science, for two terms in the first instance, to cover Miss Rebecca Brigg’s maternity leave.
• We have appointed a new ICT Technician, Mr Chris Daniel as a replacement for Mr Tom Harland, who will be taking over from Mr Malcolm Hemingway (ICT Manager) when he retires in August 2016.
• Mrs Caroline Young will be the new SENDL to replace Mrs Susan Caddy who retires fully in August 2016. Mrs Young will sit on the school’s SLT as a Deputy Assistant Principal. Mrs Helen Fenton, teacher for SEND, will also retire at the same time.
• Miss Elizabeth Crawford will be taking on the newly created post of Assistant SENDL.
• We have appointed three additional Acting Teaching & Learning Coaches, Mr Will Khambatta (English teacher); Miss Rebecca McClintock (D&T teacher) and Mrs Helen Metcalfe (KS3 English Progress Co-ordinator to join the T&L team, together with Miss Katie Levitt as part of her role as the Co-ordinator for More-Able Students, until December 2017 in the first instance.
• We have appointed two new full-time permanent mathematics teachers, Miss Charlotte Cole and Mr Terry Katebe. They will take up their posts on 1^st September 2016.
• We have decided, given the importance attached to the subjects that make up the ‘E. Bacc. measure’ to re-design the composition of the faculties, together with re-naming them in line with these changes. We will be establishing an E. Bacc. Faculty that will contain the following subjects:geography, history, MFL, RE and sociology. Mrs Sarah Wardell, in addition to her duties as the Assistant AIM Co-ordinator, will take on the role of Head of Faculty for one year in the first instance.        
  The Faculty of Pure and Physical Sciences will still contain computer science, but be renamed The Science Faculty.
  The Global Languages Faculty will be renamed The Mathematics, Business & Enterprise Faculty.
  The English and Social Sciences Faculty will now only additionally contain media studies so will be renamed The English & Media Studies Faculty.
  The Performance and Creative Arts Faculty will be unchanged.
• Mr Simeon Birchall (science teacher) has been appointed as the Acting Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Co-ordinator until August 2017 in the first instance.
• Miss Laura Cant currently the CAL for music will be returning from maternity leave on 21^st July 2016. On her return she will be stepping down from her curriculum area leader’s role and Mr Lanzillotti will become the permanent CAL for music; a role he has been undertaking in a temporary capacity during Miss Cant’s absence.
• Miss Zoe Martin has been appointed as a temporary teacher of English to cover the remainder of Mrs Rowena Pickering’s maternity leave.
• Mr James Dyke (English teacher) has been appointed as the Acting Ensuring Progress at KS4 Co-ordinator in Mrs Rowena Pickering’s absence.
• Emma Elgie (PSTM) has be deployed on a temporary full-time basis until the end of term within the behaviour and safeguarding team to support the work of Miss Jane Holman (School Social Worker) with regard to helping and counselling students engaging in risk taking behaviours. The situation will be reviewed in September with a view to retaining the hours and the deployment.
• Mrs Lisa Cawkwell (ASSM) who was seconded to the Personal Support Mentoring Team will return to her ASSM from 1^st September 2016 unless Mr Gill’s (PSTM) return to work, following a major operation is delayed beyond that date. Mrs Monika Thornton will continue as an additional ASSM on a permanent basis.
• We have reorganised the lower school curriculum and there is now no longer a need for a designated TLR for the role of Personalised Block Co-ordinator. The current post holder is Miss Katie Levitt and given that Miss Gail Smith is no longer in a position to discharge her defined responsibilities in respect of the more-able, we have asked her to take on the sole co-ordination of more-able students.
• The leadership and management within mathematics is changing slightly in so far as designated members of staff, in addition to other responsibilities within the faculty, will be taking on the remit for particular year groups and the progress that individuals are making in mathematics. The allocated year groups are as follows:
  Mr Spence          Year 7
  Mrs Thacker       Year 8
  Miss Walmsley  Year 10Mr Jones             Years 9 & 11
• Miss Sarah Carmichael (temporary GSSM) has been appointed permanently to the position of GSSM as the replacement for Mrs Iryna Durham.
• Mrs Caroline Coates who is leaving to take up a TAs post at Manor C of E Academy in York.
• We have advertised for a replacement GSSM for Mrs Claire Dugher (GSSM) who is leaving to undertake a PGCE at Leeds Trinity University and St Wilfred’s Secondary School, together with an additional GSSM to support the late arrival of a student who is in receipt of an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP).
• We are currently reviewing the support afforded to Pupil Premium (PP) students and I will communicate any changes in due course.
• Miss Rebbecca McClintock (D&T teacher) Miss Laura Cant (music teacher) are both getting married this summer and their respective married names will be Cooper and Stephenson.

I am sure you will wish to join me in thanking all those staff who are leaving for all that they have done for both the students and the school, but a special mention must go to Mr Hemingway, Mrs Caddy and Mrs Fenton.  

In addition, I know you will want to wish all our new staff the very best of luck in their new posts.

Paul Eckersley
Headteacher
July 2016

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

 

Headteacher’s Blog - March 2016

It has been a short but immensely exciting half term; so many activities and events in only 5 weeks!

• Raising Aspirations event for Year 8
• Year 9 & 10 trip to the theatre
• Year 11 Spanish Master class at Selby College
• Year 8 Enterprise day
• Trip to Manchester Arena to be part of the Young Voices Event
• BBC School reporters live on Radio York
• Year 9 STEMNET talk
• GCSE Science Live trip
• Performances by Hardwicke Circus
• Year 9 trip to Belgium
• Year 11 visit to the University Of Cambridge
• National VEX IQ Robot Competition
• Selby Seeds girls go to the Big Bang Fair 

We have also had numerous other school based activities including Selby High School’s Great British Bake Off, Sports Relief Mile and Readathon. Photographs for all of these events can be found on our website and if you would like to keep up to date with all SHS events why not follow us on Twitter.

When we return after Easter our Year 11 students will only have 22 school days before the first GCSE exam.  Therefore, it is vital that they use the Easter holidays wisely and begin revising for their forthcoming exams.  Staff will continue to support Year 11 students both in class and by offering lunchtime and after school revision opportunities. It is up to each and every one of our Year 11 students to show their commitment to achieving their true potential and this can only be achieved through hard work and effort. 

All students have received an exam timetable detailing exactly which exams they are entered for and when those exams are.  Miss Johnson (Associate Assistant Headteacher) will be able to help with any queries about Year 11 exams.  

When we return from the holiday the Year 11 students will receive a copy of the supported study programme which will run until the end of June.  The programme will include revision and booster session details together with any weekend or holiday intervention opportunities. 

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure”. (Colin Powell)

School is not just about academic success, it is about taking advantage of all the opportunities that are available and next term is full of more amazing activities for all of our students; trips abroad, work experience, Year 7 camp, Wildlife Park trip, Holocaust Museum visit, Activities Week and many more.   We have a range of both lunchtime and afterschool clubs that students can participate in, we also have homework club that runs 4 nights a week.

Finally I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank both students and parents/carers for all the support that they have shown me over the past 5 weeks in my new role as Acting Headteacher.  I am immensely proud to be part of Selby High School and to watch our students achieve success on a daily basis.

Joanne Carter-Mills
Acting Headteacher

Important Future Dates

Monday 11^th April                            Training Day – School closed to students

Tuesday 12^th April                            School re-opens

Tuesday 12^th April –

Friday 22^nd April                               Year 10 Mock Examinations

Thursday 14^th April                          Drama trip to SLP College

Thursday 21^st April                           Year 9 More Able visit to York University

Thursday 21^st April                           7pm Inter-House Music Competition

Thursday 28^th April                          Junior Maths Challenge

Thursday 28^th April                          5pm Year 9 Parents’/Carers’/Guardians’ Consultation Evening

Monday 2^nd May                              Early May Bank Holiday – School closed

Tuesday 3^rd May                               School re-opens

Friday 6^th May                                   Year 11 Final Assembly

Friday 13^th May –

Sunday 15^th May                              Duke of Edinburgh Practice Weekend

Monday 16^th May                            Summer examinations begin

Wednesday 25^th May                     Year 10 More Able visit to Leeds University

Friday 27^th May                                 School closes for holidays

Headteacher’s Blog - February 2016

This half-term has flown by with a tremendous number of achievements to celebrate which tells the story of what has been a short, but highly rewarding and exciting half term. I hope you enjoyed reading about our successes, on the website and through our Twitter feed, as much as we did creating it!

The next half-term, before we break for Easter on the 24^th March is even shorter, but it will be just as hectic and jam packed with good news stories! Once again, our Year 11 leavers have purchased a specially designed leavers’ hoodie. The hoodie is allowed to be worn in place of their blazer. An additional feature of the 2016 hoodie is that each student has their initials embroidered on the front.

Hot on the heels of our students’ recent success at the North Yorkshire Schools’ Student Conference, I am delighted to announce that the school is one of only 41 nationally that has been awarded a Discovering Democracy Award. The school will be presented with the award, by John Penrose MP, at a special ceremony in London immediately after half-term.

Congratulations to all the participants in this year’s Talent Show. Once again the standard was incredibly high, which made it an extremely hard decision for the judges. The Lower School winner was Kate Hinken with Talia Firth as the Upper School, and overall winner.

The targets we have set our Year 9 & 11 students in respect of this summer’s GCSE results, whilst challenging, are achievable given the level of support that is available here at school and at home from yourselves. Please encourage your child (ren) to undertake some revision/on-line learning and any required catch-up work during the half-term break. It is essential that students realise the level of commitment that is now required from them at this stage of their school career. Those students in their last year at Selby High School, that is Year 11 students, should be undertaking a minimum of twelve hours’ home study per week and beginning to make the social sacrifices which are necessary for success and which in turn will provide choices and chances!

This commitment should also be extended to ensure that they turn up for scheduled booster and intervention sessions that are taking place both after school and during the supported study programme from now until the end of June, some of which takes place at weekends and in the school holidays.

Remember, there is no substitute for hard work and, without doubt, it is the key to success!

As we proceed through the amalgamation consultation, it is obviously necessary to plan for either of the two possible outcomes. Mrs Carter-Mills has, therefore, assumed the role of Acting Headteacher, for the foreseeable future, in order to allow me to undertake work for the joint Governors’ Steering Group. I know that you will give her the same level of support that you have afforded me. In addition, Mr D Block will be assuming some additional responsibilities as Acting Associate Assistant Headteacher, supporting the work of the behaviour and safeguarding team.

Given that we have experienced some sub-zero temperatures of late, may I remind you that either in the event of adverse weather conditions or indeed any other emergency a decision as to whether or not to open the school will be made, at the latest, by 6.40am. If closure is necessary, an announcement will then be made on BBC Radio York & Minster FM. The school’s website will be updated about any school closure, together with utilising Twitter and SMS messaging services.

Important Future Dates

Monday 22^nd February                        School re-opens
Tuesday 23^rd – Thursday 25^th   
February                                               Years 9 & 10 school meningitis injections

Friday 26^th February                            More Able visit to Cambridge University

Monday 29^th February                       Young Voices at Manchester Arena

Wednesday 2^nd March                        Years 9 & 10 meningitis injections

Tuesday 8^th March                              Year 8 Enterprise Day

Thursday 10^th March                           Year 9 Parents/Carers/Guardians Consultation Evening

Monday 14^th March                            Year 7 Camp Information Evening

Wednesday 16^th March                       ‘The 39 Steps’ Theatre visit

Tuesday 22^nd March                            Year 10 Parents/Carers/Guardians Consultation Evening

Thursday 24^th March                           Year 11 mock results assembly

Thursday 24^th March                           School closes for holidays