Headteachers Welcome

Curriculum change and Building Schools for the future dominated our thinking during the last academic year. The introduction of an alternative curriculum, project and theme based, yet covering all of the essential elements required by the National Curriculum, was a big challenge, but one met successfully. The introduction of Personal Learning and Thinking Skills has not only met the aspirations of the government, but has allowed our children to develop as independent learners. What is even better is that we are a year ahead of the game, and so are well-prepared for the changes that will impact upon all schools. This will be extended to year 8 so the children will be able to continue developing in an exciting way preparing them for the rigours of the public examination system whilst developing in them a desire to learn and fitting them with the tools to do so. Linked with this has been a change in homework, with the introduction of Independent Learning Assignments. With the support of parents these week long units of stand-alone work provide a deeper learning experience.

Building Schools for the Future is a huge project involving consultation and planning for the learners of the future. We have examined what we do and how we do it from the roots, and this leads us then to consider where learning should happen. A team of students has helped in the adventure, and almost weekly meeting with architects and designers, and in-depth assessment of the condition of the school, has led to an outline proposed allocation in the region of £14 million. For this we will develop a much more learner centred facility with learning spaces that may look very different from the classrooms of today. A further £25 million shared between the secondary schools of the City will see IT improved beyond our wildest dreams! There will be further consultation events about this project and parents are encouraged to come along to find out more and to contribute.

The spiritual and academic development of the pupils in school remains in the forefront of what we try to do. We have tried to make our young people aware of others, and through their work for charity to understand the great needs of those less fortunate than themselves.

Improving our learning environment continues to be a priority. The toilet programme phase six was completed during the summer of 07, and this has enabled one of the top ranked items on students’ wish lists to be achieved with almost all of the toilets in South block now individual cubicles. The start on the all weather sports pitch with lighting and changing rooms, and a learning centre housing a brand new library and spaces for individual study has been delayed because of planning problems relating to new flood regulations, and it is hoped it will start early in the 2008-09 academic year. The hair and beauty salon has had a great first year and has provided a facility truly of professional standard.

The House system goes from strength to strength, and provides a warm and friendly community where students and staff feel a real sense of identity. Praised highly in the last inspection, the house system has given our young people a voice and a chance to influence school policy through their House Councils and the full School Council. The hard work of the ECO committee will have been assessed in the summer and it is hoped that the school will receive again the coveted ‘Green Flag’ award. If this happens, because it will be the third time we have achieved it, we will be granted the status permanently.

Best ever results at GCSE meant that the cohort met and exceeded the tough targets that were set showing that overall potential was reached or exceeded. The pass rate at A level also held up at its high level, as did results in the vocational subjects. The whole examination scene will be changing over the next few years as new A level courses come in, followed a year later by new GCSE exams, and from next year the introduction of the new Diploma courses which will be available across the whole of the 14-19 age group. The school has been chosen to lead for the City on the Creative and Media Diploma.

The school’s Alumni Association is still growing and I urge former staff and students to sign up at enedictfriends.co.uk.  Several successful events have been held for our alumni, and there will be more. The school is always looking for sponsors so if you have a contact or run a business yourself, please consider investigating having a building or a room named after you or your family. The school continues to look outward and we have been grateful to have another graduate student from the University of Georgia Southern in Statesborough, Georgia USA who worked with us for the summer term. The cultural input, along with many skills, have been a big bonus for the school. Other visitors from other countries, and our visits to them, show how the school is looking constantly to share its successes with others, and to learn from successes elsewhere.

The spiritual side of the school continues to flourish under the expert guidance of our Chaplain, Andy. Yet another very successful school pilgrimage to Lourdes signed off a busy year for Chaplaincy, and a report appears later in this magazine. Once again former pupil Father David Cain has been a great supporter of events this year, and has complemented the team of priests that have led us in prayer, led superbly by Father Joe Wheat, whose energy and enthusiasm has been a real inspiration to pupils and staff alike. Fr Joe was the celebrant at the very well attended year 11 Leavers mass, an event everyone there described as a very moving occasion.

I extend thanks to the staff who work so hard to cope with the changes and challenges thrown at us by the government, and work constantly to provide the best for our students, putting in many hours of unpaid time to make sure what is offered is the very best.

The governors have a thankless task of supporting, cajoling, monitoring and planning. We thank David Walker, Chair, and Martin Jinks, Vice Chair, both of whom have given many years of sterling service in these demanding roles, and who feel they should now move aside for new blood. On behalf of our whole community I wish them well and express appreciation for their splendid work.

As I wrote last year, I hope the year 2008 – 2009 will see the school continue to flourish, remain at the cutting edge, always seek to do the best for our young people, find ways of engaging everyone in, serving God by using and developing our skills to the full. May we continue to be proud of what we achieve and the way we live out the Rule of Saint Benedict.

Dr Christopher Reynolds OBE
Headteacher