Inspection Report Published
All parents will be receiving a copy of the report this week (12th to 16th Oct). Students will be receiving a separate letter from HMI Moss, the lead inspector. The headline judgement is that:Alsager School is a good school with outstanding features. The separate judgement on the sixth form is also good.
Outstanding judgements were given for:
- Achievement
- Support, care and guidance
- The curriculum and
- Partnership working
A full copy of the report can be read by following the link Inspection Report Alternatively, parents can wait for the paper copy to come home during the week.
School inspection
No doubt everyone is wondering how the inspection on 23rd and 24th went. I am not allowed to release any information about the judgements made because the inspection report is subject to a detailed checking procedure and the inspector’s judgements can be changed by officials at the Department for Children, Families and Schools (DCFS).
The school was inspected under the new, more demanding arrangements that came into effect on 1st September. The DCFS has raised the bar and there are now 32 judgements that the 5 inspectors had to make about the school.
I can tell you that the inspection was rigorous, fair and exhaustive. I am very happy with the provisional judgement which reflects very well on the school. I hope that when the report comes out the wording reflects how ‘blown away’ inspectors were by many features of the school. The report should be available within 3 weeks.
Finally, can I thank all the students who conducted themselves magnificently over the two days and showed their pride in their school. The inspectors were very impressed with them all as I am every day.
School Meals
Since we introduced the cashless system for school meals two years ago, there has been an increase in the number of students taking a free school meal (FSM) in years 7 and 8. This is really encouraging and I think it may be down to the fact that no one knows who is entitled to a FSM and who is not. A student whose account is topped up by her parents on line pays using the ‘finger reader’. A student whose account is topped up by Cheshire East pays using the finger reader. They can’t be told apart and for this reason I think more students are taking their entitlement to a FSM.
Have your parents circumstances changed? Do you think you might be entitled to a FSM? If so you, or your parents, can discuss it in confidence by telephoning the Free School Meals Team at Cheshire East on 01625 374777.
2009 exam results – the headlines:
81% gain 5 A* - C at GCSE…. Over 75% gain 5 A* - C including passes in Maths and English at GCSE…. Nearly 86% of girls achieve 5 A* - C at GCSE….. Some pupils gain GCSE A* grades in Year 9!.... Half the students gain the top A/B grades at A level…. 100% pass rate at A level…. Top A/B grades up by 19% at AS level…. Everyone who wants to go to university gets a place…. Sixth Form numbers rise on the back of excellent results.
This has been an incredible summer of success for Alsager School. We would like to offer our congratulations to all the pupils and staff who worked so hard to achieve results which are so outstanding that it is sometimes difficult to believe that this is a comprehensive school.
Good luck to all those who are going on to higher and further education – we hope you continue to do just as well.
To view further images from Results Day click here.
Morning Form Time
Following consultation with all staff and students we have decided not to change the day pattern for September. Lesson times will remain exactly as now, ie. the day will commence with lesson 1 at 08:40.
buildingfutures
All students will know from the Head's Blog assemblies that the plan for a new building on the mound was in doubt. I can now confirm that Cheshire East is unable to find the money to support this scheme and it will not happen.
But we haven't given up! We have come up with an alternative plan to demolish the music block and build a new music department and drama studio in the space where the music department is now. I will share the plans widely with students when we return in the autumn.
Summer Holiday
Summer Holiday ends for students on Wednesday 2nd of September. Y7 and Y12 will come in at 08:40. All other students will start at 11.10, ie. period 3.
Can I wish everyone an enjoyable summer holiday
Please don’t waste your money!
We are conscious that during the summer holiday parents will be buying new school uniform. We are also aware that students sometimes convince their parents that some items are acceptable when they clearly are not – so please check the uniform list before you buy anything!
Of special note:
Make sure you buy a blazer for your daughter and not the fitted jackets that fashion shops will try to sell you.
Buy leather, or imitation leather shoes – canvas pumps are not practical or acceptable however fashionable.
Please make sure skirt lengths are acceptable and not too short – this is a problem particularly in practical lessons when it can be embarrassing for all concerned!
Puffin Crossing Consultation
The Local Authority (LA) is planning to put a puffin crossing on Sandbach Road North (SRN) close to where the ‘donkey path’ starts. The purpose of the crossing is to increase the safety of students by encouraging them to use the crossing rather than cutting across the corner where Lodge Road meets SRN.
But will it work?
To encourage students to use the crossing the LA is considering putting a path from the school end of the back drive through the Grig and onto the donkey path – see plan. The LA would like to know whether doing so would make it more likely that students would use the crossing.
Do you leave school by the back drive and then go down SRN towards Bank Corner?
If the LA makes a path from the school to the donkey path would this make it more likely that you would use the crossing?
If so, which is the best route for the path?
USA 2009
This year Alsager School will be taking part in an exchange with Chelmsford High, Massachusetts
From Friday 23rd October to Sunday 1st November 2009
The exchange has been booked and will go ahead in October. There are still a few places available and for that reason we are now opening up the exchange to Year 8 students. The current cost estimate is £900 although a subsidy is being sought. If you are interested, further details are available from Mr Black’s office.
Just to whet your appetite – imagine whale watching in Boston Harbour, homestay with an American Family and attend Chelmsford High School, enjoy Boston from the Prudential Tower, the Freedom Trail and Quincy Market, drive the Kanamanangus highway through the White Mountain National Park, cycle around Martha’s Vineyard and the Salt Pond national reserve, plus much more.
Christmas message
Dear Parents,
I know that some families will be facing a worrying time over the next few months as the recession starts to bite. Whatever the future holds for each of you can I recommend the Carol Service at St. Mary’s on Monday 15th at 7pm? The Carol Service is always a wonderful, traditional event and really starts the Christmas season off in just the right way. Whatever your worries I can assure you that you will be taken out of yourself, by this event.
The term has not been without its challenges but there have been many successes too. PINC Thursday afternoons have been a great success with students and staff have enjoyed working with students outside the confines of examination specifications. There have been several notable sporting successes, and it has been great to see the resurgence of music and see so many students taking part in choirs or the orchestra. In fact the school orchestra is now so big it won’t fit on the Hall stage! Those of you who come to the Carol Service or Concert will be able to hear the evidence for yourselves!
Finally, can I thank everyone for their support this year and wish you all a very happy and restful seasonal break.
Cashless System
As many readers will know our caterers have been operating a cashless system from September this year. The system ‘reads’ the blood vessel pattern in a person’s finger to identify them and then cost of their purchase is deducted from their account. The system does not use finger prints.
Inevitably, we have experienced a few teething troubles and the system has gone down a couple of times. We also think there have been a number of benefits including take up of free school meals in year 7.
In year 8 upwards the percentage of students taking free school meals is about 5%. In year 7 the percentage is 11%, i.e. more than double the older year groups. We believe that one of the reasons for this is that students taking free school meals cannot now be identified by other students. They just get their meal the same as everybody else.
This makes me wonder if there are other students in year 8 and above who are entitled to a free school meal but are not taking it. If you think this applies to you or your child, please speak confidentially to Mrs Dougill in the Finance Office or telephone her on 01270 871123.
School Uniform
Dear Parent,
We are experiencing some difficulties with school uniform at the moment and in particular, blazers.
Some girls have persuaded their parents that a black fashion jacket is acceptable. It is not. One of the reasons we have a uniform is that prevents pupils getting into the kind of competition where they “have to have” the right shoes, trousers, tops, etc. This kind of climate creates those who are in and those who are shut out. Ultimately, it is harmful to all and results in great pressure being put on parents to buy particular branded and expensive items.
Please make sure that you son or daughter is wearing the standard school blazer with the school badge. Blazers are available in a range of qualities and prices from many suppliers. A list of some local suppliers can be found on this web site.
Thank you for your help in this matter.
KS3 Tests Abandoned
As I guess most of you will be aware, the government has scrapped KS3 tests for Y9 students. This comes at exactly the right time for Alsager School as Y9 embark on a three year GCSE programme. For our students it means that they will not have to interrupt their studies to take meaningless tests in English, Maths and Science – the core subjects.
It also creates even more time to enrich learning and put back into the curriculum the things that have been lost through the obsession with testing. After half term Y9 will be going PINC on Thursday afternoons and have a choice of activities as follows:
|
|
Particip8 week
This has been our first mini-PINC week of the year (Particip8 week) and we had a fantastic day on Thursday.
We worked with the Royal National Institute for the Deaf and welcomed lots of visitors who could give pupils a grasp of what it’s like to be hearing impaired. And it wasn’t just our children because we were joined by classes from some of our feeder primary schools and Springfields Special School in Crewe with whom we enjoy a special relationship.
Favourite activities included an astonishing signing choir called ‘Dee sign’ who performed a number of moving songs before asking pupils to particip8. Ingle, a beautiful Labrador who is a hearing dog was incredibly popular! His owner, Carl was able to explain how having Ingle had transformed his life.
Pupils learnt finger spelling and passed on their skills to younger children before playing a series of games involving finger spelling. Others listened to talks about the RNIB and the isolated world experienced by deaf people.
Pupil Insurance
As parents will know the school offers a pupil accident insurance scheme through HSBC Insurance Brokers. The annual charge for this is £8.00 including a 65p administration charge. This is a greatly reduced charge which can only be achieved because the school is acting as broker for hundreds of young people.
This year, the number of parents renewing has fallen by up to 30% in some years. This may be for perfectly proper reasons but it may also be because some parents have simply forgotten.
If this applies to you or if you simply want to join the scheme then please phone Alison on 01270 871100 ext 240.
Building Work
The following photos show some of the work that was undertaken in the summer:
School Discipline Policy
At this time of year we always remind pupils and parents about the School Discipline Policy. In particular I want to draw everyone’s attention to the first three overarching rules (see below) that can lead to serious consequences for students who break them.
We believe that the prime purpose of the school is to further learning. To that end, our code of conduct for pupils is designed to keep them safe and secure and to allow them to learn as effectively as possible.
Pupils are expected to adhere to the following overarching rules:
- Everyone must behave in ways that prevent harm coming to others
- Everyone must behave in ways that help learning happen in class
- Everyone must use modern technology appropriately and safely
- Everyone will act politely and with consideration for others at all times
- Everyone will take care of the school and its surroundings
The first three rules are particularly important and pupils and parents should be aware that wilful breaking of these rules will almost certainly lead to exclusion and occasionally permanent exclusion. It is not possible to be exhaustive here but bullying, serious assault, bringing a weapon to school, arson and selling drugs would all contravene the first rule. We also believe that all pupils have the right to learn free from disruptive behaviour and in this school, all pupils can behave appropriately. When they do not it is because they choose to do so. Thirdly, modern technology such as mobile phones, digital cameras, computers and the like must be used appropriately. So called cyber bullying is a particularly vicious form of bullying which in any case contravenes rule one. Computer systems also contain a great deal of confidential information. It is inappropriate for anyone to try to access such information without proper consent.
School Travel Plan
Last year the school undertook an extensive survey and consultation with students about how they came to and left the school. From this research, the Lodge Road area was identified as an area of significant concern. Lodge Road only has one narrow pavement on the school side and students walking along the pavement often spill over onto the road itself. This creates an obvious health and safety issue that the school has been working to address.
Students will have noticed work going on to create a path alongside the Christ Church cemetery northern hedge and east wall. By next week a gate will have been installed into the school fence on Church Road. This will mean that students coming from the Crewe Road direction can come into school without walking up Lodge Road and can instead, take the shorter and safer route up Church Road.
September welcome
September 2008 sees a number of significant changes in the life of the school and its students.
First of all may I welcome our Y7 students. You are the first year group that will be required by law to stay in full time education until you are 17. This doesn’t mean that all of you will stay in Alsager School until then, although we hope that most of you will. Many of you will still want a change at 16 and will leave to take different sorts of courses at our local colleges. In fact, 95% of our existing students already continue in education in one form or another so this change will only affect a few of you.
Y12 (the lower 6th in old terminology) have started their post 16 courses with a newly refurbished learning area. (Look out for photos in due course) I think it looks superb and I hope students will find it a good place to work and achieve their potential. Each student has also been given a wireless mini-notebook. This is all a part of our commitment to give our students the tools and facilities to excel.
As many readers will be aware we have exciting plans to develop a new dining hall, theatre and sixth form teaching centre – buildingfutures@alsagerschool. The developments referred to above don’t mean that we have given up on this project; rather it is the case that we felt we could not leave the development of the sixth form any longer while we wait for local government reorganisation. Once Cheshire East is established, in April 2009, we will be able to engage in discussions with the new authority about our plan. We are confident they will support it!