Newsletter December 2006

This issue

Welcome to the December 2006 edition of Saint Paul's Academy's newsletter!

In this issue:

• Another successful term
• Complimentary Ofsted
• Focusing on justice
• The true meaning of Christmas
• Helping others
• Year 11
• Year 10
• Years 8 and 9
• Year 7
• Raising literacy standards
• Something for everyone
• Important dates
• Netball news
• From our football correspondent

Dear Parents and Guardians

“It is now only a matter of days before Christmas and I hope that we can all celebrate the birth of Jesus as God amongst us in peace. I hope that all members of the Saint Paul's community enjoy the festivities and make the most of a well deserved break. I wish you all a joyful Christmas and look forward to 2007 being another successful year.”

Patrick Winston, Principal

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Another successful term

As we approach the end of the calendar year and the Feast of Christmas we can look back on a very successful term during which Her Majesty's Inspectors and the deputy director of Ofsted have confirmed that as an Academy we are making very good progress. You will be aware that there is very little notice given now before an inspection unlike in the past when we were given several months to prepare.

At Saint Paul's we think the new system is much fairer because we believe that inspectors should see a school as it really is with all the usual activities taking place. In our case, the inspectors liked what they saw very much whilst fully appreciating the severe limitations of our accommodation.

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Complimentary Ofsted

Many features of our school were highlighted by the team. We were told that, This is a very inclusive school; staff provide challenge, care and guidance to all. Our public examination results at Key Stages 3 and 4 represent good progress for all pupils while individual progress is tracked very carefully and personal targets are set for all pupils to achieve.

The team was also extremely complimentary about the ethos of the Academy; our students see their school as a safe environment where mutual respect is evident and there is little harassment in any form because it is promptly and effectively addressed. We were also very pleased that the inspectors recognised that, Senior staff take a strong lead in developing initiative for a safe and happy establishment.

Obviously, we are delighted by this report as it not only supports the views of many other people who regularly assess what we are doing, but also confirms our own judgements. Self evaluation, which involves every aspect of school life, is very important because if it is accurate it clearly demonstrates that we know our students and that we know what we have to do to move them forward.

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Focusing on justice

One way of developing the ethos of the Academy is through the spiritual and liturgical life of the school, and the theme we have chosen for the rest of this academic year is 'The Harvest of Justice'. By this we mean that we see justice in all its different forms as fundamental to human dignity and that we are actively seeking to ensure that justice prevails in all aspects of our lives. Through this theme, we also hope to raise awareness of unjust situations beyond our own community and, where possible, bring about change.

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The true meaning of Christmas

We have also, as a school, joined Cafod's 'Live Simply' campaign where again the focus is on justice. This is particularly relevant as we approach the Christmas season when it is particularly easy to be side tracked by consumerism. At our Carol Service, which we held earlier than usual this year, we focused on the true meaning of Christmas as we move from the waiting of Advent to the joy of Christ's birth on earth. As is traditional at the Carol service we also involved the wider community by presenting cheques to support the work of Sister Ann in Kenya and the Greenwich and Bexley Hospice.

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Helping others

You will by now be very familiar with the work of Sister Anne because we have been helping to provide resources for her school and students for some time now; we are extremely proud to be involved with this project and look forward to continuing and developing the relationship.

Most of you will also be familiar with the work of the Greenwich and Bexley Hospice, which provides care not only for the terminally ill but also for their families and carers. Inevitably, most of us will have some contact with the hospice movement at some point in our lives. Although this is something most people do not like to think about, it is a facility that they are very grateful for when the need arises. As always, I know you will support our efforts with generosity.

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Year 11

Of course, alongside these events, the day to day running of the school continues as usual. As I write, Year 11 students are completing their mock examinations. In many subjects now, coursework has been completed and so, from January, preparation for the terminal examinations will begin in earnest. At the moment, having interviewed all Year 11 students myself, I am very impressed with their efforts and commitment. I am sure that this will continue and that when I interview them again next term they will have made significant progress towards achieving their targets.

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Year 10

Year 10 students on the whole are also working very well and have settled down to their GCSE studies. They have accepted the challenge of the new ICT courses they are following and have realised that not only will this give them an additional qualification but that it will also enhance their performance in other areas.

Year 9 have also started their GCSE courses and are enjoying the challenges of a Key Stage 4 curriculum which has allowed them to make their option choices a year earlier than usual. In many subject areas, this will mean that for some students, Year 11 courses will be modified to take into account the fact that GCSEs have been taken in Year 10. We are currently reviewing our complete Key Stage 4 provision in the light of the new 14 - 19 vocational courses and the offer to Year 11 students, and particularly the most able, will be an important part of this review.

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Years 8 and 9

In Year 8 there is a significant number of students doing their SATs this year and, like the Year 9 students taking these examinations, they will be doing practice papers over the coming weeks. I am impressed by the level of commitment being shown by the Year 8 students who are taking their SATs and indeed by the majority of the year group.

However, we still have grave concerns about a group of Year 8, and indeed Year 9, students who do not seem willing to abide by the rules of our school. This small minority seems intent on disrupting the wellbeing of the majority and obviously this is a situation we cannot tolerate. Some parents have already met with myself and other senior staff and more will be contacted in the new year so that these issues can be addressed on a personal basis.

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Year 7

At the end of November and beginning of December, the vice principals, Miss Wheeler and Mrs Gallagher, and I interviewed all Year 7 students along with their parents or carers and form tutors. The staff felt that this was a very constructive use of our time because not only did it give us a chance to meet parents and carers but it also gave us a chance to congratulate the vast majority of Year 7 students who have made an excellent start to their time at Saint Paul's.

Of course, there were some students who have not found the transition to secondary school straightforward and the interviews also gave us a chance to look at how we could improve situations for individual students.

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Raising literacy standards

One of the main problems that students encounter when they start secondary school is the complexity of the timetable. In primary school, students are with their class teacher in the same room for most of the week but this is not the case in secondary school, and it sometimes takes students a while to get used to the different systems.

This problem is made even worse if the student does not find it easy to access the curriculum because of literacy problems and for this reason, I am very pleased that Mr Hinchliffe and his team in English and Communications are now running reading and writing groups in Years 7 and 8, where the focus is very firmly on raising standards of literacy. The impact of these sessions is already being felt both by students and teachers.

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Something for everyone

There have also, as usual, been a large number of extra curricular activities taking place this term; many students have been on theatre trips and a group Year 8 and 9 students are rehearsing to take part in 'Much Ado About Nothing' at the Catford Broadway Theatre in February. A large number of students took part in the Christmas Music Concert and also in 'Speakers' Bank', a public speaking competition.

My thanks, as always, go to all the staff who give so much of their own time in order to allow these activities to take place; without their generosity our students would miss a wealth of opportunities.

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Important dates

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Netball news

The Year 8, 9 and Senior Squads have also started their season with promising performances against Westwood, Charles Darwin, Darrick Wood Schools respectively. A special mention must be made of the Year 8 team's spectacular win under the captaincy of Devona Townsend (8PJM).

All teams now are in full training every Wednesday so that we can hit our forthcoming oppositions with a bang! All teams also have at least one fixture each in the next fortnight so watch this space for more netballing success...

We are also pleased to have organised a Netball Club Christmas outing to The Broadway Theatre, Catford, to see 'Cinderella' which will take place during the last week of term

And finally, a Saint Paul's Netball Kit is now in the making! With light blue skorts (shorts with skirts) and Netball tops we'll be sure to look the part in the new term!.

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From our football correspondent

Football teams throughout the school have taken part in a number of fixtures including the Kent Cup, District Cup and National Cup.

The complete set of results to date is:

Year 7

Goalscorers:N. Eka 18, JC. Hines 8, C. Shiel 7, K. Jacob 6, U. Akpotabore 5, J. Olufade 3, D. Conteh 3, O. Ejaria 2, A. Bayeto 2, K. Akandel 1, K. Okogwu 1, Own Goal 1.

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Year 8

Goalscorers:L. Obembe 9, O. Odebunmi 9, A. Wright 6, T. Nihill 3, L. Akanni 3, G. Inkulu 2, L. Corps 1, J. Driscoll 1, A. Swain 1, A. Bridge 1.

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Year 9

Goalscorers: J. Baptiste 8, J. Gillespie 4, O. Odebunmi 3, M. Kolawole 2, J. Redfern 2, J. McGilly 2, L. Hubbard 2, M. Fabiyi 2, J. Meade 1, O. Akande 1, A. Wright 1, D. Mbang 1.

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Year 10

Goalscorers:D. Isichei, J. Bingham 2, J. Higgins-Page 1, P.Barry 1.

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Year 11

Goalscorers: D. Isichei 4.

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Girls tournaments Year 7 to 11

Goalscorers: L. Trieu 3, T. Adeagbo 1, O. Olare 1, G. Bruno 1, A. Ngwana 1, B. Jones 1, M. Kersnauskaite 1.

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Playing record 2008/2009

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