Newsletter October 2007

This issue

Welcome to the October 2007 edition of Saint Paul's Academy's newsletter!

In this issue:

• Fantastic results
• Success after success
• Enthusiastic staff help achieve good SATs results
• Every year more students would like to study at Saint Paul's Academy
• Moving on
• Linking with schools overseas
• Post 16 options
• Shorter days
• Term and holiday dates 2007/2008
• Important dates
• Breaking news
• From our football correspondent

Dear Parents and Guardians

“Our students achieved the best GCSE results in Greenwich. Well done to you all, a great result.”

Principal, Patrick Winston

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Fantastic results

It is always pleasant to return to school at the beginning of September and see staff looking relaxed and well. This year, however, was even better than usual because of the fantastic results achieved by students in years 11, 10, 9 and 8. As you will probably be aware by now, Saint Paul’s Academy achieved the best GCSE results in Greenwich with 82% of students achieving five or more A* - C grades. The good news did not stop there, however, 16% of entries achieved A* and A grades, and 61% of students achieved 10 or more A*- C grades. Another very pleasing improvement was the number of students who achieved at least a C in both maths and English; this number went from 39% in 2006 to 51% in 2007. 12% is a very significant rise and we are confident that this figure will be even higher next year.

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Success after success

I am delighted to be able to tell you that students who were entered early for GCSE performed very well; 61 Year 10 students gained a C or above in GCSE RE and of these 25 students achieved an A* or A. This year these students will take a GCSE course in Philosophy and Ethics giving them an additional qualification at the end of Year 11. A number of other students have also banked very good module grades in English and science which means that the pressure on them this year is further reduced and that they have the flexibility to move outside the traditional curriculum. This demonstrates quite clearly that our policy of entering students for examinations when they are ready rather than automatically at the end of Year 11 is the right one; many Year 10 students were amazed by their results and have returned to school with new confidence and enthusiasm.

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Enthusiastic staff help achieve good SATs results

We were extremely pleased with our SATs results which reflect high levels of progress at Key Stage 3. These again were taken when students were ready rather than automatically at the end of Year 9 and again, many students, and indeed their parents and carers, have been delighted by the results. Even though some students were entered for SATs early we have still met or exceeded nearly all the targets set for us by the LEA. 

“This is a considerable achievement and one which would not have been possible without the commitment and energy of the staff. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all, both teaching and non teaching, for their tremendous hard work and loyalty to Saint Paul’s Academy. Without this, we would not be in the position we are in today.”

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Every year more students would like to study at Saint Paul’s Academy

On Saturday, 29th September, we werevery pleased to welcome prospective students and their families to our annual Open Day. As usual, we were over whelmed by the number of families from the local area and the wider Catholic community who are interested in sending their sons and daughters to Saint Paul’s. This year, over eight hundred people visited our school which reflects an increase of over fifty percent on last year. Sadly, we will not be able to take all those who apply but we look forward to our new building and the time when we will be able to increase our intake to 240. In the meantime, we are using every bit of space we have, including the two new temporary classrooms, to full capacity.

In fact, the DCSF recommends that classes are only used 85% of the time so that teachers can prepare lessons and displays and resources can be organised; at the moment, at Saint Paul’s we are using some rooms 100% of the time. Obviously, this has implications for staff who have limited working space and who only have access to rooms before and after school. The new classrooms come as a welcome addition as far as the accommodation situation is concerned but unfortunately they have eaten away yet more of our very limited playground space. This means that students who wish to go outside during their lunch time now have to go into the back playground where the noise can be quite intrusive to the lessons which are going on in English and maths. Obviously, the further reduction in playground space also has consequences for the PE department who have yet again had to plan their lessons around building works.

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Moving on

As I write, I have little to report on the new building apart from the fact that the proposal goes to tender in November which means that by this point the final decisions about the building need to be made. Our objective is to stay within our budget without compromising the educational principles behind the new building. I am confident that, with the support of the Diocese, the governors and other stake holders, this objective is achievable.

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Linking with schools overseas

On a more positive note, at Saint Paul’s Academy we are very aware that we are part of a global society and that modern technology allows international communication to happen in ways that previous generations could only have dreamed of. We have connections with schools in other countries but we are looking to build stronger links so that we can learn more about other cultures and break down prejudices and barriers. To this end, Ms Wheeler and Mrs Gallagher, the Vice Principals, went to the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust International conference in Beijing in September and Mr McCann and Mr Bradley represented the school at an international sports conference in Johannesburg in October. Both these conferences were extremely useful and hopefully in years to come, staff and students will build links with other countries and undertake international exchanges.

We are also very aware that we need to be thinking of the world not only outside England but also outside Europe and America, particularly as international economic power shifts back to China and India.

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Post 16 options

Throughout this half term, I have been very impressed by the way the vast majority of students have settled down to serious work in every lesson. I am in the process of interviewing every Year 11 students and almost without exception they have a very clear understanding of what they can achieve next summer and also of exactly what they need to do to fulfil their ambition. This term Christ the King sixth Form College, Saint Luke’s Sixth Form College and G Plus have all given presentations to Year 11 and invited them to their open days. I hope students will take up these invitations as well as those issued by other institutions, so that they and their parents and carers are aware of all the options available at post 16.

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Shorter days

When we return after half term the days will be getting much shorter and I would like to remind you of our expectations of students as they travel to and from school. Sadly, we have recently experienced an increase in crime in the local area and therefore we strongly advise students to come directly to school in the mornings and to return directly home as soon as they leave in the evenings.

Waiting for friends on street corners is not a good idea, especially when it is cold and dark, however, student are very welcome in school from 7.30am to 5pm so there should be no need for groups of students to congregate in the neighbourhood. I would also like to remind you that students should be in full school uniform travelling to and from school; hoodies are not allowed at any time as the image they portray is completely at odds with all that the school stands for. 

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Term and holiday dates 2007/2008

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Important dates

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Breaking news

The Netball Teams have made a very successful start to the new season. Full details will be available in the next Newsletter.

The U14 Gaelic Football Team has been crowned Great Britain Champions following their 4 – 11 (23pts) to 2 – 01 (7pts) victory over Saint Brendan’s, Lancashire.

The U12 Gaelic Football Team has been crowned London League Champions following their 6 – 08 (26pts) to 1 – 04 (7pts) victory over Saint Kiernan’s. 

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Playing record 2007/2008

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From our football correspondent

The First Chapter . . . .

Football teams throughout the school have taken part in a number of fixtures including the National Cup and the Kent Cup. The complete set of results to date is:

Year 7

Goalscorers: B. Owusu-Ansah 6, O. Isichei 5, W. Orimolusi 5, B. Anidugbe 1, B. Holdsworth 1, C. Normahoned 1.

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Year 8

Goalscorers: N. Eka 5, D. Conteh 5, K. Makinde 2, J. Olufade 1, C. Shiel 1, J. Keating 1, C. Dunleavy 1, H. Hill 1, K. Okogwu 1, Own Goal 1.

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Year 9

Goalscorers: O. Odebunmi 5, A. Bridge 3. G. Inkulu 3, N. Eka 2, A. Wright 1, S. Lingwood 1, L. Obembe 1, L. Akanni 1, M. Brobbey 1, Own Goal 1.

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Year 10

Goalscorers: J. Gillespie 3, M. Kolawole 3, J. McGilly 3, M. Fabiyi 3, L. Hubbard 1, O. Akande 1.

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Year 11

Goalscorers: D. Isichei 1, J. Higgins-Page 1.

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Girls tournaments Year 7 to 11

Goalscorers: V. Asare 5, A. Offe 3, T. Murphy 2, C. Swain 1, L. Smith 1, H. Goodes 1, D. Mbang 1, R. Kayode 1.

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