April 2009 - Ulverston Victoria High School

Ulverston Victoria High School
April 2009
NEWSLETTER
UVHS Celebrates Being Out of Special Measures!
Mr Fay writes...............
Well it only seems a few moments ago that I
joined UVHS on loan! Believe it or not it is
over twelve months since I first walked
through the door into your world.
What a year it
has been! I
have really
enjoyed
working with
such
a
determined
staff team, a
first
class
leadership
team and, of
course, your children. They have been brilliant.
You tell me you have noticed lots of
improvements in the school and that was
finally recognised by Ofsted when the school
was taken out of Special Measures on 11th
March 2009. When you read the report,
which is on our web site, there are lots of
“goods” within and the comment on
satisfactory progress is based on the
achievement in value added which was low
in comparison to the school’s potential. We
have taken a lot of steps to improve that
weakness and we know that they will come
into fruition. Ofsted agreed!
Yet whilst we can celebrate beating the great
challenge of Ofsted Special Measures we
can’t be complacent. Really we are just
returning to normality and getting back onto
the path of being a good and then
outstanding school. Being satisfactory is not
an accolade I seek. Outstanding is the only
measure with which I feel comfortable.
Hang onto your hats!
Library News
We have a wonderful Library at UVHS which
many of you will have seen at Open Day or
Parents’ Evenings. We would like to give you
the opportunity to see the Library during the
School day, to loan books on a parents’ ticket
and to volunteer to help in the Library. We
shall be in touch with more details about this
soon.
We are planning to run a series of informal 30
minute careers sessions in the Library at
lunchtimes; each session to be given by
people representing their profession. Please
contact Mrs Holman, School Librarian if you
are able to offer your services! Thank you.
Talented Students Jump on the “Carousel”!
On Saturday 28th February, the curtain came down, to rapturous applause, on
the last night of a four night run of this year’s school production : “Carousel”.
This popular show, by the famous Rodgers and Hammerstein, had been
directed and produced by Miss Hicks, Head of Drama as an extra-curricular
activity for keen Drama students from Year 7 to Year 13.
Leading ladies Laura and Leanne (both Year 13) both gave winning
performances as
did Lewis as the
comedic
“Mr
Snow” and Robert
as carnival boy
“Billy Bigelow”. The
boys chorus gave
an awe-inspiring
display
of
athleticism
and
circus skills and
the lively girls’
dance chorus sent
audiences away
singing “June is
bustin’ out all over!”
The picture above
shows Dan as
Jigger Craigin and
Laura as Carrie
Pipperedge.
Mr Butler’s stage
band, led by
Hannah,
was
excellent as ever
(and
if
the
audience looked
carefully,
Mrs
Heginbotham
could be seen on
her flute!).
Lighting and sound were provided by Year 10 students, Lucy and Hannah. The
beautiful costumes had been made and fitted by parent helper Mrs Bellman,
while Miss Thomason and her stage crew ensured set changes went smoothly
backstage.
Miss Hicks said “I am incredibly proud of each and every one of the talented
cast and band. They have worked so hard to make this such a successful
production............ I would like to thank all the staff, students, parents and friends
who have helped in any way.”
If any students would like to take part in next year’s production, Miss Hicks and
Mr Butler will be holding auditions in September........... watch this space!
History Students Visit Poland
Thirty five pupils from Years 12 & 13 had a fantastic trip to
Poland just before February half-term. We flew to Krakow
which we all decided was a very beautiful city – a very historic
city full of gorgeous buildings, lovely people and amazing sites.
The pupils really enjoyed the free time they had there, exploring
the city, shops and wonderful hot chocolate cafes! We also
visited the Wielickza
Salt
Mine,
a
UNESCO
World
Heritage Site which
was
extremely
impressive – huge,
deep
chambers
with
everything
made
of
salt,
including
floors,
statues,
carvings
and even chandeliers.
Our
guides
encouraged
the
pupils to lick the walls
just to check it was
pure salt and it
definitely
was!
Another highlight of
the trip was the
wonderful evening
spent in a Jewish
restaurant listening
(and dancing) to traditional Jewish Kletzmer music which was
a real experience and much fun was had by all.
Without doubt though the most moving and memorable part of
the week was the visit to the largest
and most notorious Nazi extermination camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The pupils have described it since
as a “life changing day”; “an incredible experience” and “something I
will never forget”. It is difficult to
describe in words the enormity and
huge
sadness of
the
place.
The students will have memories of it for
a very long time to come.
The trip was a huge success and
a very memorable experience.
Many thanks again to all the parents for their support. A more
detailed account and some more
photos can be seen on the school
web site.
A Special Thanks to the Governors
When the school went into Special Measures it was a very
traumatic time in the lives of our governors. Julie Wilkinson, our
Chair of Governors, and her team are all volunteers and they
could have opted out of the challenge and left their posts.
However, they are made of sterner stuff.
Building on their experience in the past
and learning new skills they have been a
vital support to the improvement process
at UVHS. I would like to thank them for
their support and allowing me to lead their
school. Mr Fay.
Valuing Learning!
I hope you like our new merit system which shows the
students how much the school values learning and
celebrates it.
Now we have also introduced an Attitude to Learning (ATL)
League which is a competition for all year groups in the 11-16
school based on how the students have performed in their
Progress Reviews and Reports. The form group’s average ATL
is its score. The first
winners, at the time
of writing, for the
spring term are 7.6,
8.1, 10.5 and 11.6.
There will be an
overall winner at
the end of the year.
There is nothing
wrong with healthy
competition!
Also
we
have
introduced Lead Learner status for those students in a year
group (initially in the lower school) who achieve all “ones” in
their ATL’s. Our first winners in Year 7 (pictured above with Mr
Fay) are Bethany, Hannah, Millie, Lorna and Freya.
Congratulations to them! (but where are the boys?)
Each term will have a different colour badge so it will be
obvious who has achieved Lead Learner status throughout the
year.
There will be Lead Learners in other years and “Achievers of
the Term”. Our improvement journey continues.
Calling all Cyclists!
A sponsored mountain bike race is being organised for
Sunday 26th April to raise funds for the Physical Education
Department. It will be a 6 hour team event taking place from
10am - 4pm on the school grounds.
I have had some queries from parents asking if they could
enter a team, and I thought “why not!”
If you think you could be up to it and know three friends who
would also be keen, please let me know and I will arrange for
an entry form to be sent to you.
If perhaps you don’t feel like exerting yourself that much, but
do feel that you could help out on the day, again please let
me know. I can be contacted through school.
Thank you : Mr A Pierce : PE Department
Thank you!
A very big thank you from all at UVHS to the:
LA Learning Consultants: Ms Thompson, Ms Scott and Ms Todd.
The South Lakes Federation: Mr Houghton and Mr Wilkinson.
The Barrow Excellence Cluster Partnership: Ms Buxton, Ms Wall
and Mr Wood.
Various colleagues from various schools: Hodgson High
School in Poulton Le Fylde and Dowdales School.
All were a great support in helping UVHS come out of Special
Measures.
I would personally like to thank Mrs Moffatt, the Headteacher
at Dowdales, as she has allowed me to work with Ulverston
Victoria High School and on four occasions extended my
secondment. Ulverston Victoria is the third school which has
been supported at leadership and management level by
Dowdales during special measures. It takes a visionary and
principled Headteacher to be prepared to make that
commitment to others without any gain to her school.
Mr Fay.
Fashion Show Meets ABBA!
Year 7’s in County Cup Rugby Final
The school hall was transformed on 6th March as, once again, Congratulations to Year 7 rugby for being runners up in the
the Textile students at UVHS were strutting their stuff on the County Cup Final.
catwalk at the annual fashion show. As ever the event was a In the semi-final
sell out with tickets selling out they defeated Nethwithin 24 hours of going on sale! erall from Maryport
The theme for the show this year 22-8. In the final
was the fashions and music of they came across a
Abba, the inspiration coming very strong team in
from the film Mama Mia. There St. Benedict’s of
and
was lots of glitter and glam with Whitehaven
students modelling garments lost 34-0. A very
good performance
they
where the boys never gave up. We are very proud of they way
had made at family learning
they played.
sessions.
Students from Year 10 upwards
modelled garments that they had
made during the year as part of
March is a busy time for the History department with two
their coursework. Garments ranged
significant events taking place. The first is the Year 10 visit to
from the elegant to the outrageous
the Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds, next to St. James’
but all of them stunning. Proceedhospital, on Monday March 23rd. This is to support the GCSE
ings were rounded off with a pupils in their study of the History of Medicine through Time and
performance by UVHS’ very pupils will have a chance to experience a very smelly street
own Abba tribute band, com- scene in 19th Century Leeds, as well as displays and videos on
prising of Mr Fay, Mr Cubiss, surgery, anatomy and disease.
Mrs Birch and Mrs Desbottes, The second event coming up is the Holocaust Day for Year 9
doing something funny for pupils on Monday March 30th. This is a day when all Year 9
money.
pupils will hear accounts of what happened to Jewish families
The evening was again a runa- in the Holocaust as well as having the opportunity to listen to
way success and students are a survivor from an extermination camp tell his story and answer
already talking about what the pupils’ questions. This is a very moving event and as the
they are going to do for the fashion show for next year!
years pass, the chance to meet and listen to a survivor is
becoming an increasingly rare one. As well as Year 9 pupils,
the Year 12 and 13 historians will also be attending this day, to
deepen their understanding of the Holocaust which they study
Congratulations to Liam (pictured right)
at A2.
who has just signed professional terms
with Blackpool FC on a 2 year contract.
A thoroughly deserved achievement
through lots of hard work and
The Physical Education department is collecting Tesco vouchers
commitment. We wish him every luck
to put towards the purchasing of new equipment.
and success in the future.
Any donations of vouchers will be gratefully received and can
History Students Visit Thackray
Shoot to Fame!
Tesco Vouchers
be left at UVHS Reception.
Work Related Learning : Students Learn Firefighting Skills and Visit Expro
All Year 10 students carried out their work
placements as part of Work Experience
Week from 9th to 13th March. ASDAN
students and the Society Health and
Development Diploma students are
required to do two placements and have
already embarked on this learning
experience.
The ASDAN group in Year 10 are
completing the Young Firefighters award
as part of their course.
They have
attended seven sessions at Ulverston Fire
Station on a Thursday afternoon.
The Year 10 vocational studies students
have been busy improving areas of the
school, preparing the verges for planting.
Our Victoria Outreach students are
successfully developing their WRL skills
through work placements.
The students in Year 11 who are interested
in an apprenticeship have undertaken
training with Mr Ridyard from Connexions.
We have extra application forms available
from Woodgarth office as well as the web
address for BAE Systems aptitude test.
Interested students from Year 11 went on
an apprenticeship awareness day to
Expro (formerly Tronic). 16 students
attended over two days. The largest
number we have ever taken. After initial
introductions, Brian McKinley discussed
the work and showed examples of the
very expensive undersea
connectors that the students, if
successful applicants for apprenticeships,
would be producing and working on.
They completed various practical tasks
including the 3 metre egg drop.
Year 8 and Year 12 Visit Normandy
52 Year 8 students and five Year 12 students have just completed a week-long intensive language visit to Normandy,
accompanied by six members of staff.
We set off early and bleary-eyed at 6 am on Sunday 1st March but this was nothing compared to the exhaustion felt on our
return the following Saturday at 3.30 am!
It's hard work speaking French all week and learning how to make bread, fence and climb at the same time, but everyone got
on well together and with our animateur, Martin.
The visit linked in well with the Key Stage 3 History and Biology curriculum as we visited the Bayeux Tapestry, Mont St Michel
and a cidrerie where we learned about fermentation.
Students enjoyed a French soirée where they appeared in many disguises and sampled the French delicacy of escargots (snails
- Ugh!) In the evenings we enjoyed initiative exercises, games and a quiz in French culminating in an awards ceremony.
Each student had a journal to complete which often involved asking questions of local shopkeepers. Being thrown in at the
deep end meant that everyone made great progress in their French and increased in confidence.
The 6th Form had a different programme which involved visits to the court, fire station and market to interview local residents
and lots of individual speaking practice with their French animatrice, Amélie, as well as visits to a crêperie, and une soirée du
vin et du fromage.
School Uniform
Our school uniform is vastly improved. Your children look great!
I still need more support on plain coats, though!
Sorry to keep harping on and I know the situation is a lot better
but it isn’t outstanding.
I will introduce a preferred coat idea soon but not a compulsory
one which, perhaps, might help the problem.
Year 5 Taster Week
Over 220 local Year 5 students experienced their first taste of
life at a secondary school during the week of March 9th. Nine
of our feeder schools sent their Year 5 classes to UVHS and
they followed a full day’s timetable as well as sampling school
dinners, which seemed to go down very well!
In science, which was very popular, some students carried out
varied experiments, either incinerating jelly-babies, burning
different metals or investigating cell formation. In Technology,
some of the classes made their own Perspex photo frames to
take home whereas others helped make some pizzas, carried
out taste tests and also discussed fashion design whilst watching excerpts from the Department’s highly successful Fashion
Show the previous week. Other practical sessions included
mime workshops in Drama, performing a mini-concert in Music,
art work influenced by Vincent van Gogh and team sports in PE.
In other lessons students enjoyed a variety of activities from
designing geometric shapes in maths and creating poetry in
English to joining in a philosophical discussion in BPE.
Comments from Year 5 students have been fantastic, including
“the best day ever spent in a school” and “can we miss out Year
6 and come to UVHS now?” This is the first of many visits we
hope to be leading and we look forward to seeing all of the
pupils both in their school and at UVHS over the next 18
months and eventually welcoming them into the UVHS community in September 2011.
Many thanks go out to all the teachers who delivered such
inspiring lessons as well as all the Year 7 and Sixth Form
students who acted as mentors and teaching assistants
throughout the week.
Work Experience
Year 10 students have just completed their Work Experience
week. This is a daunting prospect for many students and with
few exceptions all rose to the challenge. Work experience
allows students to experience different aspects of a job and the
skills required for the world of work.. This was a great
opportunity for Year 10
students to spend a period
of time outside the
classroom, learning about
a particular job or area of
work..
Students chose to visit a
range of work places, from
haulage hire firms to
veterinary practices to
retail shops to mention
but a few.
The pictures show Lori at
Duddon
Hire
and
Haulage (above) and
Megan at R&T Music
(right).
Many thanks to all the
local employers who
assisted us, without their help we wouldn’t be able to offer this
experience to our students.
Cross Country Championships
Congratulations to Ellie, Tom, Kim and Jenny who have all been
selected to represent the county cross country team at the
forthcoming national cross country championships in
Loughborough. All finished in the top 10 in their county races.
Also congratulations to Rebecca, Jemma and Mari from the sixth
form who are reserves for their county team. We wish them
every luck in their races.