Newsletters

GHS Connect #33 Monday 12 June

Mia's notes

I hope everyone had a good first week back. Things are hotting up in terms of weather but also events and I wanted to thank everyone for their contribution to the Summer events, whether that be in relation to Year 11 Prom, Year 11 Leavers’ assembly, the huge number of trips and visits being organised or internal events such as International Day.  I am looking forward to all of these events (and more!) and know that they will make a massive difference to all of our students.

Thank you once again to the exams team as we stagger towards the end of a very long exam season.  In a school of our size, running exams in a massive operation, and requires a great deal of skill, organisation, patience and energy. Well done to everyone who is involved.

As Year 11 have now left, and only come onto site for a few drop down sessions and for exams, we will have a bit of a quieter site and will begin a transition to introduce Year 7 onto the main site at break and lunchtime. The move away from the focus on exam lessons will also mean that we can focus on classes that may have had a bit less attention than we would like. The summer is also a great time to try out a few different teaching strategies with classes and embed some of our ABC strategies further, as well as trying out some of the things from the research led CPD.

Have a great week,

Mia

The week ahead

Monday
Normal Day

Tuesday
Department time 3.15pm - 4.30pm

Wednesday
Briefing 8.15am.
HODs and HOYs/DHOYs meetings 3.15pm - 4.15pm.
Teacher marking, planning and collaboration directed time 3.15pm - 4.15pm.

Thursday
Normal Day

Friday
Normal Day

Notes
GCSE and A Level Exams - All week

Learning and teaching: Spotted!

A round up of some of the great learning and teaching strategies we’ve noticed being used around school recently...  

New Opportunities at GHS

As is normal at this time of year, a number of new TLR and Leadership opportunities have become available. These may increase, if people with existing responsibilities apply for new TLRs and then resign from current positions, and there may also be additional opportunities that arise as a result of new school priorities. At the moment, we have opportunities advertised in the following areas:

AHT x 2
Head of Geography
Head of Chemistry
Deputy Head of English

We will also shortly be advertising opportunities in these areas:
Literacy / Oracy
PSHCE
DHOYs
Some subject TLRs

Other opportunities as the need arises.

Please look out for info on the VLE.

Bullying Strategy Update

Every term I report to our Governing Body on key statistics from Behaviour and Inclusion, and one of the positives I was able to talk to them about at the last meeting was the impact the Bullying Strategy is having. As the year has gone on, we have seen a decrease in the number of recorded incidents for homophobia, racism and sexism and very low for those recorded for bullying on social media. And, although the figures remain high for name-calling, there has also been a decline in repeated bullying, which might suggest that conversations had around how we speak to each other, and the Bullying Workshops are having an impact.

Thank you to everyone for your hard work in recording those incidents that you witness, the numerous restorative conversations and reminders of pro-social and respectful behaviours that you will have on a daily basis, and for supporting the strategy!

Lou

Inclusion Heroes

This week’s Inclusion Hero goes to Malakh Ellington for all the hard work she has done in getting the second Girls’ Group off the ground, working on the branding of The Inspire Centre, circulating impressive data on the number of students the team have worked with and being unfailingly cheerful! Thank you, Malakh, for all that you do.

Lou

Bright Spots

This week’s bright spots are for Manpreet Jass, Hardeep Brar and Reena Bharadva and have been nominated by Adam Bush.

Manpreet has been nominated for updating the KS4 curriculum area on the GHS website to a tight deadline – flawless professionalism! 

Hardeep Brar and Reena Bharavda have been nominated for their hard work in securing a successful NCFE audit report during their visit.  Thank you and well done to all!