Dear parents, guardians and friends
How else might I start but to mention that it is show week? Months of rehearsals, planning and producing have led to this week’s shows which will be well underway by the time you read this. Year 7 enjoyed a matinee performance on Monday – a first time watching a full musical production for many. Wednesday and Thursday night are sold out but, if you’ve missed your chance, do read next week’s blog for a full review. “Break a leg” and well done to all involved.
Speaking of polished performances, some of our Year 9 students have been working towards the annual Magistrates Mock Trial competition. Mrs Smith has been coaching our legal eagles who participated in a heat at Reading Magistrates’ Court. Our team gave a very good account of themselves, but sadly on this occasion did not progress to the next round.
Thanks go to Mrs Smith for organising this event!
I am fortunate to line manage our Technology Department. Mr Turner and the team have been supporting Y11 and Y13 students over many months as they have designed and made finished products for their non-examination assessment (NEAs). Last Thursday saw an exhibition of these pieces from the disciplines of product design, graphics and textiles. So much work from staff and students had gone into the evening, and the rooms were thronged with parents and other visitors.
In order to complete their projects, students collected feedback on the night which will help them to evaluate their work up to this point and suggest further improvements. You may have heard your daughter talk about this “iterative design process”.
We can’t show you pictures of this year’s exam pieces as they are now under wraps until results day, but here are some pictures from last year’s exhibition to give you a flavour.
Our PE Department is as busy as ever. On Tuesday this week, they took a team of KS3 students to participate in a Panathlon event at Bisham Abbey. This included many girls who don’t always get to represent the school in our sports teams
On Friday, the department will be taking 60 netballers to PGL for a weekend of sport and other activities. We are grateful to staff for giving up their time.
Our presentation assemblies will be taking place over the next week in which we look to celebrate students’ achievements and contributions to the school over the past term. Do ask your daughter if there is something for which she would like to be recognised and encourage her to persevere in her efforts.
Y11 and Y13 have just completed their last round of PPEs (barring English for Y11). We hope that we have managed to replicate the experience they will undertake in the summer with all its strains, stresses, frustrations and successes. We commend them for their hard work. It will all be worth it!
Ben Adams
Assistant Headteacher