The new Academic Year
You may recall from 'Contact' at the start of this academic year that I advised a change that would be made so that the academic year would start in June rather than September. Commencing this week, year 7 became year 8, year 8 became year 9 and so on. For the benefit of new parents the reasons for the change are repeated below.

• It will increase the amount of time available for GCSE courses at KS4 by one term and it will facilitate the use of the summer holiday in year 10 for coursework.

• This is in response to our recognition that many students struggle with the amount of coursework that they have to undertake in KS4.

• It should increase student motivation this term, when traditionally there is a feeling that we are winding down. This will be particularly beneficial for year 9, following SATs, who can embark on their GCSE courses.

• It should accelerate learning at all levels. It will be beneficial for the most able and the talented and gifted because they will be moving on to new and more demanding topics earlier.
ACADEMIC YEAR 2007/8

Mon 27th Aug 2007 August Bank holiday

Thurs 30th Aug Teacher training day

Fri 31st Aug Teacher training day

Term 1

Mon 3 Sept Students return

Fri 19 Oct Students break up (Term 1 ends)

Term 2

Mon 5 Nov Students return

Fri 21 Dec Students break up

Term 3

Thurs 3 Jan 2008 Students return

Fri 15 Feb Students break up

Term 4

Mon 25 Feb Students return

Fri 21st March Bank holiday (Good Friday)

Mon 24th March Bank holiday (Easter Monday)

Thur 3 April Students break up

Fri 4 April Teacher Training Day

Term 5

Mon 21 April Students return

Mon 5 May Bank holiday

Fri 23 May Students break up

Term 6

Mon 2 June Teacher training day

Tues 3 June Schools open

Tues 22 July Schools close

ACADEMIC YEAR 2008/9

Term 1

Thurs 28 August Schools open

Fri 17 Oct Schools close

Term 2

Mon 3 Nov Schools open

Fri 19 Dec Schools close

Term 3/2009

Tues 6 Jan Schools open

Fri 13 Feb Schools close

Term 4/2009

Mon 23 Feb Schools open

Fri 10 April Good Friday

Mon 13 April Easter Monday

Fri 3 April Schools close

Term 5/2009

Mon 20 April Schools open

Mon 4 May May Bank Holiday

Fri 22 May Schools close

Term 6/2009

Mon 1 June Schools open

Fri 17 July Schools close

Bank Holidays that fall within the school term are shown within the term they occur.

Yr 11 appointments

After excellent interviews and much deliberation I am pleased to announce the appointments listed below.

Head boy Alastair Pinder
Deputy head boys Gary Austin, Alexander McKenzie & Gilbert Watchorn
Head girl Vicky Walker
Deputy head girls Harriet Clewlow, Ceiwen Cloney & Sarah Wilkinson

Senior prefects
Sean Anderson, Kim Barnes, Jess Boles, Fiona Crew, Nick Dearden, Adrian Dickson, Peter Dixon, Bridie Farrell, Robyn Green, Rosie Goddard, Sophie Hall, Melissa Hull, Joe Lemon, Lucy Mathias, Mike McGuire, Charlotte McCullough, Rebecca Morris, Vicky Mortimer, Charlie Muzzlewhite, Tom Rock, Naomi Sparks, Tom Stafford, Charlotte Tayor, Danielle Tofiluk, Jess Turrill, Ryan Quinn, George Watchorn & Matt Winn





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