Headteacher Update
September 2023
A huge thank you to the parents who attended our Year 10 information evening on Wednesday this week. I hope that you found the session helpful in that it set the scene for the next two years in terms of what your child can expect and what we will do to support them. We were extremely pleased with the number of you who were able to attend, but if you couldn’t make it, then please contact Mrs Wyllie who will be more than happy to give you a summary of the presentations. The year group have settled into their GCSE studies in a mature and committed manner, so I am confident that the great results that the Year 11 achieved this year will be replicated or even bettered in 2025!
As a year group, year 7 continue to really impress staff, indeed I have lost count of the number of positive comments about their motivation, politeness and willingness to learn. For the majority of the year group the transition to secondary school has been smooth, but we are aware that some may still be finding things a bit daunting; if you have any concerns, please do get in touch with Mr Betts straight away so that we can rectify any issues. In 5 weeks’ time, on 24th October, there will be the opportunity to meet your child’s form tutor and review this half term. Details of how to book appointments will be sent out in a few weeks time.
Attendance remains a priority for us this year and the Department for Education have been emphasising the importance of reducing student absence and of children being in school so that they can achieve their potential. There is a cast iron link between students with less than 95% and under achievement both within years and over time. Every day really does count, in the words of the DfE,
‘Every child has the right to a good education. We want our children to thrive, and to be healthy and happy. For this to happen the majority of young people need to be attending school, seeing their friends, and learning in the classroom. Most children in England agree with this assessment. The Children’s Commissioner for England’s ‘Big Ask’ survey from March 2022 gathered over 550 000 responses from children and demonstrated during the pandemic how much they had missed face-to-face teaching, spending time with their friends, and the extra-curricular activities that brought joy and excitement to their lives.
The benefits of school are many. It offers positive adult role models and gives children a strong foundation for their interactions in society. School helps young people build confidence, which is crucial to healthy self-esteem. It encourages independent critical thinking and self-expression. These skills translate to every area of life, whether it is in academia, the workplace, or relationships. School widens a child’s horizons and influences their aspirations. Schools are more than just classrooms, they are communities.’
Finally, as mentioned last week, each Year group has been hearing about the 2023 Pledge Day this week in assembly. These days involve a monumental level of planning by our Fit for Life lead Mrs Winder and I am really excited that we are able to deliver these pledges at no cost for parents for another year. This year Pledge day will take place on 29th September and everyone in each year group will be involved in the following activities:
Year 7 – Team building activities at John Spence
Year 8 – Visit to Cragside Hall and grounds
Year 9 – Local heritage trail in North Tyneside and Newcastle
Year 10 – Visit to the University of Northumbria
Year 11 – Visit to further education providers
The day was a huge success last year, so look out for @JohnspenceCHS tweets on the day to see everything that is going on
I hope that you all have a relaxing weekend
Jonathan