Headteacher’s Blog – December 2017

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Dear Parents and Carers,

What a super end to a very busy, and long, but very productive Autumn Term.

We are proud
Today Budehaven celebrated together in a series of Christmas concerts organised by our Music department with staff and student contributions from across the school. A real highlight was the Sign of the Times act where Mr Rosser, our TA from the ARB sang John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’, ably supported by Abby Jane and a team of students who signed the whole song for the audience whilst Ashlee, one of our students in our ARB, entertained us through her dance. What a lovely way to end the year.

Yesterday evening our talented students also performed to a packed hall in our Christmas Extravaganza – a fantastic evening – with many students stepping in at the last minute to cover for their sick friends ( the flu bug has certainly hit staff and students very hard this week). Thanks as always to our amazing music department – where do they get their energy from?!

We look after each other
Earlier in the week our Year 7 students brightened the days of our local elderly residents by visiting them laden with gifts. We have a very generous Year 7 who bought their own gifts to hand out on their visits. Mrs Bardsley escorted them to local homes where they all sang carols and the residents didn’t want them to leave! Thank you parents for helping them to arrange the gifts.

Last Friday evening, Budehaven students and staff filled the Triangle in Bude with late night shopping stalls and entertainment. Our theme for the evening was sustainability and healthy living. We were joined by Bude Cleaner Seas, Bude Federation carol singers, St Petrocs and the Scouts. A wide variety of stalls sold goods produced by our creative students. Shoppers could stock up on Christmas gifts whilst being entertained by our dancers and musicians. The sound of samba from our samba band Junto ao Mar lifted the wintery spirits! We were very pleased to raise over £150 for the charity CLIC Sargent.

We are knowledgeable

Budehaven House System held its annual quiz for all year groups this week in the 6th form common room, challenging students’ knowledge with an array of tricky questions. The overall winners were Rowling House after winning the tie breaker with Anning House. Well done to all of those who competed.

Mrs Lawrence’s Year 9 Maths class have taken part in the National Cipher Challenge run by Southampton University. This was a ridiculously tricky eight part challenge. The class worked so hard developing their cypher breaking skills. Their commitment and perseverance really impressed.

We look, act and think smart
As you know our school leadership and Governing Board decided last year that the time was right to refresh the Budehaven school uniform. We were keen to align with the Budehaven Way (which was created by our students and staff in summer 2016) and to draw upon the student quote of ‘we, look smart, act smart and think smart’. After consultation with students, parents and staff, to request views on our proposed changes – to either a jumper or jacket with tie and shirt – we have decided to support our students’ choices which were overwhelmingly in favour of a jacket. Our students in Year 7-10 were presented with the three different options in assemblies and were able to see models of all options available. This led to much excitement with
students asking to try on the jackets and jumpers. Students also had the opportunity to ask questions, and many asked very sensible ones about the cost of uniform for example.
A voting period then followed where all students were encouraged to vote. When this closed, 365 students had voted. Out of those who voted 91% favoured the jacket in some shape or form (as a year 10/11 uniform or as a ‘through school’ uniform), with the majority choosing the jacket from Year 7 onwards.
Thank you to all parents and students who responded. The most frequent question related to the cost of uniform. We have ensured that as we move forward, we factor this into all that we do.

Last week some of our students spent the day wearing the new school uniform and said that they found it to be comfortable and that they felt good wearing it. We will update you with full details in the Spring Term.

We are self-improving
Our Year 11 students recently sat their mock examinations. This year group are following the new GCSE courses graded from 9 to 1. Parents will be receiving reports this week and there will be a Year 11 Parents’ Evening on Tuesday 9th January, 2018. I would encourage all Year 11 parents to attend so you can discuss how you may support your child at home as they begin the long process of reviewing two years’ worth of work over the coming months for the summer examinations. Please look out for emails and notices from the school regarding targeted support for Year 11 in the coming months as we support them in their ‘spring finish’ towards their final examinations in the summer term. Next month we have a Sixth Form Experience Day for our Year 11 students who have applied for post 16 study and we look forward to providing a taste of Sixth Form Life on January 12th.

We are motivated and we celebrate achievement
At the start of term I wrote to you about how we have ensured that our Budehaven Way is working in our lessons through the ‘flying colours’ system. I would like to report some of the great positive behaviour that this has enabled us to acknowledge. Our students have been awarded a fantastic 51, 249 positive awards by this term. The most frequent parts of the Budehaven Way that our students are excelling in are ‘pride’, ‘positive contribution’, ‘co-operation and team work’, and ‘self-improving and producing good work’. There are a large number of students in every year group whose ambition is also being acknowledged across their subjects. It is good to see that our students are meeting the challenges we set them and achieving the high standards we are setting.

Farewells
We have said farewell to several staff this week: Mr Butchart has retired from his senior science technician post and Andy Walter is retiring from his DT technician post. Thank you to both for their contributions to school life over the years. Mr Stirrup leaves us after completing maternity cover for Mrs Sweeting. Thank you, Mr Stirrup for all that you have done for our students and the English department. We recently welcomed back Mrs Chappell as Head of History, following her maternity leave. We also said farewell to Mrs Cook who has begun a new role in a school in Exeter and welcome Mrs Riddell in her place as teacher of MFL. Mr Bardsley is on the mend and we hope to see him back fit and well in February. In the meantime we have secured two science subject specialists who will cover Mr Bardsley’s timetable.

May I remind you that the school has an INSET day on Thursday 4th January, 2018 with all students returning to school on Friday 5th January, 2018.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and to send good wishes from all of our staff at Budehaven to you and your families for a very happy Christmas.

Tracey Reynolds, Headteacher