NORTHFIELD SCHOOL & SPORTS COLLEGE

NEWSLETTER March 2012

Dear Parents and Carers

The spring term is traditionally a very busy and tense time of year. Students and staff are looking ahead to the challenges that face them in the run up to terminal examinations and Year 9 students are making curriculum choices for Key Stage 4. Northfield School continues to offer students an incredible range of opportunities to develop all aspects of their lives, as well as encouraging our students to achieve success and fun on the sporting field and in our creative arts projects.

The end of term sees a small number of staff leaving the school. Mrs Rissanen-Howells (SENCO) who has worked at the school since September 1995 and Mrs Andrews (Office Manager) who joined the school in February 1989 have retired. Mrs Thomas (English) and Mrs Wrigglesworth (SEN/English) both joined the school in 2006 and now leave to pursue their careers in other schools. I wish them all well and thank them for their contributions to the school’s ongoing success.

Parent and Staff Questionnaires I would like to thank all parents and carers who completed and returned the parental questionnaires. 534 (34%) returns were received. The school is currently analysing the results of the questionnaires with initial indications showing that over 80% of parent and carers are very satisfied with the standard of teaching and learning in the school. Close to 90% feel that their children received appropriate help from staff when needed. We will continue to analyse the results and respond to the suggestions and concerns raised in the responses. Indeed, in response to some of the suggestions we have already introduced improvements to our electronic communications with the introduction of Realsmart and the redesign of the school website (see below).

Real SmartThis term saw the introduction of Real Smart to the school. An ‘educational Facebook’, Real Smart allows students to access their work, resources and stimulus materials via the internet. With personalised security, students’ work is safe and easily accessible. Students’ work cannot be lost or misplaced. Staff can access students’ work on-line, mark and assess the work providing instantaneous feedback. Parents can also access Real Smart to find out information about their child’s work and the school. In time, I hope that Real Smart will replace the school’s planners and eventually paper communication. Please ask your child about Real Smart.

I would like to remind you that by now you should already have access to our SIMS Learning Gateway. Your individual username and password will allow you to access information and details concerning your child’s attendance, achievements, behaviour and academic progress. Please contact the school if you experience any problems accessing the Learning gateway.

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School WebsiteThe school’s new website was launched last week. It is our intention to make the website more interactive than its predecessor. I would welcome some feedback from parents and carers about what they feel about the website and any suggestions on how we can improve it. In response to suggestion in the questionnaires, I hope to introduce before the next academic year a program that will allow parents and carers to make electronic payments to the school for uniform, school trips, school meals, etc removing the need for students to have to bring money to school.

Rewards (TOP 20 Students)Students continue to respond well to the school’s Achievements Points system. Students with the highest points will be rewarded through year group and end of year assemblies.

 Youth Sports Trust Gold AwardI am delighted to be able to report the school’s success in achieving the Gold Award from the Youth Sports. Earlier this term the school was visited by an assessor from the YST to discuss our application for consideration for the Award. This month, the school received official confirmation that we had been granted the award for the next two years. The Gold Award is the highest award available from the YST and therefore is a highly prestigious award granted to very few schools.

International Games – International Event

Name RegShauna Ellis 9TTKeira Crossley 10MHTaryn Avent 7MRCloe Melvin 10MHCourtney Walker 8MRChayse Cooke 7MREmily Bell 8MRJessica Sculley 10MTMegan Collins 10MTRhian West 8TD

Aaron Chambers 7MTCameron Kushnirenko 7TTMichael Thompson 10MHAdam Ozkan 11MHAdam Inglis 7TLMurray Craig 9TTRyan Glenn 7TTCoby Wright 8MHChris Atkin 8TRJordan Crosby 7MR

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Northfield will hold an International event in the first week of July with schools from Holland and Wales. We are hoping to extend this to involve six other schools. Year 9 students from each of the schools will compete in various activities including:- handball, table tennis, trampolining, badminton and track and field athletics.

A Cross-Curricular Day focusing on the Olympic ideals took place on the 23rd March 2012. A 12 hour and 24 hour sports marathon took place as part of Sports Relief. Money raised will be donated to Clic Sargent and Butterwick Hospice, charities nominated by Matthew Olley’s parents.

Last year, Northfield School and Sports College was one of the first schools to be invited to be a part of ‘PE Change Teams’, a project that gives students ‘a sporting voice’. Students completed an on-line survey and the results were presented to Olympian Chris Cook by students from the school. This term, in response to suggestions in the survey students will be rewarded with Olympic wrist bands highlighting aspects of the Olympic ideal such as courage, determination, inspiration, equality, friendship, respect and excellence. The PE curriculum was also modified to present students with greater flexibility on the PE pathway they adopt throughout the year. Chris Cook will visit the school to deliver an inspirational assembly on an Olympic theme looking at training, persevering and ultimately success.

Teesside School Sports Council Awards The TSSC Awards evening proved to be another very successful evening. Over three hundred parents and athletes attended, with Jeff Stelling of Sky Sport fame proving to be an excellent guest speaker. I am delighted to be able to announce that Northfield’s Girls Table Tennis Team won the Team Prize.

Little Shop of HorrorsI hope that you were able to see the excellent production of Little House of Horrors that took place from the 8th – 10th February. Over one hundred students were involved in the production from its beginning stages to the final production. Students performed, worked front of house, created set and props, ran the lighting and assisted with the sound. Some were also puppeteers! Anti-BullyingThroughout this term students and staff have enthusiastically taken part in a number of activities to raise awareness of anti-bullying. Fundraising through cake sales, cake raffles, friendship bracelets, sweet hamper and non-uniform day students raised a fantastic £1800 which has been donated to the Children’s Society and Children in Need.

Diana Award Ambassadors. Ten Northfield students have attended a day’s training with the Speaker’s Trust to provide them with the confidence and skills to speak out against bullying. Northfield School is one of ten schools nationally to be chosen to participate in a fantastic showcase event at Google Headquarters in London. It is an opportunity for our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors to be rewarded and have their Peer Supporter work recognised.

House of Lords Debating TeamI am very proud to inform you that last week, a group of Year 8 students participated in a debating competition at the House of Lords. Northfield School was one of only three schools to be invited to participate in the debate. Our team of eighteen students won praise from the organisers for their preparation and confidence.Steve Cunningham

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In February, the school was privileged to receive a visit from Steve Cunningham, ‘the World’s Fastest Blind Man’. Steve, who lost his sight at the age of 12, holds the current land and sea speed records, as well as being featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for flying around the British Isles. He has also captained the English Disabled Football team in two international tournaments.

Steve talked to students from all year groups including whole year assemblies and the school’s Social Inclusion Unit. Steve was able to meet the school’s VI students and staff as well as a number of parents of VI students. He was truly inspirational. Enterprise EventsOver two hundred and fifty of our Year 9 students participated in a joint Business/Geography Enterprise activity called the 'Trade Game'. The students had to develop teamwork, problem solving and communication skills as they tried to buy and sell products and materials in order to make the most money.

Dates for your DiaryFriday, 30th March - End of Spring Term

Monday, 16th April - Start of Summer Term

Friday, 20th April - Whole School Photograph

Monday, 23rd April - Dutch Exchange Week

Monday, 7th May - School Closed May Day

Thursday, 10th May - Year 7 Parents Consultation Evening

Monday, 4th June to Friday 8th June - Half-term Holiday

Monday, 11th June - Norway Exchange Week

Thursday, 14th June - Year 8 Parents Consultation Evening

Thursday, 5th July - Year 10 Parents Consultation Evening

Thursday, 12th July - Year 6 New Intake Parents Evening

Monday, 16th to Thursday, 19th July - Activities Week and Year Rewards Assemblies

Thursday, 19th July - Start of Summer Holidays for students

Friday, 20th July - Staff CPD Day

Craig WalkerHeadteacher

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