Teaching and Learning Forum

Over the half term teachers have been contributing to an online forum discussing the future of teaching and how as a school we should respond. Increasingly we are using the VLE to communicate and I am anxious to involve students as much as possible. Mrs Cox has asked interested students to become involved and we will look to see how they can contribute to debating a number of issues online in the new term.

Thank you to all of those parents who joined us for the year 13 leaver service on Friday. It is a great way of marking an end to compulsory education and for many, seven years here at BCCS. Mrs Boyland made a wonderful speech and the Dean added some real words of wisdom, some reflections of his experience in the higher education. (Dean at a Cambridge College)

For year 13 the A level examinations are just beginning but for many in year 11 the end is almost in sight with many already complete. Maths is one of the last and I know that teachers will be running revision sessions right up to the end. Please do remind your children to take the most of all these opportunities. I hope that everyone has a good half term it looks like the weather will be suitable for revision!

I attended two wonderful music performances last week. The Parent Evensong on Tuesday and the Next Generation Concert on Wednesday. My thanks to all staff who organise the fantastic events and of course, congratulations to the students who performed so wonderfully.

The GCSE and A1 examinations continue this week. Good luck everyone.

Thank you to parents and students who came to the parent evensong tonight. I am sorry that we did not remind parents or publicise enough. Clearly the timing, at the beginning of the examination season and before the next music concert tomorrow evening was not ideal!  It was a very uplifting event nonetheless and we must not forget that do have a world class choir who perform brilliantly every week, please do make a point of coming to hear them whenever you can. Evensong begins at 5:15 and last for approximately 45 minutes.

I am pleased that students in year 11 had a good day today. My thanks to the pastoral staff for making it a memorable event. The day began with a rousing rendition of Jerusalem in assembly and a wonderful speech by Mr Davies. Mr Moreton was asked to eat 20 mammoth sweets while he did so! After a year group lunch we all met in the Cresswell Centre for speeches and prizes. It is a wonderful year group and we wish them all good luck in the GCSE examinations which begin on Monday.  

Choir School Conference

I am currently at the Choir School Association annual conference in Norwich. Headteachers of the 43 Choir Schools meet at this time each year and there are a number of themes under discussion. One in particular struck a chord with me, led by one of my colleagues Marcus Culverwell from Reigate St Mary's School. The session raised the question of social responsibility and climate change. Students at BCCS respond very positively to charitable activities and I know that many are aware and concerned about global issues surrounding the challenges of energy, water, poverty etc. As a city centre school I would like to encourage staff and students to become even more aware of how we travel into school each day. As the fine weather (hopefully) approaches I hope that we can be encouraged to find some alternatives to car journeys over the summer months. I have begun to cycle into work, though not every day and often one way only! I hope that staff are aware that we do run a cycle to work scheme and I am looking forward to the delivery of my new bike and car rack over the next few weeks.