Thank you to many parents for attending last night’s Information Evening.  We hope that you found each presentation useful and that they help you to guide students successfully through their GCSEs alongside our teachers and support staff.  Remember the main theme of the evening – ‘Don’t Panic!’ and be organised!

As promised, please find the presentation used by our Leaders of Learning attached.  Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions or would like more advice on how you can best support your child’s learning through Key Stage 4.

ks4-information-evening-2016

All parents and carers of Y10 students are invited to attend our Key Stage 4 Information Evening on Tuesday 20th September at 18:00 to 19:30.

We will explain important changes to GCSE qualifications and provide strategies how you can best support your son or daughter through Years 10 and 11.

Moon Shot Thinking…

Who said that the start of a new academic year is the quietest period? So much has happened since my first blog with students’ learning already gathering great pace.  While visiting lessons, I have been struck by pupils’ high levels of engagement and determination to make progress in lessons and in home work.  Participation in sports clubs is really encouraging and we’re looking forward to SWR’s first round of sporting fixtures and students developing their coaching skills in lessons. It was also a unique experience to take part in the sponsored walk around Tetbury with all students; my challenge will be to complete the half-marathon distance next year! I must also congratulate our Year 11 students who successfully completed their bronze Duke of Edinburgh expedition this weekend.

Thank you to parents who attended our recent ‘Meet the Headteacher’ sessions. I really enjoyed listening to your suggestions and look forward to working alongside you to further inspire our students to even more success.  Fortunately, we also enjoyed great weather for our Year 7 BBQ and Disco. Thank you to so many families for attending and sharing this event with tutors, staff and governors.

I have enjoyed meeting Headteachers, staff and students at many of our partner primary schools this week and look forward to welcoming Y5 and Y6 pupils and parents to SWR for our Open Evening on Thursday 29^th September (6:30pm).  This will be a great opportunity to meet students and discuss learning with teachers from every Learning Area.  There is also the opportunity to visit SWR on a typical learning day. Our Open Mornings take place on Wednesday 28^th September and Monday 3^rd October.

The theme of my last blog was to embrace failure as it is another step closer to success.  In this blog, I want to think about the limitations we place on ourselves because we are told we can’t possibly achieve our dreams.  When do we stop believing that we can become an astronaut, a top gymnast or a surgeon? It’s a tragedy that society makes us all believe that we have to live under a glass ceiling and actually limit our aspirations.  As individuals we even start to impose limitations on ourselves.

‘I won’t put my hand up in class because well….that’s not something I do,’ or, ‘I can’t possibly audition for the school production….what if I fail,’ or even worse, ‘should I aim for a grade 9 in GCSE Maths, my target is only a 6….it’s going to be really hard.’

Whenever our students think like this remind them of this famous quote from Confucius:

‘If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, it’s okay.  But you’ve got to shoot for something. A lot of people don’t even shoot at all.’

Imagine what every student could achieve at SWR with a little ‘moon shot’ thinking…..

Jon Bell

Headteacher