Another week has flown by and we are now already over halfway through this first term. I continue to be impressed by the positive attitude shown by the vast majority of our students; they are looking smart and working hard.

To support our students, we run a wide range of academic interventions. These take place across both KS3 and KS4. The first round of interventions of the academic year started this week. The aim of the interventions is to provide support to ensure students can realise their potential. They run for students across the ability range and have been instrumental in enabling students to deliver the excellent results we have seen over the past few years. They really are a great opportunity and one I’m glad that the school is able to offer. It has been pleasing to see the mature way the students have engaged with the intervention. If you have any questions about the programme, please contact Mr Ball via email.

This week, Year 11 students on the Politics and Citizenship GCSE course went to see the criminal justice system in action, with a visit to Gloucester Crown Court for sentencing day.  The opportunity is part of an initiative by the High Sheriff of Gloucester to engage young people in the justice system.  Students were given priority access to the Court and witnessed a variety of cases being sentenced.  To see people losing their freedom as a result of their choices no doubt provided a sobering reminder that our actions lead us (and those we care about) somewhere.  A powerful experience, and one they are not likely to forget.

On Thursday and Friday, some of our Year 11 Fine Art students took a trip around the local community to inspire ideas for their “Places and Spaces” project. The students spent time looking at the detailed architecture in St James' Church and capturing the light through the trees in the Nature Reserve. A particularly interesting direction one our student is planning to take is combining her Polish heritage with her life and school in Gloucestershire and seeing how these contrast one another. I look forward to seeing the artwork generated following this outing.

This week also saw a planned Fire Drill. The students’ conduct throughout was excellent and the drill ran incredibly smoothly. This meant the buildings were evacuated and all 1500 + students and staff lined up and accounted for within 9 ½ minutes. That was truly impressive. We hope we never have to do this for real, but knowing how efficiently the process operates is very reassuring.

A further reminder that our Supporting Your Child Though GCSEs evenings will take place later this term as follows:

• Year 11 - Thursday 10 October 17:00 - 19:00

• Year 10 - Thursday 17 October 17:00 - 19:00

Next week our Year 7 Tutor Parent Evening will take place. Full details have been sent to parents about this event which will take place on Thursday 3 October. I look forward to seeing all of our new Year 7s and their parents on this evening.   

I include my weekly reminder about Free School Meals eligibility. If your financial circumstances have changed, your child may be eligible for Free School Meals. If you click on this link you will find guidance on the eligibility criteria and the application process. It's a quick process and we are notified of all FSM entitlements by Gloucestershire County Council each Monday. I would urge you to take a look if you think you may benefit from financial assistance.  

Have a great weekend. 

Regards 

Richard Johnson   
Headteacher