26th January 2016 We are now in week four of six and time is racing by. Our focus as senior leaders is on ensuring that our curriculum is right in the light of so many national changes. In the next two weeks, Year 9 will be looking at their options, with both guidance interviews and an information evening (Wednesday 10 February) We continue to plan for our sixth form offer and are also evaluating the induction programme for Year 7. Comments from parents are always welcome. The Government is currently consulting on its proposal for all students to study in Years 10 and 11 a set of compulsory subjects, moving back for most students (they are talking about 90%) to a traditional curriculum. This is called the EBAC and means that students in addition to studying English, Maths and Science (plus RE, PHSEE and PE) will need to choose History or Geography, French or Spanish plus perhaps one other subject. This would mean a change at Simon Balle for many students and indeed many parents will need to reconsider their thoughts. Whilst this will not be enforced in the immediate future, we will be encouraging more students to take this path as quite clearly this is the direction of travel in the UK and we cannot allow Simon Balle students to be disadvantaged. We have always prided ourself on the “education of the whole child” and are again looking at how we do this effectively. There are so many opportunities on offer for all students and I urge you to encourage your child to actively participate. James Pooley and I are meeting soon to set up a scheme for Year 10 to take on active leadership roles and just before half term, Steve Preshous and I will be interviewing Year 12 following their applications for senior student leadership roles. May I take this opportunity to thank the current Year 13 for the ways in which they have actively contributed to our school in terms of leadership and my special thanks must go to the head and deputy students and those leading specific areas. This coming week is an important one for us at Simon Balle and also Hertford schools as we remember together “Holocaust Memorial Day”. Many families will know that annually we have involved our Year 9 in a programme on the day to reconsider events and lessons learnt. We will this year as a whole school take part in an honouring ceremony which takes on the 2016 national theme of ‘Don’t Stand By’. Also the sixth form will once again host a visit from a Holocaust survivor, Freddie Knoller, a remarkable man and a captivating speaker who has visited the school on a number of occasions. Mr Knoller also received the British Empire Medal in the New Year Honours List 2016. In addition, the annual Hertfordshire event will take place in Hertford, led by staff and students from Simon Balle, Sele and Richard Hale. Melodic Minors, GCSE drama and art students from Simon Balle are all contributing to the programme. Feedback from the organisers has been stunning when they have attended rehearsals:
“What was particularly striking was the deeper understanding of the students regarding the Holocaust and subsequent genocides, gained through extended teaching.”