Headteacher/Pennaeth Alan Tootill Tel: (01792) 533066 Fax: (01792) 533366
Pontarddulais Road Gorseinon SWANSEA SA4 4FG
March 2013
SPRING TERM NEWSLETTER Dear Parents and Pupils, Welcome to our Spring Term Newsletter. Please take time to read about some of the many activities that our pupils have been involved in this term and the successes they have achieved. This is the first time that we are publishing our newsletter only on our website as part of our drive to reduce the amount of paper we consume. However, if you specifically want a hard copy, please let Reception know and we will make sure you get one. I hope that you were able to come and watch our school production of ‘Grease’ back in February. There were about 150 pupils involved this year, probably the most ever, and the show was a resounding success. Read more about it inside. Our senior debating team has once again got through to the national final of the Bar Mock Trial competition and will be competing on Saturday, 23rd March, at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. By the time you get this newsletter we will know how well they have performed. Our junior debating team is following in their footsteps by recently winning the local heat of the Magistrates Mock Trial competition. Target setting has been an important focus for us this term in school. For the first time we are now providing all pupils with target attainment Levels / Grades on their interim and end-of-year reports. This will help us to track their progress more effectively. I hope this provides useful information for parents that will add to the important dialogue between home and school which is an integral part of effective partnership to help all our young people achieve their full potential. The Welsh Government (WG) priority of improving pupils’ literacy and numeracy skills moves up a gear next term with the introduction of national literacy and numeracy tests for all pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9. These will be taking place in May and you will be given details in advance. The WG has asked for parents to take part in a survey relating to numeracy as outlined below: “We are currently developing a behavioural campaign in relation to numeracy. By numeracy, we mean the skills required to do sums related to everyday life: checking change at the shops or monthly budgeting. We are interested in talking to parents about the way they currently support their children’s numeracy development. A series of focus groups will be held across Wales, but we’re also encouraging parents to complete an on-line survey by 31 March 2013.” Term ends for pupils with a non-uniform day on Wednesday, 27th March. We have an INSET for staff on 28th March. The Summer Term begins on Monday, 15th April. This will be Week 1. Year 10 and Year 11 should be busy revising for their exams over Easter. Year 10 have mock exams during the first week back in subjects which have an external module in May / June. Year 11 final exams begin in earnest from 13th May. Study leave commences on 3rd June. Have a great Easter! Yours faithfully,
ALAN TOOTILL Headteacher