

FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN BETTER
this week in our school . . .
Volume 3 Issue 15 January 12th, 2018
getting it right ready respectful safe
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ST AMBROSE BARLOW RC HIGH SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM
“
Head’s start .
Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week. week.
How wonderful be time back! It is abouttothis of year that I meet with
each Head of Department to review the I hopesummer’s that the Christmas periodThis wasinvolves a restful exam results. and happy for you and your families and plentytime of useful and thought-provoking that you are looking to thetalking possibilities discussion, butforward it is usually about numbers and letters. data are of 2018. I was great to see Behind staff andthis pupils how pupils did, how they felt, what return stories: this week. they liked and what they achieved. We alwayswe focus on how be On Monday gathered asthings a staffcan to continue improved as well as celebrating what went our vital work on the development of our school well. As a Catholic school, exam results are culture and ethos. As a result we have spent just one way of expressing the unique, Godtime with each yearand group talking them through given talents skills of each pupil. It is our high expectations, explaining our three important to look beyond the data so Irules am and outlining thethat opportunities sanctions delighted much moreand of my job involves that ensure school works foraround everyone being our in classes, walking the every school day. and talking to pupils, students and staff. If ever are feeling all despondent We have alsoyou begun the nextatphase of work onor fatigued I reckon a quick tour of school the development of our school culture the (started in would quickly raise your spirits. Let me December with the introduction of our initiative showayou whatNations I mean.Rights TodayRespecting (Thursday, to become United September 29th) for instance, I dropped into School) by focusing on our anti-bullying strategy Year 10 GCSE Music. There, I was and on the greater promotion of respect and delighted to listen to performances of tolerance. We haveNinth enhanced our systems for Beethoven’s Symphony, Hold Back identifying and recording incidents of alleged the River and When the Saints Go Marching bullying we got have on and this Chester issue In.and I also to begun sit withwork Daniel in formastime. they demonstrated their prodigious DJing talents. Next, during lunch, I supervised the canteen andismade a point The key message simple: thereofiswatching no placethe in interactions that take place daily. Pupils and our school for bullying behaviour. As a Catholic doors for one another, schoolstaff our holding ethos must beopen underpinned by love, offering thanks, little moments of personal tolerance and compassion in all interactions and appreciation and gratitude. Of course, at all times. things don’t always go well in a school, but it is lovely to witness a voluntary apology from We have exciting plans activities a Year 9 to one of for thevarious lunch time staff, and or ambitious learning experiences that are see one pupil help another who is unsure intended to celebrate and develop our school where to go for class. culture and explore our values (and Fundamental this half-term. In Sixth British Form, IValues) enjoyedover a lengthy chat with Aidanwe who explained both theory of In addition, are launching ourthe new differentiation and its potential commercial communications strategy (that will see much English they were studying easierapplication. and clearer In direct communication theparents play Blood andstaff) talking between andBrothers carers and andwith a humour and excitement about superstitions; renewed drive to improve further our attendance in Year 7 RE they were dissecting our new and late-coming. mission statement and exploring the personal meanings within it. School is a So, much look forward to thisplace. term as we busy,tobustling, humming continue to develop our school. The role of parents and carers in this process is vital and we are very lucky to have a vibrant and
I get to Maths to find all of Year 9 embroiled in a task that is so challenging and exciting that I want to stay and have a go myself. committed Parent who have Outside it’s: “Sir, Council have you seen mytaken tie? the lead social and are increasingly Canon you openevents my bottle? What did you involved ournight’s improvement work. time We are think of in last game? What is it, Sir?” and, at least onceways a day, my parents always looking for more to“Oh involve days!” It can be noisy and carers in school life.at times and in a community this size we can’t expect everyone to get on with each other all the time. But it is our community, and a lively, lovely, positive one at that.
there is no place in our school for bullying behaviour. As a Catholic Perhaps the single highlight of my week, if I school ourwould ethos be had to pick, be must the conversation I had with Mrs. Fay who is leading the underpinned tolerance development ofby ourlove, new library. I am a and library enthusiast and have been ever since compassion I was little. The furthest reach of my
memory is back to moments spent in our local library entranced by its colour and My regular tours around school this week bright possibilities. On the Twitter have been an absolute pleasure. #RememberingMyLibrary revealsThe thesmall hold that such an institution has: ‘A library card things are always the most impressive: the was a free to wonderment, and hundreds of pass “Happy New Year, sir”,words the doors the ability to roam the world’ observes one held open, the little moments of delight and user, whilst another quotespeople the wrought iron warmth between the young and adults gates of Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark, who inhabit our school each day. Seeing these, Learn andpart Inwardly Digest.’ of and being of them, makesOthers the jobtalk of playing the escape that a library represented or of a the small part itinoffered St. Ambrose Barlow so special. refuge from an unkind world. Some of our pupils have come straight back to exams andspent have last got into the zone with great Mrs. Fay Saturday peacefully commitment, never easy after the Christmas stacking the shelves and we are inching holiday. closer to opening. What thrilled me was her comment that several boys, some of whom affect a dislike of reading, were by Finally, it was a great privilege to electrified open the post a libraryand in their ‘Youa local onpresence Tuesdayofmorning find aschool: card from mean I thanking can borrow like,for read it, resident ourthis 6th and, formers their Miss?’ was the breathless utterance of one in random acts of kindness towards local people pupil. Our library is at the heart of the the last week of term. Such mini-celebrations of school: a space for being open to and the character and values of our pupils and sharing ideas and experiences. It is openstudents precious, to me plan andare itsvery shelves serve reinforcing as a reminder just how fantastic our young people are. that there should be no barrier to anyone using its volumes or seeking knowledge, I can’t wait to see the term unfold. solace, entertainment or information. I can’t wait to see it come to life in the weeks God Bless. ahead thanks to Mrs. Fay and her band of helpers. Ben Davis, Headteacher
Ben Davis, Headteacher
Twitter: Twitter:@BenDavis1972 @BenDavis1972
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calendar what’s on
Achievement Points St. Benedict St. Francis St. Margaret Clitherow St. Teresa of Calcutta
4523 4593 4354 4535
Year 8 Parents’ Evening 5:00pm - 7:00pm
TUE 16
Year 8 retreats A Level Art & Photography exams
WED 17
THU 18
FRI 19 SAT 20
MON 15
COMING UP THIS WEEK week beginning 15.01.18 week A
attendance We aim for 100% attendance for all of our students and have set 96% as satisfactory attendance for this year. Attendance is monitored period-by-period and statistics are published each week. Excellent attendance guarantees excellent learning. Attendance by year (December 7th)
Year 7 Year 8 year 9 year 10 year 11 School
96.6% 95.1% 95.6% 93.9% 94.3% 95.1%
Attendance and its impact on learning 10 days absence means 95% attendance 19 days absence means 90% attendance 29 days absence means 85% attendance 38 days absence means 80% attendance 47 days absence means 75% attendance Please note: If your child is off school you need to contact student services the same day on
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer3 Trust fundraiser
Type to enter text
Above: Year 10 at the Girls’ Network meeting at Morson Engineering. Below: Charlotte Bradley in Year 11 scores a try on debut for the Cheshire Under-18s. 4
TWEET OF THE WEek St. Ambrose Barlow @SABSalford
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Huge congratulations to our great friend and colleague Alison Watson @ClassofYourOwn on her well-deserved #MBE for services to education through the success of the #DEC programme. Well done.
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FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN BETTER
ST AMBROSE BARLOW RC HIGH SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM www.stambrosebarlowswinton.org 37 Ash Drive Swinton Salford M27 9QP 0161 921 1570 @SABSalford Headteacher: Ben Davis 6