

FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN BETTER
this week in our school . . .
Volume 4 Issue 28 June 7th, 2019
getting it right ready respectful safe
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ST AMBROSE BARLOW RC HIGH SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM
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Head’s start .
Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week. Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the What a week. fantastic first week back.
It isfor about time of yearhard that getting I meet with I dare say somethis people it was up each Head of Department to review the and ready for school on Monday after the halfsummer’s examit results. This involves term, but it was worth once they came in. The plenty of useful and thought-provoking weather might not have been up to scratch but discussion, it is usually talking about our pupils certainly but were. numbers and letters. Behind this data are stories: how pupils did, how they felt, what Throughout the school there was excellent they liked and what they achieved. We uniform and evidence of great attitudes to always focus on how things can be learning. The building hummed all week with an improved as well as celebrating what went atmosphere of positivity and purpose. And we well. As a Catholic school, exam results are took that beyond our wall as nearly 50 pupils just one way of expressing the unique, Godengaged with a four-day-long Duke of Edinburgh given talents and skills of each pupil. It is practice presentation, while the Year 11s and important to look beyond the data so I am Year 13s continued there impressive focus in the delighted that much more of my job involves GCSEs.
being in classes, walking around the school and talking to pupils, students and staff. Of course, it being the last half-term of the year there is much to look forward to. In a couple of If ever you are feeling at all despondent or weeks all of that hard work is celebrated at the fatigued I reckon a quick tour of the school bittersweet event that is the Year 11 Prom; before would quickly raise your spirits. Let me that comes the Year 11 Leavers’ Assembly this show you what I mean. Today (Thursday, Friday; there are trips to Conwy and Plas Menai; September 29th) for instance, I dropped into the last week is circled in the calendar for Year 10 GCSE Music. There, I was activities and celebrations; there’s Sports Day delighted to listen to performances of and the Year 6 into 7 transition days. That’s just a Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Hold Back small taster of the weeks ahead.
the River and When the Saints Go Marching In. I also got to sit with Daniel and Chester As is often the case at this time of year changes as they demonstrated their prodigious DJing are afoot as well and this is reinforced in our talents. Next, during lunch, I supervised the liturgicalcanteen calendar with the Feast
and made a pointofofPentecost. watching the
interactions that take place daily. Pupils and In the Gospel we aredoors reminded challenge staff holding openof forthe one another, to ‘go out offering and sentthanks, the world on fire’, which at little moments of personal school we articulate through our mission appreciation and gratitude. Of course, statement withdon’t the simple thatinalla pupils things alwaysidea go well school,are but it expected to be Change Makers.
is lovely to witness a voluntary apology from a Year 9 to one of the lunch time staff, or We expect staff: a commitment to seethe onesame pupil of help another who is unsure changing things for better, taking responsibility, where to go for class. reflecting and leading. So it is with great pleasure that I hand overForm, the remainder column In Sixth I enjoyedofa this lengthy chattowith our newAidan Assistant Headteacher of Teaching who explained both the theory and of Learning, Natalie Daniels. Miss Daniels joined us differentiation and its potential commercial this week from a school near Preston andstudying has application. In English they were already the made an impression.
play Blood Brothers and talking with
humour and excitement about superstitions; Miss Daniel’s in Year writes: 7 RE they were dissecting our new mission statement and exploring the I have been givenmeanings such a warm and personal within it. friendly School is a welcome by everyone who I have met and I am busy, bustling, humming place. very excited to become one of the team.
I get to Maths to find all of Year 9 embroiled in role a task that is be so focused challenging and exciting My here will on leading learning that I want to stay and have a go and teaching, and to ensure that allmyself. students at it’s:are “Sir, have you seen my tie? in their StOutside Ambrose engaged and challenged Can you open my bottle? What did you lessons and that they are continuously given think of last night’s game? What time opportunities to learn and to grow. is it, Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my days!” can half be noisy times and in a on 3 key Over theItnext term at I will be focusing community this size we can’t expect areas which I believe will have a big impact on everyone getprogress on with each other all the The the learningtoand of our students. time. But it is our community, and a lively, will first key area is learning routines. All lessons lovely, positive one at that. begin and end in a calm and structured manner in order to ensure that learning is taking place from Perhaps theeach single highlight of my week, ifwill I be the moment lesson begins. Students had to pick, would be the conversation I had greeted by their teacher at the door and provided witha Mrs. Fay who is leading the with short, meaningful task to complete development of our new library. amlesson. a independently at the beginning of Ithe
library enthusiast and have been ever since I was little. The with furthest of my to reflect Lessons will end timereach for students memory is back to moments spent our on their learning and to leave on timeinto make local library entranced by its colour and their way calmly to their next lesson. Routines will bright that possibilities. Twitter ensure learning isOn taking place throughout #RememberingMyLibrary the hold the lesson, and that no timereveals is wasted. It is that such an institution has: ‘A library important therefore that students arrivecard promptly a free pass words andthey towas all lessons and to arewonderment, ready to learn so that the ability to roam the world’ observes one are able to make continuous progress.
user, whilst another quotes the wrought iron gates of Stalybridge Mark, The second key area Ilibrary, will be ‘Read, focusing on is Learn and Inwardly Digest.’ Others feedback and marking. Feedback is atalk giftofwhich the escape that a library represented or of allows us to understand what we have learnt, the refuge it offered from an unkind world. what we have not learnt yet, and how to reach the next step.
Mrs. Fay spent last Saturday peacefully stacking the shelves and we are inching Students will be given opportunities to assess closer to opening. What thrilled me was her their learning and to celebrate their comment that several boys, some of whom achievements. In addition, they will be given time affect a dislike of reading, were electrified by to reflect and act up feedback provided by their presence of a library in their school: ‘You teachers so that they make progress by knowing mean I can borrow this and, like, read it, where they have gaps and are given the relevant Miss?’ was the breathless utterance of one information and guidance to fill them.
pupil. Our library is at the heart of the school: a space for being open to and The third key area is questioning. Asking sharing ideas and experiences. It is openquestions is natural and intuitive and it forms part plan and its shelves serve as a reminder of any lesson because it invites students to think. that there should be no barrier to anyone Teachers use questions to engage the students using its volumes or seeking knowledge, and sustain an ‘active’ style to the learning. The solace, entertainment or information. I can’t teacher also uses questions as part of the wait to see it come to life in the weeks assessment of learning in order to determine how ahead thanks to Mrs. Fay and her band of they best structure, organise and present new helpers. learning.
Ben Davis, Headteacher By developing questioning approaches there will @BenDavis1972 beTwitter: a greater emphasis on the time provided for students to think individually, collaboratively and
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Head’s start .
deeply to enable them to develop and to share Mr. Davis, reflects on the better answers. ThisHeadteacher, will improve their thinking and week. engagement, and students should take this opportunity to share their learning, ideas and is about thislessons. time of year that I meet with opinionsItacross their
each Head of Department to review the summer’s exam results. involves will In focusing on these three areas, This our students plenty of useful and thought-provoking be set high standards and supported to achieve discussion, buttoitexperience is usually talking about these and can expect learning that numbers and letters. Behind this data are is inspiring, exciting and challenging.
stories: how pupils did, how they felt, what they liked and what they achieved. We HOUSE NEWS always focus on how things can be improved as well as celebrating what went St. Oscarwell. Romero As a House Catholic school, exam results are just one way of expressing the unique, GodWelcomegiven back everyone. I hopeofyou have talents and skills each pupil. It is managed to have a fun and restful half term important to look beyond the data sobreak I am and havedelighted come back ready to push yourself in our that much more of my job involves final halfbeing term before the summer.
in classes, walking around the school and talking to pupils, students and staff. Oscar Romero house has had a positive first week back. I have been proud everyone'sor If ever youincredibly are feeling at allof despondent attitude fatigued to learning, and the way you have I reckon a quick tour of the school continued to think about what we can doLet forme would quickly raise your spirits. others. show you what I mean. Today (Thursday,
September 29th) for instance, I dropped into I have seen lot GCSE of kindness Yeara 10 Music.around There,school I was this week from being polite to staff and peers, delighted to listen to performancesto ofgoing above and beyond in acts of kindness to others. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Hold Back
the River and When the Saints Go Marching We have seen great amongst 10 In. I also gotbravery to sit with Danielour andYear Chester studentsas applying for leadership roles in the they demonstrated their prodigious DJing school. Congratulations to everyone talents. Next, during lunch, I who has been supervised the successful in their appointments, even if you canteen and made a pointand of watching the were unsuccessful this time, know that are and interactions that take place daily.wePupils proud ofstaff you holding all: tThedoors skills open you have developed for one another, will be so useful in the future and you build on offering thanks, little momentscan of personal this added confidence.
appreciation and gratitude. Of course, things don’t always go well in a school, but it Five of our Oscar students in the Top 20 is lovely to witness are a voluntary apology from studentsawith the highest achievement points: Well Year 9 to one of the lunch time staff, or done to see Annabel Pattison, Brown, Ruby one pupil help Olivia another who is unsure Godsell,where JasmintoMarsland and Tryfonas go for class. Alexandris!
In Sixth Form, I enjoyed a lengthy chat with Miss Jackson
Aidan who explained both the theory of differentiation and its potential commercial St. Teresa of CalcuttaInHouse application. English they were studying the play Blood Brothers and talking with During our assembly on Tuesdayabout it wassuperstitions; lovely to humour and excitement see all ofinour house looking very smart in Year 7 RE they were dissectingcorrect our new school uniform. mission statement and exploring the personal meanings within it. School is a There has been a lot tohumming celebrateplace. this week with 4T busy, bustling, being in the lead with achievement points, as well as our senior pupil leaders for the year ahead being selected, well done to all of you.
I gethave to Maths find all of outside Year 9 embroiled We manyto successes of school to in a task that is so challenging exciting winning celebrate as well with Jasmine and Hargreaves that I want to stay and have a go myself. a rosette in a show jumping competition and Harry Outside you seen my tie? exams in Dwyer in it’s: year“Sir, 10 have who brings his A-level Can you open my bottle? What did you Russian.
think of last night’s game? What time is it, Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Ohachievements my These are just a few of our house days!” It can be noisy at times and a in future and I look forward to sharing many in more community this size we can’t expect newsletters. Keep it up well done to the pupils of everyone to get on with each other all the success St Teresa and keep sharing your fabulous time. But it is our community, and a lively, stories with me.
lovely, positive one at that.
St. Michael House Perhaps the single highlight of my week, if I had to pick, would be the conversation I had St Michael’s house is led by a creative team of with Mrs. Fay who is leading the form tutors who encourage all pupils to shine and development of our new library. I am a be leaders. All of the pupils in house our value and library enthusiast and have been ever since all have many hidden talents. We continually aim to I was little. The furthest reach of my support our pupils in their interests and memory is back to moments spent in our achievements.
local library entranced by its colour and bright possibilities. On Twitter This week is a focus on celebrating the talents of #RememberingMyLibrary reveals the hold two pupils in the house who have achieved that such an institution has: ‘A library card success outside school.
was a free pass to wonderment, words and the ability to roam the world’ observes one Finley McAllister 1M
•user, whilst another quotes the wrought iron Finley is a hardworking pupil in school who always gates of Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark, works to the best of his ability. He is also an Learn and Inwardly Digest.’ Others talk of exceptionally talented footballer currently the the escape that a library represented or of captain of Manchester United’s under 14s team.
the refuge it offered from an unkind world. He has been involved in the clubs recent tours of Mrs. Fay spent last Saturday peacefully America, Spain and Holland. He is an excellent stacking the shelves and we are inching pupil who is a fantastic ambassador for the closer to opening. What thrilled me was herschool and his club and was part of the Year 8 School comment that several boys, some of whom football are Salford school champions.
affect a team dislikethat of reading, were electrified by
presence of a library in their school: ‘You ChloeI can Lea borrow 3M
•mean this and, like, read it, Chloe is a polite and hardworking pupil who Miss?’ was the breathless utterance of one comes into school every day with a positive and pupil. Our library is at the heart of the hardworking attitude to all areas of school. She school: a space for being open to and manages to combine this with her sharing ideas and experiences. It passion is open- for Drama.
plan and its shelves serve as a reminder that there should be no barrier to anyone Chloe is avolumes talentedoractress who manages all her using its seeking knowledge, school work with her acting roles outside school. solace, entertainment or information. I can’t She played Katy in the CBBC series and recently wait to see it come to life in the weeks received a BAFTA award herher achievement. ahead thanks to Mrs. Fayfor and band of Chloe is very modest about her amazing talent and helpers. a great asset to the house a perfect role model for anyone wanting to enter the world of acting.
Ben Davis, Headteacher Watch Chloe’s Acceptance speech! https:// Twitter: @BenDavis1972 twitter.com/BAFTA/status/1066795998792560641
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3
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Head’s start .
• Cole Appleby 6M
Davis,Rugby Headteacher, reflects on is the Cole is aMr. talented League player who week. currently completing his GCSE exams. Cole has been offered and accepted a Rugby scholarship It is about of year that I meet with St Helens he this has time worked extremely hard with this each Head of Department to review year to achieve this and is going on tour to the examinresults. This involves Australiasummer’s with the club the summer.
plenty of useful and thought-provoking discussion, butscored it is usually talking He is a prop and has the most triesabout for his numbers and letters. Behind this data are club this seasons. Cole has been an active how pupils did, how they felt, memberstories: of St Michael’s house taking part in what they liked and what they achieved. We assemblies that celebrated the houses always focus on how things can be achievements. He has taken on a mentoring role improved well in asSt celebrating with Year 7 and 8 as pupils Michael’s what housewent to well. As a Catholic school, exam results are support them in school.
just one way of expressing the unique, Godgiven andhas skills of each talent pupil. and It is Every pupil in talents the house a hidden important to look beyond the data so I we will look at sharing many of these with you am delighted that much more of my job involves being in classes, walking around the school and talking to pupils, students and staff. If ever you are feeling at all despondent or fatigued I reckon a quick tour of the school would quickly raise your spirits. Let me show you what I mean. Today (Thursday, September 29th) for instance, I dropped into Year 10 GCSE Music. There, I was delighted to listen to performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Hold Back the River and When the Saints Go Marching In. I also got to sit with Daniel and Chester as they demonstrated their prodigious DJing talents. Next, during lunch, I supervised the canteen and made a point of watching the interactions that take place daily. Pupils and staff holding doors open for one another, offering thanks, little moments of personal appreciation and gratitude. Of course, things don’t always go well in a school, but it is lovely to witness a voluntary apology from a Year 9 to one of the lunch time staff, or see one pupil help another who is unsure where to go for class. In Sixth Form, I enjoyed a lengthy chat with Aidan who explained both the theory of differentiation and its potential commercial application. In English they were studying the play Blood Brothers and talking with humour and excitement about superstitions; in Year 7 RE they were dissecting our new mission statement and exploring the personal meanings within it. School is a busy, bustling, humming place.
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. Outside it’s: “Sir, have you seen my tie? Can you open my bottle? What did you think of last night’s game? What time is it, Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my days!” It can be noisy 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. Perhaps the single highlight of my week, if I had to pick, would be the conversation I had with Mrs. Fay who is leading the development of our new library. I am a library enthusiast and have been ever since I was little. The furthest reach of my memory is back to moments spent in our local library entranced by its colour and bright possibilities. On Twitter #RememberingMyLibrary reveals the hold that such an institution has: ‘A library card was a free pass to wonderment, words and the ability to roam the world’ observes one user, whilst another quotes the wrought iron gates of Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark, Learn and Inwardly Digest.’ Others talk of the escape that a library represented or of the refuge it offered from an unkind world. Mrs. Fay spent last Saturday peacefully stacking the shelves and we are inching closer to opening. What thrilled me was her comment that several boys, some of whom affect a dislike of reading, were electrified by presence of a library in their school: ‘You mean I can borrow this and, like, read it, Miss?’ was the breathless utterance of one pupil. Our library is at the heart of the school: a space for being open to and sharing ideas and experiences. It is openplan and its shelves serve as a reminder that there should be no barrier to anyone using its volumes or seeking knowledge, solace, entertainment or information. I can’t wait to see it come to life in the weeks Imagesthanks from to topMrs. left:Fay and her band of ahead helpers. Finley McAllister in action ChloeDavis, Lea with her BAFTA Ben Headteacher Cole Appleby Twitter: @BenDavis1972 New Assistant Head in charge of Learning and2 Teaching, Miss Daniels 4
calendar what’s on
HOUSE POINTS
Advance Notice Year 11 Prom June 21st Year 6 into Year 7 transition days, July 1st - 3rd with Parents’ and Carers’ Information Evening on July 4th
TUE 11
WED 12
THU 13
This Week
This Year
St Benedict of Nursia
257
8986
St. Bernadette of Lourdes
247
8567
St. Francis of Assisi
264
9204
St. Michael the Archangel
235
8941
Saint Oscar Romero
242
9076
St. Teresa of Calcutta
261
8742
FRI 14
Year 11 Leavers’ Assembly
SAT 15
MON 10
COMING UP THIS WEEK week beginning 10.06.19 week B
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 (w/b May 21st). Congratulations to 1 Francis, 4 Benedict, 5 Benedict and 5 Oscar for achieving 100% attendance (Years 7-10). Levels of persistent absenteeism stood at 10.75% as of 26 May 2019, this is below the national figure. Attendance and its impact on learning
Year 7 Year 8 year 9 year 10 year 11 School
95.6% 94.8% 94.7% 94.7% N/A 95.0%
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 0161 921 1589/1551. If the school has not been contacted within five days, the absences will automatically be
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer5 Trust fundraiser
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK
The Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition this week


Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer6 Trust fundraiser
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK
Gardening club celebrates the onset of summer
 
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer7 Trust fundraiser
TWEET OF THE WEek More
SAB Horizons @SAB_Horizons Jun 7
Well we have survived 4 days of rain, hail, thunder, lightening... weather you have really thrown it at us in bucket loads but we have not been broken we have carried on and we have conquered! So proud of all DofE kids& sta who have made this week fab @SABSalford 8 @SAB_ParentC
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 9