

FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN BETTER
this week in our school . . .
Volume 3 Issue 20 & 21 March 9th, 2018
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 Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week. week. It is about this time of year that I meet with We haven't published a weekly newsletter for each Head of Department to review the three school weeks. In that time some fantastic summer’s exam results. This involves thingsplenty have happened in our school, many of of useful and thought-provoking which discussion, are showcased in this edition of the but it is usually talking about newsletter. numbers and letters. Behind this data are stories: how pupils did, how they felt, what There they has been the celebration evening for liked and what they achieved. We Years always 8-11, a focus powerful event that on how thingsdemonstrated can be the successes young people in our school improvedofasthe well as celebrating what went and gave a platform to a former pupil to speak well. As a Catholic school, exam results are about just her one experiences as an apprentice. way of expressing the unique, Godgiven talents and skills of each pupil. It is Following on from welcomed theso I am important to that look we beyond the data Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills, Anne delighted that much more of my job involves Milton,being this week. She came to speak to Year 9 in classes, walking around the school as partand of National Apprenticeship Week and talking to pupils, students and staff. met with a group of pupils and 6th form students to discuss theyou possibilities opportunities If ever are feelingand at all despondentofor pursing an apprenticeship. fatigued I reckon a quick tour of the school would quickly raise your spirits. Let me Meanwhile, Yearwhat 11 have beenToday treated to show you I mean. (Thursday, brilliant performances of Macbeth by the Younginto September 29th) for instance, I dropped Shakespeare Company, complete with bloodYear 10 GCSE Music. There, I was vomiting ghosts to and interactive opportunities delighted listen to performances of for the audience. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Hold Back the River and When the Saints Go Marching The 6th have launched National In.form I also gotfinally to sit with Danielthe and Chester Baccalaureate, a development that has beenDJing as they demonstrated their prodigious two years in the making, at lunch, a special event at the talents. Next, during I supervised the Whitworth Art Gallery. The represents a the canteen and made a point of watching wonderful new dimension in learning in the 6th and interactions that take place daily. Pupils form, bringing together subjects, personal staff holding doors open for one another, developments and projects to provideofapersonal more offering thanks, little moments rounded and challenging education. appreciation and gratitude. Of course, things don’t always go well in a school, but it Year 10 have been hard at with apology their is lovely to witness a work voluntary from exams, trips have gone out to local galleries, a Year 9 to one of the lunch time staff, or pupils see secured third help placeanother in the Big Quiz, one pupil whoBook is unsure we ‘dropped everything and read’ for World where to go for class. Book Day and all this while we managed to stay open in snow, with the exception of one In the Sixth Form, I enjoyed a lengthy chat with hour. Aidan who explained both the theory of differentiation and its potential commercial Over the half term In break therethey were twostudying Drama application. English were trips and several subjects offered additional the play Blood Brothers and talking with supported study forexcitement Year 11 pupils. humour and about superstitions; in Year 7 RE they were dissecting our new So, what to make of all this? We’re a busy mission statement and exploring the school, lots goes on everyday. to beis a personal meanings withinThat’s it. School expected in bustling, a community of nearly 1200 busy, humming place. learners and about 150 staff. More than that, our school continues to develop and improve. I
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? strongly believe we are a better school now that Can you open my bottle? What did you we were just over a year ago. think of last night’s game? What time is it, Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my The events and experiences described above days!” It can be noisy at times and in a happen because staff and pupils each commit to community this size we can’t expect learning, to to growing I walk everyone get on together. with eachWhen other all the around the school each day, and it is time. But it is our community, and anot lively, unusual to do thisone with guest, I see some lovely, positive at athat. fabulous vignettes of young people and staff collaborating enjoying really strong Perhaps theand single highlight of my week, if I relationships. These are the foundation had to pick, would be the conversation of I had school improvement St. Ambrose with Mrs. Fay who isatleading the Barlow. They must extend to the development of our newinvolvement library. I amofaparents and carers, which is where, example, our library enthusiast and havefor been ever since Parent Council (who are recruiting for two new I was little. The furthest reach of my members) come in. 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 of ability to roam the world’ observes one One the most important relationships in a user, whilst another quotes the school is that between home andwrought school. iron For gates of Stalybridge library,published ‘Read, Mark, that reason we have recent all staff Learn and Inwardly Digest.’ Others talk of email addresses on our website to improve the escape that a library represented or of communication and it is why, through the Parent the refuge it offered from an unkind world. Council and regular meetings like the Headteacher’s Surgery, we are working hard to Mrs. Fay spent last Saturday peacefully involve parents, carers and families more. As stacking the shelves and we are inching we take forward our programme of closer to opening. What thrilled me was her improvements we are focussing more than comment that several boys, some of whom every building school culture, growing the staff affect a dislike of reading, were electrified by team and establishing even stronger presence of a library in their school: ‘You relationships. mean I can borrow this and, like, read it, Miss?’ was the breathless utterance of one We recently submitted our report to Ofsted in pupil. Our library is at the heart of the response to the monitoring visit. This report is school: a space for being open to and informed by a huge amount of research and sharing ideas and experiences. It is opendata on attitudes to and perceptions of our plan and its shelves serve as a reminder school. Before the Easter holiday I am looking that there should be no barrier to anyone forward to sharing this information with you. In using its volumes or seeking knowledge, the meantime I hope that you enjoy a packed solace, entertainment or information. I can’t issue of our newsletter. wait to see it come to life in the weeks ahead thanks to Mrs. Fay and her band of As ever, if you wish to speak with me, meet with helpers. me or get in touch I look forward to hearing from you.
we are a better school now that we were just over a year ago
Ben Davis, Headteacher
Twitter: @BenDavis1972 God Bless.
Ben Davis, Headteacher
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calendar what’s on
Achievement Points this week St. Benedict St. Francis St. Margaret Clitherow St. Teresa of Calcutta
 
685 679 617 665
Year 12 UCAS Conference
PARENT COUNCIL MEETING 6:00PM
TUE 13
WED 14
THU 15
FRI 16 SAT 17
MON 12
COMING UP THIS WEEK week beginning 12.03.18 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 (February 3rd)
Year 7 Year 8 year 9 year 10 year 11 School
96.0% 94.6% 95.2% 93.3% 93.8% 94.6%
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


Top: Our team came third in the World Book Day Big Book Quiz. Below: Years 10 and 13 at the Lowry watching Brief Encounter.
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This page: Year 12 launching the National Baccalaureate at the Whitworth Art Gallery.
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Top: Year 8 train Y7 in Science club; another great Hot Chocolate Friday recognising pupils who go above and beyond. Below: Year 9 working on their ‘zines with our designer in residence; an Art trip to Blackpool
Top: Celebrating International Women’s Day; the chaplaincy team who led assemblies this week Bottom: Year 11 enjoying a performance of Macbeth 6


PARIS 2018
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Top: Anne Milton, Minister for Skills, visiting the school Bottom: The chaplaincy team at Ash Wednesday.
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TWEET OF THE WEek More
InspiretoAspire @CheshiresDeligh
March 6
More
Fantastic session underway @TheGirlsNet mentor sessions plus interview skills. @MorsonGroup once again thankyou for the oďŹƒce. Inspiring our girls to achieve and aim high 9 #mentoring #Future #Salford @SABSalford @Ambrose6form
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 10