

FAITH IN YOU
LOVE IN LEARNING
HOPE IN BETTER
this week in our school . . .
Volume 4 Issue 24 May 3rd, 2019
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 week. Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week.so much happens that its hard to Some weeks
know where to start. This week was one of is about time of year that I meet those. IItknow thatthis I frequently celebrate our with each Head of Department to review young people in this column (I think its a keythe part summer’s exam of my job to do so), but Iresults. feel it isThis vitalinvolves that in an plenty useful and thought-provoking age where theyofare often presented as a ‘threat’, discussion, but it is usually talking about a ‘problem’ or ‘beings to be managed’, they are numbers and letters. Behind this data are held up as inspiring, capable and hope-filled.
stories: how pupils did, how they felt, what they liked and what they achieved. We The week began with four young people visiting always focus on how things can be us to perform their music. 5West (look out for improved as well as celebrating what went that name in the future) are a new band and St. well. As a Catholic school, exam results are Ambrose Barlow was the scene of their first gig. just one way of expressing the unique, GodOver the course of the morning the hall was filled given talents and skills of each pupil. It is many times over by our pupils who were important to look beyond the data so I am impressed by the quality of the performance on delighted that much more of my job involves display, not least the acapella harmonies that being in classes, walking around the school closed the show.
and talking to pupils, students and staff. They would also have been struck by the way in If ever you are feeling at all despondent or which the four members of the band embodied fatigued I reckon a quick tour of the school the virtues of a rounded education, with their would quickly raise your spirits. Let me ability to speak several languages and play show you what I mean. Today (Thursday, multiple instruments. The band were full of September 29th) for instance, I dropped into compliments for our school, and most Year 10 GCSE Music. There, I was importantly our pupils, who they praised for their delighted to listen to performances of participation, their questioning and their attitudes.
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Hold Back the River and When the Saints Go Marching The nextIn.visitor ourtoschool Greater I alsotogot sit withwas Daniel and Chester Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham who turnedDJing up as they demonstrated their prodigious fresh from the campaign trail to find out about our talents. Next, during lunch, I supervised the DEC! engineering course. pupils who canteen and made The a point of watching the presented to Andy and the many other interactions that take place daily.guests Pupils and from engineering anddoors construction were staff holding open for firms one another, excellent. They were well prepared, articulate, offering thanks, little moments of personal thoughtful and expert. appreciation and gratitude. Of course, things don’t always go well in a school, but it One of them began his presentation byapology veeringfrom is lovely to witness a voluntary off-piste. “I hope you’ve all voted,” he said, a Year 9 to one of the lunch time staff, or before launching into help his pitch and who and is getting in see one pupil another unsure that his where career to goal is to be a political strategist. go for class. Here was a cross-section of young people in our school: In politically engaged, well ainformed, highly Sixth Form, I enjoyed lengthy chat with skilled and capable of seeing the bigger picture. Aidan who explained both the theory of
differentiation and its potential commercial As well application. as welcoming the were school we In guests Englishtothey studying also took pupils out to celebrate their the play Blood Brothers and talking with achievements. time now wesuperstitions; have been humour For and some excitement about undertaking a Designer in Residence in Year 7 RE they were dissecting our new collaboration with Manchester Art Gallery. mission statement and exploring theThis week saw the unveiling of the final piece of work personal meanings within it. School is a busy, bustling, humming place.
at an event that was attended by pupils and I get toas Maths to find all ofthey Year 9 embroiled parents well the artists have worked with.
in a task that is so challenging and exciting thatgroup I wanthad to stay have with a go artist myself. The beenand working Tom Outside it’s: “Sir, have you seen my tie? set. Cockeram on creating a 3D-printed chess Can you open my newsletter bottle? What didquite you do the The pictures in this don’t think of last night’s game? What time it, set final piece of work justice. The finishedischess Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my is a thing of profound beauty. Each pupil days!” It one can or bemore noisyof atthe times and in designed pieces forathe community this size we can’t expect opposing sets, exploring issues of animal everyoneand to get on with each other all extinction endangered species.
the time. But it is our community, and a lively, lovely, positive one at that.
our young people are politically Perhaps the single highlight of my week, if I engaged, and ready had to pick,well wouldinformed be the conversation I hadfor with Mrs. Fay who is leading the transformational development of our newleadership library. I am a library enthusiast and have been ever since Understandably parents and were I was little. Thetheir furthest reach of carers my dazzled by the work they saw and the artists memory is back to moments spent in our and collaborators from the gallery pronounced local library entranced by its colour and it one ofbright the best things they had done. Another possibilities. On Twitter example of young people using their skills #RememberingMyLibrary reveals the holdin new and different ways to engage with real issues.
that such an institution has: ‘A library card was a free pass to wonderment, words and The with choirobserves (which isone growing theweek abilityended to roam theour world’ inuser, number and power) performing ‘Lean on Me’ whilst another quotes the wrought iron asgates part of a service in the chapel in memory of Stalybridge library, ‘Read, Mark, of the victims the terror attacks in Sri talk Lanka. Learn andof Inwardly Digest.’ Others of Present at the service were members the escape that a library representedof orthe of Sri Lankan community from and world. Manchester the refuge it offered fromSalford an unkind universities. It seems no time at all since we came with brothers and sisters from Mrs. together Fay spent lastour Saturday peacefully Eccles Mosque, mourning the loss of life in New stacking the shelves and we are inching Zealand.
closer to opening. What thrilled me was her comment that several boys, some of whom It affect is a poor reflection on the were stateelectrified of our world a dislike of reading, by that within weeks we are marking another presence of a library in their school: ‘You act of terror, ourborrow young this people hope meanbut I can and,can like,find read it, even inMiss?’ such darkness. In this respect they are role was the breathless utterance of one models to the adults who run the world and they pupil. Our library is at the heart of the are more than ready to take on the mantle of school: a space for being open to and leadership whenand it isexperiences. their turn. Far from being sharing ideas It is open‘threats’ or ‘problems’ our young people are plan and its shelves serve as a reminder ‘changemakers.’
that there should be no barrier to anyone using its volumes or seeking knowledge, God bless, solace, entertainment or information. I can’t wait to see it come to life in the weeks Ben Davis ahead thanks to Mrs. Fay and her band of Headteacher helpers. Twitter: @BenDavis1972
Ben Davis, Headteacher
Front cover image: The Girls’ Network celebration Twitter: @BenDavis1972 at Manchester Museum. 2
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calendar what’s on
HOUSE POINTS
Advance Notice Parent Council Meeting, Tuesday, May 14th, 6:15pm
TUE 07 May Early Bank Holiday
WED 08
THU 09
This Week
This Year
St Benedict of Nursia
217
84398222
St. Bernadette of Lourdes
117
8074
St. Francis of Assisi
231
8693
St. Michael the Archangel
177
8482
Saint Oscar Romero
250
8587
St. Teresa of Calcutta
219
8239
FRI 10
Year 13 Leavers’ Assembly
SAT 11
MON 06
COMING UP THIS WEEK week beginning 06.05.19 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 6th)
Year 7 Year 8 year 9 year 10 year 11 School
95.6% 94.9% 94.6% 94.7% 92.5% 94.5%
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
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK
Top: 5West performing on Monday Bottom: Year 9 at the ‘Have a Go’ Event at Salford University with Galliford Try looking at construction jobs.
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer4 Trust fundraiser
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK  
Pictures from the celebration of Design, Engineer, Construct with GM Mayor Andy Burnham.
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer5 Trust fundraiser
AROUND THE SCHOOL THIS WEEK  
Pictures from the celebration of our CCDIR project at Manchester Art Gallery with artist Tom Cockeram.
Top: at the Siemens Rollercoaster Challenge; Below: 6th formers at the Teenage Cancer6 Trust fundraiser
TWEET OF THE WEek More
Simon Donohue @SimonDonohue May 1 Replying to @SABartdesign @SABSalford
A brilliant project and my boy - bottom left - has really enjoyed being part of it.
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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 8