The following message went out to all parents on Friday 14 October:
We are heading towards the end of the half-term and I wanted to drop you an email to give you an update on what has been and what will be.
This email will cover:
* Summer Results 2022
* Curriculum CANVA(s)
* Focus Weeks 2022-2023
* Free School Meals
* Dates for Diary
* Safeguarding Update
* Extra-Curricular Activities
* Energy Costs & School Funding
* Extended School Day
* Shout Out for The Prom
Summer Results 2022
We are heading towards the DfE Performance Tables being published and there is always a fuss about what school X got, what school Y got, etc. Of course, these tables are totally flawed, but they are likely to look very positive for us after our last Y11 and Y13 cohorts – parents too – did an amazing job in the Summer exams. Somehow they did better than our record-breaking 2019 exams and both years of Teacher Grades !
We’ll keep you posted but whatever the school achieves, and though we cannot promise ever higher results very year, we can promise we’ll always be doing our upmost. Within that, parents and families play a massive part in what a child achieves. It is no surprise that the homes who check and encourage homework, get children organised for school, work to help with revision and assessments, and talk up the school and studies, usually produce children who do better and have more options as they move forward in life. Just as it is for us, this is not always easy, but it is 100% worth pursuing.
Curriculum CANVA(s)
We are keen to give you a full insight into all we offer curriculum wise at the school – and though I am proud of my policy document which runs to 36 pages – we wanted a more engaging means of communicating this to you.
Consequently, we have been working on a CANVA presentation which allows you to explore the subject areas and learn from the teachers what is being covered and why. It is continually being updated but can be viewed in its present guise via our website here: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFMAnUfM98/wS1jxZPQ_bKIgFzAOmNGlA/view?website#1:welcome-page.
Focus Weeks 2022-2023
Our Focus Week programme is a weekly schedule which makes sure we cover lots of topics that prepare children for the world around them. We are very much a school that does not just focus on exams; so these weeks will see Mental Health, Healthy Eating, Environmental Protection, Sexual Health, and issues on social equality covered amongst other topics. They also tie in student-led assemblies, debating competitions, research competitions, House charity weeks, and more besides.
They do also create a bit of fuss – at times deliberately so – as we challenge students (and families) to think about more controversial topics. Our ears have only just stopped burning after the Fake News Week at the end of the last term (though I still think those tartan trousers were a good idea ?).
Next week will see Black History Week and I wanted to take a personal lead on this. There is no doubt there is a lot of unfairness in the world and I want our children to reflect on this as they make their way forward. This Focus Week will explain the huge importance of Black History Week, #BLM, etc: especially important in a majority White school where experiences are not always as broad as they could be. However, I also want to flag up other equalities with children to make them think. This will link to other inequalities:
White working class boys are one of the least successful social groups in education; Eg – https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-most-disadvantaged-group-in-britain-white-working-class-men
Women are less likely to get senior promotions; Eg – https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace
Homophobia in the workplace remains a problem; Eg – https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210526-the-risks-of-coming-out-at-work
For some parents these can be controversial issues and by addressing them we are partly resigned to dealing with an upset parent who disagrees with an interpretation their child brings home. I can confirm we are not pushing a message, we are not pushing an agenda, but we are pushing a message of respect, equality and tolerance. This is the school we are and this is what we stand for – and we hope every parent can buy into this. We want our students to see that there are these inequalities and understand that they have a role to play in future society to turn this around. Equally, if your child comes home with a view that you want to challenge then please do that, talk it through, and let’s have that discussion as a means for them to form their own views and expectations: that is, after all, what learning comes from.
Alternatively, the Focus Week after half-term will be on Halloween but we will be connecting in the issue of bereavement and loss. We offer specific support for children who lose loved ones – it is a daily focus for our pastoral provision – but we also want to teach the empathy and resilience to deal with something that is inevitable in life for all of us. This may be tough for some children who have dealt with, or are facing loss, so please be aware of this topic now.
More details on the Focus Weeks can be seen on our website at: https://www.friaryschool.co.uk/focus-weeks/.
Free School Meals
The amazing contribution of you all to Garrick House’s Charity Week – collecting donations for Lichfield Food Bank – was incredible. All of us are well aware that this a tough time for lots of people.
Linking to this, we would like to flag up that there will be families out there whose children qualify for Free School Meals but do not claim them. You can read more about this here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/54693906.
If you believe you may qualify for Free School Meals, but are not sure, feel free to contact us via office@friary.greywoodmst.co.uk and we will help inform you of whether you can apply. This will be entirely confidential and if you child does got on to get them then they automatically go onto their ParentPay account so again it is not publicised. It would also qualify your child for extra revision support, etc.
Dates for Diary
The following dates are worth thinking about as we try and support you and your child moving forward:
* Sat 15 Oct – Y11 Saturday School – Science – Mock Prep
* Thurs 20 Oct – Y9 Partnership Evening – info on the year head as we move towards Pathways Evening in March
* Sat 22 Oct – Y11 Saturday School – English – Mock Prep
* W/B Mon 24 Oct – Half-Term Week
* Sat 5 Nov – Y11 Saturday School – Maths – Mock Prep
* W/B Mon 31 October – Y11 Mock Exam Week (running till 9 Nov)
* Thurs 3 Nov – Y8 Partnership Evening – info on the year ahead
* Tues 8 Nov – Sixth Form Open Evening for Year 11
* Tues 15 Nov – Bags 2 School Collections (send in clothes, etc, for recycling and PTFA funds from previous week)
* Thurs 17 Nov – Y9 Parents Evening – Virtual
* Thurs 24 Nov – Y7 Partnership Evening – info for the year ahead
* Mon 28 Nov – Xmas Carol Concert at Lichfield Cathedral – Free from 7.00-8.00pm
* Thurs 1 Dec – Sat 3 Dec – Grimms’ Tales School Show – tickets via ParentPay
* Fri 16 Dec – Last Day of Term (full day) – returning to school on Tuesday 3 Jan
Safeguarding Update
There is so much stuff going on in society that affects young people that we are going to start sending you information bursts on key topics through the school year. You can choose whether you engage with them or not but in our mind putting the details out there is only a good thing.
We’ll do it via out website but I’ll look to ensure you get them delivered via these messages too.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Our Autumn programme was published some time ago – but we still get the odd parent asking what is on offer. It is updated termly and can be viewed here: https://www.friaryschool.co.uk/extra-curricular/.
There are always other opportunities coming up too which we circulate in school. We have just got an external hockey coach in, we have choir and musician rehearsals for the Xmas Carol Concert and School Show, and the Grimms’ Tales Shows are seeing children back till late most nights. There is always lots going on and it is about home and school working together to get children to sign up and get involved.
Energy Costs & School Funding
Like most people, we are waiting to see what the current government decide with this budget of theirs. Unsurprisingly, our energy cost increases pretty much replicate yours and without extra funding coming in we are having to be frugal with what we do. The recent warmer snap has helped in school but after half-term we can expect cold weather to come in.
We have the added issue of government pay awards for staff – which are vital to retain colleagues (whether they be teachers, TAs, admin, mentors, site team, catering, etc) – but these are currently unfunded too. If we do not pay them we may lose staff, if we do then we have to find the money. We’ll look to pull a rabbit out of hat, but you’ll no doubt be trying to do similar and it isn’t easy to do.
Please be aware that a school jumper, two pairs of tights, etc, may be good calls.
Extended School Day
We will be formally consulting on an extended school day after the government said that all schools needed to provide 32 ½ hrs per week of in school time. We are fractionally below that – but with after-school boosters, clubs, Saturday Schools, Holiday School, etc, we probably go well over. The government believe this will add to COVID catch-up, but the reality for many schools it is just a longer lunch.
Essentially, I am planning that the school day will run form 8.40am to 3.10pm from September 2023. This will see an extra 5mins on tutor time in the morning which will help cover the topics in the Focus Week section of this email.
Legally, we have to do a formal consultation on this so when more detail come out alter in the year you’ll at least know what it is on about.
Shout Out for The Prom
Just looking at our Year 11 cohort, and the current financial climate, we are already thinking ahead for the Year 11 Prom on Tuesday 4 July.
Firstly, we are hoping to get help form any parents out there whoa re hairdressers or beauticians to help us to provide free makeovers for student son their big day. This would be a wonderful gesture – but would also help family budgets and give us an incentive we could offer students to get them to work hard for their exams.
Secondly, if there are any unwanted Prom dresses in good conditions. then we’d gladly take them in as donations. We can work to get their re-fitted but a bank of them would be great.
Finally, if there are any businesses out there who would be prepared to provide sponsorship for the Prom – whether it be for specific items or an overall donation – then we’d love to hear from you.
The Prom is something we dangle with students to entice them to graft through to the summer exams. We do want them to have fun but life is generally more fun if you have a bank of good qualifications behind you so we try to kill two birds with one stone. Any contribution would be sued to increase student s life chances and well-being – it would also be hugely appreciated.
And Finally
Thank you to all parents who have been into school and attended school events. We really appreciate this and the hectic Open Evening and packed Y7 Dedication Service at Lichfield Cathedral only reflected on what a fantastic parent body we have. Again, if our children are to be successful at this school then this joint approach is going to be one of the key factors.
Thanks for your support this first half-term of 2022-2023.
