The INFORMATION, ADVICE and GUIDANCE steering group is looking for a couple of new members. So far we comprise students, a governor, head of sixth form, head of careers (now IAG), director of sport, and community cohesion assistant headteacher. However, we think it is very important that we also hear the views of parents about the advice given to their children at key stage transition times and also the support the school can offer parents on this subject.

The group meets once per term on a Thursday at 4.00 pm to discuss an agenda for one hour; the main items for the next meeting are the results of a survey put to students and work experience.

If you would like to join this group we would welcome you at the next meeting on:

THURSDAY 6TH MAY in Meeting Room 1.

Please contact Mrs. A. E. Patterson – 4960026 ext. 207 – if interested.

This is to inform you that from Monday 5th April 2010 the price of a two course meal will be £1.85. This will also be the value of a free meal entitlement. There will be some small increases in the tariff, however there will be a greater variety of nutritionally balanced meal deals available at £1.85.

Our school catering is provided by Gateshead Council’s school meals team, who are nationally recognised for providing quality food and service. Having a freshly cooked meal at school is an excellent choice for pupils at lunchtime and the school hopes you will support our catering service.

If you would like more information about school meals in Gateshead please contact the school meals freephone helpline 0800 1692780 or visit www.gateshead.gov.uk/schoolmeals. If you think you may be entitled to free school meals please contact 0191 433 3729.

Gateshead PCT have recently provided a Health Planner which may be of use to our students.
Please feel free to download it and print it off for reference.

Health Planner (PDF 26KB)

Year 9 Options Information Evening 9th March

7.00p.m. – 8.00p.m.

Parents are invited to our Information Evening on the 9th March where we will explain the variety of options available to students in years 10 and 11. The curriculum now provides a range of exciting opportunities, from GCSE study in new and familiar subjects alongside a range of vocational options. We offer the new Diplomas and courses run in conjunction with college and work-based providers.

Wednesday 24th February
S Band

Tuesday 2nd march
T Band

Parents should now have received appointment sheets for the forthcoming Year 7 parents’ evenings. Please come along to discuss your child’s progress in this important first year at Whickham.

Sixth Form Information Evening (for September 2010 entry)
Tuesday 19th January 2010 at 7.00pm

and

Subject Evening
Tuesday 26th January 2010 4.00pm - 6.00pm

Download 2010 Prospectus (PDF 1.9MB)

Download Sixth Form Courses 2010 (PDF 800KB)

School will close for the festive break on Friday 18th December and we will return on Monday 4th January.

Could parents please return reply slips confirming that their child has permission to leave at 1.45 on that day. School buses will not be available on that day.

School commences on Tuesday 8th September for years 7, 12 and 13 only.

Year 7 will attend all day. Year 12 will attend for the morning only and Year 13 for the afternoon only.

Year 7 should be on site for an 8.50a.m. start and assemble in the Main Hall for 8.55a.m. in the appointed places for their tutor groups.

Year 12 should meet in the 6th Form Common Room for 8.55a.m. to be allocated to their new Tutor Groups by Mr Turnbull.

Year 13 should assemble in the Sixth Form Common Room at 1.05p.m. to register with their tutors.

On Wednesday 9th September, school is open for all students. All students in years 7-11 should go to their tutor groups. Sixth form students should assemble in the main hall.

The summer holidays are an enjoyable time for all our students and we wish all students and staff a wonderful summer break. The increased freedoms can also bring potential dangers and we wish all our students a happy and safe summer break so that they can return refreshed ready for the year ahead.

We have included a copy of a summer safety briefing we received from Northumbria Police that provides some useful advice on how our students can stay safe over the summer holidays.

Download Police Briefing (PPT 545KB)

Dr Seddon outlined a unique opportunity for a student from our current year 9 or year 10 to take part in the prestigious NASA International Space School in October 2009. This will involve a week visit to Florida where students will experience the Kennedy space Centre, the Saturn V launch Simulator and an Astronaut Training Experience. This will be followed by a week at Houston where students will visit the Houston Space Centre and Johnston Space Centre.

The place at ISS is funded by ictGateshead/Gateshead City Learning Centre.

A full outline of the competition is attached to this article. All applicants need to submit their video application by the 2nd July. Good luck.

Competition Information

Year 11 and Years 12 and 13 are now in the final stages of their preparation for this summer’s exams. Easter represents their last break before the examinations begin in earnest. We hope they can use the time to revise thoroughly and carry out the past paper practice that will lead to success this summer.

Many subjects will be providing revision sessions and coursework support over the Easter holidays. Your son or daughter will have been informed where these sessions relate to them.

We hope those students facing public examinations have both a restful and purposeful Easter break, as preparations now can help them cope with the challenges that lie await in the weeks ahead.

11th March
6.00p.m. – 8.00p.m.

The partnership between home and school is crucial in helping our students to achieve success, particularly during this key examination period. To further this, we would like to invite you to an evening on the 11th March where we can share advice and guidance that will help you to support your child as they prepare for their public examinations.

The evening will start with in the Main Hall where the Headteachers, Mr Bleasdale and Mrs Muse, will outline approaches that will lead to examination success. Mrs Patterson, Assistant Headteacher and Examinations Officer, will then provide some important guidance on the examinations process.

You will then have the opportunity to visit up to three less formal workshops that provide a mixture of generic guidance on revision and study skills, along with more subject-specific support. Refreshments will be available so that you can share some of your questions and concerns with fellow parents and members of the Leadership Team.

Tuesday 10th March

Year 9 will soon begin the important process of selecting their course options for years 10 and 11. At Whickham we have a curriculum that was judged outstanding in our last OfSTED report.

A wide variety of academic and vocational courses are offered at Key Stage 4 and at our Information Evening parents will receive information and guidance on the pathways that would best support their child.

Students will receive their own presentation on their Key stage 4 course options earlier at school on the same day.

Parents will have an opportunity to discuss their child’s individual performance at the Parents’ Evening on Thursday 19th March.

Year 11 students and their parents have attended a number of events and evenings to prepare them for the opportunities that await them in the Sixth Form.

In the coming weeks, students will have an interview with members of the Leadership Team to offer guidance on the choices they will make to take best advantage of their post-16 options.

Parents are welcome to attend the interviews and members of the Leadership Team will be coming to Tutor Groups to make appointments.

In January, Year 11 will begin the process of pursuing their post-16 options in the Sixth Form.
Two evenings are planned:

Monday 12th January
Sixth Form Information Evening

Tuesday 20th January
Sixth Form Subjects Evening

At the first evening, parents will receive an overview of Whickham Sixth Form and the wide variety of courses on offer. At the second evening, parents and students are invited to discuss more closely the nature of particular post-16 courses with subject teachers and explore which options would best suit them.

1st October 2008
6.45- 8.45

Parents are warmly invited to attend our Prospective Parents Evening. Guests will gather in the Main Hall where they can listen to musical performances and see visual presentations of the school in action.

At 7.15 the Headteachers, Mr Bleasdale and Mrs Muse will provide a thorough insight into life at the school, covering our academic achievements, our wide range of extra – curricular activities and the caring atmosphere that supports learning.

Mr Grimes and representatives of the Local Authority will be on hand to provide guidance on the admissions process. Mrs Howe, Assistant Headteacher for Additional Educational Needs, will also be available to discuss the support needs for your child.

After the formal presentations, Parents will be taken on a guided tour of the school, led by our new year 7 pupils.

A range of lessons, activities and displays will be available and staff will be present to offer information on their subjects. Refreshments will be available in the staffroom.

Please come along to what promises to be an enjoyable and informative evening.

The deadline for the three Parent Governor vacancies is the 6th October not the 19th November. A copy of the letter informing parents of this change is attached to this article.

Download Letter to Parents

For your diary....

September 11th - Annual Privegiving Ceremony
September 15th - Parents’ Forum
September 25th - Year 11 Parents’ Evening
October 1st - Prospective Parents' Evening
October 14th - Year 7 Meet the Parents
October 20th – 24th Charity Week

The introduction of extensive new buildings means that car parking on our school site is now extremely limited. Many of the overflow spaces used by parents for evening events have been taken by our new Maths buildings.

Parents may wish to consider arrangements for safe pick-ups and drop-offs for evening events or make arrangements for car sharing.

At Whickham School we welcome the involvement of parents and have a Parents’ Forum that meets every half term to discuss a range of school issues and to provide direct input for parents. The Parents’ Forum has provided important contributions to developments such as the school’s ICT policy.

The first meeting of the Parents’ Forum will be held on Monday 15th September at 5.00p.m.

Please contact Mrs Patterson at school on 4960026, extension 221, if you would like to become involved as your input would be much appreciated.

This will take place from 10.00 a.m on Friday 22nd August.
Staff will be available to support students as they finalise their option choices.

Please download the Academic Calendar for 2008-2009

Download Calendar (PDF:20KB)

Find attached a copy of the Headteacher’s latest newsletter, along with important information on changes for the year ahead.

Download Newsletter (PDF: 179KB)

Download Letter to Parents (Word: 30KB)

Wednesday 2nd April

The year 8 Parents’ Evening will go ahead on the above date. Please come along and discuss your son or daughter’s progress with subject teachers. Tutors and Heads of Year. Appointments can be made when your child returns to school on Monday 31st.

The Parents’ Forum is open to ALL parents of Whickham School students. It provides an opportunity to explore a range of issues relating to many aspects of school life. Parents raise the topics they wish to discuss and these issues form the focus for the meetings. We often invite experts to provide wider awareness that enables parents to explore issues in a thorough way. We have recently explored how issues such as whole school ICT and the website, sex education, drugs and alcohol education and social inclusion are approached in school.

The Parents’ Forum meets on the second Monday of each half term between 5.30 and 6.30p.m. Any parents who would like to attend should telephone Alison Patterson on 0191 4960026-ext-221 and leave their name and the name of their son or daughter. They will then receive a copy of the next agenda and a warm welcome at the meeting.

The next meeting is on Monday 10th March.

Year 9 Information Evening
Thursday 6th March 7-8.00p.m.

Year 9 students are about to start the important process of choosing the options for the range of courses they will be following in year 10. Parents are invited to attend their own evening detailing the options process and the opportunities available to students at key stage 4. Year 9 student s will receive their own presentation earlier that school day.

Year 9 Parents’ Evening Wednesday 12th March 4-6.30p.m.

This will take place on Wednesday 12th March between 4.00p.m. and 6.30. As well as providing important information on student progress, there will be options to discuss possible with subject staff and staff representing options new to years 10 and 11.

The final date for the return of options forms is Monday 17th March

Thank you for your support in ensuring that uniform standards in autumn were consistently high. We would like to maintain these standards this term and we would like to remind you of our rules on coats and shoes that can be found in written and visual formats on the parents’ section of the site.

As part of our commitment to safeguarding students on-line, we are becoming aware of the problems caused by cyber-bullying. We would like to share the following tips from the anti-cyberbullying code to offer advice on what to do in the event of threatening or abusive text messages or seeing nasty comments about students or friends on a website:

1.Always respect others- always shows respect tom people and be careful with what you say on-line or what images you send. Always ask permission before you take a photo of someone.

Never forward on a nasty message or picture about someone else.

2.Think before you send- think carefully as what you say or share can be made public quickly and could stay online forever.

3. Treat your password like you toothbrush –Don’t let anyone use you password. It is good practice to change them on a regular basis. Only give your mobile number or personal website address to trusted friends.

4. Block the Bully – most responsible websites and services allow you to block or report someone who is behaving badly.

5. Don’t retaliate or reply! Replying to the bully, particularly in anger, is just what the bully wants.

6. Save the evidence- learn how to keep evidence of messages, pictures or online conversations as they can be used by your school, service provider, mobile pone company or even the police to investigate the cyberbullying.

7. Make sure you tell – you have a right not to be harassed and bullied online.

There are people that can help:

Tell an adult that you trust who can help you to report it to the right place or call a helpline like childline on 0800 1111 in confidence.

• Tell the provider of the service and check their websites on where to report

• Tell your school- your tutor or Head of Year can help.

• If you see cyberbullying going on support the victim and report the bullying

Thank you for your support in ensuring that pupils have started the new school year wearing correct uniform and maintaining the standards that are such an important part of school life here at Whickham. As you know, considerable time was invested in the summer term in ensuring that all students arrived at school in the correct uniform. Throughout this term, we will continue to monitor standards of dress to ensure that all students consistently meet uniform requirements.

Examples of our school uniform are available from this website and a copy of the Headteacher’s autumn uniform letter is available to download.

Uniform Reminder Letter (Word:24KB)

We would like to welcome all new pupils who will be arriving at Whickham School in September. Through Mr Morrison’s visits to local primary Schools, our taster Day, subject visits and a host of other events, we hope that many of you have already had a positive introduction to the school.

A leaflet is provided at the end of this article that offers further information on year 7 at Whickham. Information on uniform is available elsewhere in the Parents’ section of the website.

We wish all our prospective pupils a happy summer break and look forward to seeing you all in September.

Introduction to Year 7 (PDF:51KB)

In June, Mr Morrison wrote to all parents with guidance on school uniform requirements at Whickham School.

A copy of that letter is included to download here to remind parents of the uniform requirements here at Whickham, along with visual guidance on items that are acceptable, and those that are not.

A number of order forms are also attached to enable you to order the relevant items of uniform.

Downloads

Letter to Parents (Word:22KB)

Dress Code - Acceptable Standards (PDF:175KB)

A Level P.E. Order Form 2007 (PDF:85KB)

Years 10/11 P.E. Shirt Order Form 2007 (PDF:72KB)

Girls P.E. Order Form 2007 (PDF:33KB)

BTEC PE Order Form (PDF:85KB)

Following the success of Easter’s Sports Camp, Whickham School and Sports College are delighted to offer a Summer Sports Camp to run for the first two weeks of the summer holidays. Pupils will be able to participate in a wide variety of sports and take full advantage of our high quality equipment and facilities with the benefit of specialist coaching.

Our Easter Sports Camp involved pupils from year 1 all the way up to year 8 and they valued the opportunities to participate in a range of activities. The camp will run from Monday 23rd July until Thurs 2nd August (excluding weekends) and pupils can attend for one or both weeks.

If you would value an active start to the summer, please download the permission letter below.

Permission letter (Word)

As another successful year draws to a close Whickham Sixth Form is turning its attention to enrolment. Over 200 students have indicated that they wish to enrol in August and 2007 promises to be an exciting time for the sixth form.

Whickham Sixth Form prides itself on helping all students achieve their potential. Year 11 students and parents from Whickham and beyond have already had discussions on course selection to ensure that students receive the best advice to help them make choices on the most appropriate courses for study. Further support will be provided at enrolment day itself when those important course choices will be finalised, providing options that engage and challenge and provide opportunities for further success. Even at this early stage, it may be useful for some students to research university entry requirements to address future aspirations.

Sixth Form enrolment takes place between 10am and 1pm on Friday 24th August, the day after GCSE results day. Staff will be available in the main hall to enrol students and discuss options. Please bring along a copy of your GCSE results.

The links below provide further information on the extensive curriculum on offer, entry requirements and the wider life of the Sixth Form. If there are any queries regarding the Sixth Form please do not hesitate to contact Mr Turnbull on 0191 4960026 Ext. 236.

Download Additional Information PowerPoint (120KB)

Check out these links to key information about our school:

School Prospectus and Admissions [PDF 460KB]

School Calendar 2006-2007 [PDF 266KB]

Ofsted Report (23.01.07)