The Courier

The Crescent School teaches lifelong learning skills that help children navigate their future careers. The school recognises that the ongoing pursuit of knowledge for personal or professional reasons ensures self-sustainability in children’s post school lives out in the working world. Naturally that philosophy extends to the staff here at the school too so we are delighted to congratulate Mrs Forth and Mrs Lowe who have both recently completed qualifications.

Deputy Head, Mrs Bryony Forth has been awarded the NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship).  A pre-requisite for a future head teacher, the qualification develops senior leadership knowledge and skills, including modules such as excellence in teaching as well as strategic, organisational and business skills.  Mrs Forth commented, “At the core of this qualification is the ethos – how will it benefit the school? – that challenge ran through all of the modules I studied. I found the course fascinating and in the future I would like to be a headteacher.” Crescent is already seeing the benefit of Mrs Forth’s studies as her Happier Lunchtimes initiative was just one of the projects she completed as part of her course. 

Mrs Sarah Lowe, Senior Teacher, has also just completed the AMDIS (The Association for Admissions, Marketing and Development in Independent Schools) Level 2 Diploma in Schools Marketing.  Her course has developed her analytical and creative skills. She commented, “It has taken me 18 months to complete the course, but it has been really interesting and made me think out of the box.  The marketing skills I have learnt are very transferable and I find I am using them at school in a variety of different ways. One of the projects I completed was based around the Junior da Vinci initiative.”    

Headteacher, Joe Thackway, commented, “The staff here are passionate about learning so I was not at all surprised to hear that Mrs Forth and Mrs Lowe have been practising what they preach.  I am delighted that they have successfully completed their qualifications and congratulate them both.  Their new skills are already delivering tangible benefits to the Crescent.”

Earlier this month George and Oliver Bell took part in the UK Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge.  George competed in the 8-10 year old Castors category together with 7,500 other children. He was one of only nine children to gain full marks.

Oliver joined 41,000 children in the Junior category for 10-12 year olds.  His mark was one of the top 60 results and he has been invited to compete in the second stage of the challenge which will be held next term at the University of Oxford.

The skills being developed at Crescent School certainly helped them during the challenge. The computational tasks they faced were based on problems that Computer Scientists often meet, they didn't require prior knowledge just logical thinking.

Crescent School will shortly be acknowledged next to Oliver's name on the '2017 Hall of Fame' page of the Bebras website (http://www.bebras.uk/hall-of-fame.html).

We are extremely proud to have our name associated with their success and extend our sincere congratulations. 

Thank you to all who contributed to this year's Poppy Appeal.  With your help we raised £321.18.

The Christmas Post Box is now open and will remain located in the pupil entrance until 19 December. 

Class VI Christmas helpers welcome all Christmas Cards here, where they are stamped and posted every morning from 8.15am - 8.40am.  Please ensure that all cards have the full name and class otherwise they may not reach their correct destination.

Lessons will not be disturbed by the giving out of Christmas Cards and all the children will receive a lovely bundle from the Class VI Christmas elves on the final day of term.

All we ask is a 1p donation for each card that goes to this term's charity.