Headmaster's Message
Dear Parents
Earlier in the week we welcomed our trustees in to the school for an important meeting of the Education and Staffing Committee. This is a chance for the trustees to look in some detail at various different aspects of our provision, with an emphasis on teaching and learning and the curriculum. We had reports, both written and verbal, submitted from various members of staff with a wide range of responsibilities in the school, including pre-prep, learning support, RE, co-curricular, Year 7 transfer and the broader area of curriculum management. These reports are then examined by the trustees and this provoked some interesting and useful discussions in a whole range of areas. We are fortunate to have a strong governing body, both here at Crescent and in the Foundation more broadly. They play an invaluable role in setting and maintaining the highest possible standards and I see them very much as a 'critical friend'. They were all very excited about everything they heard and gave us lots of positive and very welcome feedback, as well as ideas for further development.
One important new initiative we talked about was the school's new ethos and aims policy that we have been reviewing and, in particular, the new 'School Promise'. This is a long-standing tradition in the school that we have been talking about with the children and working on with the School Council. We will have a finished product ready very soon and I intend to launch it to parents and children early next term in assemblies and a parents' meeting. Keep an eye out for the date in next term's calendar.
Before the trustees came, in assembly, I warned the children to be on best behaviour and if they saw any trustee-type looking people to be extra polite and show them our lovely Crescent manners. As you would expect, they did exactly that; opening doors, standing aside in the corridor, bidding good afternoon. Short of bowing down before them or tugging forelocks, I could not have asked for more. They did everything they could to give a good impression so thank you children.
I am particularly looking forward to next Monday's Mastery Day. There is more information about this in the Courier and it is sure to be a really exciting way to extend the children's learning and encourage the children to go beyond the tried-and-tested. We are crashing the timetable, mixing up the classes and there will be challenges and puzzles for the children to attack and explore. It sounds like a great way to spend a Monday so be sure to ask your children all about it if you get the chance.
I hope you are all enjoying the ever-expanding Courier and I would encourage you to take the time to have a look at all of the links and articles that are on offer. They are intended to be of interest but also practical and there is sure to be information in there that you will need to know to help and support your child in school.
Have a great weekend.
One important new initiative we talked about was the school's new ethos and aims policy that we have been reviewing and, in particular, the new 'School Promise'. This is a long-standing tradition in the school that we have been talking about with the children and working on with the School Council. We will have a finished product ready very soon and I intend to launch it to parents and children early next term in assemblies and a parents' meeting. Keep an eye out for the date in next term's calendar.
Before the trustees came, in assembly, I warned the children to be on best behaviour and if they saw any trustee-type looking people to be extra polite and show them our lovely Crescent manners. As you would expect, they did exactly that; opening doors, standing aside in the corridor, bidding good afternoon. Short of bowing down before them or tugging forelocks, I could not have asked for more. They did everything they could to give a good impression so thank you children.
I am particularly looking forward to next Monday's Mastery Day. There is more information about this in the Courier and it is sure to be a really exciting way to extend the children's learning and encourage the children to go beyond the tried-and-tested. We are crashing the timetable, mixing up the classes and there will be challenges and puzzles for the children to attack and explore. It sounds like a great way to spend a Monday so be sure to ask your children all about it if you get the chance.
I hope you are all enjoying the ever-expanding Courier and I would encourage you to take the time to have a look at all of the links and articles that are on offer. They are intended to be of interest but also practical and there is sure to be information in there that you will need to know to help and support your child in school.
Have a great weekend.
Joe Thackway
Headmaster
