Headteacher's Newsletter
June 2021
Welcome Back
I am particularly proud of our Year 11 and 13 students who have been faced throughout the year with huge uncertainty, but have risen to the challenges and I'm sure will all achieve the outcomes they deserve; I have seen first hand how maturely they have taken on the challenges thrown at them and it was so nice to be able to celebrate their time at the school with two small but meaningful events. We are all looking forward to seeing off our Year 11's in style at their end of year leavers party, assuming covid restrictions allow us to do so.
I would also like to make note of our Year 7's. Having effectively finished formal schooling in March of last year and started with us in September, without any meaningful in school transition, the way they have integrated themselves and taken on board the expectations of West Hatch has been so impressive; they are a lovely year group and our Year 7 parents should be exceptionally proud of the maturity, positive attitude and willingness to work hard and learn that they have displayed this year.
There is information in this newsletter which provides you with details about this final half term and about changes for the next academic year. I hope you find it useful and hope that your children enjoy their last weeks with us until the end of the school year.
School Uniform
Amendment to Detention Procedures
You will have already received a longer explanation email regarding this matter but just to summarise the changes that take effect from Monday 14th June.
If a student misses an after school detention twice, this results in a Headteacher’s detention that lasts 90 minutes, which will generally be held on a Tuesday evening.
The second time a pupil incurs a Headteacher’s detention this will become a 2 hour detention (ending at 5pm), while a third Headteacher’s detention will incur an Exclusion.
If a student misses a Headteacher's detention they are immediately Excluded Externally the following day and this will remain on their school record.
Please ensure you remind your children whenever they have a detention so that they have no excuse for missing them. Please remember the school has a legal right to detain students after school without requiring parental consent; we do however want to work with parents to ensure behaviour and conduct at West Hatch is outstanding. Thank you in advance for your support in this matter.
Year 11 into Year 12
A reminder that our Sixth Form Induction Day takes place on Monday 28th June. We are also delighted this year to be able to offer our Year 11 students, who have applied to join our Sixth Form, the opportunity to participate in a week of transition activities. Staff have been asked to focus on those curriculum elements that have been missed or not taught in detail as a result of the lockdown, which will in turn be essential building blocks for their post 16 study.
This Transition Week starts on Tuesday 29th June until the 5th July and is compulsory for all students applying to our Sixth Form. Failure to attend without a good reason could jeopardise your place in September.
Advance Notice of Change to the School Day for September
It is difficult to plan effectively for the next academic year because of the Government's inability to provide schools with adequate notice of their requirements. As a result I have put together a school day that enables us to manage the school normally, but also revert to bubbles, staggered starts etc should the Government require schools to do so. It is unlikely that we will be provided with the information we require from the DfE prior to the summer holidays but I want to give parents as much notice of the schools timings as possible so that you are able to plan accordingly.
Below you will see a picture of the schools timetable for the next academic year. We have continued to have a staggered end to the day as that has helped us manage over 1400 students leaving the school site effectively, however all students will arrive at school at 08:35 unless we are required to stagger starts, at which point the school day for Year 7 and 8 would commence at 08:45. By keeping a longer period 3, it allows us to move to staggered breaks if required, but our plan is to have a number of year groups on break at the same time if bubbles are not required. We will be confirming details of our KS5 morning expectations at the end of this Term, but the expectation currently is that all Year 12 students will arrive at 08:35 daily with Year 13 only required to attend at 08:35 on particular days. Please note that we will be strictly enforcing our punctuality expectations for all students and should they not be in form at 08:35 they will receive an after school detention.
Return to Heads of Year
The House system has become integral to West Hatch and it is certainly not something that I wish to lose. I am also passionate about providing opportunities for our students to meet others in their Houses from different year groups. As a result we will be maintaining our House structure but this will be used for competitions and events across the school rather than our pastoral and behaviour systems. Students will also have the opportunity each half term to work with students from other year groups so that our community feeling is maintained.
I will be announcing the leaders of each Year and House towards the end of this half term.
Sixth Form Prefects
Sixth Form Senior Prefects were recently appointed. They were given the task of submitting a video which highlighted their visions and how they would drive change throughout the school community.
Mrs Sharma and the Sixth Form Team are delighted to be working with them all and we look forward to seeing their ideas and proposals.
Dylan Panesar, Seyon Kuhun and Daisy Corless have been appointed to lead the Community Team. Katherine Taylor, Sharon Mansaray, Shaina Vaghela and Rachel Samuels the Mental Health Team and Talia Panayi and Chloe Playford will be leading the Well-being Team.
Start and End of the Day
A reminder that students should not be on site before 8.20am. It is important that parents support us with this matter to enable us to keep students separate and monitored when on site.
Also, can I please ask when you are waiting to collect your child at the end of school or after extra curricular activities or detentions that you turn your engine off. I have received complaints regarding the number of parents who wait with their engines running, which is not only dangerous for the environment but also to your children's and others health.
Chigwell Parade Green
The play park on the green is for students who are of primary school age, and our students must therefore not enter this area. I expect everyone in our community to act respectfully, including using appropriate language and leaving an area as they find it, for example clearing up litter when they leave. Myself and other members of staff will be attending the park periodically after school to ensure our students are behaving appropriately. We have been advised that students from other schools may also be behaving inappropriately in the park, and we have advised the Chigwell Parish Council of this.
Can you please support us in this matter and reinforce our expectations with your children.
Jenna's Garden
Art Course with Sparks
Please find attached a flyer regarding a therapeutic art course Sparks are running in June.
Important Dates for the Diary
Thursday 17th June - Yr.12 Parents Evening online - appointments only.
Wednesday 23rd June - School Closed - Inset Day
Thursday 24th June - Yr.11 Leavers Party
Monday 28th June - Yr.11 into 12 Induction Day
Tuesday 29th June - 5th July - Yr.11 into 12 Transition Week
Tuesday 20th July - break up for Summer
Students' Achievements
Amber Higgs-Smith (Yr.7)
Amber competed for the first time in May in the 400g Javelin competition at Woodgreen and Essex Ladies Open. Her best throw was at a distance of 11.29m, and she came 2nd for the girl's under 13 age category. She also took part in the 1200 metres coming 4th in the under 13 girl's category. Well done Amber.
Amber also competed in her first virtual swimming competition where she competed in 50m fly, breaststroke and backstroke, where she acheived all pbs in all events knocking off 9 seconds over all. Great work Amber.
Navine Sureshan (Yr.7)
Navine is having a great deal of success outside of school with Cricket. He started to play cricket at the age of 7, and was selected by the London School and awarded Best Bowler. He was scouted for Essex when he was 10 and was nominated as ‘Colt of the Year’ . He is currently playing for under 13’s and Under 15’s. Keep up the great work Navine.
Bjorn Marwa (Yr. 8)
After a series of auditions, Bjorn was chosen for the Euro 2021 Sports Direct Commercial. Bjorn got to work with some footballing greats and had a brilliant day filming a series of scenes. What a fantastic opportunity. Click on the link below to view the commercial. Just A Game?! | Sports Direct Euro 2020 Advert
Bjorn with Eric Cantana
Jackson Nsofor (Yr.8)
Finally...
The narrative of doom and gloom around school perpetuated by the media is not what I see on a daily basis. Yes some children will have some gaps in their knowledge because of the pandemic but they also have ample time, should they use it effectively, to close those gaps and achieve well in the future. What I have seen this year is a student body who can adapt to difficult circumstances and bounce back quickly. There have been a number of students who have struggled as a result of the lockdowns and we have put a range of provisions in place to support them, including employing additional counsellors this year to help us cope with the increasing numbers needing support. I am confident however that our students are being supported to develop the strategies they need to be successful both academically and personally, and I hope that next year we will be able to return to some semblance of normality in school.
Once again I'd like to thank you all for your continued support this year.
Daniel Leonard
Headetacher