Claires Court Bulletin
JUNIOR BOYS
END OF TERM BULLETIN | Lent Term 2014
Email: dsp@clairescourt.com
Website: http://www.clairescourt.com/news-and-media/bulletins
Location: SL6 3QE for sat nav SL6 4QQ
Phone: 01628 411490
Facebook: facebook.com/clairescourt
Twitter: @clairescourt
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
An Excellent Inspection…March 2014, James Wilding Academic Principal
There is no such thing as an excellent time for a School Inspection. Trust me; put the academic calendar out onto the map table and share the game with colleagues, namely “choose the best week for a school inspection” and 10 teachers will choose entirely different months for the challenge. So when ISI, the Inspectorate charged by DfE with checking ISC accredited schools, rang to tell me we were being inspected on Tuesday 24 March, I was sanguine about the call for our last week of term, and absolutely ‘up’ for the challenge.
The week has now passed, the Inspectorate’s judgements are confidential until published. It’s easy to see why. I have been here already four times as a head teacher, from 1990 it must be said. Data shared during the visit might be inaccurate. Inspectors’ evidence might ‘trim the sails’ so to speak.
But by way of this gentle statement of gratitude, I wish to commend you, our parents and pupils, as well as our visitors for your work. Over 1000 parents and pupils made response to the questionnaire appropriate to them, with some highly supportive statements, whilst of course suggesting to the Inspectorate areas at which they might look further. Those areas are reported as appropriate in the Inspection Report, due to be published in 6 weeks’ time.
And when a school welcomes 15 inspectors to trawl books, visit lessons, check recruitment, quiz children, third degree teachers, check light fittings and ‘elf/safety’ and, above all, live with us for four days uninvited, I feel we are entitled to express a view about that conduct, because it might feel very intrusive. In the case of this Inspection team, not so. Well done ISI, you have had an excellent visit.
FORTHCOMING DATES
Monday 28 April – After School Activity programme begins.
Please see separate sheet in report envelope for Summer Term Important Dates.
Holiday Club + Art & Craft Club and Drama Club Monday 7 to Thursday 17 April at our Girls site. Sports Club at Junior Boys various activities running Tue, Wed and Thu of both weeks - more information.
Sports Club Pre-season Cricket Training on Tuesday 22 April open to girls & boys in Years 4 and above – book now.
PTA
NOTES AND TO DO LIST
School lunches will start on week 1 of the new Summer Menu following the Easter break.
HOUSE NEWS
All the boys have worked very hard this term and the their good behaviour, excellent work and determination on the Sports field has gained them points for their houses.
The house gaining the most points each week have had the privilege of being first to leave the class or first out to break. Fawley have been first most often this term. They also gained the most points from the chess matches.
Clear winners of the overall house matches were Cliveden. However, it was last term's winners Dorney who gained the most points and won by just 31 points ahead of second placed Windsor.
Next term the race starts again but for this term well done Dorney and captains Byron Ewing and Alfie Mifsud.
FROM THE HEAD'S DESK
Another highlight of the term, however, has been our fund raising during Lent. To date we have raised over £5,900 for our three charities and I must thank the boys and all our families for their support in this.
We finished the term with an ISI School Inspection last week, which we are confident went well and which we will be able to report on shortly after Easter.
In the meantime we wish all our families a very happy Easter break and we look forward to the Summer Term on our return.
RABBIT AWARDS
GOOD LUCK TO
Charlie Castle will be competing in the U11 National Badminton Championships at the former Olympic training venue in Redbridge on 6April. It will be a tough competition as he is still a year too young but we wish him well.
MINDLAB NEWS
Congratulations to Alistair Jesseman who through hard work and determination has secured a place at the Mindlab Olympics in May. He will be representing the school playing the game Octi which is very fast-paced requiring very quick thinking skills. Jake Bains-Gillespie and Aditya Singh followed closely behind taking second and third place and the whole class once again displayed positive sportsmanship qualities, throughout the competition.