July 2014 Dear Parents and Carers This year Churchdown School says goodbye to a number of staff who are moving to other posts or retiring from the profession. At the end of July the following staff will be leaving: Sam Howells Robyn Saddington Zoe Forde Karen James English English English Parent Support Bronwen Harvey Lucy Jenkins Annette Donnelly Hillary Hall English ICT Maths Support Sharon Hodgson Jean Capaldi Bill Ballinger Martyn Thomas Deputy Head Librarian Assistant Head Assistant Head Simon Packer Head And in September we will be joined by: Chris Belli Lydia Watson Elizabeth Masonowicz Miriam Davies Headteacher English English English Andrea Barnett Eleanor Thomas Stuart Mays Gemma Collier English Support ICT Maths Jane Smalley Becky Kent Gillian Pickering Maths TA TA We have three members of staff on Maternity Leave: Beth Frampton Raj Khaira Chloe Robinson Science Business Art We have three members of staff joining us temporarily:
(continued) Nicola Bick Richard Griffiths Daniela Trowbridge Business PE Science Several members of our current staff will be taking on new roles in September: Stefan Horton Deputy Head Josie Hilton Assistant Head David Potter Assistant Head Richard Wells Assistant Head John Oliver Head of PE Craig Jones Head of Year 11 Jacqui Tilley Maths TA Tracey Fenton English TA Staff Leaving Lucy Jenkins has been with Churchdown School since September 2005 and has been Deputy Head of ICT and Computing. Lucy has made a significant contribution to the Department which has been very successful during her time at the school. We wish Lucy all the best for the future when taking up her new position at Severn Vale School as Head of Computing and ICT. Bronwen Harvey joined Churchdown School in September 1999 as a Teacher of English. It became quickly evident that Bronwen was an extremely talented teacher and after some initial promotions Bronwen became Head of English, leading the Department through a really successful period. Bronwen is well respected both by the students at the School and her colleagues and most lately has made a real contribution in terms of developing literacy at the School. Bronwen is moving to a school in Worcestershire which is closer to her home and we all wish her well for the future. Hillary Hall joined Churchdown in 1994 as a Specialist teacher of Special Educational Needs. Latterly Hillary has also been Deputy Head of the Support Department and Deputy SENCO. Hillary has been part of the team establishing the excellent reputation of the Support Department at Churchdown School. Many young people have been supported and taught by Hillary and have overcome their difficulties to achieve good results at all levels. Hillary has also led the testing of students within the Department to enable the school to assess need and put in place the appropriate levels of support. We all hope that Hillary enjoys her retirement and thank her for the contribution she has made. Annette Donnelly has been a Teacher of Maths at Churchdown since September 1989. It was not long into her career at Churchdown that Annette was appointed as a Head of Year and she saw a number of year groups through from Year 8 to Year 11. Annette led her last Year 11 group in 2013 which were also our most successful year in terms of examination results. As a Head of Year, Annette always worked tirelessly to support the students in her care and to make sure that they all gave of their best. Bill Ballinger, who has been Assistant Head in charge of Curriculum and Assessment since September 1991, also leaves us this year. Prior to joining Churchdown, Bill had a teaching career based in Sweden, Poland and Indonesia. Many parents have worked with Bill who has been the lead member of the Leadership Team for Key Stage 4 Options trying to ensure that the majority of pupils are able to study their preferred subjects. Bill was also a guiding light in the development of both on-line reporting and giving parents access to the School s database to view live assessment information. We wish Bill all the best in his retirement. Jean Capaldi has been Librarian at Churchdown School since September 1987, but her involvement within Churchdown has gone far wider than just this role. Jean has always ensured that the Library and Learning Centre has been well resourced and able to give access to all students both at lunchtimes and after school. Jean has also been responsible for the production of the Year 11 Leavers Book which has been produced for many years now and something that the leavers value greatly. Jean always invests a great deal of time in the production of this book
making it something that students wish to keep for a long time after they have left Churchdown. Jean will be greatly missed at Churchdown and we wish her well in her retirement. Sharon Hodgson has been my Deputy for the past 10 years and first joined Churchdown School in September 1988 and after a short break in service re-joined the school just after 2000. During her time at Churchdown, Sharon has been Head of Physical Education, a Head of House, an Assistant Head of Year and Assistant Director of Sixth Form, Teacher of History, PE and Vocational Education, the Key Stage 4 Vocational Education Co-ordinator and Assistant Head all before becoming Deputy Head Teacher. Sharon has taken responsibility for ensuring that all pupils are supported through their time at Churchdown School. Sharon has worked particularly with vulnerable youngsters within the School, often helping them through difficult periods in their life. I have heard so many students return to Churchdown and say to Sharon Hodgson, if it wasn t for you Miss, I would never have got through this School. I would like to thank Sharon personally for all the support that she has given me; I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her as my Deputy and wish her every success in the future. The next retirement marks the end of an era at Churchdown School. This year Martyn Thomas retires after 45 years loyal service to this school. Martyn joined Churchdown School on 1 September 1969 and has worked with all four of the Head Teachers who have been in post since the School s opening in 1954. Martyn came to Churchdown School from St Paul s College, Cheltenham, initially as a PE Teacher. After this he soon gained a number of promotions within the school becoming Head of PE, Head of House, and Head of PSCE before becoming a member of the Leadership Team as Assistant Headteacher for Pastoral Care. Martyn is well known in the world of swimming and water polo within the Gloucestershire area and nationally, having represented England and Great Britain at Water Polo for a number of years. Martyn is still listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most capped British player of all time. Since retiring from active participation as a player, Martyn has coached a number of water polo teams, latterly Cheltenham. The Cheltenham Team under his leadership has had many successful years and Martyn has also won the accolade of Coach of the Year within Gloucestershire. Martyn Thomas has made a massive contribution to the quality of education provided by Churchdown. The credibility that he holds with staff, parents and pupils could not be bettered and he is respected by all of the colleagues that he works with. Even though Martyn occupies a senior position within the School where he is often dealing with disciplinary issues, I know that the pupils and parents, who have come into contact with him, would describe him as someone who always demonstrates fairness and consistency. In his 45 years at Churchdown School, Martyn has seen and been involved with much change within education, some of it decided by the school itself and some of it imposed externally by Central Government. Martyn has never feared change and has always worked hard to make sure that any new practices and methodologies that are adopted within this School, are in the best interests of the pupils at the time. He has been a tremendous support to me and the rest of the Leadership Team and will be greatly missed. For years, the name Martyn Thomas has been synonymous with Churchdown School. It is now time for Martyn to enjoy what will no doubt be an active retirement! We wish him well and thank him for all that he has done. The Start of Term
(continued) Monday 1 st and Tuesday 2 nd September 2014 are INSET days and there are no students in school. Wednesday 3 rd September is an Induction Day for Years 7 and 12 only. On Thursday 4 th September 2014 the whole school returns. Uniform Mr Belli has asked me to remind parents about expectations regarding school uniform. Footwear must be traditional school shoes - no trainers of any colour or canvas shoes. Hair must be a natural colour and not of an extreme style. All other uniform rules continue to apply. And finally: This is my last communication with parents and carers as Head of Churchdown School Academy. I would like to thank all of you for your support over the past 17 years and for being part of a successful school community. I am sure that Churchdown will continue to have the excellent reputation it now holds and go from strength to strength under the leadership of Chris Belli. I wish the new head, the pupils, staff and parents every success in the future. Best Wishes Simon Packer Heateacher