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Half Term Update

Dear Parent/Carers

As we near the end of this first half term of 2022-23, I wanted to write to express how well I feel our pupils have started the new school year.

Things got off to a very good start as we recorded another strong set of GCSE outcomes in August and this always sets the tone for what is to follow.  We are very proud of our pupils’ achievements in their GCSEs.  As a year group they worked incredibly hard and there were some exceptional individual performances too.  Our performances compare very favourably to both the local and national picture and we are committed to continuing to help our pupils to achieve the very best outcomes that they can.

The current Y11 seem to have settled quickly and have been making the most of the study skills and other after school sessions that have begun.  I would encourage all year 11s to fully embrace the range of revision and extra support sessions which will be available in the weeks leading up to the mock exams which begin on November 21st.  The mocks will be a strong indicator of progress and will prompt further interventions.

The new Y7 cohort have begun life at St Mary’s most impressively.  It had been wonderful to see them adapting to life at secondary school so quickly and positively.

The deadline for secondary school applications is fast approaching and our Open Evening and mornings have now concluded.  I was so proud of our school and of all of the pupils who volunteered to help either as tour guides or within departments (400+)!  Our pupils were brilliant ambassadors for St Mary’s and the feedback we received from visitors and prospective parents was overwhelmingly positive.  Additional open mornings had to be added to cope with demand, all of which continues to bode well for the future of our school.

In addition to the above, we have packed quite a lot of enrichment into the first half term, including an expansive range of PE/sport fixtures, training sessions and tournaments in Football, Rugby, Hockey and Netball.  We are also very much looking forward to our production ‘School of Rock’ early next year for which parts have been cast and rehearsals now up and running.

We also continue to raise much-needed funds for Cafod through the last non-uniform day and I wanted to thank you for your support with this.

I have enjoyed visiting the lessons of all year groups since September and I will be doing much more of this in the lead up to Christmas as we embark on our Departmental Reviews.

There is much to look forward to, but for now I wish you a restful and enjoyable half term and I look forward to working with you and your children upon our return.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Stuart Wetson
Headteacher