Week 7 - reflections on Term 1.

Term one is now complete and it is a good opportunity to reflect on the progress that has been made. When I arrived in September, everything was still at the planning stage. However, over the past 7 weeks we have finalised the curriculum with 4 pathways to cater for as many needs and interests as possible. The prospectus is written - it includes an overview of all the courses on offer and also a seperate prospectus about the facilities and opportunities we are offering Post 16 learners. The Open evening is planned and should be a fantastic launch for the opening of the Sixth Form next academic year. The advertisements in the press look great and have already generated interest from outside the school. Mr McCarey is also making a film of our vision for the sixth form which will be shown on the Open evening.

This is a very good school with so much on offer for students and with a great future ahead for all of us. Yesterday Mr McCarey was working on the sixth form film and we had Year 11 students, out of uniform and in lessons. It was a glimpse of the future - to see pupils transforming into young adult students and beginning to take on the challenges of Post 16 learning. I feel honoured and privileged to be part of the growth and development of this school and feel excited by the opportunties we are going to be able to offer the students.

week 6 - Brickwork & Pathways

This week the build has focussed on the brickwork or courses as it is called in the trade - Mr Batty keeps me informed of the key terminology! This is now surrounding the building and each day more and more is evidenced. Looking back over the site photographs really shows how much progress is made on a daily basis.

Yesterday I received the finalised version of the Post 16 Prospectus. This was a momentous occasion as I have spent so much of the past weeks writing, organising, clarifying and confirming the contents. This now reflects and meets the needs and requirements of our students and will provide an exciting range of courses. The Pathways designer, Mr Paul Bradbury has created a very stylish and modern prospectus which outlines all the courses and enrichment opportunities which will be available. This was then sent to the printers for publication.

The arrangements for the Open evening are now finalised and departments are working hard to create stands with information and detail on Post 16 learning opportunities. This is a very exiciting time for the school. Each week we have another course laid and take another step forward

Week 5...the brick work commences

The striking feature of the build this week has been the laying of the bricks on the west elevation of the site. By Friday afternoon the brickwork was already 4 / 5 layers deep and beginning to fill out the gaps between the steel girders. Students in the school are now asking me questions about what it will be like inside and they can see how impressive the size of the building is going to be.

The really good news is that on Sixth Form open evening on Thursday 4th November, 6.30 pm - 8 pm, the site Manager has confirmed that he will be able to give tours inside the build. By then the ground floor will be completed and work will have commenced on the first floor. This will provide a great opportunity for prospective students and their parents to see the extent of the facilities that will be on offer. Combined with the architect's drawings of the build, this will have a significant impact in terms of showcasing what will be on offer next academic year. I have also started to plan for (& buy!) the furnishings for the student social area. Smart, modern, comfortable and colourful to fit the light, airy nature of this environment.

Week 4 - The frame of the building is in place

The builders, led by the ever-efficient James Batty, have worked a small miracle this week. The steel frame for the Sixth Form centre is in place and can give us all a real idea of the size of the building, its shape and its impact on the landscape. It looks fantastic!

The two cranes have looked like a couple of dinosaurs framed gracefully against the sky. We have had a visit from a local primary school recently to see the work in action. It was lovely to see their amazed, up-turned faces watching the dextrity of the machines at work.

In terms of the academic preparation - After consulting the staff and students I have changed the option blocks / subjects to meet their requests and needs. Feedback on these changes has been very supportive so the right decisions have been made. Also, I have now finalised the prospectus and sent it to the designer and printer to work their magic. It will be ready for the Open Evening on Thursday 4th November.

And so another week goes by and the building increases and plans are becoming finalised and the long awaited sixth form is taking shape!