🔹Principal’s Update
Thank You for a Successful Re-sit Week
Happy Monday, everyone!
Last week saw the successful completion of English and Mathematics resit exams. A major logistical effort and a true test of resilience for both staff and students. A heartfelt thank you to all academic and support staff who made it possible for students to sit their exams smoothly.
Attendance was excellent, with 95% turnout for the Mathematics paper. We’re still confirming the English attendance figure from Friday, but early signs are promising. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for strong results and hope the exam boards maintain consistent grade boundaries this year.
Paul Bisson has written some fascinating research on the psychological impact of resits on students. I look forward to reading it and will ask him to share key findings with staff soon.
🧩 Focus on Special Educational Needs
This Wednesday, the Senior Leadership Team will be focusing on Special Educational Needs (SEND). Desiree will present an update on the progress of students receiving support, whether through one-to-one assistance, in-class support, regular check-ins, or use of assistive technology.
The college continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students with additional needs. This is a part of our work I’m especially proud of.
🔄 Succession Planning Update
Today, I’ll be meeting with Tyler to review the final succession planning submissions. Some returns came in late last week, so expect a follow-up communication tomorrow outlining next steps.
🏛️ Governance and Delegation Conference
This week, Kate Hobbs, Rob Moy, several governors, and I will attend a conference on a new draft delegation scheme from CYPES. The aim is to clarify the roles and responsibilities between governing bodies, CYPES, and the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning.
📅 Final Governing Body Meeting – Thursday 12 June
Our final full Governing Body meeting of the academic year takes place this Thursday from 4:00–6:00pm. Key agenda items include:
- Summary reports from the Finance & Risk and Quality Standards & Safeguarding subcommittees
- A website demonstration by Jessica Tidswell (launching end of June)
- A draft of the updated Strategic Plan, which was delayed due to cost issues with the original publisher
- A follow-up session on the delegation scheme
- My Principal’s Report
🎉 Sixth Form Festival – This Friday!
I’m really looking forward to the Sixth Form Festival this Friday from 12:00–2:30pm. Huge thanks to Celina Crenan and the Marketing & Events team, with support from Eileen Buicke-Kelly, for their months of hard work. Let’s hope for sunshine and a fantastic celebration for our students!
👏 Celebrating Our Events Team
While preparing my Principal’s Report, I was amazed to see that our Events Team has delivered 130 events this year! This incredible effort, supported by our caretaking and technician teams, not only enhances our community reputation but also brings in valuable income.
Special thanks to Celina Crenan for her proactive and professional approach to customer service. The positive feedback has been overwhelming—well done, Celina!
📆 Looking Ahead: Final Five Weeks
With just five weeks left in the term, we’re entering a busy period. Alongside final examinations and coursework submissions, we’re also preparing for the next academic year.
Stuart, Philip, and the Teaching & Learning Development Team have created an exciting programme of online and in-person training. Please make every effort to attend sessions you’ve accepted—or send apologies if you’re unable to. We’re fortunate to have 10 dedicated training days annually—far more than the three typically offered in schools.
🚨 Student Progression Update
Heather Audoire has reported that 27 students are currently at risk of not completing their full-time courses. This highlights just how crucial our final weeks of teaching and support will be.
💬 Final Thoughts
I hope this week brings you progress, positivity, and a sense of accomplishment as we move toward the successful conclusion of another academic year.
With very best wishes,
Jo