Newsletter Issue 6 Summer 2016

Contents:

Year 10 Geography Field Trip

PCHS EU Referendum

Year 9 Science Competitions

Sports News Roundup

Annual Sports Awards

Year 11 Prom at Matfen Hall

Year 9 & 10 Awards Evening

Year 12 ‘Shine’ Awards

Year 11 into 12 Taster Days

Year 13 Leavers Prom

Year 8 Transition Day

Sensory Spaces Workshop

Special Relativity Lecture

Germany Music Trip

World of Work Event

Results Days & Sixth Form Enrolment

New Term Information

Child Safety Online

Year 10 Geography – Fieldtrip to River Coquet At the beginning of this term our intrepid Year 10 Geography students set off for their GCSE fieldwork to the Coquet Valley in Northumberland. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the River Coquet changes as it moves downstream. The students visited three sites along the River to take measurements for this comparison.

All three days were a success with good weather and as you can see, most of the students took the opportunity to get fully immersed in the river. Now the students have returned to school they are concentrating on writing up the results from the trip for their Controlled Assessment which is worth 25% of their GCSE Grade.

T Pollock – Subject Lead Humanities

PCHS Voted Remain in EU Referendum

Our students took part in a vote on EU Referendum Day Thursday 23 June. Students were invited to vote for either Leave or Remain during the course of the school day and post their ballots in the boxes in the main school hall. The final count showed that the majority of PCHS students voted they wished to remain in the EU with 75% of the overall votes.

Year 9 Science Bright Ideas Challenge Finals in London

Team 'Oasis Tech' aka Jospeh Traill, Arran McDonald and Ben Russell made their way to Make the Future London National finals after having great success winning the North East Regional Shell Bright Ideas Challenge. The team were able to meet football legend Pelé and check out the Shell Eco marathon, they enjoyed getting involved with many other activities the event had to offer. We are very proud of the team, they are outstanding science ambassadors representing not only Prudhoe Community High School, but the whole of the North East!

The Big Bang

After receiving their Crest awards for their Bee projects the team, consisting of Maisie James, Molly Lee, Louis Smith, Nathan Moore, Sam Henderson, Thomas Gardner, Kelsey Rendle and Emily Chamberlain, set off to the Big Bang North East Science and Engineering competition at Northumbria University. They had to present their project to many judges and were faced with gruelling questions for two hours. However the team handled this perfectly showing not only great knowledge and understanding but also great team work, energy and enthusiasm to win the judges over. They won an 'Excellence in Science' award receiving a trophy, and they were selected to represent the North East at the Big Bang National Finals in Birmingham in March 2017. K Earl – Teacher of Science Another exceptional achievement for the students and PCHS.

Sports Roundup

Girls Cricket On Tuesday 7 June the U15 girls’ cricket team travelled to Benwell Hill Cricket Club to take part in the North East Cricket Tournament. The team, who have been training hard every Tuesday evening with sixth form coach Emily Ward, played a total of five games before finishing top of their group, qualifying for the semi-final. The girls were unfortunately defeated by John Spence High School but went on to secure 3rd place by beating Ponteland High School in a tough final match. The girls played excellently all day and it was brilliant to see some of our new cricketers getting involved in their first serious tournament. Player of the match goes to Mollie Hails.

Girls’ cricket club is on a Tuesday night after school and is coached by sixth formers Emily Ward and Beth Veal.

Athletics The following students represented the school and came 3rd in the Tyne and Wear School Girls Sports Association Annual Athletics competition at Monkton Stadium. Standout performances were from Louise Smith - who was the highest points scorer on the day competing in 200m and Long Jump, Jasmine Couchman ran an excellent race and obtained a PB in 1500m and Keely French who won 800m. The relay team also destroyed the field! Congratulations and well done! Louise Smith Keely French Jasmine Counchman Lia Wilson Emma Rankin Emily White Natasha Schaefer Erin Newton Molly Hails

G Hudspith – Assistant Subject Lead PE

Touch Rugby Tournament

On Tuesday 5 July PCHS rugby team were invited to a touch rugby festival on Tynemouth Longsands beach. The tournament was ran by the RFU who were well prepared for the 35 different teams taking part. We were paired with our neighbouring club, Tynedale rugby who were responsible for making sure we were happy with the rules of the festival and knew where both of our teams were playing.

The girls were split into two teams and played a total of five different matches over the day. Both teams won four matches and conceded one. Player of the pink team went to Maisie James for her fearless attitude and leadership skills throughout. Player of the green team went to Faye Wheatley for relentless running throughout all five matches.

The PE department would like to congratulate and wish good luck to a number of the girls who were scouted to go along taster session at Tynedale rugby club this Thursday. Girls rugby will start up again on Monday after school in September.

R McDonald – PE Teacher

Sports Awards Evening

We were extremely excited about this celebration of achievement and delighted so many of you could attend to enjoy this special occasion. We have a proud sporting record here at PCHS and this year has been no exception. The efforts of our teams have once again been exceptional and those involved in the Sports Leadership Awards have been outstanding. We would like to thank everyone who has supported the department and students this year.

We congratulate all the nominee and winners of all our catagories and have included some of the Special Award nominees below.

The PE Department

Year 11 Prom at Matfen Hall

Debbie Young Photography

Breaking with the long tradition of hosting the Prom in the school gymnasium, the prom committee plumped for Matfen Hall Hotel as the chosen venue this year and what a success it was! The evening began with a reception and photographs at the Fuse Media centre before buses departed for Matfen. Everyone looked fantastic (and incredibly sophisticated) and the huge crowd of parents, grandparents and students past and present who gathered to see the students made them feel like celebrities! The evening in the East Wing at Matfen was superb, with photos, awards, a buffet and a disco in the Vault Bar. Fortunately, (and rather unusually for this year) the weather was fine so we were also able to enjoy the wonderful gardens and grounds. A fantastic evening was had by all! J Davidson – Head of Achievement & Learning Year 11

Photographs can be viewed on www.debbieyoungphotography.com On Debbie Young’s home webpage there is a ‘Click Here’ for Client Galleries, there is a file named PCHS Prom July 2016 & you will be prompted to enter the password that can be accessed via the Prom Committee Members or from our Main Office at school. Parents and students can purchase images directly from the website.

Year 9 & 10 Awards Evening

Wednesday 10 July saw parents and students invited to take part in our Year Celebration Awards Evening in the Main Hall. Our congratulations go to all our awards winners and all students for a fantastic year of hard work.

G Marshall – Head of Achievement & Learning Year 9

Year 9 Award Winners 100% Attendance HAL Award

Year 10 Awards Geography Awards Head of Year Award

Year 12 Awards Celebration Year 12 celebrated a successful year of achievement during their first year of Post 16 Study with during their ‘Shine’ Assembly on Tuesday 12 July. Awards were given to students who have shown exceptional achievement, dedication, commitment to the school and hard work for each subject area. Lucky winners were presented with a WHSmith voucher.

D Blight – Head of Sixth Form

Year 11 into 12 Taster Days It was fabulous to see so many of our Year 11 students back in school for our Sixth Form Taster Days. This year, they were joined by Stewart and Tony from "Tree of Knowledge" who delivered some funny, lively and highly engaging workshops around the concepts of "Growth Mindset" and "Inspiring Futures" to support the transition the students will make from Year 11 into Year 12.

Students were overwhelmingly positive about the event. One said "I enjoyed today. It was "fantastic". It was engaging and I learnt a lot. I enjoyed the iceberg concept and it gave me an in depth look into the mind. I have learnt to have more self belief". Another said "This morning's session was great. Stewart was a great motivational speaker. I have learnt that I can do anything if I put my mind to it". On the Tuesday, students attended taster sessions for the subjects they are considering studying at Post 16. We wish all Year 11 students good luck for their exam results in the summer. K Williams – Assistant Head

Year 13 Leavers Prom

It is that sad but positive time of year when we say goodbye to our Year 13 students as they leave for adventures new. The Year 13 Committee organised a Leavers Prom on Friday 27 May where students and staff were invited to get together and celebrate five years of being part of a brilliant year group at PCHS. We would like to convey to all our students our good wishes for the future wherever your life may may lead you, and please keep in touch with your achievements for our Alumni booklet.

Our thanks go to the ‘PictureBook Party Booth’ for the prom photos, of which students had copies.

Year 8 Transition Day

On Wednesday 6 July we welcomed students from our feeder Middle Schools arriving bright and early to meet up with friends in the main hall and be allocated to a group to work with Sixth Form Abassadors and Teaching Staff for the day. There was an excellent variety of lessons on offer throughout the day, with lots of involvement, problem solving and team work. The Year 8 students were fantastic and we hope that they are looking forward to joining us full time in our new school on Wednesday 5 September.

In Engineering we made wrist bands

In Science we experimented with chemicals and made ‘Rainbow Reactions’.

J Davidson – Head of Achievement & Learning Year 9 September 2016

Sensory Spaces Workshop – Year 10 Health & Social Care

On 6 July the Health & Social Care students participated in a ‘Communicating with Adults and Children with Communication Difficulties’ workshop in the LRC. The workshop was lead by Martine Dellard, Director of Sensory Spaces. The company is “a travelling multi-sensory resource for children with disabilities, their families and friends which includes music, storytelling and creative play”. The students immersed themselves into the activities and were fantastic!

R Buchanan – Subject Lead Health & Social Care

Special Relativity Lecture – A Level Physics

On Thursday 7 July we welcomed Professor Ian Moss a cosmologist from Newcastle University to the Physics Department. Professor Moss gave an interactive and informative lecture on Einstein’s Special Relativity to the Year 12 physicists which is a vital area of study during their final year of Physics.

D Blight – Head of Sixth Form

“Sichere Reisen!” - Germany Music Trip It was a very excited group of Swing Band members and supporting students who arrived at FUSE Media centre for a midnight departure on Thursday 14 July. Students were all happy and well prepared with cosy blankets, pillows and dressed in a stylish range of loungewear ready for their overnight coach trip to Dover . They are travelling by coach and ferry to Boppard in the Upper Rhineland Valley in Germany for a five day tour and we know they will be excellent ambassadors for our school.

World of Work – Year 10

On Thursday 14 July we started our WOW event by welcoming Steve from Teeside University to work with Year 10 students in the FUSE. Students were introduced to business start up and team work ‘Apprentice Style’. Students worked together in groups to brainstorm and develop their ideas, film a short advertisement video for their product, and then present a 60 second pitch to an audience about their idea and products. There was a £20 Amazon voucher each prize for the best app and the lucky winners were the group that developed a ‘Personalised Car Alarm App’. Our thanks go to Steve and Teeside University for their time, support and kind donation of the prizes.

It has been an extremely busy and exciting half term here at PCHS. This half term has seen many celebration events take place reflecting our students talents, skills and achievements. Our Sports Awards and Year 9, 10 and 11 Awards evening were really well attended and it was wonderful to reflect on what has been a very successful year for our young people. Our School Hall stage saw the Year 12 Cambridge Technical Performing Arts students produce, direct and perform ‘Titus Andronicus’ as our farewell production. The next evening over 300 ex-staff and students paid a final visit to PCHS, it was an opportunity to share memories, stories, and to reminisce about school days. Recently our Year 9 Science Club have made a real name for themselves, some of the group winning the North East regional Shell Bright Ideas Challenge and another group representing the North East in the Big Bang national finals in Birmingham. A huge well done to our young scientists! In terms of staffing: Alex Lewis leaves us after fifteen years of service to the school. Paul Keast from Maths is moving on too. James Tate will replace Alex in Music. Keith Purvis joins us in Maths from Whickham, and Richard Milner will be doing Kayleigh Rainbow’s maternity cover. Nathan Screaton will be joining us to teach History and Sociology and Gill Hudspith will be acting Assistant Headteacher. Jose Del Pino will be joining Modern Foreign Languages and Jack Ramsay, IT Technician will be transitioning to Elisabeth Rowe. Whilst writing this our Year 12 students are out at Sunderland University, Year 10 are taking part in Careers week (World of Work), and Year 9 are taking part in various activities. We have trips out to South Africa, France and Germany. We are surrounded by a sea of purple packing crates as staff in all areas of the school are proficiently packing away everything to move to our new school building; furniture is being labelled and colour coded for decant. It has been a mammoth task packing and labelling but everyone has risen to the challenge and we are excited about moving into our new school, and to opening the next chapter in the school’s life.

For your information, we shall have no phone lines from 21 July to 9 August during the furniture decant period. Should you have an emergency and need to contact us this can be done via enquiries@pchs.org.uk . We also have a school mobile 07908 582852 which should only be used in an emergency and if your communication will not wait until 9 August. We shall try to keep you updated and informed should we, for unforeseen circumstances, not be able to start as scheduled with Year 9 on 7 September, so please keep watching our website for details. Start dates for all year groups are listed on the next page of this newsletter.

Our Shadow Governing Body have provided an update on the work of the Governing Body over the last two terms. A summary of which is available on the Governance page of the school website should you wish to read it. We wish everyone a pleasant summer and look forward to seeing students on Results Days for A level and GCSE on 18 August and 25 August respectively. Remember there will be no car parking available on the school’s site, so please park considerately on Moor Road.

D Reeman - Headteacher

Exam Results & Sixth Form Enrolment Days

The venue for results days will be our new school! Parking will be strictly limited on site, so please park considerately on Moor Road.

NB: If there are any changes we shall contact you via Schoolcomms and post updates on our Facebook page and website.

Going on holiday over results days? Please pick up and complete an ‘Alternative Issue of Results Form’ from the Exams Office and return to school before Tuesday 20 July. Exam results can only be emailed or collected by a thrid part if a form with student authorisation has been completed. Results will not be given out over the phone under any circumstances.

Start dates September 2016 Year 9: Wednesday 7 September Year 10: Thursday 8 September Year 11: Thursday 8 September Year 12 Wednesday 7 September Induction Day

Thursday 8 and Friday 9 September Reading Days Monday 12 September Timetabled Lessons

Year 13: Friday 9 September

Prudhoe Community High School Moor Road

Prudhoe Northumberland

NE42 5LJ

Tel: 01661 832486 Fax: 01661 832859

Web: www.pchs.org.uk

Excellence in all we do