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I’d like to begin by wishing you a happy and successful new year. 2012 promises to be a very exciting year for Sedgehill School. We were both pleased and relieved to finish last term with a successful visit from Ofsted where the school’s many improvements were recognised and its strengths praised. You can read the full report via the link on the website; a few of the highlights were:

'An orderly and supportive community'

'Has a strong commitment to the personal development of students and to their welfare, guidance and support'

'The quality of care, guidance and support in the sixth form is a strength'

'The new, purpose built secure school accomodation helps ensure students are safe on a daily basis'

'The learning environment is enhanced by very good teaching and learning resources, including good information and communication technology equipment and a well-equipped learning resource centre.'

'The good provision for students' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, coupled with the effectiveness of care, guidance and support, results in a harmonious and caring school community.'

'Activities allow students to develop a range of personal life skills including problem-solving, teamworking and risk-assessment. As a result, students are confident and better-prepared for the world of work.'

'The innovative approach to the key stage 3 curriculum through 'baccalaureate' lessons, where the emphasis is on developing a set of skills, allows students to complete themed learning tasks and to acquire the necessary skills to prepare them better for key stage 4’.

The Fulham FC development centre started its first coaching sessions at our floodlit Astroturf pitch with a range of young people from all over Lewisham last half term. Our partnership with Fulham is one of our most exciting developments for the coming year and, again, there will be more information about our partnership during our sixth form open evening. Trials for next year’s Fulham Sports Foundation places in the sixth form will take place in February and will include a fitness test and an academic interview. There will be 22 places in next year’s sixth form for students seeking to combine professional coaching with their academic studies.

Parents liked the way the school kept in touch with them and were enthusiastic about the way the school’s Virtual Learning Environment, Fronter, was being used to set homework. We are looking forward to starting to use Parent Mail in the coming weeks. This system means that all letters from school are e-mailed to families to ensure they get all communications. Our new school newsletter will also come out via parent mail. We are also looking to build on the work that we do with families by developing a more formal PTA. Currently we have a Parents’ Forum once every month but many parents have expressed an interest in becoming even more involved in school. Our next Parents' Forum will be looking at developing a PTA—again, all interested parents are welcome.

As always this is a very busy half term with January GCSE and GCE exams. I’d like to wish all students in years 10-13 the best of luck with their external exams this term. As ever we will be extremely busy in performing arts....      

·         We have started rehearsals with Y10s for 'Holborn, 1961' - a play written especially for Sedgehill students by Ben Musgrave. The play will be performed at an off-West End theatre in January 

·         We also have three nights of Bugsy Malone at the end of February.

·         Trinity Laban will be coming in next week to run workshops for G+T male dancers with the opportunity to carry on working with the prestigious institution 

·         We are proud to be working closely with the Old Vic as part of their school's program for the third year running. G+T Drama students from years 9-11 will have the opportunity to take part in professional theatre workshops and see every Old Vic production this year. 

I look forward to seeing you at one of these events.

Best wishes,
Ken Mackenzie,                                            

Headteacher
      

• "Teachers have high expectations of me and are always there when you need them."

  Ofsted