Letter home 17th September
17 September 2007
Dear Parents
The new school year has started well at BGN, Teaching staff returned on Monday 3 September to sort out classrooms disrupted by our refurbishment programme and to analyse our exam results (more on both of these later).
The pupils are very smartly dressed thanks to all of you and must continue to be so as we now have competition from Banbury School and the Academy who have followed our lead on uniform.
We are proud of our students and value the support that parents give, enabling us to provide the very best learning opportunities. As part of this we have issued all pupils with information on their individual target grades. We would also like to further inform parents on this and other strategies that we aim to put in place, in order to raise standards and develop a culture of learning in our school. Year 10 have an Expectations Evening this evening, Tuesday 18 September at 6 30 p.m for parents and pupils in this year group. Year 11 pupils have a Breakthrough Evening on Wednesday 26 September at 6 30 p.m. Other year groups will be notified of their dates in due course. We hope to see as many of you as possible at these meetings as we will achieve much more with your cooperation.
Performance Management for teaching staff in schools is also changing and it will be necessary for BGN to close on Friday 28 September to all students whilst this can be carried out. School will be open as usual on Monday 1 October. Thank you all in advance for your patience and understanding.
By now many of our previous Year 13 pupils will be looking forward to Freshers Week at University or embarking on new jobs or courses. We wish them all well and are delighted to say that almost half of those who took A2 exams gained A and B grades.
At GCSE, results were also pleasing for most pupils, 61% achieved 5 A* - C grades whilst many others gained a sufficient number of GCSEs to gain access to apprenticeships, further education and the world of work. Alongside our academic aims is our mission to develop each young person in the image of Christ. I am always humbled by the witness of our pupils to this aim.
The building work is progressing. Unfortunately we could not afford everything that we had planned. The office provision at the front of the school has had to go, but we have kept everything that is related to teaching and learning. An extra classroom each for Maths and English, as well as much needed office space, is nearing completion and the new Sixth Form Centre has been operational since the first week of term. The Learning Resource area is also underway and will be a magnificent addition to the school. Please remember that we need to raise £25,000 towards this project. We have had £4,617.43 in donations and have £6,840.00 committed from the 200 Club for this year. Our fundraising committee have many wonderful ventures in the pipeline, which you can access on www.bgn.oxon.sch.uk. I am confident that you will do all you can to improve your childs learning environment.
Finally we were all shocked and saddened by the death of one of our previous governors Cathy Nolan, Cathy gave a great deal of time and support to BGN and we will miss her. Her funeral will take place on Friday 21 September at 11 00 a.m in St John’s Church. Please remember John her husband and her sons Michael and Tim in your prayers.
With best wishes to you all,
Yours sincerely
Catherine Weaver, NPQH, MA, BA
Acting Headteacher
Date: 19-09-2007