Dear Parents and Carers,

I am delighted that your child’s school has recently been re-awarded a Quality Mark Award.

This national accreditation is awarded to schools which meet the Quality Mark Standard and will last for three years, after which a renewal assessment is required.

The Quality Mark promotes, supports and celebrates progress and improvements made by a school in English and mathematics. Without these ‘basic skills’ of good communication, English and mathematical skills, individuals are disadvantaged throughout their lives – as learners, in the workplace and as parents, consumers and citizens and so they form the ‘bedrock’ of a good education.

To achieve a Quality Mark, schools have to undergo an assessment, carried out by an external accredited assessor, against the 10 ‘Elements’ of the Quality Mark framework. These cover key aspects of the school’s improvement agenda, including the identification and analysis of the school’s needs; strategic planning; target setting for improvement; intervention and support for pupils under-achieving or under-attaining; provision of quality in both teaching and in resources; staff development; and active engagement with families. Effective monitoring and evaluation are also required – particularly to achieve renewal when continuing development by the school and evidence of impact of actions must be demonstrated.

I hope you will share in the pride of the school and its pupils in achieving this award.

Yours faithfully,

Nicola Morris
Quality Mark National Director

As we come to the end of our first half term in post we would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for the huge amount of support we have received from students, staff, parents and governors. We have enjoyed meeting with students to share our vision for the college and staff who have talked openly about the great place Minsthorpe is and how we can make it even better.

There have been times this half term when we have seen ‘Minsthorpe’ in action and the commitment and dedication our students have shown has blown us away. We will be putting a newsletter together next half term to celebrate the vast amount of good things that go on every day here. It has been an amazing few weeks and we look forward to an even better time to come.

Thank you to all staff who are taking trips and visits over half term or spending time in College revising with Year 11 students.

Have a good break and we will see you again on Monday 3rd June.

More than five million people in the UK today have asthma – so the odds are that you live, work, travel or study with at least one of them. There is currently no cure for asthma, and around three people a day die from an asthma attack.

There are a number of practical things we can do to support people with asthma. In College there have been a number of instances where the use of aerosols and pump action sprays have triggered asthma attacks in students. After careful consideration we have taken the decision to ban aerosols and pump action sprays from the College site from Monday 3rd June 2019.

This change will only apply to aerosols and pump action sprays – students can continue to use roll on deodorants. We are pleased that the vast majority of students meet their responsibilities and ‘Behave the Minsthorpe Way’ day in and day out and will adhere to this new consideration of others.

Unfortunately, a small number of students may choose not to meet these clear responsibilities on repeated occasions. If students are seen using aerosols or pump actions sprays on the College site after half term, we will follow the existing confiscation rules currently in place for jewellery and mobile phones. A reminder of these are below:

• The first occasion when a student’s aerosol is confiscated, it will be kept securely in the Finance Office and may be collected by the student at the end of the day. Students will be expected to show their planner as identification.
• The second (or future) occasion when a student’s aerosol is confiscated, it will be taken to the Finance Office and must be collected by a parent/carer (who needs to be a contact on our records – in order to protect your child’s item). A text will be sent to alert you.

Students have been made aware of this change in P&A time this week.

Thank you in anticipation of your support and ask that you discuss the importance of ‘Behaving the Minsthorpe Way’ with your child.

Yours sincerely,

With just one half term remaining before the end of this academic year we are highlighting some key messages for you to be aware of:

For Level 2 students (Pre-Apprenticeship course) need to ensure:

• They are up-to-date with all coursework.
• They are engaging with work experience opportunities.
• That they have communicated their future plans to Mr Dowey (are they staying to do another course next year, or leaving to study elsewhere? Please feel free to contact Mr Dowey if you want to discuss options).

For Level 3 students (BTEC/A Level):

• Ensure students are aware of the details (time and location) of their Mock Exams (Start Monday 17th June – Friday 26th June).
• Be aware that failure to achieve an acceptable pass (based on each student’s personal subject target grade) in the mock exams will result in having to attend college to resit exams on WEDNESDAY 28TH AUGUST. A letter will be sent home in the first week of the summer holidays in addition to subject staff informing students if they need to return to college for a summer resit exam.
• Failure to achieve an acceptable pass in the resits will result in a meeting with student, parent(s) and Head of Post 16 to discuss the way forward.

How to help students study:

1. Emphasise through discussion the significance and importance of the Mock Exams (whilst not being external, significant underperformance could result in them having to change courses).
2. Help students to plan their weeks study habits in the form of a timetable so social time and study time is clearly mapped – and the importance of adhering to this as much as possible and carrying forward tasks that were not completed.
3. Provide a suitable place at home where focused study can take place and push for there to be ‘gadget free’ time during the planned study times to improve focus.
4. Regular testing is proven to be one of the most successful ways to embed knowledge so offering this as a way to support their learning is invaluable.

Forthcoming events/messages:

• Mock Results Day and Report Collection Session on TUESDAY 16TH JULY, 8.30am – 10.25am in the Common Room. Attendance is compulsory for all Level 3 students.
• UCAS Application – Students involved in this cohort have a timetable of sessions and two events they need to attend, one on Thursday 20th June – UCAS Convention in Leeds, and Wednesday 3rd July to visit Leeds Trinity for a tour and fact finding experience.
• Study Leave – Year 12 do not get study leave, Thursday 18th July is when the school year ends.

We would both like to thank you for your continued support. If you have any queries or questions regarding any of the points raised above please don’t hesitate to e-mail either of us slewis@minsthorpe.cc/dlloyd@minsthorpe.cc

Yours sincerely

We have been asked by Network Rail to share a new educational video with students as they are aware that a number of young people are trespassing on the tracks. They have asked that we "urgently share this engaging video with young people before more young people are seriously injured or lives are lost."

The session is led by a Safety Manager from Network Rail and explains in less than 15 minutes why it is really important to stay safe near the track.

Due to the sensitive nature of the material we are asking that all of our Parents/Carers view this input and then plan a time to watch this with your child(ren) so that you are able to offer any support and answer any questions that they may have.

If you do not have access to digital technology and are unable to watch the video with your child, please contact the College and we will offer you a time for this to take place.

Kind regards

Mrs J Collins

This year Minsthorpe Community College followed in the footsteps of Honley High School and hosted its first ever Shakespeare Festival on 3rd April 2019. A staggering 223 students, ranging from Year 4 to Year 9, have joined forces to perform scenes from this year’s magical play, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’

Last year, local Primary Schools were invited to watch Minsthorpe Shakespeare Ensemble’s very own production of ‘Macbeth’ in The Training and Conference Centre, and were offered the opportunity to don their fairy wings, be blinded by love potions and contribute to this year’s performance. We were proud to collaborate with hard working pupils and staff from Carlton Junior and Infant School, Moorthorpe Primary School, Northfield Primary School, Upton Primary School and Ash Grove Primary Academy.

Minsthorpe’s Shakesepeare Ensemble showcased exceptional teamwork, dedication and creativity, rehearsing lines at lunchtimes and after school. They practised a range of different drama techniques – from choral speaking to choreographed movements. Having performed a range of Shakespeare’s oeuvre over the past four years including: ‘Hamlet’, ‘Henry V’, ‘The Tempest’ and ‘Macbeth’, Minsthorpe students were excited to sink their teeth into ‘A Midsummer’s Night Dream’ – ‘A story of order and disorder, reality and appearance and love and marriage.’

The audience of parents, carers and staff were wowed by the students’ polished and professional performances – doing the Bard himself proud! The Hall was really brought to life with magical music provided by Mrs Keith and green foliage to replicate the enchanted forest. The behaviour of students was exemplary and it was a very proud day for all the schools involved.

Mrs Sally Thompson, who invited the primary schools to participate in this year’s performance, was overjoyed with the students’ success, and enjoyed visiting each school to develop their rehearsals. "I am delighted with the outstanding performances from all of the contributing parties. It was superb to witness all of the pupils working together to perform a full play, and amazing to hear students as young as eight reciting Shakespeare’s wonderful language!"

As always, thank you to Miss Ficken, Mrs Keith and Miss Wildman for their support in the months leading up to the final show. It appears with all hands on deck, the course of true theatre really did run smooth.

Year 11 Parents Information Evening (held 2nd April) was a very positive evening event where parents were given information about the exam season, study leave and practical revision tips. This is a critical time for students and parents were given advice on how they can support their child at home.

Thank you to the parents who have said how useful they found the session and we thank them for supporting the event. If you were not able to attend then please refer to the presentation which was shown on the evening.

I would like to ask for your support in achieving a once in a life time experience. I have been selected by the Army Cadet force to represent the county on an amazing trip to Gibraltar for two weeks in April. During this trip I will learn new military skills like FIBUA (Fighting In Built Up Areas) which would consist of shooting and fighting through the well known tunnels of Gibraltar, getting a taste of a military experience in a foreign country, taking part in sporting events for the county, teaching cadets of Gibraltar our way of doing cadet activities and gaining an experience that will change my life.

I have been selected for this trip because I have shown persistent dedication to the Army Cadet Force, attending every detachment night, caring for cadets throughout the county, because of this I have successfully progressed to the rank of Sergeant. The trip to Gibraltar is what all my hard work has been for and this is the opportunity I have been given which I cannot miss. I sadly have to leave the Cadets on the 28th of September due to turning 18 so I am gripping every opportunity I get with both hands and making the most of any situation to try and achieve everything possible before I sadly hand in my uniform.

Due to the Ministry of Defence cutting cadet funding it has been made apparent that the Army Cadet Force cannot afford to send Cadets on this trip that they once thought they could so instead of cancelling this amazing opportunity, we have decided to do things the proper Cadet way and put in a little extra hard work to raise the money ourselves and with the support of our generous peers. The trip costs £600 each however, through grants from bigger companies we have managed to take this cost down to £400. Every penny helps and I would be more than grateful for any contribution you have to help us raise this money. This trip to Gibraltar may be a Cadet trip where I will learn new skills, gain new strengths and achieve goals, but it is a trip that I will never forget and it will shape me to be a better, stronger, more kind and caring version of myself.

Thank you.

Jessie, Post 16 Student

This is the GoFundMe page I have created:
GoFundMe – Army Cadet Force Excercise Rookes Rock, Gibraltar

Well done to all Year 11 Hospitality and Catering students in their assessed practicals and a huge thank you for the support of parents and carers in the providing of ingredients.

Mrs Wainwright and Mrs Wood are extremely proud of the talent shown.

College are looking to recruit two Parent Governors and it was lovely to see so many parents interested in becoming a Governor at the Year 8 Preferencing Evening. The role of Parent Governor is offered to the whole parent body. If you would like to know more about this important role, please see the information below or contact the Clerk to the Governors, Mrs Germain, on jgermain@minsthorpe.cc.

The deadline for expressing an interest is Friday 15th March 2019, at 9am and this can be registered by emailing Mrs Germain or completing a form in College Reception. We look forward to hearing from you.