Newsletter to Parents - Smithdon High School, Hunstanton, Norfolk

Smithdon High School
Mr J M Goodchild, MA, B Ed(Hons), Cert Ed
Headmaster
Downs Road, Hunstanton
Norfolk PE36 5HY
Telephone: 01485 534541 Fax : 01485 535251
e-mail: office@smithdon.norfolk.sch.uk
website: www.smithdon.norfolk.sch.uk
Ref: JG/ML
19 July 2012
Dear Parent or Guardian
I hope you have received the news booklets produced by staff and students this term. If ‘pupil post’ failed,
they are available on our website. These excellent booklets give our community a real insight into our school,
whereas my occasional newsletters serve a different purpose, being somewhat more formal in nature.
While I am looking forward to the summer holiday, it is really motivating to review the last academic year. I
feel it has been a particularly good year for Smithdon High School for a number of reasons. We started the
year with a set of GCSE examination results which, as in the previous year, broke all school records. I was
particularly proud of our position compared with other local High Schools; these results underlined how much
we had improved.
The students (with considerable help from their parents) arrived at the school in September looking smart,
business-like and ‘ready to learn’ in their new uniform. The students have told us that they value the change
and as staff we feel the change has had a big impact on behaviour and students’ pride in the school.
We have been pleased to welcome student groups from Italy and China to our school. These visits, combined
with the opportunities for our students to go to London, the Olympic Games, PGL, the Paris Mathematics trip,
the ‘Army Day’, Universities, etc, all play a role in broadening their horizons. We are fortunate to have so
many staff who are willing to give their time to support these events. As ever the comments we have received
from coach drivers, party leaders, etc have been of universal praise. I am also pleased that the Lynn News
published a letter highlighting the quality of our students in this respect.
I was delighted that we received in excess of fifty applications from our Year 10 students to become
ambassadors for our school during the next academic year. The number of applications for these prestigious
posts has risen sharply since they were introduced. The staff and governors who carried out the interviews
were deeply impressed by the quality of the young people they talked to and found it extremely difficult to
make the appointments without exceeding the agreed number.
I have been impressed with the response of our Sixth Form students to their new ‘social areas’ and the
manner in which they have conducted themselves in general. It is very encouraging to find the Library
generally full of Sixth Form students working hard and focusing on their studies.
All the data we collect on a termly, weekly and daily basis relating to behaviour in lessons and around the
school shows a very, very positive trend. There is no doubt whatsoever that the school has accelerated its
improvement in this area during the year. I was delighted that Ofsted noted this improvement and supported
our own conclusions. The outstanding behaviour of students during our Olympic Day served to illustrate how
far we have travelled and what a fantastic group of young people we have at the school.
This newsletter simply scans over the year. There are so many events and examples of good things to
mention which would make the newsletter too long, but I would like to say well done to all the students and
staff of Smithdon High School.

As the year closes, we once again say goodbye to a number of staff and welcome others. This year sees a
large number of staff leaving due to the decrease in the size of the school, which is a common factor across
many schools in Norfolk. Mr Mooney and Mrs Hesling leave the school after many, many years of dedicated
service. Both teachers have taught many hundreds of students and have made a considerable impact on the
school. I know the staff and students will all join me in wishing them well in the future.
While they have not served as teachers for as long, the school must also say farewell to a number of teachers
who, between them, have given many years of sterling service. These include Mrs Whitehouse, Miss K Smith,
Mrs Bishop, Miss Bambridge, Mrs Nicholls and Mrs Kennedy. Each one has taught our students and made a
vital, valuable contribution to the school in a host of ways. In addition I would like to thank Mrs Rogers and Mr
Parry for their work during the year covering for absent staff; they have done an excellent job.
The non-teaching staff leaving the school include Mrs C Dennis who has worked in the canteen for many
years. Mrs Dennis’ loyalty to the school and enjoyment in working with our students has been an example to
us all. The same must also be said for Mr Mayes, Mrs P Coombes and Mrs Ruddock. Each one has worked
extremely hard to make our school as good as it can be.
Schools depend on dedicated, hard-working people irrespective of their particular role in the organisation. It
has been a real pleasure to work with all those staff mentioned above; we will miss them and send each one
our best wishes for the future.
Next year sees Mr Sexton joining the school from Alderman Peel School in Wells as Head of Music. Mr
Sexton follows on from Mr Ellis and Mrs Nicholls and I know he will continue the development of our excellent
Music Department. We also welcome back Mrs Chapman, Miss Soper and Mrs S Robinson from maternity
leave.
There are several key dates and times of which I would like to remind you. These are listed below:
AS/A2 Results Day
GCSE Results Day
16 August
23 August
(Results will be available at the school from 9.00am to 12 noon on each day. Please note that if you
are collecting results for your son or daughter, you must have a signed letter from them indicating that
they wish you to do so.)
Staff training days
4 and 5 September (the School Office will be open from 9am to 3pm)
Students return to school at 8.30am on Thursday 6 September
I hope that whatever you are planning for your family during the summer holidays, the weather improves,
enabling the community to prosper, have fun and relax.
I look forward to another excellent year during 2012/13.
Yours sincerely
Mr J M Goodchild
Headmaster