Warbler Special 2017

Wilnecote Warbler
ENSURING EXCELLENCE
Special Edition

Welcome to this special edition of Wilnecote Warbler in which we look back over our first year as a CAT school and look
forward to further developments we are planning for next year.
Moving Forward:
A Year of Progress at The Wilnecote School
A New Beginning
On 1st September 2016 we joined the Community Academies Trust, a successful group of schools that
includes The Polesworth School. At the beginning of the school year we introduced a number of
changes – to uniform, the school day, our House system and to the leadership of the school – that
immediately heightened our expectations and created a very positive feel around the school.
Ofsted Inspection
At the beginning of November 2016 we received a two day Ofsted inspection in which the school was
judged to have made significant progress and no longer required Special Measures. The Ofsted team
highlighted many positive features, including:-
•The actions of school leaders have led to rapid improvements in behaviour,teaching,
pupils’ progress and behaviour.
•The Headteacher and his new senior team have been relentless in their drive to create
a strong and aspirational culture, which is increasingly shared by staff and pupils.
•Pupils are smartly dressed: they like their new uniform and are proud of their school.
They respond positively to the school’s ethos of pursuing excellence.
•Pupils feel safe in school and understand how to keep themselves safe.
Since the last inspection the quality of teaching has improved significantly across the curriculum.
Leaders have been effective in eradicating weak teaching. The school has recruited and retained well
qualified teachers who have added to its growing strengths.
Despite the many positives above, we are not complacent and we view the inspection as the first step
on our improvement journey and as a springboard to further progress.
Rewarding Positive Attitudes and Heightening
Expectations of Behaviour
One of our key areas of focus this year has been to further improve behaviour and this has involved
two main initiatives:-
•Rewarding positive behaviour. This includes Celebration Assemblies and lunches and the
introduction of Vivo Rewards in which students can exchange electronic points awarded
for good work and good behaviour for rewards purchased online. This is proving
motivational to many students and has created healthy competition between students and
between Houses.
•Dealing with poor behaviour and low level disruption. We have introduced a
‘consequences’ system based on high expectations and the principle that no student has
the right to disrupt the learning of others. The vast majority of students have responded
positively to this and an external review in March 2017 was clear that behaviour had
improved during the year.
Moving Forward
Our aspiration is to become an exceptional community school in which our students reach the highest levels of achievement and leave us as wellrounded
individuals with the skills to make positive contributions to their community. We seek to achieve this by providing high quality learning,
care and guidance within an ethos of trust and mutual respect.
We have made progress towards that aspiration but there is much more to do and further developments are on the way for next year:-
•We have recruited some excellent new staff, including a Deputy Headteacher, a Head of English and teachers of History and Modern
Languages. We are certain that these will improve the quality and consistency of teaching even further.
achieve
•We will introduce ‘Ensuring Excellence in Teaching’ which will heighten our expectations for learning and of what each student can
in lessons.
New systems will be in place for informing students and parents about the progress they are making in their learning.
It is certainly an exciting time to be part of the Wilnecote learning community. If you want to know more about our school please have a look at
our website (www.thewilnecoteschool.com) or arrange a visit via email (headteacher@wilnecotehighschool.org) or by ringing Jayne Shaw, my
PA, on 01827 831300.
Stuart Tonks - Headteacher

William MacGregor
What a year! My third year at The Wilnecote
School and the most exciting by far. We have
gone through so many positive changes, too
many to list and we feel certain that the
school is going to get even better.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my new role,
developing Grazier House alongside Mrs
Taylor and our wonderful, enthusiastic
students. From designing a new logo to
supporting various charities through a range
of different activities to developing and
supporting student voice through the
school's student council, it has certainly been
an adventure.
We are both so proud of our students'
commitment and dedication and we are
looking forward to next year, when we can
continue working with our students to make
our school even better than ever.
Mr Grant and Mrs Taylor
We have all been through some massive
changes as a school this year. It is brilliant to see
and hear students talk about how proud they
are to come to The Wilnecote School, from
being part of the new House systems or
wearing with pride the school uniform.
Myself and Miss Dwyer have had the pleasure of
leading MacGregor House this year and have
seen a massive improvement in students’
behaviour in and out of the classroom, with
students really engaging with their learning in
lessons and tutor time.
Our highlight this year has been the chance to
celebrate with students their hard work and
success both in school and out. Celebration
Assemblies where we celebrate excellent
behaviour, attainment and attendance and
where we congratulate students for the high
amount of Vivos achieved have proved highly
successful. We are thrilled that we have lots of
students in line to collect Amazon vouchers at
the end of this term, due to their hard work.
Keep up the great work MacGregor House! We
are very proud of you!
Mr Herbert and Miss Dwyer
We are extremely proud to be part of the new House system within The Wilnecote School
and it is an enormous honour being named after Sir Robert Peel, an iconic local figure. We
feel that the new House system has been pivotal in promoting the school's ethos, building
student resilience and providing support and advice for all students.
This academic year has flown by and we have both thoroughly enjoyed the journey, from
welcoming the new Year 7s in September to seeing our Year 11s leaving and celebrating at
their Prom. This year's election of students to our new Student Voice from each year group
has allowed students within Peel House to help make some important school decisions.
One of many highlights of the year has been the Celebration Assemblies which Mr Herbert
has mentioned above. We love to congratulate students who have worked consistently hard
throughout the term; they fully deserve their recognition.
Another highlight has been the introduction of the new school uniform. All students across
the Houses look extremely smart and the new uniform gives a new identity and
professionalism in and around our local community. Students enjoy wearing the new school
blazer and wear their House ties with pride.
We are very proud of the massive strides that the school has taken this year and can’t wait
to continue working with students within our House to promote resilience and support
students in achieving their aspirational targets and goals. We are looking forward to
welcoming our new starters to Peel House and continue making positive contributions to
The Wilnecote School and our local community. Keep up the great work Peel House!
Mr Simpson & Miss Jordan

Year 11 Prom 2017
With the Year 11s finishing their final GCSE examinations and having had their leaving assembly, there was
just one final formality to be performed.... and that was of course the showcase event, the Prom!
“I am delighted to say that
everyone had a fabulous evening.
The students all looked amazing
and their behaviour was
impeccable, as we would expect.
It was a really great way to say
goodbye and send them on their
way into the big wide world. Well
done everyone and have a
fantastic summer.”
Mr Herbert, Head of MacGregor.

A View from the Class
“I like the Consequence system
because now our lesson time is not
taken up by people who don't
participate in the lesson. I am also
happy about the Consequences for
equipment, as we won't have to wait
while students are given supplies.”
Megan Colloff - Year 8
“I like that it’s not just Miss Jordan
in the House office to help; you can
get help from any Pastoral House
Manager or Head of House.”
Katie Hughes – Year 10
“I believe the Vivo system has made a
massive difference to the school. It allows
students to get rewards they want rather
than chocolate or something small. It
gives us the choice to save them up or
spend- which shows responsibility. ”
Ryan Aidney - Year 9
“I like how we got to decide on our
House name and designed the logo. I
also like how more students are
involved in choosing things like that
compared to not at all last year.”
Hollie Fletcher – Year 8
“I think having VIVOs and Celebration
Assemblies are good as the VIVOs
allow students to decide what to do
with the reward points. The assemblies
are also good to celebrate positivity
which puts people in a good mood. ”
Lewis Newton – Year 9
“Behaviour in lessons has definitely
improved as a comparison to last
year. The Consequence System is
good as it’s easier for disruptions to
be dealt with. ”
Hollie Fletcher – Year 8

A View from
It’s been a delight this year to see our students,
particularly Year 7, show off their skills and talents in
Performing Arts. Whether through acting, singing or
instrument playing I’ve been impressed by the
enthusiasm and determination of students not only to
perform in class or in the various school concerts, but also
to want to really improve their performance and playing
techniques. Every breaktime and lunchtime practice
rooms are being used and after school opportunities are
happily taken up to enable students to progress in their
music making.
Watch this space as next year we aim to increase the
number of workshops, clubs and individual instrument
tuition sessions leading to graded exams.
These are exciting times!
Mr Hyden - Music
This year our students have had the opportunity
outside of the high quality core PE lessons to be
involved in another busy programme of extracurricular
activities and district/County competitions.
Students have had the opportunity to represent the
school in teams at cross-country, badminton, indoor
athletics, netball, rounders, football, cricket,
swimming and futsal to name a few.
In terms of achievement teams have had both district
and even County success with one highlight being
the Y9 Boys futsal team winning a county title earlier
in the year.
We are incredibly proud of their achievements.
Mr Mason - P.E.
Having been a part of the selection process for Student
Voice representatives for many years, I have been
delighted to see that more students have applied this year
than ever before and have been encouraged by their
enthusiasm.
I think students are more convinced now that they will be
heard, and can really make a difference. We proved this a
few weeks ago when our Student Voice reps had a meeting
and came up with the idea of a mini football tournament.
Within 24 hours, it was all arranged and posters were on
display around the school. The Tournament was held just
a few weeks later after school with the team 'Wilnecote
Lads’ being crowned the victors, much to their delight!
Mrs S Taylor - Pastoral
It's been a year of change in English! We have
implemented new schemes of work and resources across
all year groups. This is to ensure that all year groups are
working towards and prepared in skills that will be
beneficial in their English Language and Literature GCSE.
This has included increased challenge and many of our
Key Stage 3 students have relished the opportunity to
push themselves and work outside their comfort zone.
We continue to develop these schemes for the upcoming
academic year. Well done Key Stage 3 and 4 on a much
more challenging year.
Mrs C Dellicott - English

the Staff Room
I had a great deal of empathy for Year 7 in September as,
just like them, I was starting at a new school. I didn’t know
who anyone was and I didn’t know where anything was.
However I quickly realised that there were many things
that were new for all of us. A new uniform; a new House
structure with new names; a new code of conduct; for
many new GCSE courses with new grading systems. It's
then that you realise how similar schools are and how
everyone pulls together and commits to making these
new systems work. Coming out of special measures was a
huge boost to everyone - Confirmation that all our efforts
were not in vain and we were moving the school in the
right direction.
As I approach the end of my first year I can honestly say
that while I may not yet be part of the furniture, I
definitely feel settled. I’ve met some fantastic people,
both students and staff. I knew quite quickly that
Wilnecote was a good place to teach and learn. I am
increasingly convinced that very soon it will be an
outstanding place in which to work and learn.
Mr I Blake - Science
One of my highlights from this year is seeing students from
The Wilnecote School build friendships with students from
our partner school in Germany as they took part in the
German exchange!
Miss Blake -MFL
Wow - what an exciting year we have had. It's so great to
come in each day and see the students dressed proudly in
their uniform. I love how all five year groups have adapted
so well to all the changes we have put their way and simply
taken it in their stride.
I have always enjoyed being a form tutor, but this year I
feel that we have had a real opportunity to get to know our
groups with the change to the school day and variety of
activities that gets us talking and sharing thoughts and
ideas that aren’t always academic based. I have really
enjoyed coming to work this academic year and I believe
that is down to our students and their willingness to help
make The Wilnecote School a great place to be.
Mrs Ager - Science
After coming back from maternity leave, I could hardly
recognise some of the students - they looked so grown up
and smart in their new uniforms. I really feel that this has
had a positive impact on the learning of students. The
students feel 'grown up' and that they are entering into a
working environment which puts them in the right mind
set to work to the best of their ability and to make
progress in their learning.
I also feel that 'Wilnecote Warbler' has been a positive
addition to the school. Student achievements inspire and
motivate both staff and students. I particularly enjoyed
reading and discussing with my form the successes of
Ellesse Oates with her gymnastics. Her comment that
'work hard and the rewards will come' is profound and
really made the students feel that anything is possible!
Ms Critchlow - Humanities

The Wilnecote School
ENSURING EXCELLENCE
The Wilnecote Scho0l
Tinkers Green Road
Wilnecote
Tamworth
Staffordshire
B77 5LF
Contact Us
School email for general enquiries
office@wilnecotehighschool.org
Student absence email
pupilabsence@wilnecotehighschool.org
Telephone Number
01827 831300
Fax Number
01827 831314