Fortnightly Comment - 7th September 2012

THE START OF THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR

Fortnightly Comment for 7th September 2012

I trust that you all had a good break over the summer although given the busy start to the term the holidays are quickly fading from memory.

The examination results achieved by the students continued the upward trend of recent years, although it is always advisable not to place too much emphasis on a single year’s results no matter how good they are. Indeed it is for this reason that the school measures its progress using three year averages. Having said this it was extremely pleasing to see just under three-quarters of all A-Level passes at grades A*, A & B and that the seven students holding conditional offers for Oxford or Cambridge universities all achieved the necessary grades. At GCSE the upward trend of recent years was maintained with over two thirds of students achieving five or more passes at grades A* & A including English Language & Mathematics.

What has become apparent is that the demand on university places has meant that unless conditional offers are exactly met there is little guarantee of the place being offered, even if the shortfall is small. In addition, in order to select from an ever increasing number of applicants, university admissions tutors are looking more closely at GCSE and A/S Level results, including the scores achieved in individual papers, to decide whether to make the student an offer of a place. As a result students in Years 10, 11 & 12 need to realise that their performance in the GCSE & A/S Level examinations will have a direct impact on their university options in Year 13. Simply promising to work hard in Year 13 will almost always result in disappointment the following August.

The summer holiday also witnessed some significant building work. The refurbishment of the changing facilities at Trinity Road has started with a completion date of late December while entire modern languages block has been decorated and new flooring put down. Unfortunately the installation of lockers for students in Years 7-11 has had to be delayed until the October half term although in the coming weeks we will start the process of issuing lockers to those students who want one.

On a final note, although hopefully some weeks away, in the event of bad weather or indeed any other reason which may cause the school to close, please visit the home page of the school web site at www.keaston.bham.sch.uk and expect to receive a text via the school’s text messaging service. Given this, it is absolutely essential that the school has up to date contact details for all parents, especially with regard to mobile telephone numbers. Increasingly the school is communicating with parents on all matters via a text message alerting them to a letter or information which has been placed on the school’s website. If your details have changed and you have yet to inform the school please can you do so by contacting Mrs Ward at b.ward@keaston.bham.sch.uk as a matter of urgency.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the numerous events that are scheduled to take place during the coming term.

C. Parker

Headmaster