NewsletterDecember 2023

Dear Parents and Carers,

What a term! I am absolutely amazed by our students and how they demonstrate 'The Suthers Way Every Day'. During this term, students have achieved an incredible number of reward points. The launch of our Golden Ticket rewards has been hugely successful in motivating students to do their very best in lessons. The Golden Ticket boxes sit outside my office, so I love the opportunity to congratulate students when they come to drop their ticket into the box.

80% of our students have never received a C2 since September. This is a clear sign that the majority of our students get it right every day. Student voice continue to tell us that students feel happy and safe to be at The Suthers School.

Last month, we had an external monitoring visit by Challenge Partners. I have attached the report, so you can have a read through of all the fabulous work taking place in school by all involved. The targets identified already sit within our school improvement priorities, so we are confident that we are already making progress on these agendas.

As a team, we are hugely proud to receive the Trust award for Employee Engagement, Please see  more about this further in the newsletter.'

I would like to thank all parents and carers for your feedback. I appreciate the time you take to share your views on the things we get right. As a developing school, school improvement is our priority, and we continue to strive to provide the very best character and academic experiences to develop every child. We have received many positive emails recognizing the work we are doing both inside and outside of school and I thank you for your support. I am hopeful this newsletter will share with you some of the opportunities our students have at Suthers. In addition, we are aware that we sometimes need to make changes to enhance our experiences. I am therefore grateful to all parents and carers who have contacted us via email, telephone or who have visited us face to face to help us move forward with key agendas. Without sharing your views, we cannot make any changes for the better. We continue to hold our Family Forum meetings, so if you would like to be involved, then please contact lwallbank@suthersschool.co.uk.

Unfortunately, this half term, we say goodbye to Miss Gollin, our Hospitality and Catering teacher. We thank her for developing the KS3 curriculum at The Suthers School which has seen so many students wish to take this as an option in KS4. We wish her every success in her new role. Miss Salisbury also leaves us this week, and we wish her the best of luck in her new school. 

I would like to thank Mrs Braithwaite for her support over the years as our Business and Operations Manager.   From January,  she will no longer be our school Business and Operations Manager and will instead focus on supporting our students pastorally in school. 

Mr Lynas, Senior Assistant Head, is now leading on two key areas across the school: Behavior and Attitudes along with Achievement, which are hugely significant to improving the culture of the school. When we return after the festive period, we will once again revisit our expectations and The Suthers Way, so every student and staff member continues to grow and become the very best version of themselves. 

Finally, I would like to remind you that all students should attend school with a school bag, I would appreciate your support of purchasing one for the new term. We would like all of our students to be equipped and ready to learn like they would in their place of work. Tools are essential for a job to be completed. If you have any problems at all, then please contact the school, so we can support you with this. 

I would like to wish you all a safe holiday. Please take time to spend with family and friends and relax and enjoy the time off work or school. 

I look forward to seeing all students return to school on Tuesday 9th January at 8.25am.

Nic Watkin

Head Teacher

The Employee Engagement Award was presented to The Suthers School which is developing a school community that demonstrates through its day-to-day actions the shared Nova mission, vision and values.

In this school there has been a real focus on reinvention, retention and growth over the last 12 -18 months.

Agency staff often want to work for the school permanently and the school has employed a number of these staff due to the individual’s demonstrable belief in the school’s values and aims.

The school has now become one of the most popular in its local areas. They are well known for their inclusive approach and parental engagement is also a real strength of the school.

This is a school where staff are developed to be the best versions of themselves. A midday supervisor is now working in finance, and another has moved to become the Design and Technology Technician.

With staff development and professional learning opportunities encouraged and supported. In this school they have supported an English teacher to qualify in Teen Yoga which is now being delivered to pupils as part of the enrichment provision, and a Teaching Assistant who is studying for a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant qualification.

The school puts well-being of staff and pupils at the heart of everything it does.  With working parties which share their views and actively drive improvements for change.

The change in culture at the school can not only be felt by those that visit, it can also be evidenced through the rapid positive improvements seen in the feedback from staff, parents and pupils through the suite of surveys that we run.'

To keep up to date with all events happening in the third half term of 2022/23 please click this LINK

Following on from the Year 11 Revision event on the 22nd November please click on the link's for the slides. 

Year 11 Revision Event -  LINK

Tassomai and Flashcards - LINK 

Christmas Concert
Students and staff have been working tirelessly to put on the second annual Suthers Christmas concert since October. With a sell out event, the audience enjoyed traditional to new Christmas themes numbers. Singers, instrumentalists, dancers and actors all graced the stage and left all feeling the Christmas spirit. Perhaps the most notable number being ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ proving that the audience can spread Christmas cheer with singing loud for all to hear! 

YMCA

Christina Riley from Newark’s YMCA contacted the Suthers last summer offering workshops in the arts. She and 15 of our wonderful students have worked towards a short, original devised drama production that was showcased at the Christmas concert. She has thoroughly enjoyed working with our students and will hopefully be back in the new year to continue offering these workshops. New students welcome!

Lighting Workshop

Staff and students were joined by Jon Cole from JNC Events. He is a Theatre Technician with many years’ experience of sound, lighting, set and production. Jon trained a small team of students who have shown an interest in becoming The Suthers Theatre technicians and he reported that our students were receptive, aware and very hard working during their training.

Jon also began a workshop for our GCSE students who have to understand how design elements can enhance their performance work and that of others. They enjoyed being challenged and were even tested on their knowledge of primary colours and the science behind lights!

LAMDA EXAMS

A core group of Suthers students have been working hard towards their first LAMDA exams. Victoria Potter has worked with our students since September and on the 25th November, she accompanied them to their exam. She said “The students were so well behaved and a credit to the school”! There are a few spaces for January should any students be interested in applying.

Congratulations to the following:

Kinga, Ben, Max, Olivia, Tony, Mia-Mae, Will.

LAMDA exams are designed to develop your life skills, such as clear communication, self-confidence and teamwork, through the creative platforms of drama, literature and music. All our exams offer you opportunity to improve self-expression, strengthen memory and, most importantly, have fun.

Addams Update

Our talented cast for nest year’s production of The Addams Family have been tirelessly rehearsing every Tuesday, and the show is shaping up to be one to remember! The 2009 musical comedy, based on the 1960s TV series sees the creepy and kooky family having to try to be ‘normal’, when Wednesday Addams invites her new boyfriend and his family to the Addams Family mansion – with hilarious consequences! Look out for tickets on ParentPay in the new year.

Spookfest 2023

On 26th October our Addams Family cast were invited to perform as part of Spookfest at Newark Academy, which featured performances form both Schools and various local theatre schools. The Suthers cast wowed a sold-out audience with the opening scene of the musical and the opening number ‘When You’re An Addams’. 

As the end of term approaches, it's time to celebrate the incredible geographical explorations undertaken by our students at Suthers.

From Knowledge Learning Checks (KLC) to immersive projects, our geography classrooms have been buzzing with curiosity & discovery. 

Our Year 7 students have successfully wrapped up their Foundations of geography booklet and now embark on an exciting journey into the world of Natural Resources. Understanding how through geological time human activities have impacted our environment. Year 7 is shaping environmentally conscious minds. 

Year 8 students continued their exploration of global development, examining how countries progress & the factors that influence their trajectories. This journey will continue to look at diverse case studies, fostering a deep understanding of the challenges & triumphs that shape a nations development. 

Year 9's focus this term has been on all things coastal. From the dynamic processes shaping coastlines to the impact of human activities on coastal ecosystems, our students have delved into the fascinating world were land meets sea, honing their geographical skills. 

Year 10 students completed an immersive Natural Hazards unit, gaining insights into the forces that shape our planet. Now, they turn their attention to the challenges facing urban living in both the UK & Nigeria. This promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of the complexes of urban environments globally. 

As the festive season approaches, we extend warm wishes to the entire Suthers community. May your holidays be merry & safe, filled with joy & shared moments of geographical wonder. Special mention goes to our Year 11 students, returning with mock exams in mind. Your hard work is commendable, and we wish you success in your preparations. 

Happy Holidays, Suthers!

Teaching and Learning at The Suthers School

By

James Griffiths (Deputy Head Teacher)

At The Suthers School lessons follow an approach known as Fully Guided Instruction. Lessons include:  

1. Connect – all lessons start with a ‘connect’ retrieval activity which supports pupils to recall relevant prior knowledge that supports the learning of new content within the lesson.

2. I Do – subject teachers deliver powerful knowledge by modelling to pupils who listen, make notes and annotate, as instructed by their teacher. The subject teacher also models aloud how to apply new knowledge to a task.

3. We Do – the subject teacher, through directed questioning, models how to apply new knowledge using a collaborative approach with pupils. This might include class discussion, paired work or whole class engagement.

4. You Do – pupils work independently on a similar task to that modelled by the teacher. Pupils use their modelled examples from the ‘I Do’ and ‘We Do' as a scaffold to support them achieve their full potential.

5. Review – subject teachers use this final part of the lesson to check that pupils have understood the main learning points of the lesson.

Spotlight on Learning

In this spotlight on learning I will be focussing on how subject teachers check that students are learning. This will include:

• Cold Calling
• Plickers
• Mini-whiteboards
• Hinge Questions
• Think, Pair, Share

Cold Calling

Subject teachers start by asking the whole class a question. This is then followed by a pause of between 20 and 30 seconds before the subject teacher identifies a student to answer the question. This approach is designed to ensure that all students are alert and engaged with their learning.

Plickers

All students have a QR code on the back of their exercise books. The subject teacher displays a question on the board and 

 provides four plausible answers to choose from. The students use their QR card to select the answer and the subject teacher scans the QR codes to collect the answers. This approach is very effective at gathering answers from the whole class and identifying if aspects of the lesson should be re-taught due to misconceptions.

Mini whiteboards 

 Each student writes down their answer to a question on a mini whiteboard. On the count of 3 the students show their answers to the subject teacher. This approach is also very effective at gathering answers from the whole class and identifying if aspects of the lesson should be re-taught to the whole class or identified students in the class.

Hinge Questions 

 These involve the teacher setting a question for the whole class with four plausible answers. Students are given time to consider the answers before selecting the answer they believe to be correct. This approach is very effective for developing deeper learning as students not only select and justify their answer, but they also justify the reason for rejecting the alternative answers.

Think, Pair, Share 

The subject teacher sets the class a question or topic to discuss. The students are given a set time to think independently and make notes. Students then share their answers with their partner before then sharing their answers with the rest of the class. This approach is effective as it gives everyone time to think. It also gives everyone the confidence to contribute to a class discussion as they have had the opportunity to discuss their answers with a partner prior to sharing them.

Sport/PE Newsletter

Netball Achievements

Amazing turn out for Netball Club this term. Year 7/8 and have showed amazing numbers every week and have really progressed in their ability. Year 9/10 have also had an amazing turn out, with lots of them providing their help to umpire the lower year matches. Amazing effort and hard work so far this year girls! Well Done :-)

Our Year 7/8 Netball Team had their first fixture this year against Magnus, although the match ended in a loss for the girls, they worked so hard as a team together and show our TORCH characteristics amazingly. Lots of positives to take from the match and our defence worked amazingly and got some wonderful interceptions. Here’s to lots more hard work and more fixtures!

Our Year 9 Netball team have been amazing this term. They have attended an England Netball tournament, as well as a local fixture against Magnus, which they won 13-2. Our defence have been amazing, getting many interceptions which led to many goals and our mid court and attackers have been incredible at putting the shots up. The tenacity this team has showed in turning up to training every week, showing amazing levels of teamwork is outstanding. Well Done Girls

Football Achievements

Our Year 7 Boys Football Team had their first fixture which was held at the YMCA. We were able to take two teams due to the commitment shown by all the boys at training. Team A came away with a 4-3 victory. The boys showed amazing hard work and teamwork throughout to secure the win. Team B unfortunately came away with a loss, however showed amazing character against a strong West Bridgeford side. Keep up the hard work boys!

Our Year 8 boys Football team played against East Leake Academy in November. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, so it then resulted in penalties. East Leake took away the win on penalties in the end but the Year 8’s was graceful in defeat!

The Year 10 Football team played a match against National Church of England Academy, unfortunately this resulted in a 5-1 loss, however the boys showed amazing character throughout the match and worked so hard as a team. The high levels of talent the team has shines through at training and during match play as well. Well Done boys

Our girls football team have also played many games this term. Miss Allen has said 'The girls have shown fantastic commitment to football this half-term, no matter the weather (it has rained a lot). They have played 3 matches so far and shown fantastic tenacity as well as talent. I'm excited to see the development of the girls' team as the year goes on'.

Sporting achievements outside of school.

Oliver  - 7T

Ollie has achieved many amazing gymnastics medals this term. He has placed in several of his competitions as well as being the Under 12’s County Champion on floor and vault. Well Done, Ollie, keep up the hard work!

Leon  and Harrison  – 7T, Riley – 8R, Otis  – 9H, James  – 10C

The boys above have excelled in their boxing this term outside of school, being involved in many competitions and helping during our Boxing enrichment. They show tenacity and hard work every day.  Attached are some photos of the some of the boys during one of their fights in which they won gold medals in. Well Done!

If your child has had any sporting achievements, please email GBerrington@suthersschool.co.uk as we would love to celebrate these in school.

Year 10 and 11 Duke Of Edinburgh Silver students have been working hard on their volunteering section; 8 students have been going over to Lancaster Grange Care home to take part in activities, support their own development and enjoy the company of the older residents. As you can see from the photos they are having a great time! Thanks to Charlotte at Lancaster Grange for supporting us with this amazing opportunity.

Miss Humber - DofE Manager

Suthers students are "Soaring to Success"

In November of this year, students from the Suthers School participated in the first phase of a programme called "Soaring to Success". This programme, provided by The Air League and sponsored by British Airways, The Royal Air Force, BAE Systems and many more is a careers enrichment programme for schools that bridges the gap between education and industry. It aims to inspire, enable, and support the next generation to consider a career within aviation and aerospace. The programme also aims to increase ambitions and social mobility through inspirational activities. The Air League achieves this through showing young people that these opportunities and possibilities are accessible and achievable by anyone. Sixteen students from the Aviation Enrichment group (Flying Club) participated in phase 1 zoom presentations, which means that they now qualify for phase 2 (early 2024) which is a series of e-learning modules delving deeper into some career options. Completing phase 2 will allow students to qualify for phase 3 which entails actual experience days around the aviation industry and the chance of some actual flying. 

Students said

I learned that there are many careers within the aviation industry and also different activities you can do at my age, including solo in a glider at fourteen. I wanted to be a pilot, and still do but I learned a lot about engineering in the aviation industry and I would like to take an engineering course when I go to college
Will, Year 10
 
I found the British Airways exciting and I learned more about gliders
Caleb, Year 7
 
After this course, I would like to do more gliding and go to University, do Duke of Edinburgh and join a junior gliding club
James, Year 9

I found the BAE systems very interesting and the future aircraft running on solar panels. I want to learn more about air cadets and I would like to work for Bae systems.
Adam, Year 7

I learned that if you believe you want to do something you can do it. I would like to know more about jobs with British Airways and I want to do gliding.
Freya, Year 8

I learned about so many more job opportunities for the future. I liked the look of Air Cadets and thought it was cool how Zeroavia planes are electric.
Harrison, Year 7

Soaring to success ignited my passion for aviation. I learned that there are still options even if I don’t want to be a pilot or an engineer. It has made me want to pursue Engineering.
Anon
 
I enjoyed learning about Tempest being a pilotless aircraft. It fascinates me how it can be a carbon neutral aeroplane. I learned about options for careers and I want to learn more about doing an apprenticeship with Bae systems.
Douglas, Year 8

I really liked finding about the RAF and other careers in aviation.
Alex, Year 7
 

A selection of Suthers School students were invited to perform at St. Mary Magdelene church on 12th December as part of the annual service of remembrance. The talented Elliott Ready, Sam Ready, Isabel Robinson March, Kestra Parkes and Bianca Newsome performed a selection of festive instrumental and vocal pieces to a very appreciative audience. 

We take pride in our appearance at The Suthers School and whilst wearing our uniform students are always representing our high standards and expectations. To identify your uniform, we recommend you label it accordingly. 

School Blazer – Regulation grey, with official school badge. 

School Tie – Regulation clip on ties. Ties must be worn with the top button of the shirt done up. 

Skirt or Trousers – Formal, plain black, knee-length pleated skirt. No stretch-fit, pencil style or skater skirts permitted. The rolling of skirts is not permitted. Plain black, school regulation formal cut trousers. No jeans, chinos or stretch material or skinny-fit trousers are permitted. Skirts must not be rolled up.

Shirt – formal white, long sleeves or short sleeves with stiff collar which must always be clean and tucked into the waistband. The rolling of shirt sleeves is not permitted. Coloured t-shirts or vest tops are not permitted underneath shirts. 

Pullover/Cardigan – Grey V-neck cardigan (optional). 

Black tights only – Socks are not permitted when wearing a skirt. A lighter denier may be worn in warmer weather. 

Shoes – Plain black lace-up or slip-on formal leather/leather-effect shoes with low heels (no more than two inches in height). Please note that boots, trainers, fabric/pump-style or sling back shoes are not permitted. Alternative footwear for medical reasons must be communicated with school via a note or email. If non-regulation shoes are worn for any other reason communicated by parents or carers, a suitable pair of shoes will be issued on loan. 

Trainers - Trainers must only be worn for PE lessons and sporting recreation. During break time, students may change their footwear to play sport on the field or MUGA. They should not be worn at any other times. 

Coats are to be placed in lockers at the start of the day.  

Sports clothing Dress Code:  

PE kit –Compulsory: TSS Polo Shirt, TSS plain black branded leggings/joggers, TSS branded black crew neck sweater, trainers

Optional: Rugby Shirt, PE Socks 

Please follow the LINK to the Uniform Shop 

If you feel you need financial assistance with purchasing school uniform or equipment, please contact the school and ask to speak to our Senior Pastoral Leader Mrs Redmond.