NewsletterOctober 2023

Your Child's best interests.

Parents are important people to have on a governing body because, alongside the staff, no one is more concerned with the quality of the teaching and learning provision of the school. Having your child’s best interests at heart means that you'll also have the school’s best interests at heart, which makes you committed to the school’s continuous improvement for the benefit of your child.

We currently have a Parent Governor vacancy within our Governing Board.  We are looking for parents who have the skills required to contribute to effective governance and the success of the school. Our parent governors serve a four year term of office (even if your child leaves the school during this term).

Governors are provided with training, either by the school or Nova  Education Trust. All of this is transferable to other areas of life. Being a governor allows you to gain a variety of new skills, and develop the ones you already have. It doesn't matter if you don't think your career experience – or lack of – is relevant to education; governing bodies need people from all backgrounds who can bring their professional knowledge to the school.

If you would like to stand for election, please follow the links below to see how to make a nomination.

The closing date is Friday 10th November. Please return applications to Clerk of Governors, Mrs Wallbank.

Email -  lwallbank@suthersschool.co.uk or forms can be returned to the school office.

Links:

Invitation to stand for election letter

Qualifications and disqualifications to serve as an Academy Governor 

Nomination form

It has been an overwhelmingly positive half term for many reasons and it is important to share these with students, parents and carers. We have welcomed 13 new members of staff and 130 new students and what a fantastic start everyone has made. Our students continue to demonstrate ‘The Suthers Way Every Day’ by being the best version of themselves. We are aware that sometimes mistakes are made but it is how we reflect on our actions and move forward to make the right choices in the future.

We have made some logistical changes this half term to ensure the health and safety of all of our students and staff which has led to a one-way system in school. We have tweaked this and now feel that it is much improved. In addition, as we have an increased amount of students who now catch the school bus, Marshalls collect students from site rather than William Hall Way. 

We had a Trust visit two weeks ago and our students have demonstrated our TORCH character strengths both in and outside of the classroom. I am incredibly proud of some of the positive comments shared with our staff and students about our school.

Our Trust School Directors of Improvement said ‘Pupils are happy at this school. They are listened to and feel valued. Pupils are respectful of the schools’ expectations particularly in unstructured times. Pupils talk enthusiastically about their wider school experience and have a strong sense of belonging at the school. Parents and carers feel increasingly valued by the school and talk positively about the work of leaders on improving engagement as referenced by recent surveys.

There is a clear vision centred around character development across all areas of school life. Pupils are encouraged to live the TORCH values across all aspects of the school and are recognised for demonstrating these values through the school rewards system. The school’s curriculum intent is ambitious and places equal commitment to academic success and personal development encompassing the school’s moto of ‘Wisdom, Knowledge, Fairness’.

I continue to be incredibly proud of our students and staff as the school feels warm, calm and purposeful.

It was fantastic to see so many parents and carers attend our information evenings at the start of term. The feedback suggested these were informative and helpful. The curriculum outline for year 7, 8 and 9 can now be found on our website.

Our Year 9s carried out their Duke of Edinburgh Silver Expedition and what a fantastic job they did! They all showed huge tenacity when times got tough and they persevered to the very end. Our students will be presenting their experiences next half term to other students to encourage them to take part in this incredible experience to develop their character. A huge thank you to Mr Sykes-Wood, Ms Humber and Mr Carter for supporting our students during this expedition.

Our annual Macmillan Bake Sale raised over £800. Every year our students, parents and carers bake the most beautiful cakes. This year we also had a stall for our students and visitors who have allergies which was a recommendation by one of our Year 11 students; we always listen to student and parent voice to ensure we are a fully inclusive school.

Please ensure you check the bulletin within the email body and in the newsletter to know what is coming up next half term. We have written it on a page so you can print it off and stick it to your fridge or notice board as a reminder.

I wish everyone in our school community a great half term and I do hope the weather improves for us all.

I am very much looking forward to welcoming in everyone back to school on 6th November at 8.25am.

Best wishes,

Nic

To keep up to date with all events next term, please click this Link 

As a reminder, additional school ties may be purchased on Parent Pay for £6.95 and collected by the student from the Finance Office (situated next to the main office).

If you have any queries, please email contact@suthersschool.co.uk

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 tie (red). Clip on ties for September 2022 and any replacements.

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 trousers. No jeans, chinos or stretch material or skinny-fit trousers are permitted.

Shorts - Formal, dark grey, shorts may be worn with black ankle socks between May half term and up to October half term.

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 unisex T-Shirt andTSS branded black crew neck sweater.

Plain black, full lengths bottoms. These do not have to have the official school logo and a discrete brand logo is permitted.

Plain black, full length leggings. These do not have to have the official school logo and a discrete brand logo is permitted.

Trainers

Optional: Rugby Shirt, PE Socks

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.

Golden Tickets.

This half term saw the launch of our new Golden Tickets. Students are awarded a golden ticket, and 10 reward points, when they have consistently got it right in lesson and have been nominated by their teacher. These are then posted in our golden boxes outside Miss Watkin's office. After half-term we will be carrying out bi-weekly draws giving students the opportunity to win some great prizes! A massive well done to everyone that has received a golden ticket so far this term.

                                                               

Performing Arts Update.

GCSE Trip to Leicester Curve

Year 10 and 11 GCSE Drama students attended a seminar with Frantic Assembly’s Scott Graham before watching the production. He was joined on stage by the cast of Metamorphosis. Student’s took notes and asked valuable questions to help with their analysis and evaluation of this production.

Frantic Assembly is a well-known Physical Theatre company who tell stories through movement and design. Frank Kafka’s famous novella has been reimagined and student’s were amazed with this new performance.

Here at The Suthers, we offer opportunities to develop deeper scholarly traits; Metamorphosis certainly challenged students to find meaning through the dialogue. Poet Lemn Sissay was challenged with writing the script for the company and this added another intricate layer to the narrative, themes and artistic intentions.  

The student’s represented The Suthers impeccably and we were proud to say that we are their teachers. A fantastic trip!

Art Challenges:

Well done to all students that have participated in this half terms Art Challenge, you will have received a coloured sticker on your book and are on  your way to potentially  winning  prizes at the end of the year. All students are required to take part in 3 out of the 6 challenges within the year, which ones they choose are at their own discretion.

Next half terms Art challenges are in the link below:

ART CHALLENGE HT2.

A thriving Geographical first half term .

As the autumn leaves begin to fall and the scent of pumpkin spice fills the air, it's time to reflect on the exciting first half term of the new academic year here at Suthers. It’s been a packed half term of new experiences, community outreach and expanding horizons. 

Year 7: students continue their exploration of geography by delving into human, physical and environmental elements, learning to understand how these aspects intertwine and shape our world. 

Year 8: our students are currently diving into the dynamic world of tectonics, where they study the Earth's ever-changing lithosphere.  Exploring volcanoes, earthquakes and plate tectonics to unravel the secrets of the planet's geological forces. 

Year 9: moving on from Russia, our Year 9 students are gearing up to explore the diverse landscapes of the UK. They will examine the UK's unique physical features, processes and the human influences on this captivating island nation. 

Year 10: students continue to gain a greater understanding of Earth's natural hazards, exploring plate tectonics and studying real-life case studies (Italy & Nepal). They're now gearing up to unravel the mysteries of Earths atmospheric hazards (Tropical storms).

Year 11 Field Trip: Exploring Newark’s CBD 

One of the highlights of this term was our Year 11 field trip which set out during our second week back. Our students embarked on a journey of discovery, visiting Newark and immersing themselves in their compulsory GCSE fieldwork. Their focus was the regeneration of Newark’s Central Business District (CBD). It was heart-warming to see our students take their second step beyond the classroom, engaging with real-world issues. Exploring the transformation of Newark’s CBD allowed them to apply their classroom knowledge in a practical and meaningful way.  

Witnessing our Suthers community venture out into the heart of Newark and embrace the opportunity to observe urban development was indeed a memorable moment (especially as the weather was kind).  This field trip did not only broaden their understanding but also allowed them to contribute to their local community’s growth. A special thanks to both Ms Humber and Ms E Braithwaite, for all the behind the scenes work to ensure this trip was a huge success.

We look forward to witnessing the growth of our young geographers as they continue their journey through the captivating realm of geography. Stay curious, stay geographically aware. 

In Year 7 Science this term:

Students have recently been learning about cells. They've been applying their understanding of cell structure to work out what unusual organisms are and to evaluate how cell organelles could be represented as parts of a city or factory. This sequence of learning has culminated in students producing model cells as part of their Practice Learning at home. Amazing work represented here from students in 7C.

Message from Miss Forbes.

As Head of Year 7 I am immensely proud of all the students and their tenacity and hard work, particularly, that they consistently show in school. Students such as Dexter in 7O who has surpassed 300 positive points this academic year. With Myley, Isaac, Oleksander, Leo, Lola and Joshua in 7R already having over 220. With Thomas in 7T, Lilymay and Laura in 7H and Evangeline and Florence 7C following very close behind.  Keep up the extremely impressive hard work Year 7 and I am sure all of you will be getting at least the Bronze and Silver stars before Christmas!

Miss Allen - Head of Year 8.

It has been fantastic to watch Year 8 settle back in to the new year following the summer holidays. Students have upheld our high standards and have been making fantastic progress with their learning. They have had the opportunity to take part in more enrichment, including becoming student receptionists for the day. Year 8s continue to impress me with their manners and respect shown to each other and staff. Over the next half term, I will continue to work with students to make sure they continue to thrive as Suthers students. As ever, should you need anything, please contact me at zallen@suthersschool.co.uk 

From Mrs Adams, Head of year 10.

It has been a busy but fantastic start for our Year 10 students. A number of them started the year with their Silver Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition, followed by the real thing a week later. Thank you to Mr. Sykes-Wood, Mr. Carter and Miss Humber for their support. All Year 10 students have settled into their option subjects - it is a pleasure to hear from staff how well Year 10 are working. 

We also saw the launch of our Work Experience programme, with an assembly from Mr. Griffith. It is wonderful to hear that some of our students have already secured this placements. 

Our enrichment offer this term has provided students with a wide range of different activities, from boxing to baking, there is something for everyone. Changes to the school timetable has enabled us to add lunchtime clubs to our enrichment offer, with many students choosing to use there lunchtimes to learn something new or develop their passions. 

The Big Draw event 2023 # Drawing with Senses.

The 2023 Big Draw Festival theme changes the focus from external to internal, exploring the way we personally process the world and internalise our experiences through our senses.

Miss Berrington took the Year 9 Girls on their first Netball tournament of the year on Tuesday 17th October. It was organised by England Netball and took place at Toot hill School. The girls represented the school amazingly and showed our TORCH Characteristics throughout the event, which was attended by 10 other schools. The girls played 4 matches in their pool and ended up winning two, drawing one and losing one, which led them to the 3rd and 4th place play off.  They narrowly missed out on 3rd place, as we lost the final match 3-2. However, super proud of them all for showing amazing teamwork and communication throughout. Keep up the good work Year 9 and I look forward to our next fixture on the 15th November.

A number of Key Stage 3 students have been attending the new History enrichment class during Monday lunchtimes. We decided as a group we wanted to focus on World War Two this term and students are completing their own projects on their areas of interest. Areas of interest include topics from weapons and machines, key events during the war, Anne Frank and the Holocaust through to secret resistance groups! Students have shown an amazing enthusiasm so far and I am really looking forward to seeing their final projects in the upcoming weeks! 

The mysteriously named “Flying Club” enrichment. Aimed at students with aspirations of a career in Aerospace or an interest in aircraft generally.

Started strong with twelve regular participants who are all very interested in everything to do with aircraft. We have looked at jet engines and wings and made some model paper aircraft. The club is hoping soon to build a relationship with ASI, the new Air and Space Institute 16-18 college in Newark and hopefully will be able to experience their flight simulator and learn about their prospectus and educational offering. We also hope to be able to visit aircraft museums, go flying gliders in the spring at a local gliding club and take part in the Air League’s Soaring to Success program of career based lectures – among other things.

The Addams Family - whole school production.

Building on last year’s sell-out production of Grease and following a successful auditions process, rehearsals began at the start of October for next March’s production of the hit musical ‘The Addams Family’. The production will feature a large cast of kooky characters played by students from years 7 to 11 and is already shaping-up to be an incredible show! Performances will be on 6th and 7th March and tickets will be on-sale shortly.   

World Wanderers Enrichment Club: Mapping the Future.  

Another exciting development this half term was the launch of our World Wanderers Enrichment club. Meeting every Tuesday from 3pm – 4pm, a group of enthusiastic students gathers to explore the world of ArcGIS, a powerful digital cloud-based mapping and analysis system. With ArcGIS, our young explorers are charting a course into the world of geospatial technology. This club offers students a unique opportunity to blend technology, geography and problem-solving skills, fostering a deep appreciation for the interconnectedness of our world. By learning to navigate the digital landscape with ArcGIS, our students are equipping themselves with valuable skills that will undoubtedly serve them well in future academic and career endeavours.  

Premier League Inspires .

This year we are fortunate enough to be working with Nottingham Forest Football Club on their Premier League Inspires programme. We have an in school mentor with us one day a week who supports students in different ways. Connor has been working with students on a 1-1 level as well as supporting students with literacy, confidence and resilience. Over the year we will have many opportunities for students in all year groups.

On Monday 16th October, 10 Year 8 students visited the stadium to complete workshops on racism in football as well as having the opportunity to speak with Lewis McGugan about his experiences of racism in football. The students ended their day with a tour of the stadium. 

Disc Golf .

This year we are continuing to work with Tom Cable from Newark Council in providing all students the opportunity to take part in a new, up and coming sport, Disc Golf. This half term Year 7 had a fantastic day with Tom learning new skills. Tom commented on the brilliant attitude of all students and how engaged they were. Great work Year 7s! Tom will be working with Years 8 and 9 again over the coming weeks. 

     Year 7 have had a great start to their school journey here at The Suthers and many have upheld the TORCH principles not just at school but in our wider community. Here are just a few snippets into what our Year 7’s get up to outside of school.

Ollie in 7T has had an amazing start to his journey at The Suthers School, but outside of school Ollie has gone and won Gold on rings, Vault and PBars and Silver on pommel and high bar in a competition on the 1st October. As well as this Ollie was awarded Gold for All-around which means Ollie got the most points overall in the competition. The Suthers School is super proud of you Ollie showing TORCH principles both inside and outside of school. Well done and keep up the hard work!

To start off the academic year Ophelia 7C decided she wanted to raise some money for WWF. She is passionate about animals and saving the environment. So her and her friends - Gabby 7O, Emily 7O and Hailey 7C - sold cakes, books and toys. They raised £83.76 which was donated it all to WWF. Great work girls and what a lovely idea Ophelia.

Bobby 7C also has been showing off his TORCH principles at school and outside the school community. Bobby and his family raised over £2000 for MacMillan as part of their coffee morning on the 30th September.

Music Exam Success!

Following the introduction of extra-curricular instrument lessons at The Suthers we are pleased to celebrate two of our early successes – Abigail who passed her Grade 4 Clarinet exam with Merit, and Charlotte passed her Grade 1 Piano with Distinction.

Thank you to all Students, staff, parents and carers who contributed to the fabulous days we had fundraising for MacMillan Cancer Trust. We managed to raise a wonderful £820.  Thank you to all of the families who attended our successful event.