KINGS NORTON

HIGH TIMES

December 2008

IN THIS ISSUE

A great year to look back on – but some work to do too

On page three you will see a breakdown of our main examination results for summer 2008. You

will agree that they make excellent reading though we are well aware that too many students are still not attaining grade C in English and maths – the national expectation is for at least 30%

to achieve this standard. This has been for a number of reasons:

• As Ofsted pointed out in May 2007, absence had been very high for a succession of years

and this was having a harmful effect on achievement – this has now been addressed and our current average is 92% which matches the Birmingham and national averages!

• Many children came to us with low KS2 scores and this meant we had to work harder than

most schools to achieve good maths and English scores

• Until September 2007 we had largely unqualified or inexperienced teaching teams so over

the last two years we strenuously recruited strong teams, finally achieving this goal in Sep-tember 2008. This has had the desired effect but don’t forget that improvement takes a

little time to bed in. The result has been an astonishing improvement in maths and English in the 2008 SATs and although grade C GCSE results did not improve in these

subjects, the number of children reaching at least grade D tells us that the current better

teaching is beginning to show improvement even with the older learners who have had less time to benefit than the younger ones.

We are putting lots of other support in place for English and maths. For instance I am taking

small groups of year eleven students for coaching sessions to help them with the final exam reading paper, and we are currently employing an extra maths teacher so that some maths

groups can receive extra support. In addition to this we are going to recruit more maths and English staff after Christmas so that we can hopefully offer individual mentoring and smaller

group sizes in order to address the needs of all learners.

We will offer ‘masterclasses’, after-school lessons and Easter holiday classes for year eleven to boost achievement by focusing on specific areas of difficulty and as preparatory revision for the

final examination papers. We hope that you will support your child and the school by encourag-ing your year eleven children to attend, as research has proved over and over again that stu-

dent attendance and extra teaching time always have a significant effect on examination out-comes.

Finally – Specialist Status

Now that we are improving in all areas of the school, we are in a position to apply for specialist status and we would like to go for Business and Enterprise as our specialism. This will mean

that business, ICT and mathematics will be enhanced and the knock-on result will be that all subjects across the curriculum will benefit. Specialism will bring in extra funding for the school

each year, with initially an injection of funding for a substantial project – for instance fitting out a room as a multi-media and video conferencing centre so that learners can make movies, pres-

entations, TV programmes and written publications to demonstrate their learning.

The only catch is that we need to raise some matched funding in the region of £30,000 to show that we are making serious business and community links. In the new year we

will be seeking your views on the specialist bid, and on how we might both raise the sponsorship and serve our community.

Well done KNHS on a very successful year. Have a

lovely Christmas and New Year!!

CHRISTMAS 2008 AT KINGS NORTON HIGH

Denise Burns

Headteacher

Going up!

Out and about

In

the

pink!

The 13th November was a lucky day for Year 10 students – a whole day off timetable, but what were they going to do instead? On entering the hall students were asked to sit in groups away from their best friends and this made a few people decidedly uncomfortable. They were then introduced to 17 people from the ‘World of Work’ who had come into school for the day to give our students a flavour of what it is like in busi-ness. The students had a variety of challenges set before them, taking people out of their comfort zone with the groups evolving into teams as a consequence. They gave presentations on the qualities of good leaders before embarking on a mini enterprise activity which involved planning, designing, producing and selling mini jot pads. Many difficulties cropped up during the day. These included a shop which was not very good at supplying the correct amounts of materials bought or short changing its customers, a very fussy buyer, limited resources and time, the need to make a profit and two annoying Health and Safety Officers with powers to impose on the spot fines for anything not exactly right. At the very start, a few students were very much against the day, preferring “normal lessons” or asking if they could go home. It was so heartening to see how these very people became some of the stars as events unfolded. Every student made a positive contribution and the World of Work visitors were full of praise and admiration of our students.

ENTERPRISE ENGAGEMENT

In October the humanities faculty recognised Black History

Month, raising awareness of the contributions made by Black and

Asian people in our communities, by hosting a celebration assembly

for all learners.

The assembly highlighted the events planned by the humanities

faculty for the month of October; which included an activity

called ‘can you put yourself in the picture’ – using self portraits to

depict personal and cultural identity, and a second event ‘defining

your identity’ involved the creation of a personal ‘identity flag’.

Both events were designed for those taking part to use the media

of their choice – for example; Movie-Maker, PowerPoint, pod

-casting or good old fashioned scissors, glue and coloured paper.

The humanities faculty also compiled a ‘100 Black Britons’ montage

to illustrate the positive contributions made by Black people to our society as a whole. Not only is it interesting for

everyone to see, but it also helps build confidence in the Black community and provide positive role models for

our Black students.

Black History Month is an important ‘awareness exercise’ and also an ideal chance for us to examine and understand

the many different cultures that exist in our school and local community.

Lindy Thompson, Head of Humanities Faculty

Key Stage 4 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008

5 A*-C inc English and maths 11% 16% 7% 13% 12%

Level 2 Functional English and maths n/a n/a 67% 58% 67%

Level 1 Functional English and maths n/a n/a 73% 84% 90%

5 A*-C 16% 49% 60% 53% 67%

5 A*-G 73% 76% 82% 89%

2 grades A*-C which cover the KS4 science programme

of study

n/a n/a n/a 8% 32%

at least one qualification 85% 96% 91% 95% 99%

Average point score per stu-dent

195.7 277.4 287.9 282.8 382.5 (uncapped internal data) 307.8 (capped -

RAISE)

KS2 to KS4 CVA * 961.5 988.8 988.1 987.3 1007

KS3 to KS4 CVA * 989.3 1000.1 1005.1 1006.1 1021.2

Key Stage 3 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008

No. Students at end of KS3 138 137 127 102 82

Students with SEN or SA+ 9.4% 25.5%

English

L5+ 38% 39% 46% 41% 70%

L6+ 9% 11% 22%

non attendance 7% 4% 7% 9% 1%

Mathematics

L5+ 41% 47% 50% 45% 60%

L6+ 14% 25% 37%

non attendance 4% 4% 4% 13% 2%

Science

L5+ 32% 39% 38% 38% 50%

L6+ 6% 12% 15%

non attendance 8% 8% 5% 11% 1%

• Contextual Value Added (CVA) is the measure of where a learner started and what they achieved when they left

us. Anything over 1000 is deems as being ‘performed much better than expected’.

ATTENDANCE NOW 92% SO FAR THIS YEAR

AN UPWARDS TREND!

As you can see, achievements are on the up but we still need to work on ’National Challenge’ targets to achieve 30% 5A*-C GCSE including English and maths by 2011, if not sooner!!

During the last school week in October, many of Year 7 went on a team building residential trip to the Peak District, based in Cromford close to Matlock Bath in the picturesque Derwent Valley.

The students and teachers stayed in an old Mill Building which had been refurbished using funds from The Prince’s Trust. For some, these were the first nights they had stayed away from home. The first task, on arrival, was for students to choose their rooms and make their own beds. During their stay, students had to cook, serve food and clean for themselves. After the initial shock, all the students worked very well as teams to complete these tasks.

As well as a variety of team building exercises within the Centre itself, students went out walking in order to explore this picturesque part of Derbyshire and learn something of its industrial heritage. Team spirit came in

useful here and those students feeling tired were looked after and encouraged by the others. Cromford Mill is a World Heritage Site, being built by Sir Richard Arkwright in where he developed the first cotton spinning machines and a system of water power for this process. Part of the visit included a guided tour round the Mill site and students had a chance to try spinning cotton for themselves. Another highlight was a ride on a cable car to visit the Heights of Abraham. There were guided tours of the old lead mine caverns with plenty of evidence what life was like 200 years ago.

Our new students continued the established tradition of exemplary behaviour shown by Kings Norton High School when off site. The local guides, in particular, were impressed by the perceptive questions and high quality answers given by students during their tours. The experiences of this residential have helped to form closer ties between our year 7 students and provide a solid foundation for the rest of their time at Kings Norton High School. Thanks must go to the School Enterprise and Action Zone (SEAZ) for subsidising the visit; Mrs Setchell and Mrs Varley for their previsit organisation; the staff accompanying the students; and most of all to the Year 7 stu-dents themselves for making this such an en-joyable and memorable visit. Mr Taylor and Mrs Gonzalez

Year 7 Crew Stay in Cromford

Last term learners from years 7 to

11 took part in the The Dragons

Apprentice Enterprise day. They spent the day learning about

business and had the opportunity

to set up their own company.

The task was to design and market a brand new mobile phone. A good

day’s selling was had by all teams

– both staff and learners - and at

the end of the day, each team pitched their financial information,

prototype phones and business

plans to the Dragons Apprentice

Panel. The pitch had to last no longer than 5 minutes and

included a grilling by the panel!

The panel consisted of Ms Burns,

Mr Horner, Mr Punton and Mrs McShane.

The winning two teams were

awarded prizes; a good time was

had by all!

Thanks to all those involved!

Mrs Horner & Ms Thompson

The Dragons Apprentice!

Thinkuknow.co.uk is a really good

website covering internet safety issues -

check out their handy hints and tips and practical information to keep yourself

and your family safe on-line.

Loud Mouth Theatre Group visited during November and December to work with year 10 students. The sessions included a play and discussion around the themes of sexual health and relationships, and are designed to complement the PSHE curriculum. Students enjoyed the play especially and the actors praised the groups as some of the best they have ever performed to.

LOUD MOUTH

The trip to Back to Back houses was the most amazing trip. It was very enjoyable for those of us who are not from Birmingham, to learn about the history of Birmingham. We found out how people lived in the past and compared their living conditions to nowadays. I think we can be proud of how the people changed the world with their hard work and made it more comfortable and better for us. People who lived in the 19th century

did not have the opportunity to go to school and get an education. This teaches us a good lesson that education should be valued more. Today we have the opportunity to achieve what we want and to become who ever we want. The trip was also good because we learnt a lot about British culture that was new to most of the pupils that came on the trip. They are new to the school and have only recently arrived to England. The trip made them feel welcome and everyone enjoyed the time together with students who have been in England longer than they have. I hope more trips like this will take place for new students in our school. It was all in one – an amazing trip and a learning experience.

Ramazan Ali, year 10

BACK -TO-BACK

David Graham brought his Natural High Tour back to Kings Norton High for the fourth time in December. Students in year 7 were treated to a morning of singing, dancing and games, all designed to raise awareness of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. The visit formed part of the PSHE curriculum and was a great success. Well done to April Beresford who won the slogan competition:

“From Alcohol to cannabis, whatever you take,

being high as the sky,

Pop Idol Returns

The school library is such a busy room not only during

lessons but before and after school, and over break and lunchtimes that Mrs Trombley appoints a ‘library monitor of the week’ to help her with the duties. Our current library monitor, Daniel Turner, helps Mrs Trombley assemble the laptops ready for the day ahead and gets the books out that teachers have asked to be ready for their lessons. Students are welcomed into the library and Daniel assists

with any book returns and new issues. It is fun being the library monitor but it is a big responsibility too and I’m sure Mrs Trombley will agree that all the students who have been library monitor during the autumn term have risen to the challenge and performed their duties as quiet as mice!!

QUIET AS MICE!

7th November 2008

Students in year 11 chose to experience life as a teacher this term, as part of their citizenship coursework. The learners planned and delivered lessons to years 7 and 8 on drug awareness and financial capability. Activities included pocket money budgeting, drugs dominoes and Mastermind. All of our temporary teachers deserve to be congratulated on their efforts towards what was a very successful project as these pictures demonstrate.

Teachers for a day?

The day was a great success and yes, we

introduced blue for those of us who aren’t in touch with our feminine side!

A grand total of £448.63 was raised.

Creeping, crawling, tearing across the skin. With deep, empty

eyes and claws that will kill. A gut wrenching scream and a

heart stopping thud. The nightmare

is over and all is left to the blood.

Night after night this dream will begin. It starts with a flash

which then starts to dim. I want to cry, scream out, escape! The terror

runs through me when I see the

man in a cape.

He breaks like a mirror into a thousand sharp points.

An arm, a leg and a room

full of joints. They squire and squiggle and start to turn.

I’m burning up, my insides will burn.

Each one starts to take less

shape. Each one a beast except

the cape. Giant creatures, ferocious and strong. I try to move

but my suffering is long.

A spider here, a millipede

there. All I can do is stop and stare. They start to come

close, right up to my face. I see their fangs and

I lose my place.

They are biting my skin

and tearing it off. It comes away from the bone like a piece of

cloth. My eye is out of socket and I’m bleeding

all over. I think I’m dead

but the dream is not over.

I am lifted into the air by an invisible hand. I

scream for my life. I try

and demand. It is no use, and I give up once more.

And with a bang I hit the floor.

I wake up shaking and sobbing on the bed.

Everything I see is all

in my head. I go to hell and there is no turning back.

In this asylum I struggle to stay in fact.

Asylum

by

Jessica Beard

Cadburys World of Work

Project

A group of year 10 students visited Cadburys on 9th December to study the skills and qualities needed by employees in a large manufacturing company and to try and start solving some of the manufacturing problems Cadburys face on a day-to-day basis. Four manufacturing problems were explained to the students and over the next month we are going to try and come up with some solutions and present them back to Cadburys’ staff.

Ryan Freelove demonstrates all the Safety equipment a

maintenance engineer needs

Pupils putting on PPE ready for factory tour

COMMUNICATIONS

The communications facuty has

continued to move forward this year, with all the exciting and new

innovations happening in school. Staff have taken on board the use

of laptops at key stage 3 and stu-

dents have begun producing excel-lent powerpoints on topics such as

‘Charles Dickens’ and ‘Vampires’. The faculty has added resources to

the VLE and urges everyone, parents especially, to have a browse.

The library has continued its excellent work and several students have

read and commented on the Birmingham Grid for Learning reading site, even some teachers have been hooked. A particular favourite

being ‘The boy in the striped pyjamas’, a highly recommended read. Year 7 were also given a free book in October and it was great to see

their enthusiasm.

Year 11 are continuing to work hard for their GCSE, but we urge all

those with coursework missing to use the holidays productively.

Finally, the MFL department has continued to expand successfully and there are plans afoot to start ASSET languages, Spanish GCSE and

even a terrific trip to France in 2010.

The humanities faculty would like to

thank everyone who contributed to their Harvest Festival collection. The

collection was part of Year 11’s GCSE

citizenship coursework and donated to

the ‘Fireside Homeless Shelter’. The students planned and advertised the

project and should be proud of their

efforts.

Special thanks should go to Tom Stokes,

Tim Pugh, Ryan Murphy, Stephen Lea

and Eric

Pinkney who, as part of the

project, wrote

and peformed

an assembly in front of the

whole school.

Harvest Collection

From cake sales, detention buy-offs and

break/lunchtime activities, a grand total of £451.73 was

raised.

Pudsey even attended our assembly!

This year’s school Christmas card has been taken from the art coursework of Kirsty Astbury in

year 11

The school pantomime ‘Snow White’ received rave reviews from primary schools who watched a performance on Monday afternoon and parents and students on Tuesday evening. A big thanks goes to all those involved in the organisation and staging of the production.

Cast: Snow White - Paige Windridge, Evil Queen - Asia Wray, King - Nathan Dewell, Butler - Kamram Ali, Mal-colm - Callum Bird, Huntsman 1 - Peter Dugmore, Huntsman 2 - Kieran Pace, Queen/mirror - Sasha Renshaw, Farquar - Tyler Shingler, Tarquin/Dopey - Leon Stewart, Guard/Vicar/Daniel Turner - Daniel

Turner, Sneezy - Shannon Cotterill-Gibson, Sleepy - Adele Hunkins-Beckford, Doc - Paige Britton, Grumpy - Cherise Stirling, Old Woman/Bashful - Keelee-Ann Rivers, Happy - Ramazan Ali