Grey Coat 2 Issue 16: October 2011 Headteacher's let ter to parents


As I write my letter for this month's edition of the newsletter we are coming to the end of the first half term of the year. Students have been working extremely hard this term and participating with great enthusiasm and commitment in their lessons and extra-curricular activities. Staff are committed to planning challenging and engaging lessons and to providing a wonderful range of activities and events for the students to enrich the curriculum. We have had a very full and productive half term!


Some of our Y11 and 12 students have participated in a Model United Nations General Assembly at Emanuel school along with the four other schools in The Grey Coat Foundation and United Westminster Schools. Our students prepared very well for this event and demonstrated excellent skills of persuasion when representing their countries. On Friday 14th October students from Years 8 and 9 represented the school at a service of thanksgiving to celebrate the bicentenary of the National Society in Westminster Abbey. Students have visited Borough Market in Geography, the Tate Gallery in Art, participated in our musical scholars' programme, competed in cross country


events, taken part in the Jack Petchey 'Speak out' contest and a vast range of other activities this term.


Our theme day was an excellent introduction to the theme for this year; 'change'. The day gave the girls the opportunity to challenge themselves, reflect on different aspects of change, and work together as a team. The Year 9 ambassadors have written a full account of the day's activities in this newsletter.


We have held events to support parents to get to know each other. The Year 7 parents were able to talk to each other and to us about their daughters' first few weeks in the school at the Y7 tea party. Many parents and students enjoyed the Barn Dance organised by the Guild. I am very grateful to the Guild for organising events for parents and for the huge contribution they make to the school and its development.


We have organised external reviews of the Music, English and Drama departments this term as part of our rolling programme of departmental reviews. We are delighted with the outcomes of these reviews and are proud of the quality of provision for the students. We look forward to putting into place suggestions for our


continued improvements in these areas.


We have hosted many visits by prospective parents at our open events this term. All girls in Year 9 participated in showing parents around the school and many parents made a point of congratulating the girls on the quality of their tours and their leadership skills. They have been fabulous ambassadors to the school. Many other students supported departmental staff to demonstrate the type of activities which are planned in lessons in each subjects area. On Monday 7 November we will have organised a day of celebration for our new Arts building which includes arts based activities for students in their lessons in Art, Drama and Music and creative activities for the lower school at break and lunch. The day of celebration will culminate in a concert at 5:30pm in the Great Hall followed by a reception in the Arts building. I look forward to seeing many of you at this special event.


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