HEADTEACHER Dear Parents/Carers,


Can I firstly thank those of you who supported our campaign for Fairer Funding, either by writing to MPs and Ministers, or by completing the consultation on the draft formula. Along with the Head of Parkstone Grammar and the two Salisbury grammar schools, I was invited to a meeting with the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb in February, to put the Grammar School case – the draft formula seemed to discriminate particularly heavily against selective schools who are mostly already poorly funded under the existing system. I do sympathise with the government’s dilemma in seeking to reform the funding system because inevitably


there will be schools that gain and others who lose – but I do think we need a minimum level of funding per pupil in order to be able to deliver a decent education. You may be interested to know that the bill for exam entries this year has so far reached £125,000 – costs we have no control over unless we stop entering students for exams!


As we break up for the Easter holiday, I must remind students in Years 9, 11, 12 and 13 that public examinations are getting closer. Year ( will be completing their ICT GCSE course, Year 11 commence their GCSE exams on or soon after 15 May, and Year 12 students doing certain subjects will have AS examinations from that date, while Year 13 start their exams after the Whit half term. Students will already be receiving guidance as to how they should approach these examinations from their subject teachers, but I would like to add some general advice. Learning is much more effective where students are doing something ‘active’ – answering (or making up) exam style questions, producing topic summaries and revision cards, testing each other in groups – than in just re-reading notes over and over. Effective students know which aspects of each subject they need to concentrate on, and divide their time accordingly. They also have a revision plan which helps them manage time effectively. We all have our own preferred learning styles when it comes to revision, but the more organised and focussed the student is, the better the outcome.


We very much appreciate the feedback we receive from parents. The best way to let us know how you and your son feel about the school is by completing Parentview - This is used by Ofsted but also by anyone who wants to find out more about the school. Put “Parentview” into your search engine, click on “Welcome to Parentview”, then on the orange jigsaw piece and add your opinions.


We have had a busy term in terms of extra curricular activities and trips, and I would like to note a few highlights. The boys have been their normal active selves when taking on fundraising, and a particular mention should go to the boys who took part in a ‘swimathon’ organised by Poole Lions Club– this raised over £600. The History Department recently organised an evening lecture by Dr Chris Read, an expert on the Russian Revolutionary period and which was attended by around 260 people – more are being planned. And our first PSA Murder Mystery evening, accompanied by PGS ensembles, seemed to go down well – and it wasn’t the first time I have died on stage! (ask someone who was there!) And we very much hope that you will support the Summer Extravaganza on Saturday 17 June, from 12-4pm on the school field.


With best wishes for an enjoyable Easter break (and some revision), A.J. Baker Headteacher


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12