Letter from Headteacher on Exam Results

7 September 2011

Dear Parents/Carers

Welcome to a new Academic Year. Once again I am looking forward to working with you in helping your children with the challenges of the year ahead and am very pleased to report another year of fantastic examination results at both GCSE and 'A' level.

At 'A' level the average 'points score per student was 714.6, the average points score per exam entry was 214.6 and the percentage of grades that were either A or B was 55%. The vast majority of our Year 13 students were able to progress to a university of their choice.

Our GCSE results were again our best ever. On the Government's 'Gold Standard' measure of 5 or more A* to C grades, including English and Mathematics, we achieved 64% which put us in the top eight schools in the Borough. 83% of students achieved 5 or more A* to C grades. As a result, a record number of students have remained at Heston to continue their studies which, when combined with our Year 13 students, gives us our biggest ever Sixth Form.

High Standards

From our discussions with parents/carers, we know that you value high standards and have the highest expectations of students at Heston Community School.  We share your aspirations.  We expect all students to show to show respect and courtesy and a pride in themselves and in their School. 

To ensure the continued academic success of students at Heston we believe it is essential to pay attention to such things as attendance, punctuality and uniform. Last year, we introduced new procedures to ensure any inadequacies in these standards were addressed. These have proved very successful, though we realise that there is no room for complacency! We ask you to continue to support us by ensuring your child is dressed appropriately and arrives early to School so that they are ready to start learning at 8.30am.

Homework

One area in which we feel we must improve, however, is with regard to homework. Depending on the Year Group, students should be spending between 1 and 2 hours on homework each night. If homework is completed in less time, students are expected to revise and review their work. We ask all students to write every piece of homework into their planner and ask you to check your child's planner regularly and to sign that you have seen it. One of my Deputy Headteachers will be monitoring homework throughout the year to ensure that it is being set consistently and that it is of a high standard.

Campus

Following on from the opening of the brand new Hogarth Building in January 2010, as usual, there have been a number of developments to the school campus over the summer break which has further improved our facilities. A large part of the new perimeter road has now been finished and resurfaced and preparations have been made for the final section to be completed next year at which point an electronic gate will also be erected on the main access road thereby improving campus security still further.

As part of our refurbishment programme, a new, mathematics classroom and a fully equipped Arts/Media classroom have been created. In addition, as a direct response to Student Voice and just in time for the massive increase in Sixth Form numbers, a new Sixth Form Common Room has been created out of a former IT classroom. Finally, a corridor has been reinstated and the Main Entrance and Central Administration Area have been redesigned and improved in order to be both more secure and welcoming. The works have overrun slightly and will be completed over the next few weeks. I hope you will notice and like the improvements!

A Plea to Parents/Carers

There is always a great deal of congestion around the school campus at the beginning and end of the day as large numbers of parents/carers collect their children by car. Please follow the highway code, do not endanger pedestrians, show consideration to our neighbours when dropping off and collecting your children and ensure that you are not blocking their driveways when you park.

Communication

At the start of term the students in each Year Group were spoken to about the challenges and opportunities of the year ahead. Many students will be taking public examinations and it is important that they work hard, whilst also making time to stay healthy and relax. If you are concerned that your child is not getting that balance right, please get in touch with us. The first point of contact is normally the Form Tutor, unless it is a subject specific issue, in which case you might contact the Curriculum Leader. Each Year Group has a Learning Coordinator and a member of the Leadership Team linked to that year. To help with communication, I have included some useful contact information and dates for your diary.

This year, I will run a weekly Headteacher's surgery on Wednesdays. The surgery will take place from 3.15pm to 4.30pm and is an opportunity for parents/carers to come into school and discuss issues regarding their son/daughter or the school, in general. Please let my PA, Mrs Small know at least 48 hours in advance, if you would like to attend. Appointments will be limited to 15 minutes.

Celebration Evening

I am extremely excited to announce that we will be holding our Celebration Evening towards the end of this Academic Year in conjunction with our Summer Music and Arts Festival. This will be our most prestigious event of the year and we hope to welcome the Mayor, Governors, Parents/Carers and Staff to celebrate the efforts, contributions and achievements of our most hard-working and talented students. Further details will follow later in the year!

I look forward to working with you to support your children in the year ahead.

Yours sincerely

Phil Ward

Headteacher