Speech Day Report 2008

The following Speech Day Report for the year to July 2008 can be downloaded as a Word document here (5 pages, 81kb).

The past year has seen every member of the school community developing their talents and extending their knowledge in every possible way. Both pupils and staff have developed their skills in a wide range of directions. New talents have been discovered, targets set and achieved by everyone.

From the Speech Day programme, it is evident that the pupils have worked very hard and have experienced a diverse range of activities to achieve the tremendous results that are listed there. These achievements would not be possible without the experience and care of all the staff of the school who work constantly to develop each pupil’s strengths and make sure everyone achieves their potential.

I would like to thank all the staff for their dedication and the excellent role models they create for the pupils to follow.

On Thursday 5th June 2008, Judith Reed, an Ofsted Inspector came to our Nursery. She spent the day observing and talking to the nursery staff and me. Her report is published on the Ofsted website: (www.ofsted.gov.uk) as well as our own website. She found:

‘The quality and standards of Nursery education to be GOOD.’

She was very positive in her report about the care and education that Mrs Middleton, Mrs Carter, Miss Harvey and the support staff in the Nursery give to the children in their care. I should like to thank all the staff for their effort and commitment to the pupils.

In November, pupils in Form 5 & 6 took part in the Mathematics Association Primary Maths Challenge. Everyone did well, achieving good scores on the maths puzzles. Joseph Seymour scored extremely highly and was picked to sit the final challenge in February, when he achieved a bronze medal in the National competition. An excellent achievement. Well done, Joe!

January meant an end to the preparation for Form 6 who took entrance exams for September 2008 transfer to Secondary schools. Ten pupils will go to The Gregg School, two to King Edward’s, one to St Mary’s College, one to maintained sector and one returns home to Saudi Arabia. I wish them good luck in their future studies.

At the end of the Spring Term, 48 candidates took the Trinity Guildhall Examination in Communication Skills. The exams were prepared in English lessons then the whole school heard the talks in assembly. The standard was very high and the examiner complimented the pupils on their efforts.

In May the National SATs (Statutory Attainment Tests) were completed for the end of KS1 (Form 2). These tests assess the pupils’ achievements in Maths and English. Science tasks are also used to discover each individual’s progress. The pupils worked very hard and should all be proud of their results. These are a firm basis for them to build upon as they enter the programmes of study set out in KS2 of the National Curriculum.

Form 6 also took the end of Key Stage 2 SATs and we await their results. They all worked very hard and I am sure they will have reached their potential.

2008 Key Stage 1 National Results

These tables show the percentage of eligible children at the end of key stage 1 achieving each level in the school.

The number of eligible children is: 7.  Figures may not total 100 per cent because of rounding.

W              Represents children who are working towards level 1, but have not yet achieved the standards needed for level 1.

*                 Results for speaking and listening and science are based on teacher assessment only.

2007 Key Stage 1 National Results

This table shows the percentage of eligible children achieving each level at the end of key stage 1 in 2007.

Figures may not total 100 per cent because of rounding.

W represents children who are working towards level 1, but have not yet achieved the standards needed for level 1. 

Form 3, 4 & 5 also sat the optional test papers for English, Maths and Science, giving them the experience of test conditions and staff the opportunity to assess their progress. Everyone works hard in their lessons and their achievements and progress are monitored and valued. 

Academic results are not the only achievements celebrated during the school year. In our monthly Achievement Assemblies, pupils are able to share their experiences and results from the out-of-school clubs they attend. Many of these can be fostered in other aspects of the school curriculum.

The school football Under 9’s, U10’s & U11’s teams and netball team have been able to arrange more matches this year due to changes in the timetable that bring our games afternoons in line with other schools in the area. Success in the matches has not always been ours, but the players have enjoyed the challenge and learned a lot from their experiences.  

There have also been opportunities for swimmers to take part in Swimming Galas and Water Polo matches both at The Quays here in Southampton and further afield. Our athletics representatives from Forms 3, 4, 5 & 6 competed at Southampton Sports centre.

Dance has once again featured highly in the timetable as we entered the Southampton Junior Rock Challenge competition. Work on the idea for the eight minute dance started in Mr O’Flaherty’s head this time last year and different form groups were soon testing things out. The real work began in January and the 28 members of the team performed our routine at Southampton Guildhall on 8th March. For the second year we were presented with the award for ‘Most Entertaining Performance’. This was a great achievement. I am enormously proud of the effort every member of the team put in. This must include fund raising, chasing permission for the use of music, costumes, props, make up and hair design as well as the rehearsals for the actual dance. Many parents and staff helped to make this event happen. I thank you all. The experience is fantastic for the pupils and without your support could not happen. (I believe the embryo idea for next year is already surfacing!)

All of the experiences that the pupils have help to educate them for their lives ahead. At St Winifred’s we try to educate the ‘Whole Child’. The pupils have had talks from representatives from charities, scientists from Southampton University, Road Safety officers, people with unique memories or jobs and musicians, both our own familiar teachers, as well as others with new instruments. Being able to share other people’s experiences and discuss with teachers and friends helps the pupils to form opinions and develop an understanding of the world around them.

Drama and role play have an important part to play in the pupils’ development. The Gregg School Junior Drama Club came to our assembly and presented a play -‘The Naughty Gnome’- which they had written. The whole school visited the Gregg School to see their performance of ‘Oklahoma’ in the Spring Term. Assemblies are taken regularly by Form groups. They can use this experience to show what they have been learning or perform a play to the rest of the school. These are excellent opportunities for everyone to develop confidence.

Trips out into the community, visits to Portswood library, sporting excursions, visits to the theatre, concerts or art galleries and places of interest all add together to widen the pupils’ horizons.

The fund raising activities of the school have been incredible this year. Not only have we raised money to buy staging and wireless microphones for our plays and concerts but we have managed to purchase rugs, cushions and books for the library. During this academic year the library stock has been updated, and the non fiction books have been reorganised according to the Dewey system. The PTFA have helped with some of the funding for the library and I would like to thank the committee for their support both in purchasing equipment for the school as well as organising the strawberry teas for our Summer Fete.

Our Informal Supper Nights have also helped to raise funds and become a super social event each term. My thanks go to the staff who have worked hard to make these events happen. Also to pupils, parents, friends and staff who have supported the events. Make sure you put the Greek evening in your diaries when the calendar is published at the end of this term.

Citizenship and taking care of each other are important lessons for everyone. Fund raising has not just concentrated on the school. This year we held a McMillan Coffee Morning, wore jeans on ‘Jeans for Genes’ day, towed plastic boats around the swimming pool to support Peter Collett’s row across the Atlantic which raised money for research into Alzheimer’s, planted Daffodils and wore yellow to support the Myasthenia Gravis Association, covered Pudsey bear for Children in Need and performed a concert for a local nursing home. The school choir sung for Hampshire Autistic Association in West Quay Shopping Centre. We held a Christmas treasure hunt for Shelter, read books for Readathon, worn ‘Silly Socks’ for Autism Awareness Day and had a Teddy Bears’ picnic and bear hunt for John, the orphan we support at Mercy House in Johannesburg.

The pupils enjoy taking part in events. Our Sports Day and Swimming Gala are always great fun, as is the Summer Fete. This year we were lucky to have good weather so the outdoor activities could be enjoyed to the full. We have also taken part in the ISA (Independent Schools Association) Art and Essay competitions. Our own Art and Essay competitions are always inspiring. Lots of the essays can be seen on our website: www.stwinifreds.southampton.sch.uk

The art is displayed in the school hall and some will, no doubt, be entered for next year’s ISA competition.

Our own music competition was a super afternoon of excellent music. The Orchestra continues to thrive and has played well at a variety of concerts in school and for others. The choir has worked hard and performed excellently wherever I have taken them. Well done to everyone involved: your music is a pleasure to hear.

The Upper School poetry writing competition gives everyone the opportunity to create a poem and share it. Twenty eight of the poems were chosen to be published in the Young Laureate’s book of poetry for the south of England which was super. The performances by some of the writers really bring the poems to life. Handwriting also goes under scrutiny in the Spring Term.

This year there has been a change in the stockist for the school uniform. Stevensons, a company based in St Albans, has delivered a mail order service with termly visits to the school planned. This move allowed a new design for the girls’ summer dress to be introduced, as well as a change to royal blue for the school jumper. 

The Parents’ Choir has continued to flourish this year under the leadership of Mr Webb. They performed at the Carol service in December and at the Upper School Concert at the end of the Spring Term. Thank you, Mr Webb, for keeping us all together!

This year we have seen a few changes in the staff. Mrs Odgers joined us in September and has been Form 3’s form teacher this year. She has also taught the Upper School Geography and History. She brought new interests to St Winifred’s, starting Papier Maché Club during the winter months and, more recently, Gardening Club. These activities have been enjoyed by the pupils and Gardening Club contributed lots of plants to our plant stall at the Summer Fete. Thank you for the care and attention you have brought to your role within the school, Mrs Odgers.

Miss Harvey joined the Nursery staff in October. She quickly became involved with the running of the department. She has approached her role as Key Worker to a group of the children with care and shown consideration for their development within the setting.

Miss Miller has started her maternity leave and her baby girl was born last week. Miss Fisher became Mrs Fairclough at the beginning of the school year. She has also begun her maternity leave; her baby is due at the end of July. I wish them and their families the very best.

Mrs Al Hashimi joined us recently as a teaching assistant and has worked well with the Early Years Department in Nursery and Transition.

As I look back over the past year and review all the activities - academic, cultural, creative and sporting - of the staff and pupils, I am amazed at the magnitude of what has been achieved. I am sure the feeling of pride that I have is felt by everyone who has been involved with St Winifred’s School this year. I congratulate all the pupils and staff for this achievement. Thank you, everyone, for:

‘Making the most of individual talent – nurturing every child’