Newsletter
Spring Term 1 – February 2019
News from the Headteacher
Tell us what you think!
Every year at this time we ask parents, staff and students to give us feedback on important aspects of
school performance. The link to the parent survey will be sent out via email. Students will receive their
survey via their school email. Please encourage them
to complete it. We were very grateful to those parents who completed Ofsted’s ParentView survey back in
November, the results of which we published in the last newsletter. This gave us excellent feedback but
only Ofsted see any narrative comment. Even though
this survey was such a short time ago, we have decided to go ahead with our annual survey as it is
often the comments that help us to see clearly what we are doing well and what we need to develop and
improve. Please complete this survey by Friday 1st March. We look forward to hearing from you. You
will notice we have included questions about PREP,
one year after its introduction, and the live assessment information that you have access to through
Go4Schools. We will report back on your responses and tell you what actions we are taking in our next
newsletter.
I hope you enjoy reading the rest of our news in a half
term that has seen a great deal of sporting success, our production of School of Rock, visits from Chinese
students and the launch of Tassomai for our Y9-Y11 science students to support their learning of GCSE
science content
We have three trips going out over half term: our
Cricket Academy Tour to Barbados, our annual ski trip,
and our MFL trip to Madrid. I hope all those
participating in these tremendous opportunities have a
wonderful time and I wish everyone a happy half term.
We return to school on Monday 25th February, which is
a Week B.
Yours sincerely
Carole Herman Headteacher
KS3
Who to contact in the Key Stage 3 Pastoral
Team
Year 7 Pastoral Manager: Miss Ellis
Year 8 Pastoral Manager: Ms East
Year 9 Pastoral Manager: Mrs Messenger
Pastoral Manager in KS3: Mrs Allen [email protected]
Pastoral Manager in KS3: Mrs Kalaitzis
Pastoral Secretary: Mrs Walker
Behaviour & Standards Team Leader: Mr Rigg
Year 7 Curriculum and PREP
Year 8 Curriculum and PREP
Year 9 Curriculum and PREP
Celebration Breakfast
The following forms won a Celebration Breakfast in
January, thanks to the PTA. Students worked hard to
sell tickets for the prize draw and the forms that sold
the most won the breakfast this term. Well done to the
following forms:
7NH
8NM
9NM
Year 8 News
Some of our Year 8 students have been taking part in
Risk Avert sessions with Ms East this term. Risk Avert
sessions provide an opportunity to learn more about
positive decision-making and how we can manage risk
in any situation.
Year 9 News
Options Process Year 9 will hear all about the Options Process in an
assembly after half term. They will find out what
GCSE/BTEC courses they can take and the process
needed to select them. Copies of the options booklets
will be available on the website for parents to look at
with their children at home.
Key dates for Year 9 are as follows:
Friday 1st March – Options Launch
Thursday 7th March – Year 9 Options evening in the
Main Hall
Thursday 14th March – Year 9 Parents evening
Friday 22nd March – Deadline for Year 9 option forms
KS4
Who to contact in the Key Stage 4 Pastoral
Team
Year 10 Pastoral Manager: Mrs Murray
Pastoral Coordinator/ Year 11 Pastoral Manager
Miss Day
Pastoral Secretary: Mrs Walker
Behaviour & Standards Team Leader: Mr Rigg
Year 10 Curriculum and PREP
Year 11 Curriculum and PREP
Year 10 News
Mock Exams Well done to Year 10 for their conduct during the
English mock exam. A reminder for exams still to come
in April – students are emailed their seat numbers so
they must check and make a note of where they are
sitting before the day of the mock.
Year 11 News
Following the Year 11 Conference, there was an
excellent push from Year 11 students to undertake
revision and engage in the PREP sessions offered to
them by departments across the school. After half
term, the PREP and revision schedule will be published
again for students to ensure they know when the
sessions are.
#beprepared Monday and Wednesday 3pm – 4:30pm in i72 – a
quiet space for students to attend and revise after
school. Students can bring any subject to revise, and
can ask Miss Day or Mrs Martin to support them by
getting past papers, revision cards, paper for mind
maps etc.
Post-16 Students must have considered their options for
September; this was explained to students at the
Conference in January, and students were supported
in making applications to colleges of their choice.
If they haven’t done so already, please support your
child to apply for post-16 courses and ensure they
have a back-up plan.
KS5
Who to contact in the Key Stage 5 Pastoral
Team
Pastoral Managers
Mrs Cross
Mrs Panayi
Pastoral Secretary: Mrs Dunn
Head of Sixth Form: Mr Cooke
Year 13 Parents’ Evening There will be a Year 13 Parents’ Evening on Thursday
28th February from 4.00pm to 7.00pm. Appointments
can be made via the Online Appointment Booking
system from Monday 11th February and will close on
Thursday 28th February at 2pm. More information
and a guide on how to access the online booking
system will be forwarded to parents via email.
We hope you will be able to attend and look forward
to seeing you at the Parents’ Evening on 28th
February.
Important information
Absence When a student is absent a Parent must phone the
school on each day of absence explaining the reason.
No absences will be authorised unless accompanied by
medical evidence, this includes one day absences.
A telephone call does not make the absence
authorised.
If a student is sent home by the school First Aider, this
will be authorised as it has been deemed that the
student is not well enough to be in school.
Medical appointments – appointments will only be
authorised if evidence is shown ie appointment
letter/card.
If a student has an on-going medical issue and the
First Aider has been informed and evidence of this is
on file, the absence related to the issue will be
authorised, ie A diabetic absent due to Hypo/low blood
sugar levels.
Continued unauthorised absences will result in a
meeting with the Attendance Officer/ Pastoral
Manager, an action plan will be implemented, and if
absences continue after this a warning letter will be
sent to all parents with parental responsibility warning
of the issue of a Penalty Notice/a meeting with MECES
(Missing Education and Child Employment Services).
Leave Of Absence If you apply for a LOA (Leave of Absence) during the
school term, it will be at the Headteacher’s discretion if
this will be authorised. A letter in advance must be
sent to either the Headteacher or the Attendance
Officer stating when the absence will be, how many
school days will be missed and the reason for the
absence during term time.
You will receive a return letter informing you of the
decision. If it is deemed to be unauthorised and the
absence still takes place, all parents may be liable for
the issue of a Penalty Notice of £60.00 per child per
parent.
Warning Letter Warning letters are sent to parents of students with
poor attendance. 100% attendance is expected. Below
90% attendance is deemed unsatisfactory. The
warning letter sets out the procedures that will follow.
The student will be monitored by the Attendance
Officer and parents will be liable for a Penalty Notice to
be issued if unauthorised absences (irregular
attendance) continue after receiving the letter.
Trips, Visits and Events
STEM
Competition for young space
entrepreneurs lifts off The UK Space Agency is offering young people expert
advice and a share of £50,000 for their ideas of how
satellites could improve life on earth.
Click this link for further competition information
Chinese Visitors
Shenfield High School welcomed 60 Chinese students
and their teachers from the High School Group
affiliated to Beijing Renmin University.
Two groups of 30 students visited with each Chinese
student buddied up with a Shenfield High School
student of a similar age.
The Chinese students spent three days shadowing our
students and learning about the English School day. It
was lovely to watch how our students supported their
buddies during lessons and social time to ensure that
they felt comfortable and secure within a new
environment. We had a fabulous time discovering
more about the Chinese culture and their traditions as
they performed dances and songs to celebrate Chinese
New Year.
All students had an amazing time and friendships were
formed even though there may have been a language
barrier. Chinese teachers complimented our school
community on how they were made to feel like they
were at home and how mature our students are. The
students all had an emotional farewell to our new
friends. Students shared letters with each other about
their experiences and memories in the hope that we
make a return trip to Beijing.
Senior Performing Arts Academy The Senior Performing Arts Academy will be
performing at the Shaftesbury Theatre on Sunday 17th
March 2019 as part of the prestigious performing arts
event
‘YOUNG PERFORMERS 2019’
Shenfield will perform in this showcase amongst
performing arts schools and drama academies around
the UK.
If you would like to purchase tickets to come along
and support then please follow the link for further
information on how to purchase your tickets.
http://www.shenfield.essex.sch.uk/news/2019/01/shaf
tesbury-theatre-performance---17th-march-2019.aspx
Dates for the Diary Tuesday 26th February Spring Showcase Auditions –
3.15pm
Wednesday 3rd April Spring Showcase Rehearsals
3.00pm
Thursday 4th April Easter Concert – 7.00pm
Wednesday 24th April Shenfield Musician of the Year
Tuesday 30th April Spring Showcase – 6.30pm
Thursday 20th June Performing Arts Awards
Evening
Tuesday 25th June Junior Academy Showcase –
6.30pm
Thursday 4th July Summer Concert – 7.00pm,
Careers Options at Harlow College
On Friday 14th December, Shelley Clarke from Harlow
College, Fashion Course Leader came into SHS to meet
with our students in Y10-13 who signed themselves up
for her presentation. A thoroughly powerful,
engaging and informative presentation was given to
our students. Various Careers Industries within the
Creative Arts were discussed and explained in great
depth.
Sport
Futsal U13 girls won the girls Central Essex Futsal
tournament and will play in the Essex Finals on Feb
28th
Cross Country Ruby Higgins had a superb Cross-Country season
winning the Essex Championships and qualifying for
the National finals with Essex.
Football Our U12 boys played a strong Barking Abbey team.
Shenfield started playing plenty of attractive passing
football that pulled Abbey’s defence apart. After a
superb first half of football Shenfield went into the
second half 5-0 up and eventually won 7-0. Goals from
Victor Umeh (3) Charlie Panton (2) Harrison Parker
and Theo Britney-Holloran.
Shenfield are now the final Essex School left in the 2 A
team National competitions.
They have progressed to the last 16 in not one but all
three of the ESFA National Cups:
U12 Elite comp - no restriction on Academy players
U12 Cup - Maximum of 3 Academy players
U12 B Cup - For non A team players.
U13 girls are the Essex 6 a side EFL Football
Champions and Runners-Up in the South-East of
England, these girls have also progressed through 7
games to reach the National Cup ¼ finals in the 9 a
side competition.
Ellie Moore is playing for Essex in the U14 girls
National Football semi-final against Kent. Fingers are
crossed they can win and reach the National Final.
Athletics The U13 girls are Brentwood District Indoor Athletics
Champions.
Year 7 and Year 8 boys won the Brentwood District
Indoor Athletics event to qualify for the Essex
Championships in March.
Our second hand uniform stall will be open during ‘rec night’ on the first
Thursday of each month. Pop along to purchase or donate good condition
used uniform. You will find us in the South Hall, just outside the main hall.
Our main rail is full of good quality uniform. If you have a spare clothing rail
to donate it will be gratefully received.
Also available to purchase from your PTA are discounted vouchers to
Southend’s Adventure Island, Adventure golf and Sealife Centre. This year
we are also pleased to offer vouchers for afternoon tea at two of Southend’s
restaurants, one on the sea front and one ideally situated for shopping!
Please see the table below showing our prices and the value to be gained by
buying from us (and supporting your school at the same time).
Adventure Island re-opens on 16th February so if you are considering a half term visit, or a Valentine’s day treat, these
could be useful. With Mothering Sunday approaching too, the afternoon tea vouchers could go down a treat!
Discounted Voucher Door Price Our Price Details
Blue Ride Bands £32.00 £17.00 User over 1.2 metres tall
Green/Red Bands £25/£20 £13.00 User under 1.2 metres tall – accompanying adult may request a free matching band
Sealife Centre £17.50 Adults
£12.50 Child £7.00 Valid for adult or child
Adventure Golf £5 for 9 holes,
£7.50 for 18 holes £4.50 Valid for both courses which total 18 holes
Afternoon Tea at Sands by The Sea
£15.00 £10.00 Open all year round
Afternoon Tea at
Clarence Yard £9.50 £7.50 Open all year round
Gluten free/vegan options are available at both afternoon tea venues and Clarence Yard also has a dairy
free option, please notify the venue beforehand – reservations are advised.
Please check opening times for all events before travelling
If you wish to purchase any vouchers just pop along to our uniform sales or send an email to
[email protected] telling us which vouchers you would like to purchase and we can make arrangements
to suit. Vouchers can be purchased and used by anyone so do share these deals with your family and friends.