Downham Market High School and College

Spring term 2012

As we start the New Year I hope all the students will join me in resolving to work hard and achieve the best they can over the next term.

Our second assessment grades of the year should be out now, allowing you to discuss with your children in which subjects they are progressing well and where they may need particular praise or support. The most important conversation is around what your child has to do to improve. This should be part of their day to day dialog with their teachers so if they seem unsure please encourage them to check with their teacher what their current focus should be.

This term sees the introduction of our new behaviour system based fully on the school’s agreed principles of mutual respect. A key change in the new system is a comprehensive rewards program which will ensure that the vast majority of students who work hard and do the right thing get recognition for their efforts.

Year 11 students are on the ‘home straight’ now in preparation for their most important exams to date. A comprehensive support programme is already underway and will develop further throughout this term.

Learning is at the heart of what we do here and as a learning organisation it is essential we hear the full range of voices of our community, be they staff, students, parents and the wide range of interest and activity groups in Downham Market.

I look forward to meeting more of you at our Parent Partnership Initiative events which this term will include some parent support sessions. A key session will be on internet safety and cyber bullying as this issue is a key concern for a number of parents. Other sessions will be on supporting children to become independent learners and key exam techniques. A calendar of events will be published shortly.

Another aspect of our Parent Partnership Initiative is our commitment to make it easier for you to communicate with us. We now have all teachers’ e-mail addresses on this website for you. Furthermore most of our feeder primary schools will have a regular session after school (monthly or fortnightly), where one of my senior team will be available on their site for you to raise any issues or give us feedback without the need for you to come to the High School. We will publish the times on this website so check back soon

If you have any questions or require further information please do not hesitate to contact us here at the school where, along with my team, I will be pleased to do all I can to help. I would also be pleased to receive your suggestions for sessions you would like to see offered as part of our Parent Partnership Initiative.

Jon Ford

Headteacher

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