Birchwood Update 16/9/2019
- Josie Evans
- Sep 23, 2019
- 14 min read
Birchwood Update week Commencing 16/9/2019
Important dates for your diary:
Plan ahead - This term’s Important dates for Your Diary
September
19 September – Year 7 Welcome to KS3 Evening, 6.30 – 7.30pm
26 September - School closes at 2pm in readiness for Open Evening
26 September - School Open Evening, 4.30pm – 7.30pm
October
3 October – Birchwood College Open Evening, 6pm – 8pm
10 October – Birchwood College Welcome to KS5 Evening, 6pm – 7.30pm
17 October – Year 7 Meet the form tutor, 3.30 – 6.30pm (NB amended date from that it Yr 7 parent/carer handbook)
November
7 November – Year 11 Revision launch, 6.30pm – 7.30pm
14 November – Class of 2019 Presentation Evening, 6.30pm – 7.45pm
Week of 25 November – BCHS School Show, Aladdin
December
5 December – Year 9 Performance Review Evening, 3.30pm – 7pm
20 December - Close for Christmas break
A letter from Ms Mills regarding Food service issues at the start of term can be found here
School early closure on 26 September 2019
On Thursday 26 September, we will hold our School Open Evening from 4.30pm. To prepare the school for our visitors, we will close to learners at 2pm that day.
Lilly declares that the pain was worth it!
It is always lovely to hear news of a learner who has really gone out of their way to help others so we are delighted to share the news that Lilly in 8JK has done just that.
Last weekend Lily, and two friends from her dance group, Dance Stars Academy, challenged themselves with the mammoth task of completing a 24-hour sponsored walk in aid of the charity Cancer Research.
Their task was inspired when they were touched by the sadness of losing someone they loved to cancer and seeing another struggle person to overcome cancer.
The walk took place last Saturday and Sunday at Victoria Park in Warrington. The girls were supported by their mums who walked with them both day and night. In all the girls walked 104 laps of the park which equals 26 miles, the length of a full marathon, raising a total of around £1,000 for this brilliant charity!
After the walk Lilly said she was aching everywhere but in her words said “I feel really accomplished and incredibly proud of myself, it is so worth the pain to do something so important for someone else.”
Well done Lilly, we are also incredibly proud of you.
BCHS is amongst 3% of the best eco- friendly schools in the country
We reported just before the summer holidays that our school had become a member of an elite group of schools in the UK who can display the Eco Schools Green Flag for our commitment to making our school a greener environment.
The flag was awarded after Pedro and Luke of the eco-committee met with an external eco inspector to showcase our school eco-projects. The inspector’s reported that our learners showed excellent commitment, leadership and passion towards the eco-school’s project and as a result awarded the Green Flag, which is the highest award which only 3% of schools hold.
For your information and to support our excellent eco credentials, just before the end of last term we managed to fill 198 bags for paper recycling, this was a massive achievement and stopped about 3 tonnes of waste going to landfill. It also saved our school over £1,000 in waste fees!
Welcome Woody!
Meet Woody the Wonder Dog who will be coming into school every Thursday to work in the Oak Suite with learners who lack confidence. Woody is a trained therapy pet who will bring with him a real feeling of calmness and confidence for learners who struggle with reading. Bow-wow!
Birchwood’s take on Aladdin.
On the week of the 25 November, we are in for a treat as out amazing Performing Arts department will present Birchwood’s take on Aladdin. Judging on previous shows this will be a real pre-Christmas treat.
Rehearsals for the show took place last week and our talented young performers are looking forward to starting the hard work of rehearsals leading up to the show.
If your child has been selected to be part of the cast, they should have brought home a contract outlining their commitment they have signed up for and an outline of rehearsals that they will need to attend. Parents of cast members should read the letter carefully and sign to confirm that they are happy for their child to take on the commitment.
A schedule of this week’s rehearsals can be found here
A Message from Ms Mills, the Headteacher
I would like to offer a very warm welcome back to all our learners, students, staff and parents/carers as we begin a new academic year at Birchwood Community High School and Birchwood College. It really has been a fantastic start with learners arriving back at school looking smart and ready to learn in their new uniforms, with smiles on their faces. It was also lovely to welcome back our new sixth-form students ready to start the next stage of their learning; an exciting time in their education journey. I feel extremely proud to be here working with these young people and I am very much looking forward to everything we are going to achieve together this year.
We strongly believe in celebrating and rewarding all successes with a strong focus on our “Team BIRCHwood” values: Believe, Independent, Respectful, Committed and Happy. These values start with good manners in and outside the classroom but also include random acts of kindness or good citizenship. They also celebrate when learners do well with their learning; making an extra effort in a lesson or completing an outstanding piece of work. Everyone in our school community wears a “Team BIRCHwood” badge with pride – we are all part of the same team and we work together to be the best that we can be. In the first term, we are going to really focus on the value of being respectful as we believe that showing respect for your environment, for others and, most importantly, yourself is key to a safe and happy future. We want the best for our learners and we know that by teaching them these core values, and working together as a team, that we are giving them the very best chance to be the very best that they can be.
As you may have seen on our update, Birchwood is certainly an improving school and we are pleased that our external exam results from both school and Birchwood College have reflected this.
Birchwood College achieved yet another set of excellent results this year, proving the college really is going from strength to strength. The vast majority of students have used their hard-earned qualifications to access higher level apprenticeships and university degree programmes, and are embarking on an exciting future. The vocational results at Birchwood are again exceptional, with 80% of students achieving a Distinction or a Distinction* grade – a phenomenal achievement. In Music, Acting, Applied Science and ICT – every student achieved the top grade!
100% pass rate for all BTEC applied learning courses
100% Double Distinction* in Music
100% Distinction* in Acting
100% Distinction* in Applied Science
100% Distinction* in ICT
100% Distinction* or Distinction in Health & Social Care Diploma
100% Distinction* or Distinction in Sports Studies Subsidiary Diploma & Diploma
63% Distinction* or Distinction in Applied Law
We are very proud of these extraordinary results, and they show that our College really is the best place to come for students who want to take the Applied learning route.
A level results were also impressive with a higher average grade than ever before, and 99% of students passing these qualifications. We wish all our students tremendous success in the future, and are so very proud of them all.
The school results also saw a positive picture with an increase in the overall progress students are making from their KS2 SATs plus, a 10% increase in the important Maths and English measure of grade 5 or above (strong pass) alongside a further increase in the Maths and English measure of grade 4 or above (pass). Learners also achieved excellent results across a range of subjects:
100% pass rate in Acting with 47% achieving a 7+ grade
100% pass rate in Music with 50% achieving a 7+ grade
98% pass rate in Biology with 40% achieving a 7+ grade
98% pass rate in Chemistry with 36% achieving a 7+ grade
91% pass rate in PE with 43% achieving a 7+ grade
96% pass rate in Physics with 18% at 7+
69% pass rate in Maths with 50.3% at 5+ and 18.9% at 7+
67% pass rate in English with 50.3% at 5+ and 18.3% at 7 +
80% pass rate for RE with 68% at 5+ and 31% at 7+
73% pass rate in Food with 63.6% at 5+ and 36.4% at 7+
Most importantly, this has meant that all young people have been able to move on to apprenticeships or on to the courses that they have wanted, many of them at Birchwood College. We wish them lots of luck on their chosen pathways and we are now focused on achieving even better results next summer.
You will have received, during the holiday, the Parent/Carer Handbook, which is bespoke to the year group your child is in. The booklet contains all the important information you will need throughout the year – they can also be accessed on the website here.
https://www.birchwoodhigh.org/parents-carers
Finally, I would like to thank you in advance for your support and partnership in this coming year, in giving our learners and students the very best chance to fulfil their aspirations and potential.
Thanks,
Emma
Useful Contacts for your child and to to keep by your phone:
Year 7 Team Office in Art Building
Year 7 Team Leader & Officer – Mrs Butler: Telephone extension 202
Year 8 and 9 Team Office is at the top of main corridor
Y8 & Y9 Team Officer – Ms Hickson: Telephone extension 290
Y8 Team Leader – Mrs Jenkinson/Ms Gilchrist
Year 9 Team Leader – Ms McAlinden
Year 10 and 11 Team Office is in D&T/EPR building
Y10 & Y11 Team Officer - Mrs Bird: Telephone extension 229
Y10 Team Leader – Mrs Jones
Y11 Team Leader – Miss Russell
Show my Homework – A reminder
This year we will continue to record and monitor your child’s homework on the ‘Show my Homework’ APP. If you are new to the app more details can be found on our website here.
All parents and carers in Year 8-11 already have login details but if anybody needs this information again please contact the main office.
For parents/carers of Year 7, login details have been sent by out by post, so all parents/careers should be able to download the APP, login and track all homework set. You and your child can login here via our website.
For any learner who does not have internet access at home, opportunities throughout the school day will be given for learners to check the APP on the school computers.
Should you child have any concerns regarding using the APP, their form tutor can help and If you have concerns please do not hesitate to contact us at school.
Keeping your child safe
Cycle Safely
Now we are back to school and many of our learners, including our new year 7s, are cycling to school. Birchwood is a busy area and there are many road works at the moment, so it is good to be aware of the simple rules that keep cyclists safe.
For hints and tips on safe cycling see here
Extra-curricular timetable
Please take a look at our extracurricular timetable to see what great activities are available for your child to take part in both before, after school and at lunchtime .
Learning Superstars
Please find our star learners of last week for our languages department
Year 7
Year 7 photographs; Individual and Form shots.
Your child should have brought home their proofs last week. If you wish to purchase the photographs, this can be done online via Kittle’s website here or you can return the form and cash or cheque to the school office by break on Thursday 19 September.
If purchasing via school, please can you ensure that your child’s name and form is clearly indicated on the form. Thank you
Welcome to Key Stage 3 Evening, Thursday 19 September 2019 - 6.30pm – 7.30pm in the Main Hall
We would like to invite you to this evening, which will help explain to you the expectations we have of all Year 7 learners as they begin Key Stage 3.
The evening is aimed at parents and carers only, and learners are not expected to attend.
The objectives of the evening are:
to provide a smooth transition from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3,
to support you with vital information about Key Stage 3 and our expectations of Year 7 in particular,
to strengthen the vital home and school working partnership.
Please note that you will need to park on Birchwood Shopping Centre car park and allow time to walk across to the school and use the main front entrance of the school to reach the M1.
The presentation will start promptly at 6.30pm and last for about one hour.
A letter will be sent home which can also be found here
Year 8 - No specific information
Year 9 - No specific information
Year 10
Year 10 photographs.
Your child should have brought home their proofs last week. If you wish to purchase the photographs, this can be done online via Kittle’s website here or you can return the form and cash or cheque to the school office by break on Thursday 19 September.
If purchasing via school, please can you ensure that your child’s name and form is clearly indicated on the form. Thank you
It’s never too early to think ahead and plan for your child’s future
Before you know it, this year will fly by and your child will be returning for their all-important Year 11. It is proven that if a learner has an aim and something to work to, success follows.
Learners in Year 10 follow a careers programme throughout the year through Learning4Life lessons, assemblies and presentations which will prepare them for post 16 option.
To support this, you and your child are warmly invited and encouraged to attend the Birchwood College Open Evening on Thurs 3 Oct 6-8pm where you can find out about the many fantastic courses offered here at Birchwood College. There will be a presentation by the Head of College at 6pm.
See the College section below for more details.
Year 11
Looking to the Future and next steps for Year 11
According to the Government, young people must stay in education or training until at least the age of 18. See the information here
They must do one of the following:
stay in full-time education, for example at a college/6th form
start an apprenticeship or traineeship
spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training
Learners have been following a careers programme throughout year 10 to prepare for this and will continue to learn about post 16 options, through Learning4Life lessons this term, assemblies and presentations.
You are also warmly invited and encouraged to attend the Birchwood College Open Evening on Thurs 3 Oct, 6-8 pm, where you can find out about the many fantastic courses offered here at Birchwood College. There will be a presentation by the Head of College at 6 pm. See the College section below for more details.
Birchwood College
Don’t miss out on our College Open Evening Thursday 3 October 2019, 6pm – 8pm
Birchwood has now become a specialist applied learning college building on our fantastic reputation and success in applied learning.
In our last Ofsted inspection, the inspectors stated in their report:
“The progress at Birchwood College for general applied qualifications is significantly above the national average.”
So, if applied learning is for you, we are the College for You, without a doubt!
Visit our college to talk to our staff and students and see the personalised programmes we are able to offer. This year Birchwood College achieved yet another set of excellent results, proving the college really is going from strength to strength. The vast majority of students have used their hard-earned qualifications to access higher level apprenticeships and university degree programmes. The vocational results at Birchwood are once again exceptional, with 80% of students achieving a Distinction or a Distinction* grade – a phenomenal achievement. In Music, Acting, Applied Science and ICT – every student achieved the top grade!
100% pass rate for all BTEC applied learning courses
100% Double Distinction* in Music
100% Distinction* in Acting
100% Distinction* in Applied Science
100% Distinction* in ICT
100% Distinction* or Distinction in Health & Social Care Diploma
100% Distinction* or Distinction in Sports Studies Subsidiary Diploma & Diploma
63% Distinction* or Distinction in Applied Law
Just a few reasons why Birchwood College is a force to be reckoned with in post 16 applied learning!
Other School information:
Please support us in ensuring that our facilities are the best they can be
Please be aware of rules regarding learners being on the school site outside school hours.
Some damage has been caused to the site and a learner has been hurt trying to climb over the fencing. We would like to remind you that learners are not allowed on the school site at any time unless they are with a member of staff. The rule about this is below:
Unless there is a member of staff running a special extra-curricular activity, the school site is out of bounds for all learners on weekdays after school clubs have finished (usually after 4.30pm) and at weekends and during school holidays.
Please support us by making you child aware of this rule so that our facilities are the best they can be for us to use in school time and for the community to book and use out of school hours.
Thank you for your support in this matter
Keeping in touch gets even easier with the introduction of the Xpressions website
We are pleased to announce that Groupcall Xpressions is now available to access on your computer via a website. The login page can be found here.
This gives you a further way, as well as accessing the APP on your mobile phone and tablet, to view information about your child
Once you are set up you will be able to see information such as:
Free messages sent by the school delivered to the app
Attendance and absence information
Attitude to learning (“ATL”) scores for each lesson.
Daily/Weekly timetable information
Xpressions is completely free of charge to you and supports Apple iOS, Android devices and now Windows operating system.
In order to use the Xpressions, school must have your correct mobile number and email address on our school system. Forms are available from the school office to check and update your details or you can simply email them to the school. You will need to make sure you keep these details up to date in future to maintain access to the service.
We hope that you take advantage of this new service, which has replaced our ParentsLive system. If you have any issues or need to know more please contact Mr O’Reilly here at school on aoreilly@birchwoodhigh.org
Mobile Phones, Earphones and Speakers in school.
Phones and headphones may be brought in to school but must be kept in bags or zipped in blazer pockets out of view at all times. Learners must not use phones at any time on the site between the bells at 8.50 and 3.00pm unless they are asked to do so by a teacher in a lesson for a reason that is related to learning. In this case, the teacher will issue instructions on the use of phones or headphones, which must then be followed. If a phone is out during the school day, even to check the time, this will be confiscated. There is a staged system of sanctions and mobile phones, earphones and speakers are counted as identical items. If you think a learner is using a smart watch in the same way as a mobile phone, please speak to their Year Team Leader or Year Team Officer.
If a learner is concerned about an issue at home and feels they need to speak to a parent, they need to go to the Year Team Office and discuss this with Year Team Officer. Staff should confiscate mobile technology items that are visible and in use during the times specified. They should be taken to the school office. The system of sanctions are:
Stage 1 - First offence
The item is confiscated and locked in the school safe
The item is collected by the learner at the end of the day
One behaviour point is issued by the Office
Stage 2 - Second offence
The item is confiscated and locked in the school safe
The item is collected by the learner at the end of the day
One behaviour points issued by the Office
Stage 3 - Third Offence
The item is confiscated and locked in the school safe
Parents/carers are informed and asked to collect the phone at the end of the school day
One behaviour points is issued by the Office.
Children on site out of school hours
As a Community School, we welcome clubs and booked activities to use our facilities and school grounds outside the school day. We have become aware though that there are groups of both learners and ex learners on site in the evenings. Please make your child aware that learners are only allowed on site after the school day, if they are part of an organised and booked group. Thank you for your co-operation.
School Nurse: Please note that the school nurse comes into school every Wednesday from 12.15- 1.30pm and is available in the BSR Mentoring Room if any learners or students have any health related issues they would like to discuss.
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