Bishop Luffa School

Elephant Toothpaste and Tornados!

Mrs Brown — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:28:15 +0000

Year 7 pupils enjoy lava bottles and tornados

Our Year 7 pupils were treated to a fun-filled programme on Wednesday from the team at ‘Science is Magic’. The pupils were amazed by the ability to demonstrate incredible natural phenomena using simple scientific techniques. One of our Year 7 girls Charlotte Dawtrey (7 King) said ” I really enjoyed this show because it taught me a lot about Science and inspiration for experiments. I enjoyed the raincloud as I found this really interesting because they are clouds but inside!”

Year 7 tackle illusions

Some of the boys also had their favourite experiments. “The part I enjoyed the most was when the lady got the bottles and made a tornado in the water and of course the optical illusions. I learned that Science can be extremely good fun! And also I learnt that a scientist can be a different person to others (they don’t have to be really intelligent to be a scientist).”commented Angus Stewart (7 Bell) while George Conway (7 Burrows) has been inspired to say ” I would like to study Science and that encouraged me even more”

Academy Status

Mrs Brown — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:31:22 +0000

Over a period of twelve months governors have taken great care to look at the issue of academy status with a thorough and unhurried eye. In January 2011 a governors working group set out the principles which would inform the decision on one of the two alternatives of whether the School should become an academy or remain under the Local Authority. These principles were then applied to the two alternative situations and the resulting reports were considered by the governors at their meeting in March 2011. This meeting then convened a further working group to explore the detailed implications, and particularly the financial implications, of the two alternatives and these reports were considered by the governors at their October 2011 meeting. Following the October meeting further work was carried out to provide more information on certain issues. Finally, at their 24 January 2012 meeting and after a great deal of deliberation governors decided not to convert to academy status. Governors had identified many reasons both for becoming an academy and for remaining as a school but it is not possible to attribute more or less importance in arriving at the decision to any particular issue or issues. Throughout the process there were information meetings with parents, staff, and the three deaneries who appoint foundation governors, and their comments were noted by governors.

Bernard Adkins, Chair of Governors

The 12/12 Challenge

Mrs Brown — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:26:35 +0000

Are you ready to choose your 12/12 Challenge?

The New Year is often a time for resolutions and challenges and so on January 12th the Librarian challenged all pupils and staff to choose a challenge for their reading, writing or book-related IT skills in the coming year.

The aim is that by December 12th (12/12/12) they will have achieved their goal. For example, they can choose to read 12 Fiction books; or if that will be no challenge, then to read 12 Classic novels (or a mixture of each); 12 Non-Fiction books (Biographies, maybe?); Read or write 12 poems; Write 12 short stories or 12 chapters of that book they have been meaning to write! Or if they prefer, they can use their IT skills to create 12 Book Trailers. We will meet in the Library, as near to the 12th of each month as school holidays allow, through the year to share progress or give encouragement to carry on! Then there will be a Celebration and Prizegiving on 12/12/12.

If you would like to join in, please read the leaflet which can be found on the Library website: http://library.bishopluffa.org.uk

And contact me by email at bonem@bishopluffa.org.uk

Happy reading!

Mrs Margaret Bone, School Librarian

Admissions Policy for 2013

Mr Turner — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:57:20 +0000

The Admissions Policy for 2013 is now open to consultation until 1st March 2012. Governors have made some minor alterations that take into account the new Code of Practice, which is due to be published in February 2012. Please click here for the draft Admissions Policy and an online consultation form.

Sixth Form Open Evening

Mr Turner — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:40:33 +0000

You are warmly invited to our ‘Opportunities in the Sixth Form’ Open Evening to be held on Thursday 5th January 2012 at 6.30pm. This evening will enable you to see all that Bishop Luffa’s Sixth Form can offer you.

Our academic standards are very high. ‘A’ level results are regularly the best in the County and placed very highly nationally. Students leaving us regularly achieve their first choice of university, including Oxford and Cambridge. There are tremendous opportunities for you to develop personally through an extensive extra-curricular programme and many leadership roles.

Ofsted, in their inspection of the school in November 2008, said: ‘The Sixth Form is outstanding;’ ‘Students’ achievement is outstanding because of excellent teaching and the enriched learning opportunities students experience;’ ‘Their needs, aspirations and interests are exceptionally well met;’ ‘… outstanding personal development…’

I look forward to meeting you in January.

Mr I C Thomas
Assistant Head – Head of Sixth Form

This new year we welcome two new staff

Mr Turner — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:38:23 +0000

Miss Caroline Morris joins the Drama team following Mrs Tucker’s appointment as Head of Drama at Mesaieed International School in Qatar. After qualifying with a drama degree from Liverpool John Moore’s University, Miss Morris has taught in a number of secondary schools; during her degree she acted as project manager for the Liverpool Foundation for Art and Creative Technology Capital of Culture launch day in 2008. She now joins Mr Adrian Daubney who is standing in as Head of Drama during Mrs Furnell’s maternity leave.

Mr Chris Mannweiler is Mr Goldsmith’s exchange partner for this calendar year in the Design and Technology Faculty. Mr Mannweiler joins us with his family from Wallsend, Newcastle near Sydney, Australia, where he taught for 5 years in Lambton High School. We look forward to learning from his experience, as we hope Mr Goldsmith’s new school will learn from him. Mr Mannweiler takes on Mr Goldsmith’s classes and tutor group

Mr Turner — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:26:37 +0000

Dear Parents

So the Autumn Term ends on a high note with two Exploration Days and the Carol Service…

It impresses me just how much energy goes into making the Exploration Days truly days of exploration – broadening pupils’ horizons, deepening their understanding and skills and enriching their experience.

See the full newsletter

Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols

Mrs Brown — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:43:23 +0000

Junior Choir singing in the Cathedral

The School’s Annual Carol Service takes place on Wednesday 14 December in Chichester Cathedral. The service starts at 7.30pm.

The service is one of the highlights of the school year and in the majestic setting of the Cathedral always has a special atmosphere. It is a tremendous experience to see the Cathedral packed with staff, parents and friends.

All parents and families are welcome to come to the service. A section of the cathedral has reserved seating for governors, guests and staff but all other seats are unreserved and do fill up very quickly.

I am looking forward to a very special occasion.

Nick Taunt, Headteacher

Winning author Alan Gibbons

Mrs Brown — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:32:05 +0000

Shadow of the Minotaur

Author Alan Gibbons visited the school Library today. He has written over 40 books for children and young people in a variety of genres, including Shadow of the Minotaur which won the Blue Peter Award in “The Book I couldn’t Put Down” category in 2000 and The Edge, which is a popular class reader for Year 9s in English. His latest book An Act of Love is about a soldier returning injured from Afghanistan and is described as “Crackling with tension, a timely real-life thriller which explores the consequences of the war on terror on two young lives”. Pupils and staff were able to buy signed copies of his books at breaktime this morning. . Some Year 7, 8 and 9 classes who had English timetabled today were lucky enough to hear him talking about his books and his writing. He also had an open lunchtime session for those pupils who had free tickets.

Alan Gibbons is also the organiser of the Campaign for the Book which is fighting to save Libraries threatened by Government cuts across the country.

Mrs Bone, School Librarian

Wednesday 30 November

Mrs Brown — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:53:45 +0000

Details of work set by staff not taking industrial action today can be found on the Learning Platform.