Dear Parents, Students and Colleagues

A little while ago a parent of a Year 9  student expressed a concern that we would be so focussed on introducing the Year 7 programme that we might not give other year groups the attention they deserve. The comment has stuck with me throughout the year, so as a staff team we´re always looking to ensure that what we offer meets the needs of all year groups and of as many individual students as possible.
 
Over the last week we have been reviewing the curriculum materials that are being developed for the GCSE programmes in Year 10 next year. Adding this material will continue the development of our Learning Portal, enabling our students and parents to access learning materials on-line. By September we will have a significant number of modules on the Learning Portal supporting nearly all our option subjects. I´m sure this will be a major step forward and will ensure that our year nine students are well supported as they move into their important GCSE years.
 
Our Gifted and Talented newsletter is about to be published as well. This is another programme designed to meet the needs of students across the age range. The opportunities on offer are wide-ranging and imaginative. I was particularly pleased to read about some ex-students who are still engaged with programmes that they started while at school. This shows that the opportunities on offer have been of value and that they've stuck with them. I´d like to say a special thank-you to Sally Paggetti, who runs the programme in the school. This is important work at the Academy, is greatly valued by me and, I know, by many students and parents.
 
I´d like to close this week by thanking the staff for their hard work in this busy period running up to the examination season. Can I also remind parents that the next Parent Forum is on Monday 25th May at 7.15 and not on 17th May as advertised in Twickenham Talk last week. The architects and construction team will be there to update you on the building of the new school.
 
Nick Jones, Principal