Principal's Newsletter Summer 2019

SUMMIT LEARNING TRUST
Principal’s 2019
Summer Newsletter
Welcome
Dear Parents and Carers
As we approach the summer holidays I would like to
thank all of our staff, students and their families for a
fantastic term and their continued support.
As you will know we welcomed Ofsted to our school in
the penultimate week of the summer term. Although I
am unable to give you any details as yet, due to the
report having to be quality assured by Ofsted, I can say
we had some areas of strength to celebrate and build
upon in addition to some clear areas of focus for next
year. You will receive a copy of the report in September.
Listed below are our four Key Priorities for 2019/20.
These are the focusses that will help us make the
biggest improvement to the school and will be referred
to throughout next year.
Core Aim: We will be an oversubscribed school of
choice where students are fully committed to their
learning and make good or better progress and our
staff develop and excel within their profession.
KP 1 – We will successfully introduce a direct instruction
model of lesson delivery with modelling being the key
focus.
KP 2 – We will all attend school and arrive to our lessons
on time and ready to learn.
KP 3 – We will have a data driven formative assessment
system that promotes good or better progress
KP 4 – We will embed a cultural literacy programme to
enhance students’ reading ages year on year
We will have a new Management Information System
(MIS) in place by October half term, with much more
to follow on this. A key part of the system will aid us in
communicating with parents/carers, something I know
you will value and to enable this to happen we must
have the most up to date email address for you so that
you can access information for your child.
• Will you all send in with your child at the start of
September the email address you would like us to
use to allow you access to the system. Your child
will be asked for this information from their tutor in
September.
REMINDER
from September the
school day will end
at 2pm every Tuesday
to allow for extended
staff training.
High Expectations of
Children’s Standards
This year, has been a huge success in raising our
expected standard of student uniform and this is largely
due to your support at home by ensuring your child
arrives for school looking smart, feeling professional
and ready to learn. We would like to build on this next
year.
Please could we ask for your continued support in
ensuring students maintain these standards for the new
academic year. Below are a few reminders:
• We will provide students with a pencil case in
September which will contain the basic equipment
required. Students can of course add to it.
• Students will receive a new style planner in
September and we would appreciate parents/carers
checking this on a regular basis as you will be able
to see how your child is progressing.
The following items should not be worn inside
school:
• Sunglasses
• Nose studs and hoop earrings
• Hoodies, tracksuit tops or sweatshirts
• Trainers – if you require any clarity on footwear
please contact Mr Barclay our SOAR Co-ordinator.
• If your child has a medical diagnosis to wear trainers,
then we require medical evidence from your GP or
a medical professional. Unless satisfactory medical
evidence is provided your child will be expected to
wear a pair of our school shoes.
Lastly we firmly believe at Cockshut Hill that students
doing the right thing every day deserve recognition
and at times a reward. Students are awarded points
for wearing the correct uniform. Please encourage your
child to login to the reward website www.l2e.co.uk where
students can spend their SOAR reward points, earned
in school on hundreds of different rewards.
Cockshut Hill, Yardley, Birmingham, B26 2HX | 0121 289 5900 | enquiry@cockshuthill.org.uk | www.cockshuthill.org.uk

Achievement Update
(Article 29: Goals of Education)
Achievement Leaders
As you will be aware we have a dedicated team of
middle leaders who work tirelessly with parents, carers
and students to ensure all students make exceptional
progress. Achievement Leaders can be contacted
via email at any time should you have any concerns
regarding your child’s progress. The year group each
Achievement Leader will oversee next academic year
and their contact details are detailed below:
Yr7 Achievement Leader:
Ms K. Newey - kate.newey@cockshuthill.org.uk
Yr8 Achievement Leader:
Ms M. Ahmad - mahnoor.ahmad@cockshuthill.org.uk
Yr9 Achievement Leader:
Ms T. Dignum - tara.dignum@cockshuthill.org.uk
Key Stage Three: All students in KS3 will be set
homework by their class teachers in the following
subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, History,
Geography and Modern Foreign Languages. Students
will also be expected to read at home on a regular
basis. The tasks will be set by class teachers using the
following timetables:
Time
reading
Once a week
Monday Tuesday Wed. Thursday Friday
20 Minutes 20 Minutes 20 Minutes 20 Minutes 20 Minutes
English Maths Science
30 minutes 30 minutes 30 minutes
Once a fortnight
History Geography MFL
30 minutes 30 minutes 30 minutes
Yr10 Achievement Leader:
Mr D. Hargreaves - david.hargreaves@cockshuthill.org.uk
Yr11 Achievement Leader:
Ms K. Stallard - kate.stallard@cockshuthill.org.uk
Student Reports
Within this pack you will receive a data report that will
outline your child’s progress made in the academic
year 2018 – 2019. Please do look where your child is in
relation to their target. Other aspects of the report that
parents should pay close attention to are: attendance,
homework completion and SOAR points. If you have
any comments or concerns regarding a report please do
not hesitate to contact your child’s achievement leader.
Homework
Students have worked hard this year completing their
Exam Preparation Activities and Knowledge Organisers,
we would like to thank parents and carers for their support
with ensuring children have completed these tasks at
home. As we move closer to academic excellence it
is essential that our expectations of students increase
further. As a result of this next year we have revised our
homework policy. As you will see below students will be
set a variety of tasks for homework each week. Students
will be provided with a folder to keep their homework in
and they will be expected to write their homework down
in their planners. Parents and carers can then play a
pivotal role in supporting their child by making sure that
they complete their homework. If you have any concerns
regarding homework please do contact the relevant
achievement leader.
Key Stage Four: All students in KS4 will be set
homework by their class teachers in all of their GCSE
subjects, with the exception of Art and iMedia. Students
will also be expected to read at home on a regular
basis. The tasks will be set by class teachers using the
following timetables:
Time
reading
Once a week
Monday Tuesday Wed. Thursday Friday
20 Minutes 20 Minutes 20 Minutes 20 Minutes 20 Minutes
English 30 minutes Maths 30 minutes Science 30 minutes
RE - 30 min. Option K - 30 min. Option M - 30 min.
SUMMIT LEARNING TRUST
Option L - 30 min.
VISION OUR VISION
staff
positive
‘Nothing but the Best’
‘Nothing but the Best’
happy healthy
students provision develop
professional relationshipsinspiring
highest qualitypotential
achieve employable citizens
engage with parents & carers
VISION OUR VALUES
respect resilience pride
aspire for excellence
celebrate success
SUMMIT LEARNING TRUST
Principal’s 2019 Summer Newsletter
www.cockshuthill.org.uk
Project Optimum
Cockshut Hill, Yardley, Birmingham, B26 2HX | 0121 289 5900 | enquiry@cockshuthill.org.uk | www.cockshuthill.org.uk

All of our year 10 students attended ‘A Christmas Carol’
at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford.
All of our year 11 students visited our capital London.
Attendance and Punctuality
We are very proud of this programme and look forward to developing it in the future.
Attendance
(Article 29: Goals of Education)
High attendance to school is a major factor in children
achieving their academic potential. All children should
aim for at least 97% attendance.
To support this please do not book any holidays during
term time. The Local Authority have fined a number of
parents this year for taking their children out of school.
The fines have ranged from £60 to £240 per parent.
Unfortunately, this has also resulted in a small number
of these parents having to attend a court hearing.
High attendance to school is a major factor in children achieving their academic potential. All children should aim for at
least 97% attendance.
To support this please do not book any holidays during term time. The Local Authority have had to fine a number of
parents this year for taking their children out of school. The fines have ranged from £60 to £240 per parent. Unfortunately,
this has also resulted in a small number of these parents having to attend a court hearing.
اسکول میں اعلی حاضری اہم عنصر ہے بچوں کے لیے تعلیم
صلاحیت حا صل کرنا۔ سب بچوں کو کم از کم ٩٧% ہونا چایں۔
ہماری حمایت کرنے کے لۓ‏ مہربانے سے چھٹیوں اسکول کے
وقت نہیں بوک کریں۔ اس سال ہم نے کچھ والدین کو جرمانا دینا
پھڑا جو اپنے بچوں کو اسکول کے وقت باہر نکالا۔ یہ جرمانے ،
ایک والدین کو،‏ تقریبأ‏
کچھ والدین کو عدالت کی سماعت مین
شرکت کرنا پڑا۔
کے تھے۔
‏£سے ۶٠ ٢۴٠£ بدقسمتی سے
Prezența zilnica la școală reprezintă un factor major în
terminarea si reușirea școlii la nivel academic. Toți copiii
trebuie să fie prezenți la școală cel puțin 97%. Pentru
a ne sprijini cu acest lucru, vă rugăm să nu rezervați
vacante în End timpul of Spring termenului – Students dismissed școlar. at 3.00pm A trebuit să dăm
INSET Day for staff only
amendă la Easter un număr Holiday de părinți din cauza asta, pentru
ca au scos All copii students din return școală to school pe termen școlar. Amenzile
Year 7 Parents/Carers Evening
au variat între Whitsun 60 Half Term și Holiday 240 lire sterline pe părinte. Din
Year 8 Parents/Carers Evening
nefericire, acest Year 11 Prom lucru – The Village a rezultat Hotel Solihull la un număr mic din
Annual School Production ‘We Will Rock You’
acești părinți Academic să participe Year ends at 12.30pm la o ședința în instanță.
Prezența zilnica la școală reprezintă un factor major în terminarea si reușirea școlii la nivel academic. Toți copiii trebuie
să fie prezenți la școală cel puțin 97%. Pentru a ne sprijini cu acest lucru, vă rugăm să nu rezervați vacante în timpul
termenului școlar. A trebuit să dăm amendă la un număr de părinți din cauza asta, pentru ca au scos copii din școală pe
termen școlar. Amenzile au variat între 60 și 240 lire sterline pe părinte. Din nefericire, acest lucru a rezultat la un
număr mic din acești părinți să participe la o ședința în instanță.
Dates for your diary (subject to change – updates will always be on the school website)
Thursday 11 th April
Friday 12 th April
Mon 15 th – Fri 26 nd April
Monday 29 th April
Wednesday 15 th May
Mon 27 th – Fri 31 st May
Wednesday 12 th June
Friday 5 th July
Tue 16 th – Wed 17 th July
Friday 19 th July
Mon 2 nd September
Tues 3 rd September
Wed 4 th September
Mon 28 th Oct – Fri 1 St Nov
INSET Day – Staff ONLY
Year 7 students ONLY
All Students return to school at 8.30am
Autumn Half Term
I would like to say farewell and best wishes to a few staff who are leaving us at Easter.
• Mr Anwar (Cover Supervisor) is leaving to pursue new opportunities.
• Mr Dudley (Teaching Assistant) is leaving to become a primary school teacher at Hewbush Primary.
• Ms Savage (PE and Year 7 Achievement Leader) is leaving to take an Assistant Principal role at Whitley
Academy
• Ms Wheeldon (English) is leaving us to become a Learning Mentor at St John Vianney Catholic School.
• Ms Davies (Curriculum Expert for Girls PE) is leaving to relocate with her family in Cyprus.
Book a ‘Lucy Tour’
Wednesday mornings 9am -10am
Our Tours are open to past students, staff and the local
community. You may be visiting to reminisce or you’ve
never stepped foot inside our school and would like to
see what we are all about!
Book via our ‘Visit Cockshut Hill School’ Facebook Page
I’d like to thank them all for their service to the school.
I’d like to welcome Ms Patel who has recently joined our team of Teaching Assistants.
We are also looking forward to welcoming Ms Smyth after Easter who will be our new Head of Modern Foreign
Languages, Ms Gazi who will join our Mathematics team and Mr Snook who will join our Pastoral team. In addition to
this we have already appointed for September; three mathematics teachers, one science teacher, one MfL teacher and
a computer science teacher.
I wish you all a peaceful Easter Holiday and I look forward to seeing you all next term.
Yours sincerely
Jason Bridges - Principal
SUMMIT LEARNING TRUST
Principal’s 2019 Summer Newsletter
Cockshut Hill, Yardley, Birmingham, B26 2HX | 0121 289 5900 | enquiry@cockshuthill.org.uk | www.cockshuthill.org.uk

Dates for your Diary
Friday 19th July
Academic Year ends at 12.30pm for students
Monday 2nd September
Tuesday 3rd September
Wednesday 4th September
Thursday 5th September
Tuesday 24th September
Tuesday 15th October
Friday 25th October
28th October -1st November
INSET Day – Staff ONLY
INSET Day – Staff ONLY
Year 7 students ONLY
All Students return to school at 8.30am
Open Evening
Year 7 ‘Settling in’ evening
INSET Day – Staff ONLY
Autumn Half Term
Tuesday 5th November
Friday 29th November
Wednesday 18th December
Friday 20th December
Year 11 Parents Evening
INSET Day – Staff ONLY
Christmas Showcase
Autumn Term Ends at 3pm for students
Staff leaving us this term
I would like to say farewell and best wishes to those staff who are leaving us at the end of term.
• Miss Justo-Cobos (MFL) is leaving us to live in Costa Rica
• Mr Pope (PE) has been promoted to Head of PE at a school in Droitwich
• Mr Richards (Maths) is moving to a performing arts school in Walsall
• Mr P Singh (Maths) has been promoted to Regional Lead Practitioner at Ormiston Academies Trust
• Miss Davies (RE) will be moving to a school in Redditch
• Mr R Singh (Science) is taking a Lead Practitioners role in Derby
• Mr Elliot (Maths) who has been promoted to Deputy Head of Mathematics at a school in Darlaston
• Mrs Najib (Health & Social Care) leaves as her contract with us ends due to this subject finishing
• Mr Kilbride (Business Studies) also leaves as his contract with us ends due to this subject finishing
• Mrs Skillen (English) who is retiring
I would like to thank them all for their service to our school.
We are also looking forward to welcoming two teachers of English, four Mathematics teachers, two Religious Education
teachers, one MFL teacher, one Physical Education teacher, one Science teacher and one teacher of Computer
Science. This will mean that we will be fully staffed for September.
I wish you all a safe and peaceful summer holiday and I look forward to seeing you all next term.
Yours sincerely
Jason Bridges - Principal
Email - jason.bridges@cockshuthill.org.uk
Twitter - @JBridgesCHS
SUMMIT LEARNING TRUST
Principal’s 2019 Summer Newsletter
Cockshut Hill, Yardley, Birmingham, B26 2HX | 0121 289 5900 | enquiry@cockshuthill.org.uk | www.cockshuthill.org.uk