With it only happening once in a lifetime, everyone in saltash.net’s community agreed that the Golden Jubilee celebration was worth an extra special effort.  To mark fifty years of education on its Wearde Road site, staff and students from saltash.net rallied together to stage a thoroughly memorable and enjoyable anniversary event on Saturday 4^th July.

Fortunately, after months and months of planning, the weather was glorious enabling the huge crowds of visitors who turned up for the afternoon and evening activities to make the most of everything that was on offer, including being able to enjoy and appreciate the stunning views afforded by the school’s spectacular location.

The 50^th anniversary’s official opening took place in the school’s main reception where invited guests, including MP Sheryll Murray, Mayor Bill Phillips and Deputy Mayor Hilary Frank, gathered for the unveiling of the 50^th plaque by two ex-students: Gary Davies and Roger Gillett.  Both Gary and Roger had walked through the doors of the school’s brand new building back in 1965 and they have remained firm friends ever since.

Headteacher, Isobel Bryce, welcomed everyone to the event, saying that she hoped it would be a day full of memories and reunions, but also an opportunity to consider what lies ahead in the next half century, with the school continuing to build on its reputation, providing an excellent, inclusive education for all students in its care in partnership with the local primary schools.

After the official opening, there was an opportunity to cut the beautiful 50^th ‘birthday’ cake, made by support staff member, Karen Snowdon, before adjourning to the main hall where an incredibly comprehensive and informative exhibition had been staged by Media Technician, Jennie Anderson.  Ex-student, and Répétiteur of the Welsh National Opera, David Doidge, provided the musical entertainment, which was followed by Gary Davies and Roger Gillett sharing many memories from their time at the school, back in the 60s.

The very large number of visitors to the main school site were able to enjoy a look at the exhibition, tours of the school led by student ambassadors, as well as refreshments served by the Friends Association.

Meanwhile, taking place on the school’s extensive playing fields, was a whole range of fun and enjoyable events, designed to provide a focus of interest for young and old alike.  These included a Dog Show, Marquee (supplied by Hines) with a full programme of live music, games stalls run by Year 7 and 8 Social Enterprise teams, Dotnet Café and Sweet Stall, BBQ and Hog Roast.

Speaking at the end of the day, Mrs Bryce said, ‘It has been such a wonderful community event and I am so pleased there was an opportunity for students and staff, past and present, as well as other community members to come together to share memories and learn some more about the history of education here in the town of Saltash.  We could not have wished for a better day and I would like to thank all of my colleagues who did so much to help make it the success it was, especially my PA, Jude Hollyman, Assistant Business Manager, Naomi Lawrance, and Media Technician, Jennie Anderson.  It was most definitely a team effort!’

Saltash Multi Academy Regional Trust (SMART) is looking to appoint a Finance Director to join their Trust Board. The Director will Chair the Finance Committee, which meets on average once a term, as well as carrying out the duties of a governor. Further information on the role of the Finance Director can be obtained from the Clerk (contact details below).

Applications from others who would be interested in joining the saltash.net Local Governing Board are also requested.

The roles, which are voluntary positions, are to contribute to the work of the Governing Board in ensuring high standards of achievement for all children and young people in the school by:

• Setting the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

If you would like to make a positive contribution to the education students receive at our community school, please complete an application form which can be obtained from the Clerk to Governors (contact details below). Further information on the role of a governor can be found at http://www.nga.org.uk/Be-a-Governor.aspx or from the Chair of Governors, Kate Waghorn who can be contacted through the Clerk.

The completed application form should be returned to the Clerk, Debbie Stoneman by email to debbiestoneman@trailerland.co.uk or post at ‘Flerswell’, Trehunist, Liskeard PL14 3SD by Tuesday 14^th July 2015. All applicants will be contacted in due course.

On Thursday 18^th June, family members, friends and the general public were invited to attend the annual A Level Art Exhibition at saltash.net community school.  Showcasing an exceptional range of talent from both the Year 13 A Level students and the Year 12 AS Level candidates, the event generated much praise and admiration from all present.

Commenting on the very high quality of art work produced, Head of Department, Jim Romain, said, “The students have worked unbelievably hard over the past year and deserve every success.  It is extremely rewarding to know that many of the Year 13 students will be continuing to develop their skills and talents in Art and Design related courses at university, including fine art, illustration and architecture.’

Following on from the Art Exhibition was the A Level Media show, held at the school on Monday 22^nd June.  Once again, the standard and quality of the work produced was excellent, leading to many visitors commenting on the authenticity of the films, posters and DVD covers produced for the coursework section of the final exam.  Head of Media, Matt Turner, also praised the students and the members of his department whose expertise and depth of experience help to make sure the students achieve the highest possible grades.

Nearly two hundred Year 11 students from saltash.net community school attended a Prom at Boringdon Golf and Country Club on Friday 10^th July.  Despite a thunderstorm briefly interrupting the start of the proceedings, the majority of the students were still able to enjoy their ‘red carpet’ moment, arriving in style in a huge variety of transport which included tractors, Go Karts, camper vans, vintage sports cars and limousines, as well as two specially chartered prom buses.

The grounds of Boringdon Golf Club provided an excellent backdrop for the various photocall opportunities before all of the students, and a large number of staff also attending, moved indoors for a delicious buffet meal, socialising and dancing.

The Prom Committee, led by Assistant Head of Year, Mrs Eileen Sloggett, had selected a Great Gatsby theme for all of the invites and table decorations, ensuring that there was plenty of glamour to match the stunning outfits worn by the students – boys and girls!

Speaking at the end of a thoroughly enjoyable evening, Head of Year, Mr Matt Oakes, said, “The students did us proud! It was one of the biggest proms we have ever held and the behaviour of all the students was impeccable – they were a credit to the school and to their families.’

Headteacher, Mrs Bryce, added, “I am so pleased the event was such a success.  Our young people worked so hard for their GCSE examinations and thoroughly deserved this special occasion, held in their honour.  I would like to thank the team of staff and students who organised everything.  It was very enjoyable indeed.”

Please find below the latest statement of changes from Ofsted, regarding education inspections from September 2015.

• Letter to schools from HMCI July 2015

You can now download the latest school newsletter

by following the link below;

• Click to download the Summer 2015 Community Newsletter

Reminisce over a wonderful day had at the saltash.net 50th Anniversary celebration event with this video by Sixth Form student Georgina Curtis.

Sports Day 2015 was a spectacular event, as always, at saltash.net community school.  Students in years 7-9 participated in a wide range of track and field events, whilst Year 10 had their own inter tutor group competition making the most of the all-weather pitch and other excellent sporting facilities.  All tutor groups were assigned an Olympic country for the purposes of the competitions, and the day commenced with a rousing and memorable parade of nations.

The perfect weather conditions enabled many long standing school records to be broken and students were rewarded for their determination and effort in Olympic style medal presentation ceremonies.

The final results were as follows:

Overall Winners

1^st Spain

2^nd Greece

3^rd Great Britain

4^th China

5^th USA

6^th South Korea

7^th Australia

8^th Brazil

Outstanding Performers:

Year 7:  Charlie Hine & Madison Parry

Year 8:  Jack Doughty & Hannah Baker

Year 9:  Dan Hale & Lucie Jones

Mr Hawkins, Head of PE at saltash.net, praised all students and staff for helping to make the day such an outstanding success:  ‘There is a brilliant ‘can do’ attitude at our school and the way in which the students encourage and support each other to achieve their very best is exceptional.  Well done to all medal winners and everyone who took part.’

Time:  7.00pm.
Date:  Friday 11^th September.
Venue:  saltash.net community school.
Admission:  Free – donations welcome.

An evening of musical performances by students and leavers of saltash.net community school.  Please come along and support what is set to be a magical evening.

Please note on Thursday 20th, GCSE results will be available to collect from 9am. Good luck to everyone!

It has been an outstanding year for A level students at saltash.net community school, with record results being achieved. The 95 students were celebrating their success of achieving a 99% pass rate, with 47% being A*-B grades. This means that the vast majority of Year 13 leavers will be heading off to their first choice university, other further study or embarking on prestigious apprenticeships.

There were many excellent individual performances including from the following students, all of whom achieved at least two A*, A or Distinction grades:

Imogen Bryce A*AA
Rebecca Fowell AAB
Hollie Hagues AAB
Jake Hanson AAB
Jonathan Lawther AAAB
Jaymie Lingowski A*A*A
Sebastian Lucken A*AB
Clara Oldfield A*ABB
Janie Olver A*A*A*A
Kathryn Price AAB
Anya Saddler A Dist B
Alex Tucker A*AC
Jack Wray AAA

As a result of their successes, Janie Olver will be taking up a place to read Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, Jaymie Lingowski will be studying Psychology at the University of Bath, Imogen Bryce will be studying Architecture at the University of Nottingham, Jonathan Lawther will be studying Medicine at the Pensinsula Medical School, Clara Oldfield will be studying German at the University of Bristol, and Jack Wray Business at the University of Southampton.

Reflecting on these outcomes, Nick Scantlebury, Head of Sixth Form commented, ‘As I am leaving the school at the same time as the students in this year group, this is a wonderful way to mark my retirement. The year group deserves such success, a significant amount of which has been achieved despite challenging personal circumstances. My congratulations go to all the students as well as to their teachers and parents who have supported them along the way.’

Mrs Bryce, Headteacher, whose daughter was in the year group, had double cause for celebration. She added, ‘As a parent and as a headteacher I am acutely aware of the stresses placed upon our young people and just how hard they work to achieve their goals and ambitions. I would like to congratulate all of our students on their excellent results and wish them all the very best with their future plans.’

It has been another great year for students in Year 11 at saltash.net community school. Although still awaiting a number of GCSE results, early indications show that the 232 strong cohort has every right to be extremely proud of the outcomes and the way in which they rose to the challenge of having to sit all of their exams at the end of the two year course, rather than modules throughout years 10 and 11. For some students, this meant sitting almost 30 papers during the examination period!

The majority of individual subject areas saw their results improve on the 2014 outcomes, with English Language, English Literature, Additional Maths, Art, History, Drama, Media Studies and all of the Sciences doing especially well in terms of overall A*-C percentages.

The year group did outstandingly well in terms of securing the highest possible grades. Almost one in four students achieved at least 3 A* and A grades and nearly 50% gained at least 1 A*/A grade – a remarkable statistic in a totally inclusive comprehensive school.

Two students shared the honour of ‘top performing’ candidates this year. Ed Gilford gained an A grade in AS Level Maths a year early, dropping just four marks in his incredible 296 out of 300 total score. Alongside this, he also achieved 7 A* grades, 4 A grades and a Distinction in his ICT qualification. Alex Ferguson also notched up a hugely impressive 8 A* grades, 3 A grades and an ICT Distinction.

Flying the flag of academic excellence for the girls were Lily Carreiro-Spencer with 7 A* grades, 4 As and a Merit in ICT, and Bronwen Hall, who gained 6 A*s, 4As and a Merit in ICT.

Other very high performers included: Bethan Barrett, Rose Bonner, India Cotton, Hollie Diplock, Nathan Fowell, Bethan Gerrard, Michael Hambly, Lydia Herbert, Emily Hollister, Katy James, Will Illingworth, Kieran Manley, Ellie Mansfield, Peter Martin, Abi Medland, Beth Parsons, Rachel Price, Kirsten Procter, Ben Reynolds, Lucy Sarel, Toby Shotton, Jenny Spencer, Michael Spencer, Walter Stroud, Emily Sweet, Rosie Thompson and Jack Willcocks, who all achieved at least 5 A*/A grades apiece.

saltash.net is equally proud to be able to report on the successes of those children for whom learning is a significant challenge. Its three Trematon Zone Year 11 students, Kieran Hansford, Arthur Page and Tracy Pryor, also worked extremely hard with the support of their teacher, Mrs Gomer, to achieve Entry Level Certificates in English, Maths and ICT.

Head of Year 11, Mr Matt Oakes, congratulated the students, saying, “Every student should be proud of what they have achieved. I have been incredibly impressed with their consistent hard work which has really paid off.”

Headteacher, Mrs Bryce, added, “Each year the bar is raised higher and higher and our young people do so well to rise to the challenge. We are all very proud indeed of what they have achieved academically, but equally delighted with how they have developed as young people. They are a credit to their teachers and to their families.”

You can now download the latest school newsletter

by following the link below;

• Click to download the September 2015 Interim newsletter

Eat my Goal is back again at Kimberley Stadium, Saltash – Friday 9th of October. Make sure you’re there for a great evening’s entertainment seeing an exciting football match between saltash.net teachers and parents!

This Friends of School fundraising event will be open from 6.30pm and Entry is only £2 for adults, £1 for Children, and £5 for families.

You can now download the latest school newsletter

by following the link below;

• Click to download the Community News September 2015

The ‘Curtain Call’ concert at saltash.net, held on Friday 11^th September, was a time of mixed emotions for students, staff and parents.  Organised by ex-year 13 students Laura Kelly and Joe Lang, the concert was arranged as a farewell tribute to the school and community that had nurtured, support and encouraged a group of students now about to depart for university and pastures new.

Seven ex-year 13 students took part in the concert:  Laura Kelly, Joe Lang, Flo Bonner, Tyler House, Lowenna Rule, Charlie Mansell and Emily Badham, along with other students still at the school in years 10 to 13.  Three of the students, Laura, Joe and Flo, have now departed for the University of Chichester where they will study Music and Musical Theatre alongside another ex saltash.net student, Jamie Pullan.

The concert showcased a wide range of talent and musical styles and featured songs both well-known and less familiar, including Laura Kelly’s excellent rendition of ‘I’ll be there’ from the musical ‘Ordinary Days’ selected as a moving memorial to all those who lost their lives in the 9/11 tragedy.  By the time the ‘leavers’ sang ‘Impossible Dream’ and the singing group concluded with ‘Anthem’ from ‘Chess’, emotions were, understandably, running high by performers and in the audience.  A standing ovation at the end of the concert was an entirely fitting conclusion to an outstanding evening’s entertainment.

Headteacher, Mrs Bryce, commended all who had taken part, including talented Year 11 student, Jonah Rich, who oversaw all of the technical support.  ‘We will miss these young people more than words can say, but we are all delighted that they will be going on to fulfil their dreams and ambitions in a wide range of courses and universities.  We are sure they will be successful in all that they do and thank them for the outstanding contribution they have made to saltash.net.’

Saltash Multi Academy Regional Trust (SMART) is seeking a Personnel Director.

The Director will Chair the Personnel Committee and be a Director of the Trust Board as well as carrying out the normal duties of a Governor. The post is voluntary and unpaid.

There are a minimum of 3 Personnel Committee meetings each year which the Director will prepare for in conjunction with the Personnel Manager.

Please contact the Clerk to Governors, Debbie Stoneman (debbiestoneman@trailerland.co.uk) for more information.

• NGA – What Governors Do
• Personnel Director Specification
• Governor Application Form

For ten of saltash.net’s 14 and 15 year olds, the summer of 2015 is one they are unlikely to forget in a hurry.  Having spent the last two years raising the necessary £1,400 each, needed to fund the week long World Challenge expedition to Croatia, they had already demonstrated their resourcefulness and resilience, but nothing quite prepared them for the 40°c heat whilst trekking in the gorges and mountains of the ‘Packlenitsa’ National Park.

‘The students were great,’ commented co-leader of the World Challenge, Mr Jezz Pomfret, Head of RE at saltash.net community school.  “We saw them really grow and develop as young people and I am sure they will all draw on their amazing experiences.”

Joint Leader, and teacher of Geography at saltash.net, Vicky Higgs added, ‘The World Challenge trek certainly pushed our students and challenged them hugely.  They were carrying 12kg packs up the gorge in the national park.  So they really achieved something extraordinary.  Our guide, Pero, commented on the group’s excellent teamwork and how they all got on so well together and created such a positive ethos throughout the week long expedition.”

In addition to the mountain trekking, the group had the opportunity to sea and river kayak, which provided a welcome relief to the intense summer heat.

Summing up the whole experience, Mr Pomfret said, ‘This World Challenge experience is something the students will remember forever and it was a real privilege to be with them.’

There is still one challenge remaining for the intrepid youngsters:  leading assemblies during the Autumn Term to share with the whole school one very unique way of spending part of the summer holiday!

The benefits of celebrating fifty years of education on our Wearde Road site continue to be felt in all aspects of our school life.  Many ex-students have made contact with the school, including Cambridge graduate, Les Baldwin, now part of the European Space Agency team and an employee of the Open University.

Les, who grew up in Saltash and lived at 27, Newman Road, was one of the first students to walk through the doors of the new school buildings in 1965.  Just before he sat his O Levels, his family relocated to Wales and it was there that he took his O and A Levels, before embarking upon a Physics degree at the University of Cambridge.

Les contacted the school back in June when he realised there were going to be many events to mark the occasion of the golden jubilee.  He agreed to return to his old school at the start of September to speak with students in Years 10, 11, 12 and 13, who are all studying separate sciences and/or computer science at GCSE and A Level.

Sonia Cooper, Head of Physics, who organised the visit for Les, said, ‘It was such an interesting and thought provoking day.  Les was the person who designed the software for both the Beagle 2 Mars Lander and the Philae Lander which touched down on a comet earlier this year.  His story was inspirational with a really key message about never giving up and attention to detail at all times.’

Mrs Bryce added, ‘It was so brilliant that an ex-student, whose team at the Open University have just received a prestigious ‘Sir Arthur Clarke Award’ for scientific exploration and advancement, should have taken the time to come back and visit his old school.  I am sure our students, and staff, will have felt motivated and inspired by Les’ presentations and feel that ‘the sky really is the limit’ for all they want to do and achieve in their lives.’

On Thursday 15th October from 8.30am – 1.00pm, we are hosting our annual ‘Bring Your Grown Up To School’ day. On this day, the grown-ups of our new Year 7s are invited to come in to school and join in with the saltash.net fun.

If you are going to be taking part, please book via our online booking system so we know to save you a seat!

On the following Thursday 22nd from 3.30pm – 6.00pm, we are hosting a settling in evening for all of our new Year 7 students. All are invited to this and once again, please book via our online booking system