Speech Day Report 2010
The following Speech Day Report for the year to July 2010 can be downloaded as a pdf document (in a new window) here.
The end of the academic year is fast approaching and it is now time to reflect upon the achievements and experiences gained by everyone at St Winifred’s School. There have been many opportunities for new ideas to be tested as well as fresh approaches to established favourites.
Pupils have achieved success in personal targets with their studies in academic, creative and sporting pursuits. Details of these achievements are recorded in the Speech Day Programme. All members of our community have worked hard to ensure this progress has been made.
The School Council, under the watchful eye of Mrs Read, has flourished this year. Elected members of the council have brought suggestions to the meetings for discussion and carried out actions throughout the year to help create the caring environment we all share. Through this forum and the opportunities during PSHCE and Circle Time, everyone is encouraged to voice an opinion and listen to others.
All the staff at St Winifred’s have dedicated themselves to ensuring that the pupils grow in their knowledge and understanding of the world around them. They help pupils to develop the confidence to speak out for what is right and valued, and build upon everyone’s talents and interests whilst encouraging learning in the subjects needed for future life. Thank you all for your commitment to ‘nurturing every child’.
Many of the challenges pupils take part in are designed to build the confidence which is vital in the development of each individual’s self esteem and is fostered within the safe environment provided by the school.
Forms 5 & 6 took part in the Primary Maths Challenge in November. This paper is designed by the Mathematics Association and encourages pupils to think around puzzles and apply the mathematical skills they have acquired in the classroom.
Members of Form 6 worked especially hard in English and Maths during the Autumn term in preparation for the entrance exams to senior schools which take place in January. Of the sixteen pupils: fourteen are transferring to the Gregg School, one to King Edwards and one to the maintained sector. I wish them all ‘Good Luck’ in their future studies.
The Spring Term is always busy as pupils take part in internal competitions. Everyone has the opportunity to join in the music, art, handwriting and essay writing. Whilst Poetry writing has only been for Forms 3, 4, 5 & 6 in the past, this year Forms 1 & 2 were able to take part in a Riddle Writing competition for the Young Writers organization. They enjoyed the challenge so we have added this to the calendar. Performing their own poems has become a feature of the Upper School poetry competition, so this year an ‘Own Verse’ Speaking Trophy is being awarded for the first time. These poems are also sent to the Young Writers competition. Nine riddles were chosen for publication and twenty-six poems. Well done to everyone whose work was accepted.
There have also been sporting opportunities this year, with pupils taking part in a variety of Swimming Galas, football matches and, most recently, the inter-schools Biathlon. All opportunities to take part in these events help to build confidence and promote team spirit. George V was selected from our ISA swimming gala team to represent our region at the National ISA gala.
Once again a group of twenty five pupils plus six staff and four ex pupils congregated at an early hour one Saturday morning in March. We were ready to spend the day dancing and enjoying workshops at Southampton Guildhall before our performance on the stage that evening as we took part in the 2010 Junior Rock Challenge competition. Sam, Louise, Nick and Emily, members of our 2009 Team, working as Stage Crew and Make-up, supported the team well. Thank you for giving up your time to help us.
Mr O’Flaherty had started the rehearsals in January with his embryo idea for ‘Fair Trade’ depicting the plight of slaves. Our eight minute dance was awarded fourth place in the competition and the ‘Best Choreography’ Award, which was well deserved. The team were a pleasure to be with and their enthusiasm for every activity was amazing. Thank you, both pupils and staff, for a day to remember!
The following Saturday eighteen pupils plus five staff and one ex pupil collected at school to travel to the ISA Drama competition. The make-up team applied essentials before we left and strict instructions ‘Not to scratch’ were issued. This was a venture into the unknown for us, but the team all performed well and a lot was learnt from the experience. We will return with another play next year.
This year, pupils from Form 3, 4, 5 & 6 took our own Communication Exam. They worked hard to prepare talks about favourite objects, special people or places, books or films, or current newspaper reports. Our examiner was very impressed by the standard of the talks and the interesting and diverse content included in them. Because part of the preparation for the exam is to deliver the talk to the whole school in an assembly, every pupil must be well organized and know their topic thoroughly.
Communication Exams |
Pass |
Merit |
Distinction |
Initial Grade |
4 |
6 |
2 |
Grade 1 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
Grade 2 |
4 |
7 |
2 |
Grade 3 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
Total |
14 |
22 |
12 |
During the Spring Term, parents were invited to the Dance Night, Lower School and Upper School Concerts. All pupils are encouraged to take part in these events to show the skills they have perfected during their studies. Sharing these achievements with parents and friends of the school is an important part of the school’s links to the community and enables the pupils to gain useful experience in performance.
Both the Swimming Gala and Sports Day were excellent events when everyone scored points for their house in all the races. The weather was on our side this year and Sports Day went ahead as planned. This year’s venue, West End Playing Fields, proved to be successful.
The end of Key Stage 1 & 2 exams took place in May as well as internal exams for other year groups and science, geography and history. All the pupils have worked hard all year and this is their opportunity to show what they have learnt.
Form 2 approached their tests seriously and all tried their best. They achieved some pleasing results which they can build upon as they enter the Upper School.
Key Stage 1 school and national level data
This table shows the percentage of eligible children at St Winifred’s School achieving each level, compared to national end of key stage 1 teacher assessment levels.
The bold sections of the table represent 2009 national teacher assessment data for core subjects.
Number of eligible children: 9
Figures may not total 100 per cent because of rounding.
RESULTS OF TEACHER ASSESSMENT 2009 |
|||||||||
Percentage at each level |
|||||||||
| W | 1 | 2 | 2C | 2B | 2A | 3 or above | Disabled children | Absent children | |
Speaking and listening |
0 | 22 | 77 | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Speaking and listening |
2 | 11 | 65 | - | - | - | 21 | 0 | 0 |
Reading |
0 | 0 | - | 33 | 33 | 22 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Reading | 3 | 13 | - | 12 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 0 | 0 |
Writing |
0 | 44 | - | 22 | 22 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Writing | 4 | 15 | - | 21 | 28 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
Mathematics |
0 | 11 | - | 11 | 44 | 22 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Mathematics | 2 | 8 | - | 16 | 26 | 27 | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Science | 0 | 44 | - | - | - | ||||
| Science | 2 | 9 | 67 | - | - | - | 22 | 0 | 0 |
"W' represents children who are working towards level 1, but have not yet achieved the standards needed for level 1.
Form 6, most of whom had already completed Entrance Exams, were ready for the challenge of the end of Key Stage 2 tests. They had prepared carefully and had their personal targets fixed in their minds. The results are excellent and everyone should be proud of their achievements.
Key stage 2 school and national level data
These tables show the percentage of year 6 pupils at St Winifred’s School achieving each level, compared to national end of key stage 2 teacher assessment levels and test results.
The bold sections of the tables represent 2009 national teacher assessment and test result data.
Number of eligible children: 15
Figures may not total 100 per cent because of rounding.
RESULTS OF TEACHER ASSESSMENT
|
|||||||||
Percentage at each level
|
|||||||||
W |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
Pupils disapplied |
Pupils Absent |
|
| English | 0
|
0
|
6
|
6 | 50
|
31 |
0
|
0
|
0
|
| English | 1 |
1 |
4 |
15 |
49 |
30 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Mathematics | 0
|
0
|
0 |
7
|
53 |
30
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Mathematics | 0 |
1 |
3 |
15 |
46 |
33 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Science | 0
|
0
|
6
|
6 |
56 |
25 |
0
|
0
|
0 |
| Science | 1 |
1 |
2 |
11 |
48 |
38 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
TEST RESULTS
|
||||||
Percentage at each level
|
||||||
Below level 3* |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Pupils not entered# |
Pupils absent |
|
| English | 0
|
6
|
25
|
44 |
1
|
0
|
| English | 6 |
14 |
51 |
29 |
0 |
1 |
| Reading | 0 |
0 |
13 |
78 |
1 |
0 |
| Reading | 7 |
7 |
38 |
47 |
0 |
1 |
| Writing | 0 |
19 |
56 |
13 |
1 |
0 |
| Writing | 5 |
27 |
48 |
19 |
0 |
1 |
| Mathematics | 0
|
0
|
56 |
32
|
1
|
0
|
| Mathematics | 5 |
15 |
44 |
35 |
0 |
1 |
"W" represents pupils who are working towards level 1, but have not yet achieved the standards needed for level 1.
* represents pupils who were not entered for the tests because they were working below level 3 in English or mathematics, pupils awarded a compensatory level from the tests and pupils entered for but not achieving a level from the tests.
# pupils working at the levels of the tests, but unable to access them.
Supper Nights in the Autumn and Spring terms were well supported and raised money for the school. School Council started a Skipping Club at break time that has thrived. Now hula hoops and other toys have been purchased with money raised from our Curry night. Members of Cookery Club successfully cooked a meal for parents and friends to raise money for our Rock Challenge entry this year. Hopefully the weather will be kind for our BBQ this evening!
Our Open day and Summer Fete was another lovely sunny day. An amazing £1300 was raised to pay for extra staging and new gym mats. The extra steps for the stage have been put to use already as you will see in our Speech Day production. Special thanks must go to Mrs Johnson from the PTFA who provided us with Strawberry Teas as well as all the pupils, staff and parents who worked very hard to make this day such a success. Mr Vernon must have been suffering in the heat as he agreed to allow wet sponges to be thrown at him!
It is also important that the pupils think about the wider community and consider others less fortunate than themselves. The school supports many charities throughout the year and has raised nearly £1000 for these charities - some local, others national - as well as continuing to support John in Johannesburg. The pupils have performed concerts, sung in shopping centres, worn silly socks, read books, dressed as fairies or gnomes, dressed to dance and worn their pyjamas to school. Some of Form 6 accompanied me on a walk from Romsey to Southampton in their pyjamas! All helped to raise awareness of other people’s plights.
Visits have been varied this year and include cinema trips related to English lessons for Reception, Form 3, 4, 5 & 6. Nursery enjoyed the opportunity to visit the Gregg School grounds for walks in the autumn and spring. Games lessons for Forms 4, 5 & 6 have been conducted at the Gregg School and West End Playing Field whilst Form 2 & 3 have visited the Common when the weather has permitted. Swimming each week at Red Lodge Pool is also an opportunity to learn outside our classrooms. Form 3 have enjoyed the opportunity to visit the library in Portswood. A children’s concert at Central Hall, Southampton was enjoyed by the whole school. Science at the Chemistry Department of Southampton University was a real highlight of the year for Forms 5 & 6.
Both outings and visitors to the school help the pupils to expand their knowledge of their surroundings and extend their understanding of our world. Bead workshops, explaining the meaning of coloured beads to the Masai, showed us how much concentration was needed to thread the tiny beads. Chris Davies, from the Southampton SCRATCH organization, has entertained us with thoughtful assemblies and a day of RS lessons. The Lightwave Roadshow, run by students from Southampton University Physics’ Department, brought lasers and mirrors in to the school for the pupils to try out. Road safety sessions have been provided by Southampton Road Safety Department for rising four year olds and Reception and their parents.
All of these things add to the experiences the pupils encounter at school with their peers and with the lessons from their dedicated teachers, helping them to build the knowledge that will stand them in good stead for their futures.
I would like to thank Mrs Parrott and Ms Mylod for all their help with our Nearly New Shop. They have spent a great deal of time sorting out the stock during our recent changes in uniform and have, through their dedication to the shop, raised over £300 in the past two years to enable us to continue to subscribe to the magazines in the library and buy new books.
Mrs Read will be leaving us at the end of this term after a long association with the school. She was herself a pupil at St Winifred’s and has shared her love of art and English with many pupils. Her empathy for pupils’ needs has always been most evident, most especially in her role as SENCO. There will always be memories of her devising scenery and props at the last minute for our productions! Mrs Read plans to spend more time looking after her family. Thank you for the support you have shown me and the care for the pupils in your charge.
As pupils prepare to leave us to continue their studies at secondary schools or in other parts of the world, I hope they have gained from their experiences at St Winifred’s School and take with them many happy memories. There have been challenges for all and fulfilment in achieving new goals.
Our community is constantly changing and evolving. We have been inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate and await their report at the beginning of the holidays which will, no doubt, give us recommendations about how to move the school forward.
Everyone at St Winifred’s should be proud, as I am, of the achievements this year and look forward to the next step.
St Winifred’s School is:
‘Making the most of individual talent – nurturing every child’
