Welcome to the first edition of Rough Notes for 2023 and thank you for reading our monthly publication, it really is a brilliant way to share all the amazing things our students and staff are doing in school.
The December 2022 edition was special. It was our 100th Rough Notes. I hope you have had chance to read it and look back at all the fantastic things the school has been involved in over the 100 editions.
Following appointments made before the Christmas break, I am delighted to welcome Mrs Vercoe to our team as Business and Finance Manager and Mr Wickins to the Senior Leadership Team as Associate Assistant Headteacher.
Mrs Lemon returns following maternity leave and will be leading our year 11 students through the remainder of the year and their summer exams.
Miss Hamshere will take charge of our year 10 students following the appointment of Mr Wickins to the Senior Leadership Team. We wish all staff new and retuning a warm welcome.
On Thursday the 15th of December, we held our first Carol Concert since 2019 at St Michael’s Church in Lyme Regis. The concert was fantastic, and it was lovely to see so many of you there, joining in with the classic carols. In addition, the concert raised just over £250 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, thank you for your generous donations.
Over the Christmas break, we supported local families with food vouchers and Christmas hamper deliveries. We recognised that the current financial situation is tough, and that Christmas could bring added pressure to families. I would like to extend my thanks to Sue Davies at LymeForward for their continued support of our Christmas Hamper project (now in its fourth year), it is very much appreciated. For further information on the work of LymeForward, please follow the link below:
LymeForward - Providing vital support & improving wellbeing within Lyme Regis
Our sports teams have restarted competitive fixtures against schools both near and far, and they have been successful too. Our year 7 girl’s football team enjoyed a visit to Wey Valley and came home with the winner’s trophy after winning 7 games, drawing 1 and not conceding a single goal in the tournament. A fantastic achievement. The boy’s year 8 basketball team were similarly successful in their first outing beating Wey Valley 36-10.
A group of Art Graphics students had the opportunity to visit Harry Potter Studios as part of their ongoing qualification. Educational visits like this help to enhance and enrich our broad curriculum, allowing students to experience learning outside the classroom.
The Woodroffe School is offering year 11 students an incredible opportunity to take part in a 14-day expedition to Morocco in July 2024.
Expeditions are designed to build character and resilience and develop vital life skills for the future. Find out more here - https://outlookexpeditions.com/schools/the-woodroffe-school-2024
We held an information webinar for interested parents and students on Wednesday 11th January. If you missed this opportunity and would like more information, please contact Miss Trunks who is leading this expedition.
On Thursday the 12th of January, a travelling theatre company visited Woodroffe to put on a performance of ‘The Scottish Play’ (William Shakespeare’s Macbeth to you and me) as a part of their preparation for the GCSE exam in the summer.
The Year 9 options process began in earnest this month. The launch evening was incredibly well attended, and students were diligently speaking to course leaders about their preferences for GCSE and BTEC courses. This is an important time for year 9, and as a school, we will guide them through the process, ensuring the preferences made are appropriate and allow for onward progress without narrowing opportunity.
It is important that students continue to attend well. Our current school attendance is strong at 92.35% when compared to the most recently available national figure of 85.7%. Following three disrupted years, we want to ensure that all students have the best possible attendance and are working closely with families to make this happen. Below you will find some statistics that help to show the impact of missed time in school:
As you will see, even at 94% attendance, students will still have missed 50 hours of teaching by the end of the year.
Earlier this month, we were awarded a National Attendance Award for the Autumn Term. This award placed us in the top 25% of schools for attendance during this period. Congratulations to all our students.
Please continue to support your child in ensuring that they are fully prepared with the correct equipment, uniform, and a reading book. Key messages regarding organisation and responsibility have been shared with all students across the first week of this term. For more information regarding uniform and/or uniform support, please follow the links below:
Uniform – The Woodroffe School
Preloved Uniform - The Woodroffe School PTFA
Our staff book club identified and started their next read with ‘Clever Lands’ written by Lucy Crehan selected as the book of choice. The staff book club acts as part of our additional and voluntary professional development for staff, and is comprised of members from across the school team. It has been great to see staff discussing education, learning, and teaching in an open and relaxing format.
“Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, it’s bobsled time! Cool Runnings!”
I am embarking on another fundraising challenge with 11 others in support of Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support. Instead of jumping from an airplane, this year, I am going to recreate ‘Cool Runnings’. On 4/3/23, I will be in Bath at the home of the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association.
Follow the link if you are able to add your support to this local charity doing great work in our community.
https://localgiving.org/fundraising/Watts/
I hope you enjoy this edition of ‘Rough Notes’. Should you wish to find out more about our school, news, or events, please visit the school website, which I am sure you will find useful. In addition, for regular updates, why not look at our social media outlets below.
Thank you for your support, it is appreciated by us all at Woodroffe.
Дякуємо за вашу підтримку, це цінується нами всіма в Woodroffe, ми з нетерпінням чекаємо на тісну співпрацю з вами у 2023 році.
Dan Watts
Headteacher