Attendance

The School attendance continues to be above our target of 95%.  A huge congratulations to every individual student who has attendance above this level, you are currently being celebrated on our attendance notice board out side Student Reception.

Absence from school for a sustained period of time or sporadically is a key reason for student underperformance.  Whilst absence for good reasons can be unavoidable I hope we can all work together to ensure that absence is minimised for the Students at Marlwood School.

Newsletter

The latest version of our Newsletter is available on the School Website under the 'news' tab.  If you haven't seen a copy, please do take a look as it is a comprehensive summary of a very positive Term 1.

OPEN MORNINGS II

We have just completed a very successful two weeks of Open Mornings.  Up to twelve families a day have visited the school and we have been delighted with the feedback we have received.  One constant positive feature of the feedback has been our student guides, many from Year 7, who spoke eloquently and answered questions fully; we are very proud of them.
Here is a feature about Year 7 in this week's Thornbury Gazette.
We are arranging extra visits for parents including those who want to return for another visit; please contact the school if you want to be involved.

SUCCESS FOR MARLWOOD STUDENTS


Our Open Evening kicked off to a fabulous start with presentations from David Chattaway (Year 8), Larragh Nunn (Year 7), Ella Cottle (House Captain) and Thom Harris-Lee (House Captain). The school buzzed with questions and answers as our student tour guides took groups of parents around the school, introducing them to Faculty staff and our House Progress Leaders. We welcomed many from the community and from further afield and look forward to seeing  those Year 6s next year when they join us at Marlwood.

OPEN MORNINGS


Following the very successful Open Evening last night, the school still has appointments available for any parents wishing to look round the school in ‘real’ time for the week commencing 5th October. The tours start at 9.30am daily and appointments can be made through contacting the school by email, phone or through the web site.

HOUSE COMPETITIONS


These are now a weekly event at Marlwood. The first competition took place last Friday and was hosted by the IBAC Faculty (International Business and Computing) see below.  This Friday sees the Inter-House Tightrope Challenge and we are expecting some interesting entries. All the competitions gain points for the Houses, which students can further support through acquiring Praise points for good attitudes to learning and progress in their learning. In those famous words ‘Points Mean Prizes!’

Last week’s Euro 2015 quiz for European Languages day was a great hit! It was a celebration of the diversity, not only in our school, but in our wider European community. It was great to see members of staff and students challenged and working together and support from the crowd was fantastic!

Congratulations to Holt on their victory. Second place went to Witton, followed by Kingsley with Berkeley in fourth place. Special mentions go to the Kingsley team for winning the physical round with Mr Mathers playing guitar and Mrs Cox leading the pupils in a perfect Flamenco routine!

RESPECT AGENDA


This is well under way for this term with our students taking part in a variety of leadership opportunities. Ten of our new Year 7s accompanied me back to their primary schools to give an assembly on their first experiences of Marlwood School and secondary education. We were very proud of them in their new school uniforms as they confidently took questions from their younger contemporaries.  Our Sixth Form and Year 11 students continue to mentor and support the young students in their Tutor Groups; all of which builds interest and achievement into their CVs.

GIRLS’ NETBALL


There has been a fantastic turnout at the Girls’ Netball Club this week with a record number of Year 7s and 8s. Their first match is against Castle on 22nd September and we wish them every success!

START OF THE YEAR


Thanks to you all for your support for the changes that have taken place for the start of the year. Our students look smart and are working hard. We are pleased that they are enjoying the redecorated classrooms in the main School Block. We are hearing a lot of positive feedback from both students and parents that the changes are having a positive impact and they feel their learning is better.

THE CHARLIE FROUD FOUNDATION


We are extremely grateful to the Charlie Froud Foundation for their very generous donation towards school transport costs.  This funding helps us to support our students’ learning and we are very appreciative of the Foundation’s support for the school.

For more information on this charity, follow the link below

YOUNG PEOPLE FRIENDLY STATUS


Marlwood School is one of the first schools in the area to achieve Young People Friendly Status, which acknowledges an integrated support system that helps young people to balance their troubles and focus on their academic work. The Drop-In service provided by the School Nurse, works proactively with other services to meet the needs of our students, helping them to reduce their anxiety and stress remain focussed on their learning.

THORNBURY GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOUNDATION


On behalf of the school community, we wish to acknowledge the very generous support from the Trustees of the Thornbury Grammar School Foundation in helping us to implement the School Uniform Policy.

The Trustees are always willing to consider applications for financial assistance to support student learning. Application forms can be obtained from the school.

PARENT GOVERNOR VACANCY


We are seeking nominations to fill our Parent Governor vacancy.  A letter with details has been sent home to all parents and for further details please visit our web site. Nominations need to be sent to the school by 30th September and we look forward to welcoming a new governor to the Local Governing Body.

SUCCESS FOR MARLWOOD STUDENTS


Success for one of our Year 8 students:  following successful trials Matt Robertson has been offered a contract to join Cheltenham Town FCU13s Academy.

An ex-Marlwood student has won the Emmanuel College Cambridge prize for his first class performance in his examinations.

Well done to both – we are very proud of our students!

TRANSITION FROM YEAR 6 TO YEAR 7


Our new students have settled happily into their new roles in secondary school and are beginning to find their way around the school. As part of our ongoing Leadership and Respect agenda, some of them have been selected to join myself in going back to their primary schools to talk about their experiences during their first week at Marlwood.  Well done to those who feel confident enough to talk to assemblies!

MARLWOOD’S REFLECTIVE SPACE


You may remember our staff and students created this space towards the end of last term where anyone can go to think, slow down, reflect or remember. The Reflective Space has been the focus of year group assemblies this week into next and the Reverend Jan van der Lely has taken part in our assemblies to encourage students to use this space for reflection and prayer. The Reflective Space will be running dedicated days for students to meet with the Reverend and her staff on 22nd and 29th September.

FRIENDS OF MARLWOOD MUSIC FESTIVAL


Just another reminder that this has been postponed from Friday 18th September to a date to be confirmed in Spring 2016.

NORTH BRISTOL JUNIORS RFC are looking for players


A plea on behalf of the North Bristol Juniors RFC for more players.  If you enjoy rugby at school and want to play more or to improve your skills then why not go to North Bristol RFC for a few free taster sessions? Email Dave.G@northbristoljuniors.co.uk  or see the website (www.northbristoljuniors.co.uk )

WELCOME TO MARLWOOD


The new school year has got off to an exciting start and we wish all our new Year 7s and new students many happy years in Marlwood School.  We also welcome new staff: Ms Davies (English), Mr Davies (Assistant Headteacher), Mr Williams (Faculty Progress Leader – DART), Ms Ann Duff (Assistant Headteacher), Mr Edwards (Science) and Mrs Pullen(Maths).

SCHOOL UNIFORM


We have been very pleased we are with the support we have received from the overwhelming majority of students and families in regard to uniform. Our students really do look very smart and ready to learn. There have been some issues during the first week back but we are working with our parents and students to ensure consistency in wearing the correct school uniform at all times. We thank all our parents, carers and students for their continued support.

NEWSLETTER TERM 6


For any of you who missed the last issue of our Newsletter at the end of Term 6, please follow the link below

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY


Thursday 10 September – GCSE Information Evening 6-7pm (Years 10 and 11)

Friday 18 September – Friends of Marlwood Music Festival 3-10.30pm

Thursday 24 September - Year 12 Introduction Evening for Parents 6-7pm

Thursday 1st October – Open Evening 6-8pm

PARENTS’ FORUM


The date for the next Parents’ Forum is Wednesday 7 October 6.30-7.30pm. If any new parents would like to join this group, please get in touch with the school.  Further details to follow.

PRAISE FOR MARLWOOD STUDENTS

It is testament not only to our students’ amazing array of talent, but also to the dedication of the staff that I have had the pleasure of writing over 250 letters to students, commending them on their commitment and attitude to learning, and also thanking them for their hard work in supporting school events. Working together for excellence at its very best!

HOUSE CHAMPIONSHIP DAY

We are holding our first House Championship Day on Tuesday 14th July. Students should come to school in either their House colours or PE kit. At the end of the day the winners will be announced and will have a letter of invitation and permission to attend the Awards event on the following day. It is particularly close between two of the Houses and there is all to play for!

END OF TERM 6 – FRIDAY 17TH JULY

Just a reminder that school closes at 12.30pm on Friday. The buses will be here as usual. Term 1 begins on Tuesday 1st September with an INSET day; students return to school on Wednesday 2nd September.

WORK EXPERIENCE


Whilst our younger students are on Enrichment Days, our Year 10 students are gaining first hand experience of the world of work and taking up placements within the wider community. Many are working in areas to support their career choices further down the line, whilst others are exploring new skills and ideas which may inform their subject choices later. We are very grateful to our business partners who invest their time and experience in our students. 

ENRICHMENT DAYS


This week sees us broadening the curriculum with trips and activities for all our Years 7, 8 and 9 students. Our Modern Foreign Language trips are also taking place with 62 students safely and happily returned from Paris, despite an all-time high record of temperature and threatened ferry strikes. The Barcelona trip departed on Tuesday and we look forward to hearing about their activities next week.

THORNBURY SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2015


The school, and in particular our Science Faculty, work closely with the organisers of the Thornbury Science Festival to provide exciting and challenging activities for our students. For more information, please follow the link below:

SUCCESS FOR MARLWOOD STUDENTS


The Performing Arts Department put on a stunning display of student talent for our Summer Sessions evening. It was a full programme with an impressive array of skills, enthusiasm and commitment – from the performers, to the back stage support and, of course, the Let’s Get Cooking Club with their mouth-watering refreshments! The feedback from parents, guests, governors, staff and students is that it was a splendid evening enjoyed by everyone. Well done to all those involved, with special thanks to Mrs Ferguson and Mr Humphries for showcasing their students’ talents so entertainingly.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRIPS


Our students and staff returned safely from Paris, despite the ferry problems at Calais. We did have four back up plans in case of emergency, but in the end it was plain sailing for the Paris party. Students visited the Eiffel Tower, L’Arc du Triomphe, Louvre Museum amongst many other places – with the hottest day ever recorded for Paris mid way through their visit! We are looking forward to the write up for the newsletter at the end of term.

The Barcelona trip departs next week and we wish them an equally successful experience.

STUDENTS WATCH TRI-SERVICES DISPLAYS AT MARLWOOD


We collapsed the school timetable for one period on Monday in order that all our students could watch the exciting displays put on by the Tri-Services, including police dog handling, simulated car chase and crash, and ambulance attending. This session was followed by a dedicated PSHCE programme to reinforce the messages delivered by the TriServices. The feedback from students was that they felt it really useful. Please see link below for editorial and photos from the Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

 

ABOVE ALL, DON’T JUST ATTEND MARLWOOD… EXPERIENCE IT!


Just one of an array of the quotes from the heart from our House Captains’ address to the Founders’ Day Service held on Wednesday. To read their full address and learn more about the ‘Marlwood Experience’, follow the link below.


TRANSITION DAY


We welcomed our incoming Year 7 students to the school for a day of activity and familiarisation with their new school. Suddenly our current Year 7s seem to have grown inches! Marlwood Rangers (students with their first responsibility as leaders) provided tours and buddy-up moments for the young learners. Many other students and staff joined in through the day to make it memorable for our latest recruits. We are looking forward to seeing them in September, bright eyed, bushy tailed and very smart in their new uniforms!

THANKS TO THE FOUNDERS’ DAY PERFORMERS


Our thanks to our Year 7 students, Matthew Quilt and Alicia Ozmen who gave readings and to Jack Williamson who gave a moving rendition of ‘The Sky’s The Limit’. Thanks also to our Year 13 students who so ably and beautifully performed for our guests: Peter Stace on the flugelhorn, Chloe Dawes soloist and Esmae Wood on the violin.  

PARENTAL UPDATES


Letters have been uploaded on to the web site and sent home by email to parents giving them an update on key developments within CSET and the school.  The links below will take you to the full scripts.
 
 

PARENTS’ FORUM


Our Parents’ Forum met for the third and final time this school year. The group looked at the new measures for recording and reporting attainment, proposals for the Sixth Form to join part time in the Vertical Tutor Groups and how we, as a school, communicate with parents. We are very grateful to those parents who come to these meetings and give us valuable feedback. The dates for next year’s meetings will be confirmed in Term 1 of the new academic year.

FRINGE FESTIVAL MONDAY




The school plays host to the TriServices (Police, Fire and Ambulance) events on Monday morning 29th June. The whole school will be watching the events and supported by a dedicated programme of lessons which draw on the students’ experiences to explore PSHCE issues.

FAREWELL TO OUR YEAR 11s


Today was the last day for our Year 11s. We celebrated their time at Marlwood with them during a special assembly and then with meetings between their tutors and teachers. They received their Yearbooks and gifts were presented to the staff. There were many, many photos and selfies taken, crying and laughter filled the Quad. They were finally waved off site by students and staff, many of them into their stretch limousines to continue their celebrations. We will see them again next week at the School Prom.

THANKS TO THORNBURY LIONS


The Thornbury Lions Club have made a generous donation which enables the school to continue to collaborate with New Siblands School and The English National Touring Opera Company. These projects provide enormous benefit to all the students involved and thoroughly enjoyed by all who take part. We are immensely grateful that we can continue with this wonderful collaboration.

RASPBERRY PI





A group of our Year 8s and Year 9s were joined by Mr Pearce from the Gloucestershire Initiative Teachers Education Partnership this week and they have been building motorised robots, full of sensors. Today they were working out how to move the robots – lots of good ideas coming through for their uses!

RACING CARS PRESENTATION


Today we celebrated the success of the various car races which have taken place over the season. MRCA presented the trophies to the House which won the most number of races. Holt were the cup winners, with Berkeley in second place, Witton in third and Kingsley bringing up the rear.

YEAR 6 TO YEAR 7 TRANSITION STUDENTS


This week we welcomed parents of current Year 6 students to come in and meet our staff and to understand how their children’s learning patterns will change as they graduate into secondary school. We have Open Day for the Year 6 students themselves on Thursday 25th June, with many exciting activities planned for them and a chance to ‘buddy up’ with new friends in their House groups.

PARENTS’ FORUM


Our third Parent’s Forum will be taking place on Wednesday 24th June at 6.30pm in the Learning Resource Centre. This initiative has proved an invaluable source of feedback and information between parents and the school. If you would like to come along and join those parents who have been helping us with school development projects, please contact the school for further details.

FOUNDERS’ DAY SERVICE


The school will be holding its annual Founders’ Day Service at St Mary’s Church in Thornbury on Wednesday 24th June at 1.30pm. This service celebrates the school’s long history and brings together our Year 7 and Year 13 students – the youngest and the oldest in school, together with local dignitaries, parents and governors. Several of our students will be giving readings and soloist musical performance which we look forward to sharing with our school community.

THORNBURY CARNIVAL FESTIVAL FRINGE


We are delighted to be hosting the TriServices on Monday 29th June as part of the Festival Fringe ongoing summer programme. Students and visitors will have the opportunity to observe displays from the ambulance, police and fire services and to enjoy demonstrations of skill from these vital public services.

SUCCESS FOR MARLWOOD STUDENT

Congratulations to Claire Thomas (Y9) who has been selected to take part in the BBC Music Day Concert at the Colston Hall. It will be broadcast on 5th June between 3-4pm on 4 local BBC radio stations and Radio 3 and filmed for a piece for Points West on BBC1 and possibly the One Show. It will feature the Para-orchestra, Bristol Youth Choirs and City of Bristol Choir. Well done Claire!

TERM 6


Welcome back to all our students and staff after the half term. The examinations are now fully upon us and students are using their revision sessions to consolidate their learning over the past year. There is a full term of events planned, from the Year 7s trip to Morfa Bay, to three Enrichment Days and a Curriculum Focus Day held this week.

CURRICULUM FOCUS DAY


Our third and final Curriculum Focus Day took place on 3rd June. Walking around the school site there was a real sense of vibrancy emanating from the different events: Year 8 took part in samba drums, capoeihra and Drama workshops; Technology hosted a robot competition;. Years 9 and 10 received PSHCE input relating to Drugs and Alcohol, and Sex and Relationships. Meanwhile, Year 7 took part in a Modern Languages afternoon where they learnt Zumba, Flamenco and participated in a cookery class.

Our House ethos was strengthened through a Year 7 House morning, and Year 9 took part in a House Games Challenge hosted by the PE Faculty. Year 10 were also able to benefit from focused Science revision in preparation for their examination two days later, whilst Year 10 Mathematics students took part in a high end Cryptology workshop.

GOURMET HOMEWORK CLUB


As part of our ongoing work with our Premium Partners, the Thornbury Deli have kindly donated sandwiches at the end of the day for our students who attend Homework Club. The students are very grateful for their generosity and I understand the sandwiches are delicious!
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