AVON VALLEY SCHOOL
Fortnightly News
December 22nd 2017
Dear Parent/Carer
At the end of a very busy and productive term, it is time to look back at what we have achieved over the last
4 months.
Clearly the biggest triumph for the school this term has been our fantastic production of ‘A Christmas Carol’.
I’m sorry to say that if you didn’t attend, you missed a real treat! This was the first show that we have put
on since I have been Headteacher and I felt incredibly proud of the production that our staff and students
created. This year, for the first time, we looked for external sponsorship for our production and both the
show’s sponsors were incredibly impressed by the quality of what they witnessed. I was asked by one how
the school managed to produce a performance of this standard, when so many schools are cutting back
and focusing purely on exam performance. I was proud to say that at Avon Valley we recognise that there is
far more to education than a good set of exam results, important though they are, and that we are
committed to developing confidence, resilience, team work and a whole host of other skills alongside
academic performance. Whatever the government agenda, the performing arts remain at the heart of our
school and we are steadfast in our commitment to provide a rounded education for the students in our
school.
The academic year has a very familiar pattern and, after nearly 30 years in
education, I am very aware that the autumn term is in many ways the most
challenging. Students arrive back in September full of enthusiasm, with new
uniforms and fresh exercise books. The sun shines, the days are long and
everyone is fresh and keen to learn. 16 weeks later the students look
exhausted, the weather is damp and foggy and everything has started to
look a bit ‘dog eared’. Thank goodness for the Christmas break! However,
along the way so much has been achieved and, as we enter the final week
of term, it is wonderful to have the opportunity to celebrate the many
successes with our students in the Gold Book assemblies. Over the last
week of term I have the privilege of awarding ‘Achievement’ badges to over
40 students from each year group who have excelled in their attitude to
learning and progress in subjects ranging from Art and Psychology, to Maths
and Science. From our Yr 7 students, who have just completed their first
term, to our Yr 11 students, who are looking increasingly anxious about the
challenges of the GCSE exams in June 2018, all of our students can feel
proud of what they have achieved over the last 4 months.
As we finally come to the end of term, I would like to thank you all for your
support of the school over the last year and to wish you a very Happy
Christmas and a prosperous and healthy 2018.
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