Christmas Newsletter
Head's Page

Another busy year! Can’t quite believe that it has gone. Highlights of the year for me include:

Quality Mark

We were very honoured to be awarded the Quality Mark – which essentially accredits our work in Literacy and Numeracy across the whole school. Pat Lockwood put a huge amount of effort and work into gathering together a file which shows a whole host of things – pupils’ work, our assessment records, staff training etc.. Having submitted all of this we then passed – at both primary and secondary level – which I am obviously delighted with.

ICT

We have moved on in ICT in a number of ways – giving Kate (one of our LSAs) a day a week to help us (because she is so good!), purchasing new Interactive Whiteboards, new software etc.. One of the real pleasures for me has been to see pupils working in ways which I wouldn’t expect – for example using the Mousepad on a laptop, which some of our youngsters are beginning to do.

Numeracy

I mention numeracy particularly because we put a large amount of effort into this area over last year: extra sessions for some pupils, further training, discussions at staff meetings etc.. When we measured our results this year they were up significantly, and it is good to see that we can do this through focussing on one curriculum area in this way.

Inclusion Links

We don’t always talk about these, but we have a lot of links with other schools in Hinckley and the surrounding areas. These are very successful, and provide a lot of children with mainstream experience. Sometimes this experience leads on to other things, as when one of our post-16 students was able to study for GCSE Art last year, and actually gained a Grade D GCSE, which was a superb achievement. He was invited to County Hall to meet the leader of the County Council, and was presented with a photo to remind him of his visit.

School Activities

One of the biggest pleasures for me remains seeing staff engaged in a whole range of different activities with children – so a thank you to everyone on my (and your!) behalf for all the hard, dedicated work that goes on here on a daily basis. Thank you!
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!
Tony Smith

SCHOOL NEWS

Web Site

Please remember the Web Site: www.dorothygoodman.co.uk This is a useful source of information for all sorts of things – for example this year for the first time we have put up the Annual Review list. If I get around to it, there will be some items over Christmas for pupils to download! – so watch that space!

Jewellery

We still have raffle tickets available for the necklace designed by one of our pupils – worth £2,300 !!!!!!!!!
Let the Office know if you want any more. The draw will be in February.

Down’s Syndrome

I am informed by the Leicester Mercury that they are doing an article on how well children with Down’s Syndrome learn – provided that we stick at their education. Common sense really! And certainly something we have found in practice. But still nice to see it in the newspaper. So keep an eye out for that article.

School Outings

One or two parents have mentioned the fact that we go on a lot of outings from school – which we do! The reasons are either to do with the curriculum (since we know our pupils learn best from first-hand experience) or to promote personal and social development. But of course ultimately we are in your hands as parents – so perhaps you would let us have your views on school trips – they would be very welcome and would certainly help to shape our policy.

Donations

Donations this term have included:
  • £50 ASDA
  • £260 Linda Clay
  • £200 George Ward Trust
  • £2,300 necklace Wightman’s Jeweller’s
The donations of monies have been used to pay for classroom equipment, and also for a visit from a theatre company.
page updated : 9th December 2003