Dear Parents and Carers,
This week we have said goodbye to our Year 11 students. They are only our third cohort to pass through the school and the first one to have the full five years in our fantastic buildings. We know from their tracking that, all things being equal, they were on course to get externally validated results that we would have been incredibly proud of this summer and that would have exceeded those achieved by our previous year groups.
Instead they will receive teacher awarded grades that have been decided through a rigorous in-school process based on their work over 3 years rather than two or three exams in their final summer. There has been external moderation of work using the expertise across the trust and the whole process will also be checked by the exam boards. This means that even though we have a different system for awarding grades this year, it does not in any way diminish their academic achievements or the value of their GCSEs. The situation over the last two years has quite rightly stimulated a national debate in the profession and amongst parents as to what is the best and most positive way to recognise the progress of our young people whilst looking after their wellbeing. As a trust, we have been a voice that has advocated, in national papers, the media and through professional bodies not just returning back to high stakes exams without fully considering a more varied range of options.
What we can be rightly proud of and celebrate is how our students, both Y11 and younger students, really do embody what we as a school stand for. They all continue to demonstrate Enjoy, Respect, Achieve, show high levels of independence and responsibility for their learning. They actively engage in wider activities gaining skills that allow them to demonstrate resilience and not be phased by adversity whilst showing care, concern and support for each other – they are all game changers. This is not glibly said but is evidenced in the feedback from a number of candidates who have been here on interview this term and say that our culture is tangible around the school and is what makes us such an attractive place to work.
Recruitment is always an important aspect at this time of the year and I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to two staff who leave us at half term. Mrs Wells has been with us since the very beginning and ensured that the Arts, PE and Co-curricular provision of the school is first rate. During a time when the Arts subjects at GCSE have come under enormous pressure due to national curriculum changes, she has ensured that our delivery and opportunities are second to none. This is reflected in the continued very strong uptake for options across subjects that we know uniquely offer students the opportunity to develop vital life skills and their own self confidence. We also say goodbye to Mrs Humphries who began working with us externally as our school nurse before taking a full time role in our pastoral team. Her role particularly focussed on supporting some of our most vulnerable students but she has also used her vast experience to advise staff, talk to parents and guide a much wider number of students. Both have had significant impacts in their areas of responsibility, will be much missed, leave with our heartfelt appreciation of their work and go on to well-deserved promotions.
We shared with parents some structural changes to our day this week, which will mean we end the year strongly in terms of teaching and learning and wider opportunities. We look forward to the time when restrictions are diminished and we can be together more cohesively as a community. Half term always represents a chance to recharge our batteries and there is much that is exciting planned for the last part of the year, including the chance to once again go on school trips. Enjoy the break.
Best wishes
Adam Whitehead
To celebrate their time at BSW and to reflect on their amazing achievements and experiences, our Year 11 students attended a final assembly on their last day, Thursday 27 May. Presented by Mr Whitehead, the assembly looked back at the last 5 years – recounting all of the joys and challenges of making their way through school. Elsewhere on the day, students took the opportunity to say goodbye and thank their teachers and other school staff and there was a really positive atmosphere as our Year 11s spent their final hours as BSW pupils. Our amazing team of Year 11 form tutors, some of whom have been with their groups since they joined in Year 7, had one last tutor time with them to see then off. Though we are sad to see Year 11 go we are very proud of their accomplishments and we look forward to welcoming many of them back on 1st July for their celebration evening.
A team of our Year 7 students headed off to Arundel Castle on Thursday 20 May to take part in Arundel Cricket Club Outdoor Activity Day. They engaged in a number of sessions throughout the day, including cricket skills, team-building exercises and a tour of Arundel Castle and gardens. The aim of the sessions was to promote positivity, team-building and resilience. Mr Cochlin lead the group on the day and reported that all students engaged brilliantly and had a really good day.
We are very excited by the arrival of a brand new air tumble track in the sports hall. This is an inflatable training aid that provides springier elevation for flight exercise in gymnastics. Mr Kemeny jumped (ahem) at the chance to try it for himself!
Our Year 6 students joining in September are invited to join us for a 5 day summer school at the end of the summer term. This is the first time we will be offering the experience for a whole week and as it is part of a government initiative, for the very first time, we can offer it for free! Previous students who have attended summer school were very positive about the benefits of attending it, from making new friends, and having fun, to finding their way around school and alleviating any anxiety they might have over the summer holiday.
Congratulations to the entire student body, as members of the Student Council and Mr White recently attended a virtual awards ceremony hosted by the West Sussex Youth Cabinet and MP Tim Loughton to accept the school’s Gold Democracy Award for our participation in the Make Your Mark voting campaign. (This is a campaign where students vote on the issues which matter most to them at a local and national level). BSW’s voter turnout of 97% was the highest of all the secondary schools in West Sussex and is a great achievement! Members of the Student Council pictured with the award: Ben Waterer (Y10), Jeanelle Jolito (Y7) and Anna Emmerson (Y7).
The return of assemblies, albeit remaining in year group bubbles, has been a really positive step forward during this difficult period. While we are not yet able to have all students together in whole school assemblies, it has been really great to be able to welcome year groups to assemblies during the last few weeks. Recent assemblies have had themes including Ramadan and Eid, the importance of teamwork and resilience. We look forward to bringing all students together again soon.
We were delighted to receive a donation of books for our library sent by ex-student Issy Walker. Issy, who completed her studies with us in 2019, kindly gave a collection of excellent titles for young readers. It’s always lovely to hear from our alumni but we were particularly touched by Issy’s generosity. The LRC always welcomes donations!
With one of our final intra-house weeks underway, we kicked off with an epic handball and netball tournament with Year 7 on Tuesday 25 May, with Year 8 and 9 following across the next two days. Congratulations to all of our teams and students who put in a great effort.
Our brilliant Careers Leader Ms Armstrong has created a careers section in our LRC. This is home to an exciting (and growing!) range of careers books that are there to open students eyes to the wide range of careers and learning opportunities that exist, and to help them to plan their future after they leave Bohunt. Every month Ms Armstrong will be posting a ‘Book spotlight’ on the student careers google classrooms- this will be a short article that focuses on one of the exciting books we have on the shelf. This month’s title is ‘What Colour is your Parachute?’ by Carol Christen and Richard Nelson Bolles.
We’re always intrigued by what our students are up to in Art. This term Year 7 have been constructing cakes out of clay. They are the first year group at BSW to use clay and have their work fired in the Kiln. After half term they will be able to Glaze their cakes. They have decorated their cakes in a range of imaginative ways – and will soon look good enough to eat!
The last 18 months has been a challenge for all of us and for some families even more so. If you having a half term wardrobe clear out we would welcome any donations of outgrown Bohunt Polo shirts, Jumpers or Blazers in a reusable condition. Uniform donations can be dropped into reception after the half term break. Thank you.
| Monday 31 May – Friday 4 June | Half term |
| Tuesday 15 June | BSW Inset |
| Monday 21 to Friday 25 June | ERA Week |
| Wednesday 30 June | BET Inset Day |
| Friday 23 July | Last day of term – early closure at 1.40pm NB. no clubs this afternoon. |
