A Message from the Headteacher

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I write to you as we start this new academic year. When School began on Tuesday 6th September, we were delighted to welcome over 190 new Year 7 students. It was a very successful day, and we all have high hopes for these new students.

I am delighted to report another excellent set of GCSE results. This year 50% of students achieved 5 or more GCSE grades at A*-C, a figure above the average for Tower Hamlets students. Results at Key Stage 3 nearly doubled in English and, as in recent years, Maths results show a very pleasing increase. Many congratulations to the students, staff and parents.

Uniform is improving. Thank you for your continued help to ensure students dress smartly for School. Punctuality is also improving. Please continue to push the importance of punctuality with your children.

The Government has invited St. Paul's Way Community School, as a high achieving specialist school, to select a second area of specialism. Staff and Governors are now discussing what that might be, and I look forward to asking for your views and keeping you informed of the process.

As always, I look forward to welcoming you into the School on many occasions throughout the School year.

With very best wishes,

Simon Harris
Headteacher

Trip to the Lakes

"I wandered lonely as a cloud,
That floats on high o'er dales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
Of pupils from St Paul's Way Community School,
Behaving well and striving hard,
To achieve what they thought could not be done,
Reaching high and feeling proud."

In May, 42 St Paul's Way students went to the Blencathra Field Studies Centre in the Lake District. Blencathra is located in a beautiful corner of England, enveloped by a magical mix of green dales, stark rocky mountains and gleaming lakes. It manages to look breathtaking even on the murkiest of days, which is just as well since few visitors escape a soaking!

The students were accompanied by Mr Jacobs, Mr Markson, Ms Rolfe, Mr Simon, Ms Sparkes and Ms Allen. The students worked well together and settled into life at Blencathra very quickly. Tuesday night was activity night, and Wednesday and Thursday provided opportunities for mountain climbing - to the top of Cat Bells, rowing on Derwent Water and ghyll scrambling.

The pupils behaved admirably, and the staff at the Field Centre commented on what a pleasure they were to have. All pupils upheld the high standards of the school and their communities, and behaved in a mature a sensible manner.
Well done to all!

Q: How many lakes are there in the Lake District?

Mr Jacobs, Head of Geography

City of London Festival

In July, Year 10 Textiles students took part in the City of London Festival. Students had worked with textile designers Cloth of Gold, to create some designs that were screen-printed on to large banners. The St Paul's Way Community School banners were displayed in Watling Street and Paternoster Square.

The students were given small fabric versions of their work to carry and wave as we joined the procession through the city. Lots of groups took part, ranging from Primary schools right through to a group of retired people who danced their socks off!

The St Paul's Way Community School banner will be displayed in school, look out for it! The design work is based on areas of Liverpool Street Station - see what you can recognise!

Ms Taylor, Head of Textiles

Tower Hamlets Technology Challenge Day

Twelve Year 8 SPWCS students took part in the Sciences and Technology Challenge Day on June 29th 2005. Students from Tower Hamlets schools worked together to complete three one-hour challenges during the day. The format of each challenge was to design a solution to a problem, make a prototype and then evaluate the model.

Challenge 1
K'nex Vehicle Electric Car
Students designed a vehicle driven by a battery-powered motor using a gear mechanism and a rubber band. The structure of the vehicle was made using K'nex to support the motor and needed to be simple enough to be driven by the gear mechanism, as well as being light enough to move with the battery holder.

Challenge 2
Controlled Vehicle
Students designed a vehicle with a light sensor that could follow a designated line. Once the model was completed the next stage was to add a small control circuit which allowed the model to be programmed to do things (mini Robot). Then various parts were added to the robot to make it look scary.

Challenge 3
Slow Marble
Students designed, built and tested a course that a marble would take the longest time to roll down. They also had to make the marble propel a ball into a container. Students made the track using paper, paper clips, masking tape and rubber bands.

In all the challenges, students worked together to solve problems with innovative solutions. It was a fun and educational experience for all involved.

Two of our students, Marry Luo 8S and Mosiur Rahman 8L, were on the winning team for the Electric Car Challenge.

Shah Rahman, Head of Resistant Materials

Parents Wanted

• Do you want to learn more about your child’s daily life in SPWCS?

• Would you like to know more about the help available to parents in Tower Hamlets?

• Would you like to meet other parents of students in SPWCS?

If YES, then come and join our Parents’ Groups.

Call Humayra at the School (020-7987 1883 ext 131 or 170) to find out more.

We look forward to hearing from YOU!

Attendance Hotline

A Reminder of the School's Attendance Hotline

If you need to report your child’s absence, please ring
020 7515 2828