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Dear Parents/Carers,
On January 5th 2009 I became St
Paul's Way Trust School's new Headteacher and I could not
have received a warmer welcome from the students, staff and so
many of our parents and carers. In many ways, it has been like
coming home because, although I have been a Headteacher in Kent
for the last four years, before that, I was Deputy Headteacher
at Swanlea School, Whitechapel for nearly seven years. I have
also lived in Tower Hamlets for over a decade and have enjoyed
seeing the community in which I live go from strength to
strength.
A Fabulous Future
At my last school I ensured that
standards of achievement rose year on year. For example, over
the four years that I was Headteacher, students achieving GCSE 5
A* - C rose from 23% to 58%. Also, the sixth form quadrupled in
size and attendance was significantly higher than that of any
other local school at 94%. I believe that a good attendance
record is vital if students are going to achieve their potential
and I think it is important that the school should work in
partnership with parents and carers in order to maximise
attendance levels.
Leaving my last school was not an
easy decision to make. However it was the incredible future that
St Pauls Way Trust School has in store that led to my
decision. SPWCS will soon have a brand new school building. Over
£40 million is being spent in order to make our school one of
the best equipped and most exciting places of learning in the
whole of London. The new school will have its own theatre and
art gallery as well as the very best sports and library
facilities. There will be community facilities, an Internet Café
and a careers centre as well as access to the very best
technology. SPWCS will also be the first Faraday Science School
in London and this new science specialism, alongside our
existing visual arts specialism, will ensure outstanding
learning opportunities for all.
Firm Foundations
Our new school will not ignore the
positive achievements that SPWCS has had over decades. Instead,
our new school will build on the many successes already
achieved. Last month, OfSTED asked that St Paul's Way be
featured in a 'good practice' report which focuses on our work
with the Bow Arts Trust. We are delighted that this is taking
place and are committed to ensuring that there are many more
excellent projects in the future. Our support for deaf students
has also been key to our success as a truly inclusive school and
I am pleased to confirm that our Deaf Support Base is not only
to be maintained in the new building but will also benefit from
improved resources.
There is much to look forward to
in the future but there is also much to celebrate that is
happening today.
Celebrating Success
Tower Hamlets has a new Young
Mayor - our very own Uma Akther, who left the school having
completed her GCSEs. We wish her every success in her new role.
Students at SPWCS are also into
the regional final of the National Young Magistrates
Competition. We won our area heat following strong competition
from six other schools from across East London. Congratulations
to all of the thirteen Year 9 students that took part and to Mr
Nance, Mr King and Ms Zarczynska for supporting the team.
Congratulations also to Ms Dhillon
and Mr Rahman who have been accepted onto the prestigious new
Aspiring School Leaders Course being run by the National College
of School Leadership.
Building for Success
Our new school is being built and
I am delighted to welcome a number of new staff who will help us
to plan for the fabulous future that we have ahead. Ms Smith
joined the school in January as Deputy Headteacher. Ms Loveday
also joins as Deputy Headteacher from early March and Mr John,
our third Deputy, will be joining the school in April. All three
colleagues have considerable experience of senior leadership
roles. Both Ms Smith and Ms Loveday have been Deputy
Headteachers at other Tower Hamlets secondary schools.
Welcome also to Ms Koufou, who
will be running our building programme, Ms Gregory, an Interim
Deputy Headteacher and Ms MacIntyre, our new Data Manager.
Having Your Say
Finally I would like to say
thank-you to two groups of students in particular. Firstly, to
the School Council, who have been full of excellent ideas and
who helped brilliantly with the recent Deputy Headteacher
appointments by interviewing all of the ten candidates that were
shortlisted. Secondly, thank-you to my Year 11 English group who
have been working so hard and preparing so carefully for their
second mock examination; best of luck to you and to all Year 11
students about to do these important re-takes. The weeks to come
are vitally important to all of our Year 11 students. I wish all
our students, past, present and future, every success.
Kind Regards,
Grahame Price
Headteacher
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St.
Paul’s Way Trust School assesses the progress of every child
at half-termly intervals. The school involves parents and carers
in this process and celebrates success through a series of
special events and our reward system.
