Link Letter - July 2002

01963 32368

CHANGES FOR THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR

Staff

During this term we have welcomed Julie Hoskins as Librarian, Jo Merritt as Learning Mentor Co-ordinator, and James Troke as Caretaker. At the end of this term we say goodbye to the following staff.
Janet Allan (English), Howard Brill (Finance Manager), Tracey Kelly (Science), Sue Morse (RE), Jackie Reeve (MFL), Katrina Sharpe (DT), Holly Tinsley (MFL), Martyn Travellyan (DT) : we wish them all well for the future.
New colleagues joining us from September will be :
Edward Agnew (DT), Tim Bates (English), Anneliese Colwell (School Counsellor), Sarah Edson (Art), Veronique Jund (MFL), Judith Mathews (Head of RE), Beverley Mackay (MLF), Helen Perrow (PE), Rachel Reid (English), Thelma Speed (Finance Manager), Nicola Young (Music) : Virginie Cadieu will remain with us in MFL, Andrew Edwards will join us in Science for one term and Judy Setter will return to Science from January : we look forward to working with these colleagues.

Governors

Robert Gulliford, Edward Hoadley, Jackie Reeve and George Smith have resigned from our board of governors: we are grateful to all of them for their commitment and hard work. Ed deserves a special mention for his length of service and his work as Chair of Governors. There will be an election for a parent governor early in the autumn term and we hope to fill the co-opted governor vacancies.

Building

Our long awaited new front entrance is nearing completion : it will certainly provide an improved first impression for our visitors. Pictures show the early stages of the work, the roof beams being lifted and the nearly complete work.

Artist in Residence

From September 2002 King Arthur’s has managed to secure an ‘artist in residence’ for the whole academic year. Celia Smith, a sculptor, who works mainly in wire and reclaimed materials will be situated in the pottery room at King Arthur’s using it both as her own studio and an area to work with the students of KA and Community Education.

The project runs parallel with Whitstone School, Shepton Mallet, who have a dance specialist working with them for the same period of time. The project brief and funding was devised and secured by SPAEDA (a regional arts organisation).

Celia will also be working with our partner primary schools and possibly producing a commission! As this exciting project develops we are sure that many people will be getting involved within our group of schools and from the wider community.

Music

In September we will be updating the ICT facilities in music with the addition of 6 more computers for use in lessons, composing and arranging music and even burring our own CDs.

Sports College

Many exciting things are planned for September when we open as a Sports College : the introduction of Karate to the KS4 curriculum is just one of many opportunities on offer to encourage students to widen their areas of study. Helen Perrow, who joins the PE department in September is a dance specialist and will bring another dimension to PE at KA.

Drawings and costings are currently being finalised for the Performance Enhancement Centre, the Capital Project element of our new status.

School Counsellor

We have been fortunate to gain the funding for a school counsellor. Anneliese Colwell will take up this post in September. The intention is to give our students the opportunity to talk with someone who is slightly distanced from the school.

Anneliese will be introducing herself to students in assemblies early in September and it is intended for her not only to have students referred to her by the school, but for her also to have an open lunchtime session for self referrals.

If you would like more information about the counsellor’s role please contact David Dwyer at the school.

Adult Learning and Leisure

Brochure with details of courses for the new academic year is available.

Parents Online Week

This is a web-based initiative aimed to encourage parents to see the Internet as a valuable educational tool. Log on to www.parentsonline.gov.uk between 30th September and 4th October for more information.

START OF TERM

Wednesday 4th September will be an Inservice Training Day - students should return to school on Thursday 5th September.