30th March 2006
Dear Parents,
I write to complete my news on the Spring Term.
I was delighted that the School featured so extensively in the first of two programmes Monday evenings on BBC 2 called “The Schools Lottery”. This featured five celebrities returning to their old school, and included Nick Ross, presenter of CrimeWatch UK, returning to Wallington. There were several shots of the school: the hall, the mathematics corridor, the front and the sports field, together with a classroom in which Nick Ross was speaking. We were told that the second programme, on Monday, 3rd April at 7 p.m. includes even more scenes. Nick was filmed talking with me and in Mrs. Jaffer’s physics lesson. The programme includes intelligent comment on the changing educational scene over 50 years and the tragic loss of many grammar schools. Pupils at Wallington have indeed succeeded in the “schools’ lottery”.
I will also send this letter out by email today. Only 441 email addresses are registered. Parents can manage their email settings by visiting the following link www.wcgs.org.uk/ccmail/index.php . All instructions are on the page which can also be found by going to General Information > Contacts on our website.
I am aware that I have been rather too tolerant of pupils’ dress these past cold weeks. Next term it is summer, and there will be no excuse for anyone wearing sweat shirts, wrong jumpers, indiscriminate “beanies” and dubious scarves. Proper uniform will be enforced.
School Leaders are increasingly grateful for the support of growing numbers of administrative staff, which for us has reduced the burden of less attractive work and enabled us to focus more of our time on improving teaching and learning. This is our major drive. The School is very grateful for the efficiency shown by Mrs. Miller, Administrative Officer for Cover, Trips and Daily Routines. She is to leave to resume employment in a new post at her previous company.
I should also like to thank and congratulate Mr. Zolfagharifard, who has been appointed Team Leader for Mathematics at Lakers School in Gloucestershire. This promotion to Head of Department follows from his appointment last year at Wallington as Deputy Head of Mathematics. Mr. Zolfagharifard was already an experienced teacher when he was appointed to Wallington in September 2001, and he was rapidly promoted. For two years he took over from the Deputy Headmaster the invidious task of deploying staff to cover for absent colleagues. He gave freely of his time to the school, working long hours. The Chess Club and Team benefited enormously during the two years he was able to devote to them. It is a token of the esteem in which he was held by colleagues that he was elected staff governor. The School is grateful for the care and devotion Mr. Zolfagharifard gave to his duties, and we wish him every good fortune in his new post.
With my best wishes for the Easter Holidays.
27th March 2006
Dear Parents,
I write as the Spring Term ends to bring some good news. The Sports Hall is to be built. Sutton Council has allocated £785,000 towards the cost of £1,340,000; £450,000 will be available to us in April’s budget and the rest the following year as it is built. The School has been planning for this for some time, and has established a reserve of £125,000 and will put aside £366,000 from funds which are allocated for building works over the next four years. I am confident that an appeal will raise at least £57,000.
This is excellent news and represents the culmination of years of lobbying, notably by the Chairman of Governors, Roger O’Neill. The Sports Hall will be built on the Lower Field, beyond the hedge. This area generally lies fallow, and our Sports Hall will massively improve facilities for pupils. It will be built by Ball Hall, who constructed Sutton Grammar’s last year. Project Managers have been appointed, and planning permission is being sought.
The support of the parent body for this venture will be greatly appreciated. I shall write again next term with further details.
Mr. Daniel will be leaving at the end of this term to take up his post at RGS Guildford. Ms. Shariff has still not recovered, but a permanent, experienced teacher has been appointed from next term. The School is grateful for Mr. Daniel’s professionalism and experience during these past few months.
The School will feature tonight on BBC 2 at 7 p.m. This is the first of two programmes called “The Schools Lottery” and will feature celebrities going back to their old school. Our “Old Boy” is Nick Ross, who presents CrimeWatch UK. There has been much background filming, both around the school and on the testing for 11 plus. I understand that we will feature even more in the second part of the programme, Monday, 3rd April.
By then we will be on holiday! The School closes after the final assemblies on Friday of this week. There is a staff conference on Tuesday, 18th April, so pupils should not return until Wednesday, 19th April. This extended Easter will give many of them the time they need to revise, for Key Stage 3 exams, GCSE or AS or A Level. Year 10 exams also beckon! This is an extremely important time for all students committed to excellence in examinations.
May I wish all parents a Happy Easter.
With best wishes,
