Principal's Letters
| Letters | ||
| Principal's End of Term Letter - 22nd February 2010 | View» |  Download |
| Principal's end of term letter - 30th June 2009 | View» | Download |
| Principal's End of Term Letter - 17th December 2008 | View» | Download |
| Principal's End of Term Letter - 2nd July 2008 | View» | Download |
| Principal's End of Term Letter - 17th December 2007 | View» | Download |
| Principal's End of Term Letter - 9th July 2007 | View» | Download |
Principal's End of Term Letter - 2nd July 2008
June 2008
Dear Parents
As another academic year draws to a close it is time to reflect on the many pupil successes, events and highlights of the last few months, and an opportunity to say farewell to colleagues who are moving towards a well-earned retirement and others who are moving to pastures new.
On 24 June we were delighted to welcome back to Hulme Mark Demsteader, a local artist with a growing international reputation and formally an Art Technician at the Schools. Mark officiated at the formal opening ceremony of The Brierley Art Studios. This was a splendid occasion when we were able to celebrate the work of our GCSE and A level students in their new surroundings. It was wholly fitting to name our new facility after Mrs Rosemary Brierley, the retiring Chairman of the Board of Governors. Mrs Brierley’s association with the schools dates back to the day in 1950 when she crossed the threshold of Estcourt and her service to Hulme has never faltered since: twenty five years as a governor and sixteen of those as Chairman is no mean feat!
In March we hosted two inspectors from the Independent Schools Inspectorate and were pleased to hear their views of Hulme. The inspection was conducted in order to align the Boys’ School, including Hulme Court, with the timing of the inspection for the other sections of the Hulme family. In future all the schools will be inspected under one umbrella and at the same time. Hence the inspectors only spent one day with us as compared to previous occasions when they had the best part of a week to get to know the Schools. The ISI have decided that given the circumstances of this visit they will not publish the report on their web-site; however, I feel that it is important that such a document should be freely available to parents and therefore it has been published on the Schools’ web-site [www.hulme-grammar.oldham.sch.uk]. The inspectors concluded that “The boys do well in their work, and their personal development is of a high order. These educational achievements are due in large measure to the leadership and management of the school, combined with effective teaching, the pupils’ purposeful attitudes to work and the high standard of pastoral care.” A pleasing endorsement of what we are striving to achieve at Hulme.
On Monday, 9 June, we were very pleased to welcome a party of 30 boys and three teachers from the Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road). The group made their way directly to Oldham, having landed at 6.30 am at Manchester International Airport for a ten day visit over the course of which the boys and teachers will visit various sites, primarily of literary interest, before returning to Singapore. Eighteen of our Y9 boys were selected to act as hosts for the visit; they were able to give both boys and staff a detailed tour of the site and then entertain them over lunch. Mr Graham Whiteley OB (1970 – 1977) was one of the three teachers accompanying the boys. He was impressed by the many changes to the school that he observed on his first visit here since 1977. The short stay was a most enjoyable event with both parties learning much from each other.
Kindergarten Y2 children received their Key Stage 1 SATS results this week. Their achievements were impressive by any measure: 74% reached Level 3 Reading, 39% in Writing, 65% in Mathematics and 57% in Science. These results are almost three times the figures achieved nationally! [nb Level 3 is the expectation of the average 9 year old ]
Estcourt/Hulme Court/Kindergarten
Through the course of this academic year we have been reviewing the curriculum within Estcourt, Hulme Court and Kindergarten. A working party, chaired by Mrs Ann Richards, has examined our current practice with a view to developing a common curriculum across Years 3 to 6 in order to provide equality of opportunity and a common experience for our children.
We are also striving to improve continuity between Kindergarten and the two Preparatory Schools, and between Estcourt/Hulme Court and the Main School. To aid this process I have accepted the working party recommendation to appoint three core subject co-ordinators (English, Mathematics & Science) with a remit to take responsibility for their particular discipline across the 3 – 11 age range. The appointees are the current Deputy Heads of Hulme Court and Kindergarten, Mr Matthew Turner and Mrs Joan Wood respectively. The third post holder will be Mrs Amanda Smith who with effect from 1 September 2008 will become the Deputy Head of Estcourt. As Mrs Smith moves predominantly to Estcourt, Mrs Denise Pearson will take on a new challenge with Year 2 at Kindergarten. I am confident that with the modifications to the curriculum and these appointments our provision will be enhanced.
Staff
Congratulations to the Bursar and Clerk to the Governors, Mr Richard Flower who will take up a new post in January as Bursar to Sherborne School for Girls, Dorset. In his time at Hulme Richard has overseen several significant projects and has ably led an efficient bursarial and support staff team who are a vital component of the Schools. We wish Richard and his family every success as they move to their native South West.
There are also a number of notable retirements as we come to the end of the academic year: Mr Stan Baty will be putting down the baton as he finally retires from Hulme after 32 years; Mr Mark Harris and Mr Mike Garnett have served modern languages for a total of 52 years; Mrs Janet Selby has contributed to the success of Hulme Court for 16 years, as has Mr Terry Collins for the last two years; Mrs Maralyn Marland has taught at Kindergarten (and formerly Werneth Prep.) for a total of 27 years; Mr Terry Sheer has taught and subsequently led Economics/Business Studies for 35 years; the Art/DT departments will sadly say farewell to Mrs Phyllis Hargreaves who joined the Schools in September 2000 and Mr Peter Wood hangs up his boots as Director of PE having devoted 36 years to Hulme. As a result of Mrs Selby’s retirement Year 3 Hulme Court will be taught by Mrs Elaine Schofield from September.
After four years service Mr Andrew Horrocks left Hulme on 1st June to take up a new post as Head of Design Technology at Matthew Moss High School, Rochdale and Mr Mark Lefley, after similar service to Hulme moves on at the end of term to teach mathematics at Pendleton College, Salford. Miss Jo Thomas has decided to pursue her professional art career, but I am pleased that she intends to continue to share her expertise and passion for the subject by doing some part-time teaching in the future. Mr Andrew Lochery has also decided to seek a different career path and we wish him and all our colleagues every success in their new ventures.
Joining Hulme in September are Miss Elizabeth Mills (English), Miss Abigail Danson (Business Studies and Economics), Mrs Karen Boswell (Psychology), Mr Sundeep Manik (Mathematics) and Mr Saqib Bakht (Chemistry). Ms Amy Done and Ms Helena Rodgers will be joining Kindergarten, and Miss Jessica Dixon will be with us for two terms to cover for Ms Hannah Plews during her maternity leave.
Pupil News
Recent pupil success has included……..
• Emma Howarth (Y13) who has won the coveted title of Oldham Rotary Club’s Student of the Year 2008. She was presented with her award and prize of a £500 computer voucher by the Mayor, Councillor Ann Wingate. This prestigious competition acknowledges and applauds local students who have shown exceptional contribution to the community, whilst maintaining high academic standards. This is the 7th year of this annual competition in which Hulme students have always featured. Two years ago Divya Patel was a runner up and last year John Baxendale also won the competition.
• Seventeen Hulme sixth form students have undertaken nearly 1500 hours of voluntary work during this academic year and have been awarded certificates acknowledging the time they have given to the community. Students have helped out in day care centres, nursing homes, hospitals, primary schools, charity shops and museums and with activities such as rainbows, teaching swimming and karate and the Salvation Army. Most of these students have also played a major role in assisting teachers in many ways within Hulme, particularly as form helpers to junior classes in the two senior schools. Four students deserve particular credit; Adeel Anwar accomplished 300 hours in a variety of projects, Kushal Patel, in a similar fashion, completed 235 hours, whilst James Whyman fulfilled 201 hours and Ali Ratcliffe managed 153 hours, shared between a primary school and responsibilities here at Hulme. Although we are well past the year 2000 now and the Millennium Volunteers project has come to an end, there are still plenty of opportunities to work with Greater Manchester Youth Network in voluntary activities. Hulme sixth form students will continue to think of others and contribute to their community.
• Congratulations to Brogan Crowley who has been selected to represent Greater Manchester at the National Schools Championships to be held in Birmingham next month. Brogan will compete in the 200m and we wish her every success. In addition to Brogan three girls and sixteen boys represented Oldham at the Greater Manchester Athletics Championships on 14 June. Lauren Cunliffe finished 3rd in the hurdles, Nathan Mills was 2nd in the high jump whilst Simon Schofield finished 3rd in the triple jump and 4th in the 100m, and Nathan Chambers was 3rd in the long jump. At the Oldham Schools’ Championships Hulme boys won the overall field championships (despite missing a Y9 team) and were runners-up overall on the track against 15 other Oldham schools. The Y10 team were outstanding, winning both the track and field trophies for their age group. In the field events they scored 31 out of a possible 36 pts (with all boys individually winning a medal). The Y8 team also won the field event trophy. Overall a tremendous performance by the Hulme athletes!
• The Year 9 Girls Rugby team have experienced huge success in recent months. They have progressed through the Carnegie Girls’ Championships to become North West Champions and as a result represented the North West in the National Festival. As defeated semi finalists they can be proud to be rated one of the top four Year 9 Girls’ teams in England particularly as this was their first season playing the sport.
• The Main School swimming teams took part in the Oldham Schools’ Swimming competition in March. Years 7, 8, 9 and senior girls’ teams all came second with the Year 10 and 11 teams coming first. As a result the girls won the overall Oldham Schools’ Trophy. In the boys’ competition Y7 were crowned Oldham Champions. At the Royton Gala Hulme Court and Estcourt combined to win the overall competition and the Joe Slater Shield, whilst the boys were outright winners of the Gartside Shield collecting 13 Gold, 3 Silver and 8 Bronze medals along the way. Charlotte Goode (Y12) has enjoyed an exceptional season with Gold at the Welsh Nationals, Silver at the Scottish Nationals, two Golds at the Open Lancashire Championships and a Gold and Silver at the Northwest Counties. Later this year she will swim at both the Open Nationals and the British Nationals.
• Matthew Fancy (Y8) will be competing for England on 5th and 6th July at the Malton International Dressage Event, Dublin. His selection comes as a result of taking 1st and 2nd places in two BYRDS events earlier this year.
• Naomi Warner (Y8) won the Welsh Gala Trampoline Championships in Cardiff at the beginning of May and has qualified for the British National Championships to be held in Birmingham in July.
As I write this letter there is still much to be enjoyed before the end of term including Estcourt, Hulme Court and Kindergarten Prize Givings, the Festival Concert, Year 10 Barbecue and welcoming the new Year 7 pupils and their parents. These events plus the various trips which are taking place illustrate how busy life at Hulme really is - our pupils and staff have earned their summer break!
I wish you all a relaxing and safe summer and look forward to welcoming our pupils back to Hulme in September.
With best wishes
Yours sincerely
Dr Paul G Neeson
Principal
Dr Paul G. Neeson BSc PhD
Principal
