Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope your children have had a good term at Silverdale.  As always, we’ve been busy supporting your children to both achieve the best academic outcomes they can, and to become happy, healthy and fulfilled young people. 

Some notable events of this term are: 

Y11 and Y13 Mock Exams 

My colleagues endeavoured to give the Year 11s and 13s what they need to be successful in their mocks because we know success in these examinations is the preferred route to a smooth and successful external exam season.  We have focussed on study skills, individual wellbeing support, careers advice and guidance, as well as lots of subject-specific support and guidance.  As a result, the students performed well in their exams, and so we expect to continue our long history of outstanding examination outcomes at Silverdale in the summer. 

Extra-Curricular News 

The delivery of our personal development curriculum is a key aspect of our work both in lessons, through educational visits, and also our wide-reaching extracurricular provision.  Here are some highlights of this term: 

• Our Year 13 debating team made it to the finals of the Oxford Schools’ debating competition for the second year in a row 
• Our U14 netball team was the only state school team in the Netball National Schools finals, ranking them the number 1 state school netball team in England 
• 150 year 9 students completed their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award training 
• Our Year 7 Active Travel Ambassadors presented their active travel campaign at the City Hall and were awarded £200 for the school
• Various informative and entertaining school trips including to the theatre, Sheffield City Hall and the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds

 

KS3 Assessment and Reporting 

I hope Year 7, 8 and 9 parents have found the additional assessment result information on the reports useful and informative. We plan to continue to gain parental feedback on these reports over the forthcoming weeks and make amendments to future reports as necessary. 

Looking forward to next term: 

Silverdale Expectations 

We are continuing to strengthen our behaviour system and respond robustly to any isolated incidences of poor behaviour.  I wrote to you earlier in the year about “The Silverdale Way” which has been successful in improving the consistency of our behaviour expectations and ensuring that our whole school community is “Ready, Respectful and Safe”. 

We are also excited to be opening our Silverdale Engagement Hub next term.  This will provide comprehensive, tailored support to our students who, for a variety of reasons, find school the most challenging. 

Uniform 

As we move into the summer months, our uniform expectations remain unchanged and can be checked here.  In particular, it is important that all students wear a Silverdale polo shirt underneath their school jumper or hoodie. 

Y10 and Y12 exams 

Year 10 exams begin on Monday 22^nd April, so please encourage your Year 10 students to prepare thoroughly for these exams.  Year 12 Exams begin on 18^th June. 

Parents’ Evenings 

Year 12: 17^th April 

Year 8: 2^nd May 

Year 7: 23^rd May 

Other key dates 

Bank Holiday: Monday 6^th May 

 If you are celebrating Eid over the forthcoming holidays, then we wish you Eid Mubarak.  

Happy Easter and best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday. 

Sarah Sims