July 2008

Another successful year for the school comes closer to the end of term. The most significant event of a busy year was the visit by the Ofsted team in December. The report gives a very positive picture of the school’s strengths. We particularly liked this comment by the Lead Inspector, Marion Thompson, in her letter to the pupils:

   “The school provides a wide and exciting range of activities that many of you participate in with great enjoyment. You enjoy school and behave well and safely and help each other. You make an outstanding contribution to the school and the wider community.”    

It is something of a frustration that the inspection took place when the school’s data had a minor wobble. The school aggregate for SATs had been running at 242 points over a six year period. In 2007 a number of factors reduced our total to 229. That figure played a huge part in the team’s reluctance to award more than “Satisfactory” in some of the key areas. This year we have scored a magnificent aggregate of 259- our best ever result. One can only imagine the difference this would have made to the team’s data if they were coming this December instead! 

A real highlight of the summer was our “Wider Horizons Day” in July. Designed to introduce youngsters to IAG (Information Advice & Guidance). With excellent support from the Police, Fire service, Connexions, Evesham High, Long Lartin Dog Team, Evesham Journal, Worcestershire CC Eco team and a number of parents it was an exciting and  successful day. Our sincere thanks to all those who contributed to the event.

There has been a number of outstanding achievements during the year such as the renewed Artsmark GOLD, the girls and boys sports teams winning a range of competitions and the individual award to Luke Kurkus of a West Mercia Police “Good Citizen”  prize.  

We said our goodbyes to Mrs Chris Brain, Mrs Karen Venter, Miss Beccy Urch, Mrs Sarah Forrest and in September Mrs Elaine Bowles is leaving to train as a teacher. We wish all staff moving on the very best for the future. Joining us in September are Sarah Green and Hannah Burton. Sarah will be in reception and Hannah will be teaching PE.

The school continues to thrive and prosper and we look forward to a number of new developments to the site including a new cafeteria kitchen, a new outdoor classroom and new windows and building refurbishments.

Female “Indiana Jones” is Guest of Honour

The Guest of Honour at Blackminster Middle School’s Annual Prize Giving ceremony was Egyptologist Liz Jones.

A former pupil of the school, she had flown back early form a dig in Sparta especially for the awards ceremony. Liz was a pupil at Blackminster in the 90’s before going on to Liverpool University. Since then she has gained a number of specialist honours in Egyptology and Geology. She specialises in using the latest technology to help find ancient artefacts. As well as the Sparta project Liz is also working on two other investigations in Saqqara and Memphis in Egypt.

Before the awards ceremony Liz spoke to the whole school about her days at Blackminster and the exciting career she now has.

Headteacher Terry Holland said, “ It was delightful to welcome Liz back to her old school for our special day. She and her family have long standing links with Blackminster school and I know how proud her mother and father are to see her be our guest of honour. She is a great inspiration to our pupils and demonstrates how something that really interests us at school can become a career in adult life.”

Top prize winners were Helen Bell ( English prize; Technology prize. Maddy Barnett ( Mathematics Prize.) Holly Westwood (Science Prize) and Clarissa Ducie who won the History Prize, the Sue Blick Cup for Music and the John Ward Prize for Contribution to the Arts.