AS/A2 Press Release

Hinchingbrooke School are delighted with their latest AS and A2 results.  Four students, gaining top grades have been accepted to Oxford and Cambridge:

Eliana Tacconi to read Biological Sciences

Felicity White, History

Andrew Bullimore, Earth Sciences

Adrienne Joy, Philosophy

Adrienne goes to university in 2008, because she is using her gap year to teach in China.  Three students gained the results they needed to read Medicine:

Iram Parwaiz, Birmingham

Amy Hodgson, University of East Anglia

Tom Hixson, Keele

Di Beddow, Deputy Head congratulates all students on their success and wishes them the very best for the future.  She notes, “What is so pleasing is that students gained these magnificent results whilst also contributing to the leadership of the House system, community work, sporting excellence, charity events and student parliament.”

The AS results were also strong, meaning that coupled with the intake of 64 students from outside the school into Year 12, the sixth form is set to hit its biggest ever at an expected 420 students in September. 

Summer Term News

The summer term has begun with fine weather.  Sunshine always raises spirits so we have the best circumstances in which students can focus on their revision.  We had a really good start to the examinations with the best ever first modular results from Y10 maths.  The Department for Education and Science analysis of our 2006 performance has recently confirmed that this was a really good year with a strong improvement on 2005.   

Over the next few weeks students from Year 9 upwards take national tests and examinations.  We wish them all well and continue to do our best to encourage good planning and preparation. I am sure you will be playing your part too.  The effort, I am certain, will be worthwhile and well done to Y10 for their numeracy skills!

Some Quiet Developments

In Lower School, we have just completed work on the “Quiet Room.”  After a fantastic response from parents, church groups and students, Richard Ainslie, RE teacher, has organised work on renovating a small room where students can reflect, pray, or be counselled on bereavement, depression, or simply just sit and rest from the hurly burly of daily life.  Thank you to all those who contributed.  Our next project, being pioneered by the student parliament, is a quiet garden in the centre of Middle School.  This will be a sensory garden for students who are disabled and also a spot for eating lunch and just chatting with friends.  As a Sports College, we applaud the energetic activity of all the students at breaks, who play football and basketball and dash about the grounds.  However, we acknowledge the need for quiet areas, free from the rush of a school day.  If you would like to donate a smelly plant, a swooshy bamboo, or a textural shrub; or if you have time or talent to give in making the garden, please contact Mrs Beddow on dhb@hinchbk.cambs.sch.uk

Traffic congestion and the journey to school

Everyone is frustrated by the traffic delays around the ring road.  This is causing some students to be late.  If they miss tutor time, important messages can go astray and those very late will lose prime teaching time.  If you bring your child to school by car please plan for these delays if you are able.

We have asked students travelling via the town to take special care at those points where there are temporary pedestrian arrangements.  Our cyclists also need to be vigilant and considerate of other road users.

Mobile phones, MP3 players and other electronic equipment

In recent weeks, a number of parents have questioned the school’s policy on the confiscation of mobile phones, etc.  Please be assured that we will not compromise our efforts to ensure the safety and well being of students in school.  There is now a legal right to confiscate.  The policy has County Council approval and meets DfES guidelines. The rules will be enforced consistently.

Uniform

The uniform guidelines are on pages 8 and 9 in the planner.  Whilst it is tempting to relax clothing rules in hot weather, we still need to create a feeling of belonging and business-like presentation.  Please check with the tutor or Head of Year before buying any summery items, which may not adhere to our dress code.

Parentmail

I would urge those parents who have not yet done so to register free with ParentMailTM (www.parentmail.co.uk) to view our messages and to receive them by email.  You can find the school on the site by putting in our postcode PE29 3BN (the instructions are very easy to follow).  When you register, just select the categories of message you wish to receive.