|
|
|
Chair’s
Report – Mrs Donna Evans
On behalf of the Governors
of Nonsuch, I have great pleasure presenting this report, which gives
you an opportunity to review the development of the school during the
academic year 2003/2004. I would like to welcome all pupils and staff
who joined Nonsuch this term and I hope they will have an enjoyable and
successful time at the school.
Among many successes of the past year the award of Science Specialist
Status in July is of particular significance. Specialist Status brings
with it a one-off injection of capital funding and you will be aware that
this is being used to extend the science department so that by next September
there will be four new laboratories together with technical and administration
support areas. In addition, there will be a rooftop observatory that will
both enhance the new Astronomy GCSE course and be available for extra-curricular
activities and community use. However, the capital project is just part
of the specialist status plan and over the coming year you will hear about
curriculum developments and our growing involvement with community groups.
As a brief example, students in Years 12 and 13 and members of three local
U3A branches will hear Professor Marcus du Sautoy from Oxford lecture
on his book “The Music of the Primes”.
A third element of specialist status is outreach work, which will take
our specialist science teachers to local schools to offer support in particular
areas of the science curriculum. In this outreach work, Nonsuch will draw
on the valuable experience gained as a Beacon School in linking with the
local school community. The Governing Body will be monitoring the progress
of the Specialist Science developments and there will be reports to parents
in the termly newsletters from the Headmistress and on the school website.
Once again the examination results this year were excellent. The pupils
will be receiving their GCSE certificates at Speech Day, which is a delightful
opportunity to recognise their outstanding efforts and success in the
company of staff, guests and parents. In January we welcome back the 2004
Year 13 for an evening to celebrate their outstanding success at A level.
Along with our congratulations to our pupils, our thanks for examination
success at GCSE and A level go to the staff for their dedicated teaching.
Nonsuch pupils participate in an extensive range of activities outside
of lessons. Many events like the German exchange, the Drama Fest and the
Carol Concert are well-established old favourites, but each year there
is something new to enjoy. Here are just a few examples of events and
activities from a busy year. In April pupils from Years 10 to 13 went
on a Classics trip to Rome and Sorrento and came back appreciating Italy
both ancient and modern. In music, a new choral group, Vox Celestes entertained
at St Raphael’s Hospice where patients and staff were most appreciative.
The School Magazine is published in the summer term each year and provides
an opportunity for a group of Year 12 pupils to work as a team in its
production. The magazine content includes features, stories, articles,
poetry, and examples of artwork with contributors from Years 7 to 13 and
staff. A visit to the Flamenco Festival at Sadler’s Wells was a great
success and pupils have taken to another form of dancing – salsa
– with great enthusiasm. Termly newsletters from Mrs Espejo provide
highlights of many more activities. The newsletters can also be found
on the parents’ area of the school website.
If you have a question you would like to raise at the AGM I can assure
you of a more complete answer if I receive the question in writing before
the meeting. Please forward questions to the Bursar by 26 November. I
hope that you will come along to the Annual Governors Meeting and join
us for refreshments before the meeting when we will have time for a more
informal discussion – we welcome your views on school life.
Finally, I would like to thank parents for supporting the school’s
aim of providing excellence in girls’ education. Your commitment
to the school is much appreciated by the staff and Governors.
Donna Evans
Chairman of Governors
November 2004
|
