A Message from the Head

I would like to introduce myself as the Associate Headteacher at Alderman Blaxill School. I was appointed to this role in September 2009 and this means that the school has its own Headteacher based on the Alderman Blaxill site five days a week.

I work very closely with Mr Tippett the Executive Headteacher for the three secondary schools in the Stanway Federation. Alderman Blaxill School became a member of the Stanway Federation in March 2010 and this has provided more opportunities to support our staff and enhance the learning of our students to continue to improve the school.

I often remind students in the school that in many ways they have the best of both worlds, not only because they go to a small school where everybody is known as an individual, but that they are part of a partnership of larger schools which can offer them educational opportunities not often available in small schools.

My challenge to everybody at Alderman Blaxill School is to be the best that you can be. I appreciate that this can be difficult when people outside the school create uncertainty about the future. However, I firmly believe that we have to concentrate on where we can make a difference and that is in giving young people the best possible learning experience to improve their life chances.

The school has made great progress in improving examination results and the standards achieved by students. In 2010 students achieved record GCSE results with an increase in the number of students achieving 5 A* to C grades from 48% in 2009 to 59% in 2010. The percentage of students who achieved 5 A* to C with English and Mathematics improved by 10% to a record 31% in 2010. It was also very pleasing that attendance figures also improved and visitors to the school commented on how well behaved students were and were impressed by the positive learning environment in the school.

The school completes an annual survey with parents and students to listen to their views about Alderman Blaxill School and how we can continue to make further improvements. This survey is analysed by an external company Kirkland Rowell and I am pleased to say that in the 2010 survey 73% of parents said that in their opinion it is a good school and 75% said that it had improved in the last year. The students look very smart in the new uniform that was introduced in September 2009 and they are proud of their school. We continue to improve the facilities for our students and in the last year a new student reception has been opened, a Conference Suite has been developed, ICT facilities have been upgraded and the boys and girls toilets have been refurbished.

Thank you for the continued support of parents and supporters of the school in the local community.

Mr P Jones
Associate Headteacher