Verulam Boys GCSE Success DfE Performance Tables 2019

The 2019 performance tables show Verulam pupils making above average progress at KS4.

Their Progress 8 score of +0.22 places Verulam in the top third of schools in the country.

Compared to the boys’ national progress figures -0.25 in 2018 Verulam pupils achieved almost half a grade better in every subject!

Our aim is for all our pupils to achieve even more and to reach the top 15% and for the school to be judged well above average.

https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/137038/verulam-school/secondary

Black History Month

October is a month in which Black History is celebrated in the UK and it’s been celebrated nationwide every year for nearly 40 years. This month was originally founded to recognise the contributions that people of African and Caribbean backgrounds have made to this country over many generations.

Black History Month was first launched in London in the 1980s, where the aim was for the local community to challenge racism and educate themselves and others about the British history that was not taught in schools.

Black British history is everyone’s history.

As part of Verulam’s work in this area, form tutors have shared a number of videos and stories with their form throughout the month.

The History department addresses Black History in two main areas. The first is in Year 8 spring term where the students study the Civil Rights movement in post WW2 America. The second is in Year 12 when the students investigate the changing nature of the Civil Rights movement across the 20th century.

This year we felt it was time to take another look at how the school dealt with Black History Month and issues around Black British identity. I have been meeting with a diverse group of senior pupils from Years 11-13 to discuss how they feel we should celebrate Black History and identity. The pupils have decided that we will present a wide ranging assembly later this year which looks at Black History from a more personal angle and at representation.

A number of pupils have asked to take part in the assembly in order to present their family history and how that reflects the history of Black people in the UK and around the world. Others wish to talk about photographs they have researched which shed fresh light on the often-unseen history of Black people in the

Further discussions with pupils led us to decide that it would be valuable to ask a broader range of pupils from Years 7—11 to contribute to an article for a future edition of Verulam’s student magazine “Top Button”. If you or your son or daughter would be interested in participating in this project, you can register your interest by contacting Ms K Bonass on
kelly.bonass@verulam.herts.sch.uk. The two Sixth Form coordinators will arrange a brief meeting next Thursday lunchtime in order to move
this forward.

Headmaster’s commendations

This week’s commendation goes to Nathan Massam who went to Tesco to ask for Feed donations and spoke with the charity manager who then donated 40 items.

Successful Open Day

I would like to thank all those pupils, parents and staff who contributed to such a successful open day last Saturday. All the feedback we received was very positive about the school and was highly complimentary about our pupils.

We are continuing to host tours for prospective parents every morning until 18th October.

Some parents are concerned that they will not gain admission unless they live close to the school. I would be grateful if parents could dispel this myth to any friends or family who are applying. Verulam welcomes applications from pupils as far afield as Harpenden, Radlett, Redbourn, Hatfield, Welwyn and even some pupils from the wilds of Watford!

Reading Group – An open invitation

All parents are invited to join our informal and social reading group which meets every half term to discuss a book selected by its members. It would be particularly pleased to welcome new parents from this year’s Year 7. The next meeting will be on Thursday 24th October at 7pm.

We normally discuss only one novel, but this month we are discussing:

• The Testaments by Margaret Atwood – this is the brilliant follow up to Margaret Atwood’s dystopian Handmaid’s Tale which many parents will be familiar with. If you don’t have time to read it, it is currently being serialised on Radio 4 every lunchtime.
• In Xanadu: A Quest by William Dalrymple is a fantastic travel story about a young man’s journey across Central Asia to China.

Private Tutor guidance

I have sent a parentmail to all parents regarding private tutoring which is increasingly popular. I would advise all parents to read the letter with care before employing any private tutor as the advice contained relates both to safety and also to maximising outcomes for students.

Attendance and Holidays

I have recently received a number of requests for holidays during term time. These are normally refused as school policy dictates that such absence can only be authorised in exceptional circumstances. Our aim as a school is to achieve 97% attendance as this is the most significant factor in raising achievement.

Uniform reminder

The overall standard of uniform this term continues to be high. However, as the weather becomes more inclement, can I remind parents that hoodies are not permitted in school.

Drama Club

I was most impressed by Ms Parker’s drama club on Wednesday evening. Year 7 and 8 pupils interested in drama can join her at 3.30pm on Wednesday after school.

Headmaster’s commendations

This week’s commendations go to the following students for their outstanding contribution to Open Day:

James Lynch, Harrison Yasotharan, Iris Shakespeare, Myles O’Connor, Aidan Chester, Ben Hawker, Owen Caminsky and Luyanda Tshuma.

Thank you for being great ambassadors for the school.

P A Ramsey