Message from the Principal
This has been another special year and in coming to the end of our seventh year we have completed our cycle of growth and celebrate being a full school.
As we enter our next phase, our focus over the coming five years is to become a school that gives people more than they expect. This relates to all areas of the school, including the quality of education, personal development, inclusion, and leadership, and all those we serve; pupils, families, staff, and the wider community. I think this will prove to be an even more exciting project than starting the school.
We have had many wonderful achievements this year, academic, sporting, and otherwise, which are detailed on the website. In addition to our first cohort of students sitting their A Level and T Level examinations, we have also been busy preparing year 13s for the world of university or work, we have had our first international visit, and our first group of students to complete the Duke of Edinburgh Gold award. The international visit was the ski trip to Italy, and in the next academic year we already have another ski trip planned, along with a history visit to Berlin, and we are working towards the World Challenge expedition to Morocco.
We are also celebrating excellent attendance this year. As a school our attendance is in the top 7% in the country. This data compares us with all schools, and when you consider that 60% of our pupils are pupil premium (compared to the national average of 26%) and the fact that the national average attendance for that demographic is 86.3%, the achievement of our pupils is even more impressive. Well done to the pupils and thank you to families for supporting your children in this way. We know that attendance is linked to outcomes, so sending your child to school every day is the best thing you can do to support their education.
As we often do at the end of an academic year, we have to say goodbye to a number of colleagues. We are very grateful for the contributions they have all made to the school, and I hope they feel that they have developed as professionals and have lots to offer their next schools.
I am delighted that some of our colleagues have secured themselves a promotion including Mrs Mander, who is heading back to Hertfordshire to become a Deputy Headteacher. Having worked with Mrs Mander in a previous school, I was delighted when she joined the school 5 years ago, and I am incredibly grateful for all she has done in developing a number of subject areas, and being the driving force behind assessment and outcomes for our first three cohorts.
Mr Olufola is also leaving the Saracens senior leadership team to take up an Assistant Principal post at a school in Hackney, which is significantly closer to his home. Mr Olufola was asked to set up the sixth form when he joined us three years ago, and he leaves us with one of the largest sixth forms in the local area, with three separate pathways that ensure all pupils can stay at Saracens High School for their Key Stage 5 provision, and that they are as prepared as they can be for the next stage of their lives.
Miss Howard is leaving us to become a Subject Lead for science at a school in North London. Having been a fantastic Year Lead and the Subject Lead for physics during the last three years, she is now taking on the leadership of a large science team.
Mr Wallis is also leaving after three years, and has secured a promotion to second in PE at a school on the south coast.
A number of colleagues are also moving away from London. Mr Hartley also joined us three years ago and he has secured a post at a school in Spain. Mr Banks is moving back up north after two years at Saracens, as are Miss Stevens and Mr Flynn (who left last month). Miss Hart joined us after working as an agency cover supervisor and we are proud of how she sailed through her apprenticeship to become a qualified teacher this year. She and her partner are moving to start a new life on the Channel Islands.
Miss Hyun-Sack joined us as a Learning Support Assistant three years ago, before taking on a teaching role this year. She is now moving to a school in East London, closer to where she will be living.
Two years ago we were joined by Mrs Rookwood and Mr Muhammed, who have been leading our Social Sciences and Business & Economics teams respectively. They have done excellent jobs in establishing these subject areas, which are solely focused on examination groups. They are both leaving to take up middle leadership positions in new schools.
Mr Abduallahi is leaving after just over a year in our Computer Science team, as is Miss J Ekwebelem who was with us for two days a week teaching the midwifery elements of the T Level Health course.
Some of the new staff have started with us already, and I am looking forward to introducing the others to you in the new term.
I hope you have an enjoyable and safe summer break and look forward to seeing you in September.
