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SETTLEBECK HIGH SCHOOL
I will be retiring at the end of this school year, which means that from next September 2007, Settlebeck will have a new headteacher. This will not make a difference to the quality of the students' education at Settlebeck and it will, in fact, be a wonderful opportunity for Settlebeck to grow and develop further in the future.
I have decided to make this announcement now, in order for the recruitment process for a new headteacher to begin in this autumn term, which will provide the maximum time for the handover and induction of a new head. I will be supporting this process to ensure that the arrangements go as smooth as possible.
For my own part I will be retiring a little early to pursue my other interests but my wife and I intend to stay in Sedbergh and I will continue to support the school and community in whatever ways I am able.
I think very highly indeed of Settlebeck. I have taught now for nearly 33 years, 12 of them to date at Settlebeck and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that Settlebeck is not only the best school I've taught in but also undoubtedly the best school that I've ever seen. It has been an immense privilege to work with such a devoted, hard-working and committed staff and the quality of relationships that exist between staff and students is quite unique in a secondary school, partly due to our small size but very significantly due to the excellent partnership between the school and parents.
In addition, our supportive governing body, our dedicated PTFA and our close community links all contribute to the very special ethos, within the school, of respect, goodwill to others and an incredibly positive approach to life and learning. I believe that Sedbergh is indeed very fortunate to have, along with Sedbergh Primary School, such a jewel in its midst. Settlebeck continues, year on year, to be one of the most inclusive, successful, and highly regarded schools in Cumbria and when our students leave us at the age of 16 they all, invariably, no matter what ability level, go on to succeed, not only in their chosen sixth forms, colleges, training courses or employment but as well-balanced, mature young adults who care for each other and their community.
Every year for the last twelve I have been so proud to see our year 11 students return for their presentation evening as successful young people going out into a challenging, exciting world filled with positive energy and determination. It has been a privilege to play a part in this process and a source of great personal satisfaction and fulfilment to have been a member of this great school.
I know that the next headteacher will inherit a school at the very height of its success and influence, a staff to die for and a student body that is a joy to work with. It makes me wish that I were young enough to do it all over again! Dave Smith
SEDBERGH PRIMARY SCHOOL
The pupils of Sedbergh joined together on World Peace Day to celebrate our Harvest festival. Year 6 amazed everyone by telling us how many thousands of miles the ingredients for a pizza travel to get to our shops.
"Year 6 was set a task of making pizzas from ingredients that had travelled the furthest, except for one group, their task was to use local produce. The ingredients for one pizza travelled 5000 miles, another 17000 miles and the furthest was 32,917 miles. The local pizza only travelled 128 miles but if they had not used tomato puree it would have been 12 miles." Aidan Bell and Martin Bainbridge
"We have discovered lots of things about what happens to food we serve at our dinner tables. The fruit and vegetables we eat regularly might be months older than we expect, they are covered with special chemicals to preserve them for longer. It is better to buy local produce but sometimes we do enjoy foreign food. Of course when we had finished our research we got to eat the pizzas.....and they were very very nice." Yasmin Ball and Mary Ormerod
Reception thought about our gardens. They said they felt very brave playing instruments and singing "Mary Mary quite contrary" in front of the whole school.
Year 1 showed us some lovely paintings of fruits and vegetables.
"I painted a picture of some sweet corn." Isabel Abbot
Year 4 "We made up a poem about farmers harvesting their crops all over the world and we said thank you for all their hard work." Erin Proctor
Year 5 "For our Harvest festival we wrote a poem about our senses at Harvest time. Golden brown, crackling, crunching and crispy are some of the words we used."
Year 3 sang a song called Stone Soup. "We can all enjoy soup. You only need a few vegetables. You don't have to be rich." Katherine Lawson
Year 2 sang to us about being good friends and the Harvest festival concluded with the juniors singing a song for World peace.
SETTLEBECK HIGH SCHOOL
An A-Z of Work Experience
This is the first year, year 11 students have gone out on work experience right at the beginning of the autumn term. It seemed a good idea to go now instead of mid October so as to allow them to first focus on their futures and ambitions and then focus with new purpose on their GCSEs and coming mock exams in November. This change of date presented a few practical problems (employers not geared up to having trainees so soon after the summer and some students not having contacted them over the summer with no teacher around to remind them!), but these were not problems which were insurmountable, and I feel the early start achieved its two purposes.
Students joined a whole range of people for their placements, jobs ranging from A to not quite Z (with a few letters unrepresented in between) and below are some extracts from some of the reports they wrote on their return which I think show how much they gained from their week in work..
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER Michael Griffin
I learned some things I didn't know such as splitting a tractor and replacing a clutch plate
ARCHITECT Nick Game
I learnt about the different layers of design and how to use a design package AutoCAD. I designed a house, external elevations and internal and my design is going to be turned into a 3D model which I can collect next month.
BUILDER Dean Raw
I learnt how to mix cement and that you have to put a special chemical in it to stop water rising
BIKE REPAIRER AND RETAILER Ryan Iveson
I learned about fixing bikes eg. complicated v brake discs, front and rear, and how to make a wheel from scratch
CAR MECHANICS Toby Reynolds, Philip Metcalfe, Kai McMinn and Matt Burrow.
It felt good because I felt I was being given the chance to do the job I've always wanted to do
There were a lot of good moments, like finishing a job successfully on a car. I learnt how to deal with recurring problems on certain cars
I liked using the air lines for pumping up tyres, doing MOTs and drinking the free brews!
I was taught some of the tricks in the motor vehicle world and it was good as I was treated as an adult and furthermore I was offered a Saturday job!
DESIGNER Rebecca Martindale
I designed a page for a magazine which was actually used. Also I designed a logo for a bike festival taking place soon.
ENGINEER Ed Bannister
I had to familiarise myself with an advanced design engineering programme and was given the task of remodelling a pump for an Italian company.
I liked the responsibility I was given and the fact I was trusted to work independently and meet deadlines as well as being made to feel that my work was appreciated
FORESTER AND GROUNDSMAN Iain Bainbridge
We constructed some fencing, cut firewood, repaired walls and some gates, and moved rocks and rubble. I learnt how to mix cement in the right proportions. I am now strongly considering a career in forestry.
HOTEL MANAGEMENT AND HOUSEKEEPING Kellie Schools
I learnt how things run in a hotel
JOURNALIST Dan Case
"It was a great experience going round with Paul and finding out about lots of different aspects of the media. My main interest was journalism and I was given chance to practice my skills in this".
KITCHEN ASSISTANT Adam Littlewood
I worked with a lot of fish! I disembowelled 100 cray fish, firstly ripping their tails off then pulling out their intestines. I prepared crabs into different types of meat, white and brown, and I washed scallops in ice cold water then dried them. This is essential before cooking.
LAWYER Emma Teal & Natasha Hardy
We attended court on one day. We saw the trial of a man who'd been speeding at 99 mph so he risked disqualification. His lawyer was from a firm who represents people like David Beckham suggesting he was quite well off. The lawyer was good; she was funny as well as serious but she spent one and a half hours on just one witness!
In another case a defendant made a threatening gesture and said rude words which is counted as witness intimidation and can extend the sentence given.
We were also allowed to look at some post mortem pictures after parents had given permission- gory but interesting!
MOTORBIKE SALESMAN Codey Sharp
I learned which motorbikes are better to have and where to get good parts for them
NURSERY ASSISTANT Sian Benson
I realised that this isn't an easy job but it is enjoyable and rewarding because you get to see the children learn and enjoy new things
OUTDOOR PURSUITS ORGANISER Daniel McCandlish
This is definitely the sort of work I want to do in the future.
PLANNER Grace Hunter & Mary McCullagh
I put data into a computer, created a powerpoint presentation for some planning applications, scanned plans in for new houses, plotted plans onto maps and attended committee meetings
At the committee meetings there were a few arguments about the passing or declination of applications for developments, which were very entertaining. After this I certainly understood more about planning at the end of it.
I also visited a site of a burial, I saw some bones rotten and cracked which were believed to be 200 years old and those of an elderly female or weak male Quaker
RETAILER Ryan Iveson
I sold some accessories at the bike shop and realised how hard it is to run your own business
SCHOOL TEACHER (Performing Arts) Jenni Lamb
I particularly enjoyed joining in with the school choir singing No war will stop us singing for the 21st September- a day celebrating world peace. And it made me feel
I would like to come here to do A levels.
TOOLS AND MACHINERY CONSTRUCTOR Richard Martin
I got put to work assembling a Scheppach table saw - a definite high point, as was the end of the day when I was given a saw blade free
Also I learnt to send faxes, answer the phone, charge credit cards, use an old cash till, package items, sign for deliveries, price stock, talk to customers and much more.
VET Amy Poole
I observed puppies and kittens receiving booster injections; I was allowed to use the stethoscope and weigh some animals; I watched cows who were pregnant being checked and a bull with salmonella being examined. I watched and yes, enjoyed operations - one on a dog who needed her womb removed as it was no longer the thickness of a pencil but had swollen to the size of a sausage. What I didn't enjoy was seeing animals put down. I learnt that it's hard work managing a farm and that being a vet can be stressful but rewarding
WELDER AND FABRICATOR Nathan Mattinson
I learnt so many skills I didn't have. I felt I could work here forever.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S SUPPORT TEACHER Melissa Barnes
I learnt that working with children involves a lot of patience especially when they're still not old enough to understand simple things.
All students commented on how welcome they were made to feel, how friendly staff were and as Lawrence Whitefield said how, "kind, caring and considerate" they were.
Several students commented on how work experience had helped them realise what work was really like and how it had helped them make decisions about what they want to do in the future. And many like James Thompson expressed how proud they were when they got a good employer's report.
Reports back on our students from employers were generally excellent and included such comments as,
"He tackled tasks well and was keen to learn new skills",
"She showed a real aptitude for this career",
"She was a pleasure to have and the children loved her",
"a pleasant young man, eager to learn.
He will do well in whatever direction he chooses to go",
"She worked very hard","
" It was a luxury to have someone so reliable around"
"I have enjoyed his company and help"
"a responsive student, a real pleasure to work with",
"We would welcome her back if ever she wanted to return"
and
"a young woman who is a credit to herself and her family".
One of our students Tracy Hodgson was given a rarely awarded certificate for her performance on work experience with Kendal Police.
Nathan Mattinson summed up how some felt about work experience rather poetically, writing that it made him feel like he was "at the start of a new era, the start of the rest of my life."
Particular thanks to Juliet in the office for her support with organising the work experience and Angela Nicholas (geography and PE teacher) who visited students, took photos and reported back on their progress. by Sally Ingham (Work Experience Co-ordinator)
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