Newsletters

Executive Headteacher's Report

It has been an incredibly busy and rewarding autumn term here at Aylsham High.  We have readopted many of our usual routines and as a result things have felt more normal without being completely normal.  It has been fabulous to have trips, fixtures and productions going ahead again.  We love what they bring to our community and the richness of opportunity they afford our young people.

It has been wonderful to have our student leaders out and about and busy again.  Our Friendly Faces, our PESTs, our school councillors, our sports leaders and our subject captains have all been contributing wonderfully to the smooth running of our community.  The opportunity to lead helps to foster great learning.  We thank them for their tremendous contribution.

Our new enhanced personal development curriculum during tutor time has been a real success.  Students have used their time to complete private study, undertake scholarly reading, and have had enhanced access to crucial Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) input. Having our vertical tutoring back in place has really helped to revitalise our tutor and house system after the disruption of last year.  It's been great to have interhouse competitions and to see houses meeting for assemblies. 

With the re-establishment of face-to-face visitors in school it has been wonderful to have a wide-range of sixth forms and other Post 16 providers visit our year 11s.  For the class of 2021 it was often a leap of faith with regards to college as there were no opening evenings or visiting presentations.  The class of 2022 have been able to ensure that they meet school and college staff and to visit potential future placements.  Our careers advisor Mrs Durand continues to do excellent work supporting our students with their future choices.  Despite the challenges our class of 2021 have demonstrated much better staying on rates the Broadland and the Norfolk average.  This points to them receiving really sound progression advice.

We have been thrilled with how our new year 7 students have settled into High School life after a sustained period of challenge and change over the last two years.  They have clearly been well-prepared by our colleagues in their primary schools.  We look forward to great things from the class of 2027.

Our students in years 9, 10 and 11 will have mock examinations after Christmas, so we urge them to balance the need to study with the need to rest and recharge.  Subject teams have shared resources to help guide revision.  The important thing is to plan and prepare by revising following the guidance teachers have given.  Regular deliberate practice is the key to effective revision and to making learning stick.  I wish all the students taking exams the very best of luck and I hope that their hard work is richly rewarded.  There is no substitute for sustained hard graft.

I would like to pay a public tribute to all of our teaching and support staff who continue to demonstrate incredible professionalism and resilience during these challenging times.  I could not wish for a better or more dedicated team of teachers and learning support staff.  Our pastoral and our social emotional and mental health (SEMH) team have been outstanding and have been instrumental in helping children to try and get the help and support they need.  Our admin team have helped us to maintain excellent communication with home and also to develop highly effective systems and ways of working.  At every level from SLT to our cleaning and catering colleagues we have worked as a team.  It continues to be a privilege to work with so many professional and highly dedicated colleagues.

Our students have been amazing too.   They have worked with us really well and have supported whatever additional measures and restrictions that have been put in place.  They know that we must work together to look after each other and that by keeping everyone safe we keep ourselves safe.  Most of all they have continued to work hard, focus on their learning and take a full part in school life.

It only remains for me to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas and very happy, healthy and successful 2022. 

Love and best wishes

Duncan Spalding

Executive Headteacher 

Chair of Governors Report

As we near the Christmas holidays, my thanks go to all of you parents and carers for your support over the past term, and in indeed during the entire very difficult year of 2021. 

Our class of 2021 left Aylsham High School with some excellent GCSE results and I hope that they are thriving in their new educational or work situations.  The year 7s who left Bure Valley School last July to make the step up to the High School in September, all appear to have settled in well to their new learning environment and likewise the year 3s who left John of Gaunt behind in July have begun their Bure Valley school adventure in a positive fashion.

Our community sports facilities at the High School are proving very popular and the learn to swim programme which we now offer is going from strength to strength.

Finally, my thanks as always to our hardworking and dedicated members of staff, who have worked tirelessly throughout this difficult year to continue the education of our children in whatever way possible.

On behalf of the governing board I would like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy Christmas, and I am sure you will all join with me in hoping for a less challenging year in 2022.

Jenny Youngs

Chair of Governors

Options information for 2022-23

All students in years 8, 9 and 10 will be asked to make option choices in the new year.  In preparation for this, and to support students with making their choices, Mr Brockington has been holding assemblies this month to explain the options process for each of the year groups. 

Our options evening will be held ‘virtually’ on Wednesday 19th January; all information will be made available on the school website, and we will share further information on how to ‘attend’ the virtual event nearer the time. There will be departmental information presented here so that students can make informed choices about which subjects they may wish to take. There will also be an options booklet, with all course information, along with full careers information and advice available. We will be producing a video playlist, regarding the option subjects available, on the school’s Youtube channel for families to watch. This will include a short video from each subject we have on offer.

Our options process will be offered online this year via SIMS options online (this was introduced last year) which is accessed via SIMS Parent and/or SIMS Student.  Students will need to select their option choices via SIMS and save them before the deadline of the 11^th February 2022.  Teachers and form tutors will be available to offer support and guidance to students whilst they are making their options choices.

Further information on the option process will be sent out in January with full details on how to access, and select options choices, via the SIMS online system.

Please note that, due to the high volume of students choosing options, we are unable to place all year 8 and 9 students in their first choice option so they must be prepared to undertake any options that they have selected (unless these are restricted to certain year groups).  It is essential therefore that students consider carefully the options they wish to take. 

We also ask that year 10 students select a ‘reserve’ option, in case a clash is created by their other choices.

We are unable to guarantee that all options will run; final decisions can only be made once options choices have been completed.  If a decision is made not to offer an option subject any student who has selected this course will be asked to make a further choice and will be supported with this decision. 

Please look on the school website, under the ‘students’ tab, for further options and careers information and key dates.

The easy way to make payments to Aylsham High School

Top up lunch money - Pay for trips and activities

ParentPay is an online shop.  Top up your account, choose what to purchase and then check out. It is a simple and secure way to pay for items using your credit or debit card.

Using ParentPay to keep lunch accounts topped up means students do not need to carry money to school or queue to use the cash loader. Using the reminder alert service will give you peace of mind that your student will always have enough money for their lunch.

If your student needs to pay for a particular trip, activity or uniform purchase, an extra item will be visible for you to purchase.  No more cheques to go missing in the bottom of a rucksack or tucked into a forgotten pocket.

If you need help logging on to ParentPay please contact us at the finance office:

Email finance@aylshamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk

Telephone 01263 733270 x153/107 

Visit /ahsparentpay on our website

Student Support and Attendance

Our school has many initiatives to promote the benefits of good attendance and to support those students and families with attendance difficulties. We would like to take this opportunity to remind parents/carers of absence reporting procedures to ensure that all absences are recorded accurately and to prevent unnecessary truancy Any absence is to be reported to the attendance office; this can be done in several ways:-

1.  Ring 01263 733270 and select option 2. This is a confidential answering service where you can leave a message with 24 hr access.

2.  Email attendance@aylshamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk. Your email will only be read by the attendance officer and is confidential.

3.  During school hours ring the attendance office on 01263 733270 ext.158.

4.  When leaving a message please give your child’s full name, tutor group, year group and a detailed/specific reason for absence.

5.  Absences are to be reported daily until your child returns to school.

6.  Absences should be reported before 9.30am whenever possible.

7.  A truancy call/text message will be sent for all students without a reason for absence. If we do not receive a response by the end of the school day the absence will be recorded as unauthorised (O).

8.  Medical evidence must be provided for any hospital/medical/dental appointments. This can be an appointment slip/card or referral letter. The attendance officer can take a copy if necessary.

Please do not hesitate to contact Mrs S Smith, Student Support & Attendance Officer, should you have any concerns about your child’s attendance or the information we have recorded for them. attendance@aylshamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk

Have you any items that you no longer want that could be good for drawing…

The AHS Art department would really appreciate them.  Curious items could be skulls, insects, butterflies, old tools, telephones or perhaps you might have some  shells, feathers or fake fruit.  We are always on the lookout for fake or dried flowers, and we could do with some more vases.  Newspapers and magazines are always appreciated.

Many thanks

Mrs Homewood