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USH Newsletter 5th April 2019

USH National Award Winners. Educational Outcomes.






Upper Shirley High School has been recognised nationally for its excellent results in 2018 based on data from the Department for Education and Ofsted, analysed by SSAT, the Schools, Students and Teachers network.


Upper Shirley High School was found to be among the best performing secondary schools in the country, receiving an award for being in the top 20% of non-selective schools nationally for attainment. 


The SSAT Educational Outcomes database compares all state-funded schools in England and the highest performing schools for a range of key measures are awarded SSAT Educational Outcomes Awards.   Upper Shirley High School will be presented with their award during the summer term at a ceremony attended by winners from across the region.



Rotary Interschool Photography Competition






Mrs Cadle and Miss Andzejewska were very pleased to hear that they were through to the final of this photography competition. With over 700 entries and 18 schools taking part they were amazed to get through to the final. At a well-attended exhibition and prize giving on Monday 1st April the winners were announced. Both members of staff were very proud to represent USH and were impressed with the high standard of photography. Both Mrs Cadle and Miss Andzejewska received Highly Commended in the Adult category for their photographs on the theme of ‘Harmony’. Well done to them both.


We hope that more students, staff and parents will take part in this competition next year.



Staff Update






After four and a half successful years we have announced that Mrs Floyd is moving on a the end of the summer term to follow her ambition in education consultancy and inspection.  Mrs Floyd has been a key part of our schools success in recent years and we thank her for her dedication to the USH community.


We have completed the first round of Deputy Head interviews for her successor, with a second day scheduled when we return after the Easter break.  Further details regarding any appointment made will be communicated later next term.



Expansion Update






We thought it would be useful to give you an update on our expansion plans. We have significantly moved forward with this over the last month, mainly in two ways; successfully filling our first cohort of 210 students for September 2019 and starting the consultation process for our new Sports Hall.


If you haven’t looked at it already, there is an expansion page on our website under About US(H). This has recently been updated to reflect our Sports Hall consultation evening with local residents on 26th March. We have successfully secured funding via The Hamwic Education Trust and plans have been drawn up; over the next month, we will be submitting planning. If all goes well, we hope to start the build over the summer. On the website is the presentation delivered to attendees and will give you a good idea of what it will look like and where it will be positioned. 


We were particularly proud of the four USH students/Sports Prefects (Isaac, Josh, Sophie, Molly), who spoke to residents about the challenges of being the last school in the city to have a Sports Hall and their impassioned speech around how the improved facilities will secure even more sporting successes.  We agree; the USH students deserve it!


In addition to the site changes many of you will have seen, much is going on behind the scenes in our expansion planning. We took time within our March Inset Day to redefine plans in readiness for September and beyond. There is certainly a buzz around school as we move towards being a school of 1050 in 2023/24.


One aspect of our expansion planning is our drive to ensure we maintain the spirit and ethos of USH through expansion. We already have a staff focus group working on this and we soon start our work with students. If anyone wishes to join a parent focus group around this, please contact Julie Prince. We would welcome the thoughts and ideas of our stakeholders.


You will know we are also working with Hampshire County Council to create a new travel plan.  Thank you to those parents who have completed our travel planning survey; this will certainly inform our future work. Our aim is encourage everyone to make good choices about their school travel, with a particular focus on making everyone's journeys as safe and sustainable as possible. The survey closes today. If you haven’t done it already, this is the link: https://etehampshirecc.researchfeedback.net/s.asp…


It is an exciting time for Upper Shirley High School; please follow our expansion through our newsletter and social media updates.


If there are any queries about our expansion, they should be directed to the School Business Manager, Julie Prince (Julie.Prince@ushschool.org).



Cross Country Success






Last week saw the finale of the cross country season, with crucial league points up for grabs in the last of 8 races. The team ran brilliantly to close out the season and secured some overall league victories.


There was individual success for Abi Belward (Yr. 7 girls champion) and Lou Forder (Yr. 8/9 girls champion) as well as team success for both the Year 7 girls team, and the Year 8/9 girls team. Some fantastic achievements!


Congratulations to everyone who has taken part through the season; they have represented the school brilliantly.



USH Alumni






If you’re a former student of Upper Shirley High School, we want to hear from you!


Your experiences since leaving could help to motivate and inspire our current students to feel more confident in making decisions about their future. We’d love you to join our alumni network and stay connected with the school.


We’ve partnered with the national education charity Future First, who specialise in helping schools like ours to stay connected with their former students.


You can choose how and when you help – perhaps you can act as a career and education role model, provide work experience, become a mentor in person or online, or help with donations, fundraising or even apply to become a governor.


It doesn’t matter when you left us, whether you’re in further education or employment, whether you still live nearby or have moved further away, there are still ways you can help.


In order to sign up, go to https://networks.futurefirst.org.uk/signup/upper  and fill in the online form – we promise it will only take a couple of minutes.   


 


 



STEM Club






STEM Club were calculating the speed of light using chocolate and a microwave oven with a surprising degree of accuracy. I would like to say that no chocolate was harmed in the completion of this activity but I have evidence to the contrary. 


STEM Club will continue to run after the Easter break on Mondays after school in SCI 4 where we will be investigating how to drop an egg without breaking it, how much water makes the perfect water balloon and what is the best recipe for making slime? We welcome new members with an inquisitive mind, just come along to join in.



Routes into STEM Course






Are you interested in hearing about the routes available to you into the STEM world?


There is a 3 day non-residential course running during this May half term (28th,29th,30th) where you will get to understand the Routes available for them into the STEM world.


One day is spent at Eastleigh College, one at Solent University and the final day will be hosted by Leonardo - a global high-tech player in Aerospace, Defence and Security.  Students will get a hands-on experience understanidn the diverse routes available to them after studying their GCSEs - including apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships talks.


 


Contact RoutesIntSTEM@etrust.org.uk or telephone 01707 386151 for more information.


 



Extra help in readiness for exams - *New Books in the Library*






At this time of year, students can feel anxious or stressed about the forthcoming exams. To help support them, there is a new display in the Library and a selection of books offering advice on planning revision, surviving exams and coping with anxiety, as well as guides to mindfulness and improving self-esteem. All books are available for students to borrow.